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LANE'S  STANDARD  EDITIONS. 


THE 


AEABIAN   NIGHTS' 

ENTERTAINMENTS; 

OR, 

The  Thousand  and  One  Nights. 

^tan$(atjjt(  from  \\t  ^\\i\w\  ^rabif, 
WITH  NOTES  EXPLANATORY  OF  THE  TEXT, 


EDWARD   WILLIAM   LANE, 

AUTHOR  OF  "MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  MODERN  EGYPTIANS,"   ETC.,  ETC. 


|{nu5traktl 


O^E  HUNDRED  AM)  FIFTY  ENGEA  VINOS, 

BY  EMINENT  ARTISTS. 


REVISED   AND   ENLARGED  EDITION, 
COMPLETE  IN  ONE  VOLUME. 


NEW  YORK: 
GEORGE  ROUTLEDGE  &  SONS, 

No.  0  Lafayette  Place. 
18«6. 


0^% 


'OOPYEiani. 
JOHN  HIGHLANDS, 


mFTOW 


PUBLISHER'S   ANN0UNCE3IENT 

TO  THE  AMERICAN  EDITION. 


HE  often  expressed  desire  on  tliis  side  of  the  Atlantic 
for  a  popular  and  illustrated  edition  of  the  admirable 
translation  of  "  The  Arabian  Nights,"  by  that  distin- 

i^^J^/k  guished  Arabic  scholar  Edward  William  Lane,  has  in- 
duced the  publication  of  the  present  volume. 

For  nearly  two  hundred  years  "  The  Arabian  Nights'  Entertain- 
ments "  has  been  a  standard  in  English  literature,  while  its  enduring 
popularity  is  attested  by  a  translation  into  almost  every  modern  lan- 
guage. To  Antoine  Galland,  a  Frenchman,  dispatched  by  the  illus- 
trious Colbert  to  the  East  in  1679  to  collect  curious  manuscripts, 
the  world  is  indebted  for  its  knowledge  of  these  marvellous  creations 
of  Eastern  marvel  and  splendor.  Many  editions  have  been  issued, 
but  it  has  been  reserved  for  the  facile  pen  of  Mr.  Lane  to  clothe 
these  stories  in  new  interest  and  beauty,  and  to  give  them  a  depth 
and  feeling  which  could  only  be  attained  by  the  author's  long  life 
spent  among  Oriental  Nations,  and  by  making  a  study  of  their  daily 
lives  and  modes  of  thought. 

The  editors  have  carefully  follo"\ved  the  plan  of  Mr.  Lane,  except 
that  they  have  incorporated  many  of  his  foot-notes  in  the  text  of  the 
stories,  as  being  clearer  to  the  reader,  and  as  adding  much  thereby 
to  the  interest  of  the  narratives.  The  version  from  the  Arabic  has 
been  so  rendered  by  Mr.  Lane  that,  while  the  engrossing  interest  of 
the  stories  has  been  vividly  kept  up,  the  passages  that  often  offend 
taste  and  propriety  in  the  older  editions  have  been  here  gracefully 
modified,  thus  much  better  adapting  the  work  to  family  and  general 
reading. 

Attention  is  called  to  the  beautiful  text  illustrations  engraved  on 
wood  from  the  original  Lane  designs,  ex})rcssly  for  this  edition. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction Page  13 

CHAPTER  I. 

Story  of  the  Merchant  and  the  Genii 20 

Story  of  the  First  Sheikh  and  the  Gazelle 21 

Story  of  the  Second  Sheikh  and  the  two  Black  Hoiinds 24 

Story  of  the  Third  Sheikh  and  the  Mule • 26 

CHAPTER  II. 

Story  of  the  Fisherman 27 

Story  of  the  Grecian  King  and  the  Sage  Douban 30 

Story  of  the  Husband  and  the  Parrot 34 

Story  of  the  Envious  Vizier  and  the  Prince  and  the  Ghoul 35 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  the  Grecian  King  and  the  Sage  Douban 36 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  the  Fisherman 38 

Story  of  the  Young  King  of  the  Black  Islands 42 

CHAPTER  III. 

Story  of  the  Porter  and  the  Ladies  of  Bagdad,  and  of  the  Three  Royal  Mendi- 
cants, &c 49 

Story  of  the  First  Royal  Mendicant 58 

Story  of  the  Second  Royal  Mendicant 61 

Story  of  the  Envier  and  the  Envied 65 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  the  Second  Royal  Mendicant 67 

Story  of  the  Third  Royal  Mendicant  ...    72 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  the  Ladies  of  Bagdad 80 

Story  of  the  First  of  the  Three  Ladies  of  Bagdad ...  80 

Story  of  the  Second  of  the  Three  Ladies  of  Bagdad 87 

Conclusion  of  the  Story  of  the  Ladies  of  Bngdad 90 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Story  of  the  Throe  Apples,  &c . .      91 

Story  of  Nourcddin  and  his  Son,  and  of  Shemseddin  and  his  Daughter 95 


CHAPTER  V. 

Story  of  the  Humpback 120 

Story  told  by  the  Christian  Broker 123 

Story  tohi  by  the  Sultan's  Steward 133 

Story  told  by  the  Jewish  Physician ; 137 

Story  told  by  the  Tailor 142 

The  Barber's  Story  of  Himself 152 

The  Barber's  Story  of  his  First  Brother 153 

The  Barber's  Story  of  his  Second  Brother 155 

The  Barber's  Story  of  his  Third  Brother 156 

The  Barber's  Story  of  his  Fourth  Brother 159 

The  Barber's  Story  of  his  Fifth  Brother 160 

The  Barber's  Story  of  his  Sixth  Brother 165 

Continuation  of  the  Story  told  by  the  Tailor \qq 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  the  Humpback i'jq 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Story  of  Noureddin  and  Enis  Eljelis i>j2 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Story  of  Ganem  the  Son  of  Ayoub,  the  Distracted  Slave  of  Love ".  194 

Story  of  the  Slave  Cafour  .  .  . ' 196 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  Ganen\  the  Son  of  Ayoub,  the  Distracted  Slave  of 

Love 198 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Story  of  Taj-elmolouk  and  the  Lady  Dunia, 210 

Story  of  Aziz  and  Azizah 215 

Continuation  of  the  Story  of  Taj-elmolouk  and  the  Lady  Dunia 232 

CHAPTER  IX. 

Story  of  AH  the  Son  of  Becar,  and  Shemselnihar 253 

CHAPTER  X. 

Story  of  the  Prince  Camaralzaman  and  the  Princess  Badoura 276 

Story  of  the  Two  Princes  Amgiad  and  Assad 311 

Story  of  Neameh  and  Noam 332 

Conclusion  of  the  Story  of  Amgiad  and  Assad,  &e 343 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Story  of  Aladdin  Abushamat 348 

CHAPTER  Xn. 

Story  of  Abon-IIassan  the  Wag,  or  the  Sleeper  Awakened 382 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

Story  of  Mahomed  AH  the  Jeweller,  or  the  False  Caliph 393 


CONTENTS.  vii 

CHAPTER  XIV. 
Story  of  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lfizy   403 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Story  of  Ali  Shir  and  Zumroud 412 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Story  of  Ibn  Mansour   and  the   Lady   Badoura,  and  Jubir   the  Son   of  Omir 

Sheibani 429 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Story  of  the  Magic  Horse 433 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
Story  of  Ansal-Wajoud  and  Rose-in-Bloom 454 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

Story  of  Ali  of  Cairo  463 

CHAPTER  XX. 

Story  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor  and  Sindbad  the  Porter 475 

First  Voyage  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor 476 

Second  Voyage 483 

Third  Voyage 433 

Fourth  Voyage 495 

Fifth  Voyage 503 

Sixth  Voyage 522. 

Seventh  Voyage gjg 

Conclusion  of  the  Story  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor  and  Sindbad  the  Porter con 

CHAPTER  XXI. 
Story  of  the  City  of  Brass 521 

CHAPTER  XXII. 

Story  of  Joudar 533 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

Story  of  r.ulnare  of  the  Sea 5G4 

Story  of  Beder  Basim  and  Giohara 571 

CHAPTER  XXIV 

Story  of  Seifelmolouk  and  Bedia  Eljoinal 501 

CHAPTER  XXV. 
Story  of  Hassan  of  Balsora 624 


van  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  XXVI. 
Story  of  Califa  the  Fisherman qqq 

CHAPTER  XXVII. 
Story  of  Abousir  and  Aboukir jqq 

CHAPTER  XXVIII. 

Story  of  Abdalla  of  the  Land  and  Abdalla  of  the  Sea 726 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 
Story  of  Ibrahim  and  Gemila : 739 

CHAPTER  XXX. 

Story  of  Marouf 751 

Conclusion 781 


LIST    OF 

TEXT  AND  FULL-PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


TEXT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Shahzeman  after  having  killed  his  Wife Page  14 

The  Ass  at  Plough 17 

The  Dog  and  the  Cock 18 

Shahriar  unveiling  Sheherazade 19 

Transformation  of  the  Concubine  into  a  Cow 22 

The  Herdsman  introducing  his  Daughter  to  the  Sheikh  23 

The  Genie  listening  to  the  Tales  of  the  Sheikhs 26 

Douban  in  his  Dress  of  Honour 30 

Douban  and  the  Executioner 37 

The  Fisherman  showing  the  Fish  to  the  Sultan 39 

The  Young  King  on  his  Bed,. attended  by  two  Maids 42 

The  Sultan  killing  the  Enchantress 46 

The  Porter  and  Ladies  carousing 51 

The  Porter  seized  •. 57 

The  Second  Prince  as  a  Woodcutter 02 

The  Envied  Sheikh  and  the  Genii  in  the  Well  66 

The  Second  Prince  transformed  into  an  Ape 69 

The  First  Lady  recognising  her  Sisters , 31 

Old  Woman  interceding  for  the  Second  Lady  39 

Noureddin  after  the  Bath   ; 93 

Noureddin  and  his  Son 1  00 

The  Vizier  Shemseddin  recovering  from  a  Swoon 1 10 

Bedreddin  waiting  upon  his  Son  and  the  Eunuch  115 

Bedreddin's  perplexity 1 13 

The  Humpback  Dead 122 

Money-Changer  and  Scrivener,  Ac 125 

Portrait  of  the  Jew 13,S 

Young  Man  sitting  on  a  Stone-bench I43 

The  Barber  rending  his  Clothes •. 150 

Portrait  of  the  Barber  151 

The  Blind  Men  exploring  the  Apartment  157 

The  Second  Misfortune  of  the  Barber's  Fifth  Brother  163 

The  Barber  extracting  the  bone  from  the  throat  of  the  Humpback  171 

Noureddin  embracing  the  Slave 174 

Enis  Eljelis  playing  on  the  Lute 18U 

Azizah  weeping  over  the  Design  of  the  Gazelles .  224 

Azizah  Dead  225 

Tnj-elraolouk  receiving  the  Old  Woman 238 

The  Lady  Dunia  untwisting  the  Old  Woman's  Hnir 241 

Taj-elmolouk  and  the  Lady  Dunia 246 

The  Jeweller  finding  the  Letter  263 

Shctnselnihar's  first  visit  to  the  Jeweller  265 


X  LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Ladj' playing  on  the  Kanoon  275 

Camaralzaman  standing  before  his  Father 279 

Camaralzaraan  beating  the  Vizier 290 

The  Bird  with  the  Talisman 303 

Amgiad  and  Assad 312 

Eunuch  slain  by  Amgiad 313 

Amgiad  washing  his  Clothes 321 

The  Damsel  beating  Bahader  326 

Noam  reviving  at  the  sight  of  Neameh's  name 338 

Child  asleep 349 

Zobeide  lifting  up  the  Prayer-carpet 358 

The  Caliph  and  his  Companions  disguised  as  Dervises 361 

Ahmad  Kamakim  the  Arch  Thief 366 

Abon-Hassan  admiring  his  magnificent  Dress 385 

Nouzatalfaud  telling  her  Story  to  the  Lady  Zobeide 389 

The  Lady  Dunia  examining  the  Necklace 397 

Cadi  performing  the  Marriage  Contract 399 

Zumroud  embroidering  415 

Zumroud  weeping  at  the  remembrance  of  Ali  Shir  426 

Ali  Shir  asleep  on  the  Stone  Seat 427 

The  Slave-girl  kissing  the  Lady  Badoura  431 

Jubir  fainting  435 

The  Eunuch  throwing  Dust  on  his  Head   441 

The  Damsel  feigning  Madness 452 

Ansal-Wajoud  and  the  Lion  457 

Cadi  and  attendant  Ulama  473 

The  Roc  485 

Sindbad  the  Sailor  hailing  the  Vessel 493 

Sindbad  killing  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea  508 

Sindbad  the  Sailor  520 

Horseman  of  Brass 525 

Dahish  overtaken  by  Dimiriat 528 

Joudar  threatening  the  Semblance  of  his  Mother 547 

The  King's  Daughter ^ 562 

The  Fowler  with  the  Bird 579 

The  King's  Wife  disenchanting  Beder  Basim 580 

Queen  Labe  performing  the  Incantation 587 

Bedia  Eljemal  and  Dowlet  Katoun  616 

Marjana  carrying  Seifelmolouk 620 

Bahram  the  Magian 626 

Menar  Elsena  in  Prison  671 

The  Vessels  of  Glass  and  China-ware  falling  upon  the  Old  Woman 675 

Fish 691 

Califa  wrapped  in  his  Net 695 

Califa  with  Giafar  and  the  Eunuch  700 

Califa  on  the  Chest 704 

Abousir  shaving  a  Passenger  on  the  Galleon 712 

Damsels  plaiting  the  Queen's  hair * 719 

Abousir  emptying  the  Net 723 

Abdalla  of  the  Land  and  his  Children 727 

Abdalla  of  the  Land  carrying  a  Basket  of  Fruit 731 

Abdalla  of  the  Land  and  Abdalla  of  the  Sea 734 

Gemila  dancing / 746 

Tail-piece  750 

The  Genie  carrying  off  Marouf. 756 

The  Princess  caressing  Marouf 764 

Man  at  the  Plough 767 

Aboulsadat  appearing  to  Marouf 769 

Ploughman  bringing  the  Bowl  of  Lentils 770 

Fatiraa  el-Orra  humbling  herself  before  Marouf 770 

Sheherazade  and  the  Children  before  the  King 782 


LIST   OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FULL-PAGE  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Sheherazadc  —  tho  Teller  of  the  Arabian  Nights'  Stories Steel-plate  Frontispiece. 

The  Cure  of  the  Kin-; 31 

Tho  Young  King  of  tho  lilack  Islands 47 

The  Lady  whipping  the  Dog 53 

Consulting  the  Astrologers 75 

"Most  welcome  art  thou,  0  my  sister  !  " 85 

A  Journey  through  tho  Air 103 

The  Trooper  striking  the  Christian  Broker 129 

The  Tailor  and  the  Barber 147 

"  There,"  said  he,  "  swallow  that  I  " 167 

Tho  Order  to  plunder  Noureddin's  House 181 

Alcolomb  drugged  for  Burial 201 

Tho  Embassy  to  the  Islands  of  Cani])hor 233 

Festivities  when  Taj-clmolouk  returned 251 

Shah-Zaman  summons  his  son  Camaralzaman •. 277 

The  Bird  snatching  the  Talisman 301 

Amgiad  and  the  Damsel  feasting 323 

Amgiad  approaching  the  King ^■. 345 

Asian  meeting  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  Thief. 373 

The  Caliph  gives  the  Lady  Dunia  to  her  Lover 401 

Returning  from  the  Chase 433 

The  Magic  Horse 447 

Sindbad  the  Porter  saluting  the  Assembly 477 

The  Apes  come  to  surround  the  Vessel 489 

Killing  the  Young  Roc 505 

Sindbad's  Adventure  with  the  Elephants 517 

The  City  of  Brass 533 

All  were  drowned  but  Joudar 555 

King  Bcder  Basim  meets  the  Sheikh 581 

They  rejoiced  at  her  safety 611 

The  Persian  compliments  Hassan , 025 

Entering  the  House 6  49 

Fish  for  sale 691 

Marouf  flees  from  his  Home 755 


INTRODTJCTIOIS". 


N  THE  Name  of  God,  the  Compassionate,  the  Merciful.  Praise 
be  to  God,  the  Beneficent  King,  the  Creator  o^'  ihn  Univirt^e,  who  hath 
raised  the  heavens  without  pillars,  and  spread  out  the  earth'  as  a  bed ; 
and  blessing  and  peace  be  on  th^'  lord  of  apostle^',,  our  lord  and  our 
master  Mahomet  and  his  Family ;  blessing  tind  peace,  eli'dUriug  and 
constant,  unto  the  day  of  judgment. 
To  proceed.  —  The  lives  of  former  generations  area  lesson  to  posterity;  that  a 
man  may  review  the  remarkable  events  which  have  happened  to  others,  and  be  ad- 
monished ;  and  may  consider  the  history  of  people  of  preceding  ages,  and  of  all 
that  hath  befallen  them,  and  be  restrained.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who 
hath  thus  ordained  the  history  of  former  generations  to  be  a  lesson  to  those  which 
follow.  Such  are  the  Tales  of  a  Thousand  and  One  Nights,  with  their  romantic 
stories  and  their  fables. 

It  is  related  (but  God  alone  is  all-knowing  as  well  as  all-wise,  and  all-mighty,  and 
all-bountiful),  that  there  was,  in  ancient  times,  a  King  of  the  countries  of  India  and 
China,  possessing  numerous  troops,  and  guards,  and  servants,  and  domestic  depend- 
ants: and  he  had  two  sons :  one  of  whom  was  a  man  of  mature  age  ;  and  the  other, 
a  youth.  Both  of  these  princes  were  brave  horsemen  ;  but  especially  the  elder,  who 
inherited  the  kingdom  of  his  father,  and  governed  his  subjects  with  such  justice 
that  the  inhabitants  of  his  country  and  whole  empire  loved  him.  He  was  called 
King  Shahriar:  his  younger  brother  was  named  Shahzeman,  and  was  King  of 
Samarcand.  The  administration  of  their  governments  was  conducted  with  recti- 
tude, each  of  them  ruling  over  his  subjects  with  justice  during  a  period  of  twenty 
years,  with  the  utmost  enjoyment  and  happiness.  After  this  period  the  elder  King 
felt  a  strong  desire  to  see  his  brother,  and  ordered  his  Vizier  to  repair  to  him  and 
bring  him. 

Having  taken  the  advice  of  the  Vizier  on  this  subject,  he  immediately  gave  orders 
to  prepare  handsome  presents,  such  as  horses  adorned  with  gold  and  costly  jewels, 
and  memlooks  and  beautiful  virgins,  and  expensive  stuffs.  He  then  wrote  a  letter 
to  his  brother,  e-xpressive  of  his  great  desire  to  see  him  ;  and  having  sealed  it,  and 
given  it  to  the  Vizier,  together  with  the  presents  above-mentioned,  he  ordered  the 
minister  to  strain  his  nerves,  and  tuck  up  his  skirts,  and  use  all  expedition  in  re- 
turning. The  Vizier  answered,  without  delay,  I  hear  and  obey  ;  and  forthwith  pre- 
pared for  the  journey :  he  packed  his  baggage,  removed  the  burdens,  and  made 
ready  all  his  provisions  within  three  days ;  and  on  the  fourth  day  he  took  leave  of 
the  King  Shahriar,  and  went  forth  towards  the  deserts  and  wastes.  Ho  proceeded 
night  and  day;  and  each  of  the  kings  under  the  authority  of  King  Shahriar  by 
whose  residence  he  passed  came  forth  to  meet  him,  with  costly  presents  and  gifts  of 
gold  and  silver,  and  entertained  him  three  days ;  after  which,  on  the  fourth  day,  he 

13 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

accompanied  him  one  day's  journey,  and  took  leave  of  him.  Thus  he  continued  on 
his  way  until  he  drew  near  to  the  city  of  Samarcand,  when  ho  sent  forward  a  mes- 
senger to  inform  King  Shahzeman  of  his  approach.  The  messenger  entered  the 
city,  inquired  the  way  to  the  palace,  and  introducing  himself  to  the  King  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  and  acquainted  him  with  the  approach  of  his  brother's  Vizier; 
upon  which  Shahzeman  ordered  the  chief  officers  of  his  court,  and  the  great  men 
of  his  kingdom,  to  go  forth  a  day's  journey  to  meet  him;  and  they  did  so;  and 
when  they  met  him,  they  welcomed  him,  and  walked  by  his  stirrups  until  they  re- 
turned to  the  city.  The  Vizier  then  presented  himself  before  the  King  Shahzeman, 
greeted  him  with  a  prayer  for  the  divine  assistance  in  his  favour,  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  and  informed  him  of  his  brother's  desire  to  see  him :  after  which  he 
handed  to  him  the  letter.  The  King  took  it,  read  it,  and  understood  its  contents ; 
and  answered  by  expressing  his  readiness  to  obey  the  commands  of  his  brother. 
But,  said  he  (addressing  the  Vizier),  I  will  not  go  until  I  have  entertained  thee  three 
days.  Accordingly,  he  lodged  him  in  a  palace  befitting  his  rank,  accommodated  his 
troops  in  tents,  and  appointed  them  all  things  requisite  in  the  way  of  food  and 
drink ;  and  so  they  remained  three  days.  On  the  fourth  day  he  equipped  himself 
for  the  journey,  made  veady  his  baggage,  and  collected  together  costly  presents 
suitable  to  his  brother's  dignity. 

Thsqc;  prfcpi'rntibo's,'  being  completed,  he  sent  forth  his  tents,  and  camels,  and 
mul^s,  'and  siel-vants,  and  gjards ;  appointed  his  Vizier  to  be  governor  of  the  coun- 
try during  his  absence  ;  and  set  out  towards  his  brother's  dominions.  At  midnight, 
however,  he  remembered  that  he  had  left  in  his  palace  an  article  which  he  should 
have  brought  with  him  ;  and  having  returned  to  the 
palace  to  fetch  it,  he  there  beheld  his  wife  sleeping  in 
his  bed,  and  attended  by  a  male  negro  slave,  who  had 
fallen  asleep  by  her  side.  On  beholding  this  scene,  the 
world  became  black  before  his  eyes  ;  and  he  said  within 
himself,  If  this  is  the  case  when  I  have  not  departed 
from  the  city,  what  will  be  the  conduct  of  this  vile 
A\oman  while  I  am  sojourning  with  my  brother?  lie 
then  drew  his  sword,  and  slew  them  both  in  the  bed : 
after  which  he  immediately  returned,  gave  orders  for 
departure,  and  journeyed  to  his  brother's  capital. 

Shahriar,  rejoicing  at  the  tidings  of  his  approach, 
went  forth  to  meet  him,  saluted  him,  and  welcomed 
him  with  the  utmost  delight.  He  then  ordered  that 
the  city  should  be  decorated  on  the  occasion,  and  sat 

siiaiizeii ifier  having  killed  his  adui-  down  to  entertain  his  brother  with  cheerful  conversa- 

'"""'■  ^  ""  tion  ;  but  the  mind  of  King  Shahzeman  was  distracted 

by  reflections  upon  the  conduct  of  his  wife;  excessive  grief  took  possession  of  him  ; 
and  his  countenance  became  sallow,  and  his  frame  emaciated.  His  brother  observed 
his  altered  condition,  and,  imagining  that  it  was  occasioned  by  his  absence  from 
his  dominions,  abstained  from  troubling  him  or  asking  respecting  the  cause,  until 
after  the  lapse  of  some  days,  when  at  length  he  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  I  per- 
ceive that  thy  body  is  emaciated,  and  thy  countenance  is  become  sallow.  He  an- 
swered, 0  brother,  I  have  an  internal  sore :  and  he  informed  him  not  of  the  con- 
duct of  his  wife  which  he  had  witnessed.  Shahriar  then  said,  I  wish  that  thou 
wouldst  go  out  with  me  on  a  hunting  excursion :  perhaps  thy  mind  might  be  so 
diverted  -.—but  he  declined  ;  and  Shahriar  went  alone  to  the  chase. 

Now  there  were  some  windows  in  the  King's  palace  commanding  a  view  of  hia 
garden  ;  and  while  his  brother  was  looking  out  from  one  of  these,  a  door  of  the 
palace  was  opened,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  twenty  females  and  twenty  male 
black  slaves,  and  the  King's  wife,  who  was  distinguished  by  extraordinary  beauty 


INTRODUCTION.  15 

and  elegance,  accompanied  them  to  a  fountain,  whore  they  all  disrohed  themselves 
and  sat  down  together.  The  King's  wife  then  called  out,  0  Masoud  !  and  imme- 
diately a  black  slave  came  to  her,  and  embraced  her;  she  doing  the  like.  So  also 
did  the  other  slaves  and  the  vonien  ;  and  all  of  them  continued  revelling  together 
until  the  close  of  the  day.  When  Shahzeman  beheld  this  spectacle,  he  said  within 
himself,  By  Allah!  my  affliction  is  lighter  than  this!  His  vexation  and  grief  were 
alleviated,  and  he  no  longer  abstained  from  suflBcient  food  and  drink. 

"When  his  brother  returned  from  his  excursion,  and  they  had  saluted  each  other, 
and  King  Shahriar  observed  his  brother,  Shahzeman,  that  his  colour  had  returned, 
that  his  face  had  recovered  the  flush  of  health,  and  that  he  ate  with  appetite,  after 
bis  late  abstinence,  he  was  surprised  and  said,  0  my  brother,  when  I  saw  thee  last, 
thy  countenance  was  sallow,  and  now  thy  colour  has  returned  to  thee  :  acquaint  me 
with  thy  state. — As  to  the  change  of  my  natural  complexion,  answered  Shahzeman, 
I  will  inform  thee  of  its  cause  ;  but  excuse  my  explaining  to  thee  the  return  of  my 
colour.  —  First,  said  Shahriar,  relate  to  me  the  cause  of  the  change  of  thy  proper 
complexion,  and  of  thy  weakness:  let  me  hear  it.  —  Know  then,  0  my  brother,  he 
answered,  that  when  thou  sentest  thy  Vizier  to  me  to  invite  me  to  thy  presence,  I 
prepared  myself  for  the  journey,  and  when  I  had  gone  forth  from  the  city  I  remem- 
bered that  I  had  left  behind  me  the  jewel  that  I  have  given  thee ;  I  therefore  re- 
turned to  my  palace  for  it,  and  there  I  found  my  wife  sleeping  in  my  bed,  and  at- 
tended by  a  black  male  slave  ;  and  I  killed  them  both,  and  came  to  thee ;  but  my 
mind  was  occupied  with  reflections  upon  this  afi"air,  and  this  was  the  cause  of  the 
change  of  my  complexion,  and  of  my  weakness:  now,  as  to  the  return  of  my 
colour,  excuse  my  informing  thee  of  its  cause.  But  when  his  brother  heard  these 
words,  he  said,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  acquaint  me  with  the  cause  of  the 
return  of  thy  colour :  so  he  repeated  to  him  all  that  he  had  seen.  I  would  see  this, 
said  Shahriar,  with  my  own  eye.  —  Then,  said  Shahzeman,  give  out  that  thou  art 
going  again  to  the  chase,  and  conceal  thyself  here  with  me,  and  thou  shalt  witness 
this  conduct,  and  obtain  ocular  proof  of  it. 

Shahriar,  upon  this,  immediately  announced  that  it  was  his  intention  to  make 
another  excursion.  The  troops  went  out  of  the  city  with  the  tents,  and  the  King 
followed  them  ;  and  after  he  had  reposed  awhile  in  the  camp,  he  said  to  his  servants, 
Let  no  one  come  in  to  me:  and  he  disguised  himself,  and  returned  to  his  brother  in 
the  palace,  and  sat  in  one  of  the  windows  overlooking  the  garden  ;  and  when  he  had 
been  there  a  short  time,  the  women  and  their  mistress  entered  the  garden  with  the 
black  slaves,  and  did  as  his  brother  had  described,  continuing  so  until  the  hour  of 
the  afternoon  prayer. 

When  King  Shahriar  beheld  this  occurrence,  reason  fled  from  his  head,  and  he 
said  to  his  brother  Shahzeman,  Arise,  and  let  us  travel  whither  we  please,  and  re- 
nounce the  regal  state,  until  we  see  whether  such  a  calamity  as  this  has  befallen 
any  other  person  like  unto  us ;  and  if  not,  our  death  will  be  preferable  to  our  life. 
His  brother  agreed  to  his  proposal,  and  they  went  out  from  a  private  door  of  the 
palace,  and  journeyed  continually,  days  and  nights,  until  they  arrived  at  a  tree  in 
the  midst  of  a  meadow,  by  a  spring  of  water,  on  the  shore  of  the  sea.  They  drank 
of  this  spring,  and  sat  down  to  rest;  and  when  the  day  had  a  little  advanced,  the 
sea  became  troubled  before  them,  and  there  arose  from  it  a  black  pillar,  ascending 
towards  the  sky,  and  approaching  the  meadow.  Struck  with  fear  at  the  sight,  they 
climbed  up  into  the  tree,  which  was  lofty  ;  and  thence  they  gazed  to  see  what  this 
might  be  :  and  behold  it  was  a  Genie,  of  gigantic  stature,  broad-fronted  and  bulky, 
bearing  on  his  head  a  chest,  lie  landed  and  came  to  the  tree  into  which  the  two 
Kings  had  climbed,  and,  having  seated  himself  beneath  it,  opened  the  chest  and 
cook  out  of  it  another  box,  wliich  he  also  opened:  and  tiiere  came  forth  from  it  a 
young  woman,  fair  and  l>oautiful,  like  the  shining  sun.  When  the  Genie  cast  his 
eyes  upon  her,  he  said,  0  lady  of  noble  race,  whom  I  carried  off  on  thy  weddinu- 
night,  I  have  a  desire  to  sleep  a  little ;  and  he  placed  his  head  upon  her  knee  and 


16  •  INTRODUCTION. 

slept.  The  damsel  then  raised  her  head  towards  the  tree,  and  saw  there  the  two 
Kings ;  upon  \vhich  she  removed  the  head  of  the  Genie  from  her  knee,  and  having 
placed  it  on  the  ground,  stood  under  the  tree,  and  made  signs  to  the  two  Kings  as 
though  she  would  say,  Come  down,  and  fear  not  this  Afrite.'  They  answered  her, 
We  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  excuse  us  in  this  matter.  But  she  said,  I 
conjure  you  by  the  same  that  ye  come  down  ;  and  if  you  do  not,  I  will  rouse  this 
Afrite,  and  he  shall  put  you  to  a  cruel  death.  So,  being  afraid,  they  came  down  to 
her;  and  after  they  had  remained  with  her  as  long  as  she  required,  she  took  from 
her  pocket  a  purse,  and  drew  out  from  this  a  string,  upon  which  were  ninety-eight 
seal  rings ;  and  she  said  to  them,  Know  ye  what  are  these  ?  They  answered.  We 
know  not.  The  owners  of  these  rings,  said  she,  have  all  of  them  had  the  same 
conversation  with  me  which  ye  have,  unknown  to  this  foolish  Afrite ;  therefore,  give 
me  your  two  rings,  ye  brothers.  So  they  gave  her  their  two  rings  from  their  fin- 
gers ;  and  she  then  said  to  them,  This  Afrite  carried  me  off  on  my  wedding-night, 
and  put  me  in  the  box,  and  placed  the  box  in  the  chest,  and  affixed  to  the  chest 
seven  locks,  and  deposited  me,  thus  imprisoned,  in  the  bottom  of  the  roaring  sea, 
beneath  the  dashing  waves ;  not  knowing  that,  when  one  of  our  sex  desires  to  ac- 
complish any  object,  nothing  can  prevent  her.  In  accordance  with  this,  says  one 
of  the  poets: — 

Never  trust  in  women  ;  nor  rely  upon  their  vows  ; 
For  their  pleasure  and  displeasure  depend  upon  their  passions. 
They  offer  a  false  affection  ;  for  perfidy  lurks  within  their  clothing. 
By  the  tale  of  Joseph  be  admonished,  and  guard  against  their  stratagems. 
Dost  thou  not  consider  that  Eblis  ejected  Adam  by  means  of  woman? 

And  another  poet  saj's: — 

Abstain  from  censure;   for  it  will  strengthen   tne   censured,  and  increase  desire  into  violent 

passion. 
If  I  suffer  such  passion,  my  case  is  but  the  same  as  that  of  many  a  man  before  me  : 
For  greatly  indeed  to  be  wondered  at  is  he  who  hath  kept  himself  safe  from  woman's  artifice. 

When  the  two  Kings  heard  these  words  from  her  lips,  they  were  struck  with  the 
utmost  astonishment,  and  said  one  to  the  other,  If  this  is  an  Afrite,  and  a  greater 
calamity  hath  happened  unto  him  than  that  which  hath  befallen  us,  this  is  a  cir- 
cumstance that  should  console  us  ;  and  immediately  they  departed,  and  returned  to 
the  city. 

As  soon  as  they  had  entered  the  palace,  Shahriar  caused  his  wife  to  be  beheaded, 
and  in  like  manner  the  women  and  black  slaves ;  and  thenceforth  he  made  it  his 
regular  custom,  every  time  that  he  took  a  virgin  to  his  bed,  to  kill  her  at  the  expi- 
ration of  the  night.  Thus  he  continued  to  do  during  a  period  of  three  years ;  and 
the  people  raised  an  outcry  against  him,  and  fled  with  their  daughters,  and  there 
remained  not  a  virgin  in  the  city  of  a  sufficient  age  for  marriage.  Such  was  the 
case  when  the  King  ordered  the  Vizier  to  bring  him  a  virgin  according  to  his  custom ; 
and  the  Vizier  went  forth  and  searched,  and  found  none ;  and  he  went  back  to  his 
house  enraged  and  vexed,  fearing  what  the  King  might  do  to  him. 

Now  the  Vizier  had  two  daughters  ;  the  eldest  of  whom  was  named  Sheherazade, 
and  the  younger  Dinarzade.  The  former  had  read  various  books  of  histories,  and 
the  lives  of  preceding  kings,  and  stories  of  past  generations ;  it  is  asserted  that  she 
had  collected  together  a  thousand  books  of  histories,  relating  to  preceding  genera- 
tions and  kings,  and  works  of  the  poets  ;  and  she  said  to  her  father  on  this  occasion, 
Why  do  I  see  thee  thus  changed,  and  oppressed  with  solicitude  and  sorrows?  It 
has  been  said  by  one  of  the  poets : — 

Tell  him  who  is  oppressed  with  anxiety,  that  anxiety  will  not  last : 
As  happiness  passeth  away,  so  passeth  away  anxiety. 

'  Afrite  :  a  powerful  evil  Gonie. 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

When  the  Vizier  heard  these  words  from  his  daughter,  he  related  to  her  all  that 
had  happened  to  him  with  regard  to  the  King:  upon  which  she  said,  By  Allah,  0 
my  father,  give  me  in  marriage  to  this  King :  either  I  shall  die,  and  be  a  ransom  for 
one  of  the  daughters  of  the  Mahometans,  or  I  shall  live,  and  be  the  cause  of  their 
deliverance  from  him. — I  conjure  thee,  by  Allah,  exclaimed  he,  that  thou  expose  not 
thyself  to  such  a  peril ;  but  she  said,  it  must  be  so.  Then,  said  he,  I  fear  for  thee 
that  the  same  will  befall  thee  that  happened  in  the  case  of  the  ass  and  the  bull  and 
the  husbandman. — And  what,  she  asked,  was  that,  0  my  father? 

Know,  0  my  daughter,  said  the  Vi/icr,  that  there  was  a  certain  merchant  who 
possessed  wealth  and  cattle,  and  had  a  wife  and  children  ;  and  God,  whose  name 
be  exalted,  had  also  endowed  him  with  the  knowledge  of  the  languages  of  beasts 
and  birds.  The  abode  of  this  merchant  was  in  the  country  ;  and  he  had,  in  his 
house,  an  ass  and  a  bull.  When  the  bull  came  to  the  place  where  the  ass  was  tied, 
he  found  it  swept  and  sprinkled  ;  in  his  manger  were  sifted  barley  and  sifted  cut 
straw,  and  the  ass  was  lying  at  his  ease;  his  master  being  accustomed  only  to  ride 
him  occasionally,  when  business  required,  and  soon  to  return  :  and  it  happened, 
one  day,  that  the  merchant  overheard  the  bull  saying  to  the  ass.  May  thy  food 
benefit  thee!  I  am  oppressed  with  fiitigue,  while  thou  art  enjoying  repose:  thou 
eatest  sifted  barley,  and  men  serve  thee  ;  and  it  is  only  occasionally  that  thy  master 
rides  thee,  and  returns ;  while  I  am  continually  employed  in  ploughing,  and  turn- 
ing the  mill.  The  ass  answered.  When  thou  goest  out  to  the  field,  and  they  place 
the  yoke  upon  thy  neck,  lie  down,  and  do  not  rise  again,  even  if  they  beat  thee ;  or 
if  thou  rise,  lie  down  a  second  time  ;  and  when  they  take  thee  back,  and  place  th« 
beans  before  thee,  eat  them  not,  as  though  thou  wert  sick :  abstain  from  eating  and 
drinking  a  day,  or  two  days,  or  three  ;  and  so  shalt  thou  find  rest  from  trouble  and 
labour.  Accordingly,  when  the  driver  came  to  the  bull  with  his  fodder,  he  ate 
scarcely  any  of  it:  and  on  the  morrow,  when  the  driver  came  again  to  take  him  to 
plough,  he  found  him  apparently  quite  infirm :  so  the  merchant  said,  Take  the  ass, 
and  make  him  draw  the  plough  in  his  stead  all  the  day.  The  man  did  so ;  and 
when  the  ass  returned  at  the  close  of  the  day,  the  bull  thanked  him  for  the  favour 


.;■  ^m 


The  Ass  at  Plough. 


he  had  conferred  upon  him  by  relieving  him  of  his  trouble  on  that  day ;  but  the 
ass  returned  him  no  answer,  for  he  repented  most  grievously.  On  the  next  day, 
the  ploughman  came  again,  and  took  the  ass,  and  ploughed  with  him  till  evening  ; 
and  the  ass  returned  with  his  neck  flayed  by  the  yoke,  and  reduced  to  an  extreme 
state  of  weakness,  and  the  bull  looked  upon  him,  and  thanked  and  praised  him. 
The  asS  exclaimed,  I  was  living  at  ease,  and  nought  but  my  meddling  hath  injured 
me !  Then  said  he  to  the  bull.  Know  that  T  am  one  who  would  give  thee  good 
advice:  I  heard  our  master  say.  If  the  bull  rise  not  from  his  place,  take  him  to  the 
butcher,  that  he  may  kill  him,  and  make  a  nata'  of  his  skin  :  I  am  therefore  in 
fear  for  thee,  and  so  I  have  given  thee  advice;  and  peace  be  on  thee!  When  the 
bull  heard  these  words  of  the  ass,  he  thanked  him,  and  said.  To-morrow  I  will  go 
with  alacrity: — so  he  ate  the  whole  of  his  fodder,  and  even  licked  the  manger. — 
Their  master,  meanwhile,  was  listening  to  their  conversation. 

On  the  following  morning,  the  merchant  and  his  wife  went  to  the  bull's  crib,  and 

'  A  large  piece  of  leather  with  a  running  string  all  around  the  edge,  which,  being  drawn, 
conyerts  it  into  a  bag  for  carrying  provisions  ;  when  spread  it  serves  for  a  table. 
2 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

sat  down  there ;  and  the  driver  came  and  took  out  the  bull ;  and  when  the  bull  saw 
his  master,  he  shook  his  tail,  and  showed  his  alacrity  by  sounds  and  actions,  bound- 
ing about  in  such  a  manner  that  the  merchant  laughed  until  he  fell  backwards. 
His  wife,  in  surprise,  asked  him.  At  what  dost  thou  laugh?  He  answered.  At  a 
thing  that  I  have  heard  and  seen  ;  but  I  cannot  reveal  it;  for  if  I  did  I  should  die. 
She  said,  Thou  must  inform  me  of  the  cause  of  thy  laughter,  even  if  thou  die. — I 
cannot  reveal  it,  said  he :  the  fear  of  death  prevents  me. — Thou  laughedst  only  at 
me,  she  said  ;  and  she  ceased  not  to  urge  and  importune  him  until  he  was  quite 
overcome  and  distracted.  So  he  called  together  his  children,  and  sent  for  the  Cadi' 
and  witnesses,  that  he  might  make  his  will,  and  reveal  the  secret  to  her,  and  die: 
for  he  loved  her  excessively,  since  she  was  the  daughter  of  his  paternal  uncle,  and 
the  mother  of  his  children,  and  he  had  lived  with  her  to  the  age  of  a  hundred  and 
twenty  years.  Having  assembled  her  family  and  his  neighbours,  he  related  to 
them  his  story,  and  told  them  that  as  soon  as  he  revealed  his  secret  he  must  die; 
upon  which  every  one  present  said  to  her.  We  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou 
give  up  this  affair,  and  let  not  thy  husband,  and  the  father  of  thy  children,  die. 
But  she  said,  I  will  not  desist  until  he  tell  me,  though  he  die  for  it.  So  they  ceased 
to  solicit  her ;  and  the  merchant  left  them,  and  went  to  the  stable  to  perform  the 
ablution,  and  then  to  return,  and  tell  them  the  secret,  and  die. 

Now  he  had  a  cock,  with  fifty  hens  under  him,  and  he  had  also  a  dog;  and  he 
heard  the  dog  call  to  the  cock  and  reproach  him,  saying.  Art  thou  happy  when  our 
master  is  going  to  die?  The  cock  asked.  How  so? — and  the  dog  related  to  him  the 
story  ;  upon  which  the  cock  exclaimed,  By  Allah  !  our  master  has  little  sense  :  1 
have  ^y??/ wives  ;  and  I  please  this  and  provoke  that;  while  he  has  but  o?ie  wife, 
and  cannot  manage  this  affair  with  her:  why  does  he  not  take  some  twigs  of  the 
mulberry-tree,  and  enter  her  chamber,  and  beat  her  until  she  dies  or  repents?  She 
would  never,  after  that,  ask  him  a  question  respecting  anything. — When  the 
merchant  heard  the  words  of  the  cock,  as  he  addressed  the  dog,  he  recovered  his 


The  D<iK  and  the  Cock. 

reason,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  beat  her.  Now,  said  the  Vizier  to  his  daughter 
Sheherazade,  perhaps  I  may  do  to  thee  as  the  merchant  did  to  his  wife.  She 
asked,  And  what  did  he?  He  answered.  He  entered  her  chamber,  after  he  had  cut 
off  some  twigs  of  the  mulberry-tree,  and  hidden  them  there ;  and  then  said  to  her, 
Come  into  the  chamber,  that  I  may  tell  thee  the  secret  while  no  one  sees  me,  and 
then  die:  and  when  she  had  entered,  he  locked  the  chamber-door  upon  her,  and 
beat  her  until  she  became  almost  senseless,  and  cried  out,  I  repent:  —  and  she 
kissed  his  hands  and  his  feet,  and  repented,  and  went  out  with  him  ;  and  all  the 
company  and  her  own  family  rejoiced ;  and  they  lived  together  in  the  happiest 
manner  until  death. 

When  the  Vizier's  daughter  heard  the  words  of  her  father,  she  said  to  him,  It 
must  be  as  I  have  requested.  So  he  arrayed  her,  and  went  to  the  King  Shahriar. 
Now  she  had  given  directions  to  her  young  sister,  saying  to  her.  When  I  have  gone 
to  the  King,  I  will  send  to  request  thee  to  come  ;  and  when  thou  comest  to  me,  and 
seest  a  convenient  time,  do  thou  say  to  me,  0  my  sister,  relate  to  me  some  strange 
story  to  beguile  our  waking  hour: — and  I  will  relate  to  thee  a  story  that  shall,  if 
it  be  the  will  of  God,  be  the  means  of  procuring  deliverance. 

'  The  Tadi  is  a  judge;  but  in  small  towns  he  ofien  acts  as  a  lawyer  or  notary. 


INTRODUCTION. 


19 


Her  father,  the  Vizier,  then  took  her  to  the  King,  who,  when  he  saw  him,  was 
rejoiced,  and  said,  Ilast  thou  broujiht  me  what  I  desired?  lie  answered,  Yes. 
When  the  King,  therefore,  introduced  himself  to  her,  she  wept;  and  he  said  to  her, 
What  aileth  thee?  She  answered,  0  King,  I  have  a  young  sister,  and  I  wish  to  take 
leave  of  her.  So  the  King  sent  to  her,  and  she  came  to  her  sister,  and  embraced 
her :  and  sat  near  the  foot  of  the  bed  ;  and  after  she  had  waited  for  a  proper  oppor- 
tunity, she  said,  By  Allah  !  0  my  sister,  relate  to  us  a  story  to  beguile  the  waking 
hour  of  our  night.  Most  willingly,  answered  Sheherazade,  if  this  virtuous  king 
permit  me.  The  King,  hearing  these  words,  and  being  restless,  was  pleased  with 
the  idea  of  listening  to  the  story  ;  and  thus,  on  the  first  night  of  the  thousand  and 
one,  Sheherazade  commenced  her  recitations. 


Iinar  anveiline  Sheh«razad« . 


20  THE   STORY   OF   THE   MERCHANT   AND   THE   GENH. 


CHAPTER   I. 

Commencing  with  the  First  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Third. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  MERCHANT  AND  THE  GENII. 

It  has  been  related  to  me,  0  happy  King,  said  Sheherazade,  thiit  there  was  a 
certain  merchant  who  had  great  wealth,  and  traded  extensively  with  siirrourdi)  p 
countries;  and  one  day  he  mounted  his  horse,  and  journeyed  to  a  neighbouring 
country  to  collect  what  was  due  to  him,  and,  the  heat  oppressing  him,  he  sat  iin('er 
a  tree,  in  a  garden,  and  put  his  hand  into  his  saddle-bag,  and  ate  a  morsel  of  bread 
and  a  date  which  were  among  his  provisions.  Having  eaten  the  date,  he  threw  aside 
the  stone,  and  immediately  there  appeared  before  him  an  Afrite,  of  enormous 
height,  who  holding  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  approached  him,  and  said.  Rise, 
that  I  may  kill  thee,  as  thou  hast  killed  my  son.  The  mei-chant  asked  him,  How 
have  I  killed  thy  son  ?  He  answered,  When  thou  atest  the  date,  and  threwest  aside 
the  stone,  it  struck  my  son  upon  the  chest,  and,  as  fate  had  decreed  against  him,  he 
instantly  died. 

The  merchant  on  hearing  these  words,  exclaimed.  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and 
verily  to  him  we  must  return  !  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the 
High,  the  Great.  If  I  killed  him,  I  did  it  not  Tntentionally,  but  without  knowing 
it;  and  I  trust  in  thee  that  thou  wilt  pardon  me.  The  Genie  answered,  Thy  death 
is  indispensable,  as  thou  hast  killed  my  son  :  and  so  saying,  he  dragged  him,  and 
threw  him  on  the  ground,  and  raised  his  arm  to  strike  him  with  the  sword.  The 
merchant,  upon  this,  wept  bitterly,  and  said  to  the  Genie,  I  commit  my  affair  unto 
God,  for  no  one  can  avoid  what  He  hath  decreed  :  and  he  continued  his  lamentation, 
repeating  the  following  verses  : — 

Time  consists  of  two  days;  this,  bright;  and  that,  gloomy  :  and  life    j{  two  moieties;  this, 

safe ;  and  that,  fearful. 
Say  to  him  who  hath  taunted  us  on  account  of  misfortunes,  Doth  fortuue  oppose  any  but  the 

eminent? 
Dost  thou  not  observe  that  corpses  float  upon  the  sea,  while  the  precious  pearls  remain  in  its 

furthest  depths  ? 
When  the  hands  of  time  play  with  us,  misfortune  is  imparted  to  us  by  its  protracted  kiss. 
In  the  heaven  are  stars  that  cannot  be  numbered ;  but  none  is  eclipsed  save  the  sun  and  the 

moon. 
How  many  green  and  dry  trees  are  on  the  earth ;  but  none  is  assailed  with  stones  save  that 

which  beareth  fruit! 
Thou  thoughtest  well  of  the  days  when  they  went  well  with  thee,  and  fearedst  not  the  evil 

that  destiny  was  bringing. 

— When  he  had  finished  reciting  these  verses,  the  Genie  said  to  him.  Spare  thy 
words,  for  thy  death  is  unavoidable. 

Then  said  the  merchant,  Know,  0  Afrite,  that  I  have  debts  to  pay,  and  T  have 
much  property,  and  children,  and  a  wife,  and  I  have  pledges  also  in  my  possession; 
let  me,  therefore,  go  back  to  my  house,  and  give  to  every  one  his  due,  and  then  I 
will  return  to  thee:  I  bind  myself  by  a  vow  and  covenant  that  I  will  return  to  thee, 
and  thou  shalt  do  what  thou  wilt;  and  God  is  witness  of  what  I  say.     Upon  this. 


THE    FIRST    SHEIKH    AND    THE    GAZELLB.  21 

the  Genie  accepted  his  covenant,  and  liberated  him  ;  granting  hinn  a  respite  until 
the  expiration  of  tlie  j'ear. 

The  merchant,  therefore,  returned  to  his  town,  accomplished  all  that  was  upon  his 
mind  to  do,  paid  every  one  what  he  owed  him,  and  informed  his  wife  and  children 
of  the  event  which  had  befallen  him  ;  upon  hearing  which,  they  and  all  his  family 
and  women  wept.  He  appointed  a  guardian  over  his  children,  and  remained  with 
his  family  until  the  end  of  the  year :  when  he  took  his  grave-clothes  under  his  arm, 
bade  farewell  to  his  household  and  neighbours,  and  ail  his  relations,  and  went  forth, 
in  spite  of  himself;  his  family  raising  cries  of  lamentation,  and  shrieking. 

He  proceeded  until  he  arrived  at  the  garden  before  mentioned  ;  and  it  was  the  first 
day  of  the  new  year;  and  as  he  sat,  weeping  for  the  calamity  which  he  expected 
soon  to  befivll  him,  a  sheikh,'  advanced  in  years,  approached  him,  leading  a  gazelle 
with  a  chain  attached  to  its  neck.  This  sheikh  saluted  the  merchant,  wishing  him 
a  long  life,  and  said  to  him.  What  is  the  reason  of  thy  sitting  alone  in  this  place, 
seeing  that  it  is  a  resort  of  the  Genii?  The  merchant  therefore  informed  him  of 
what  had  befallen  him  with  the  Afrite,  and  of  the  cause  of  his  sitting  there ;  at 
which  the  sheikh,  the  owner  of  the  gazelle,  was  astonished,  and  said.  By  Allah,  0 
my  brother,  thy  faithfulness  is  great,  and  thy  story  is  wonderful !  if  it  were  engraved 
upon  the  intellect,  it  would  be  a  lesson  to  him  who  would  be  admonished  !  And  he 
sat  down  by  his  side,  and  said.  By  Allah,  0  my  brother,  I  will  not  quit  this  place 
until  I  see  what  will  happen  unto  thee  with  this  Afrite.  So  he  sat  down,  and  con- 
versed with  him.  And  the  merchant  became  almost  senseless;  fear  entered  him, 
terror,  and  violent  grief,  and  excessive  anxiety.  And  as  the  owner  of  the  gazelle 
sat  by  his  side,  lo !  a  second  sheikh  approached  them,  with  two  black  hounds,  and 
inquired  of  them,  after  saluting  them,  the  reason  of  their  sitting  in  that  place, 
seeing  that  it  was  a  resort  of  the  Genii :  and  they  told  him  the  story  from  beginning 
to  end.  And  he  had  hardly  sat  down  when  there  approached  them  a  third  sheikh, 
with  a  dapple  mule  ;  and  he  asked  them  the  same  question,  which  was  answered  in 
the  same  manner. 

Immediately  after  the  dust  was  agitated,  and  became  an  enormous  revolving 
pillar,  approaching  them  from  the  midst  of  the  desert:  and  this  dust  subsided,  and 
behold,  the  Genie,  with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand  ;  his  eyes  casting  forth  sparks  of 
fire.  He  came  to  them,  and  dragged  from  them  the  merchant,  and  said  to  him.  Rise, 
that  I  may  kill  thee,  as  thou  killedst  my  son,  the  vital  spirit  of  my  heart.  And  the 
merchant  wailed  and  wept;  and  the  three  sheikhs  also  manifested  their  sorrow  by 
weeping  and  crying  aloud,  and  wailing:  but  the  first  sheikh,  who  was  the  owner  of 
the  gazelle,  recovering  his  self-possession,  kissed  the  hand  of  the  Afrite,  and  said 
to  him,  0  thou  Genie,  and  crown  of  the  kings  of  the  Genii,  if  I  relate  to  thee  the 
story  of  myself  and  this  gazelle,  and  thou  find  it  to  be  wonderful,  and  more  so  than 
the  adventure  of  this  merchant,  wilt  thou  give  up  to  me  a  third  of  thy  claim  to  his 
blood?  He  answered,  Yes,  0  sheikh:  if  thou  relate  to  me  the  story,  and  I  find  it 
to  be  ae  thou  hast  said,  I  will  give  up  to  thee  a  third  of  my  claim  to  his  blood. 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  FIRST  SHEIKH  AND  THE  GAZELLE. 

Then  said  the  sheikh,  Know,  0  Afrite,  that  this  gazelle  is  the  daughter  of  my 
paternal  uncle,  and  she  is  of  my  flesh  and  my  blood.  I  took  her  as  my  wife  when 
she  was  young,  and  lived  with  her  about  thirty  years  ;  but  I  was  not  blessed  with  a 
child  by  her ;  so  took  to  me  a  concubine  slave,  and  by  her  I  was  blessed  with  a  male 
child,  like  the  rising  full  moon,  with  beautiful  eyes,  and  delicately-shaped  eyebrows, 
«nd  perfectly-formed  limbs  ;  and  he  grew  up  by  little  and  little  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  fifteen  years.  At  this  period  I  unexpectedly  had  occasion  to  journey  to  a 
certain  city,  and  went  thither  with  a  great  stock  of  merchandise. 

'  A  title  of  respec'  given  only  to  Mahooietang  :  it  signifiea  literally  "  an  old  man." 


THE   PIRST   SHEIKH    AND   THE   GAZELLE. 


Now  my  cousin,  this  gazelle,  had  studied  enchantment  and  divination  from  her 
early  years ;  and,  during  my  absence,  she  transformed  the  youth  above  mentioned 

into  a  calf,  and  his  mother  into 
a  cow  ;  and  committed  them  to 
the  care  of  the  herdsman  :  and 
when  I  returned,  after  a  long 
time,  from  my  journey,  I  asked 
after  my  son  and  his  mother, 
and  she  said,  Thy  slave  is  dead, 
and  thy  son  hath  fled,  and  I 
know  not  whither  he  is  gone. 
After  hearing  this,  I  remained 
^  for  the  space  of  a  year  with 
mourning  heart  and  weeping  eye, 
until  the  Festival  of  the  Sacri- 
fice ;  when  I  sent  to  the  herdrs. 

Ttansformation  of  the  Concubine  into  a  Cow  inau,  and  Ordered  him  tO  choOSe 

for  me  a  fat  cow  ;  and  he  brought  me  one,  and  it  was  my  concubine,  whom  this 
gazelle  had  enchanted.  I  tucked  up  my  skirts  and  sleeves,  and  took  the  knife  in  my 
hand,  and  prepared  myself  to  slaughter  her;  upon  which  she  moaned  and  cried  so 
violently  that  I^left  her,  and  ordered  the  herdsman  to  kill  and  skin  her  ;  and  he  did 
so,  but  found  in  her  neither  fat  nor  flesh,  nor  anything  but  skin  and  bone  ;  and  I 
repented  of  slaughtering  her,  when  repentance  was  of  no  avail.  I  therefore  gave 
her  to  the  herdsman,  and  said  to  him,  bring  me  a  fat  calf:  and  he  brought  me  my 
son,  who  was  transformed  into  a  calf.  And  when  the  calf  saw  me,  he  broke  his 
rope,  and  came  to  me,  and  fawned  upon  me,  and  wailed  and  cried,  so  that  I  was 
moved  with  pity  for  him  ;  and  I  said  to  the  herdsman,  Bring  me  a  cow,  and  let 
this — 

Here  Sheherazade  perceived  the  light  of  morning,  and  discontinued  the  recitation 
with  which  she  had  been  allowed  thus  far  to  proceed.  Her  sister  said  to  her.  How 
excellent  is  thy  story  !  and  how  pretty  !  and  how  pleasant !  and  how  sweet ! — but  she 
answered.  What  is  this  in  comparison  with  that  which  I  will  relate  to  thee  in  the 
next  night,  if  I  live,  and  the  King  spare  me !  And  the  King  said,  By  Allah,  I  will 
not  kill  her  until  I  hear  the  remainder  of  her  story.  Thus  they  pleasantly  passed 
the  night  until  the  morning,  when  the  King  went  forth  to  his  hall  of  judgment,  and 
the  Vizier  went  thither  with  the  grave-clothes  under  his  arm  ;  and  the  King  gave 
judgment,  and  invested  and  displaced,  until  the  close  of  the  day,  without  informing 
the  Vizier  of  that  which  had  happened  ;  and  the  minister  was  greatly  astonished. 
The  court  was  then  dissolved  ;  and  the  King  returned  to  the  privacy  of  his  palace. 

[On  the  second  and  each  succeeding  night,  Sheherazade  continued  so  to  interest 
King  Shahriar  by  her  stories  as  to  induce  him  to  defer  putting  her  to  death,  in  ex- 
pectation that  her  fund  of  amusing  tales  would  soon  be  exhausted  ;  and  as  this  is 
expressed  in  the  original  work  in  nearly  the  same  words  at  the  close  of  every  night, 
such  repetitions  will  in  the  present  translation  be  omitted.] 

When  the  sheikh,  continued  Sheherazade,  observed  the  tears  of  the  calf,  his  heart 
sympathised  with  him,  and  he  said  to  the  herdsman,  Let  this  calf  remain  with  the 
cattle. — Meanwhile  the  Genie  wondered  at  this  strange  story  ;  and  the  owner  of  the 
gazelle  thus  proceeded. 

0  lord  of  the  kings  of  the  Genii,  while  this  happened,  mj'  cousin,  this  gazelle, 
looked  on,  and  said.  Slaughter  this  calf i^. for  he  is  fat:  but  I  could  not  do  it:  so  I 
ordered  the  herdsman  to  take  it  back  ;  and  he  took  him,  and  went  away.  And  as  I 
was  sitting,  on  the  following  day,  he  came  to  me,  and  said,  0  my  master,  I  have  to 
tell  thee  something  that  thou  wilt  be  rejoiced  to  hear;  and  a  reward  is  due  to  me  for 
bringing  good  news.  I  answered.  Well :  and  he  said,  0  merchant,  I  have  a 
daughter  who  learned  enchantment  in  her  youth  from  an  old  womjui  in  our  family ; 


THE   FIRST   SHEIKH   AND   THE    GAZELLE. 


23 


and  yesterday,  when  thou  gavest  me  the  calf,  I  took  him  to  her,  and  she  looked  at 
him,  and  covered  her  face,  and  wept,  and  then  laughed,  and  said,  0  my  father,  hath 
my  condition  become  so  degraded  in  thy  opinion,  that  thou  bringest  before  me 
strange  men  ? — Where,  said  I,  are  any  strange  men  ?  and  wherefore  didst  thou  weep 
and  laugh  ?  She  answered,  This  calf  that  is  with  thee  is  the  son  of  our  master,  the 
merchant,  and  the  wife  of  our  master  hath  enchanted  both  him  and  h^^s  mother ;  and 
this  was  the  reason  of  my  laughter:  but  as  to  the  reason  of  my  weeping,  it  was  on 
account  of  his  mother,  because  his  father  had  slaughtered  her.  And  I  was  excessi- 
vely astonished  at  this;  and  scarcely  was  I  certain  that  the  light  of  morning  had 
appeared  when  I  hastened  to  inform  thee. 

When  I  heard,  0  Genie,  the  words  of  the  herdsman,  I  went  forth  with  him,  in- 
toxicated without  wine,  from  the  excessive  joy  and  happiness  that  I-  received,  and 

•111' 


The  Herdsman  introdacing  his  Daughter  to  the  Sheikh. 

arrived  at  his  house,  where  his  daughter  welcomed  me,  and  kissed  my  hand ;  and 
the  calf  came  to  me,  and  fawned  upon  me.  And  I  said  to  the  herdsman's  daughter, 
Is  that  true  which  thou  hast  said  respecting  this  calf?  She  answered,  Yes,  0  my 
master ;  he  is  verily  thy  son,  and  the  vital  spirit  of  thy  heart.  0  maiden,  said  I,  if 
thou  wilt  restore  him,  all  the  cattle  and  other  property  of  mine  that  thy  father  hath 
under  his  care  shall  be  thine.  Upon  this,  she  smiled  and  said,  0  my  master,  I  have 
no  desire  for  the  property  unless  on  two  conditions  :  the  first  is,  that  thou  shalt  marry 
me  to  him  ;  and  the  second,  that  I  shall  enchant  her  who  enchanted  him,  and  so  re- 
strain her  ;  otherwise  I  shall  not  be  secure  from  her  artifice.  On  hearing,  0  Genie, 
these  her  words,  I  said,  And  thou  shalt  have  all  the  property  that  is  under  the  care 
of  thy  father  besides ;  and  as  to  my  cousin,  even  her  blood  shall  be  lawful  to  thee. 
So,  when  she  heard'  this,  she  took  a  cup,  and  filled  it  with  water,  and  repeated  a 


24  THE   SECOND    SHEIKH   AND   THE   TWO   BLACK  HOUNDS. 

spell  over  it,  and  sprinkled  with  it  the  calf,  saying  to  him.  If  God  created  thee  a 
calf,  remain  in  this  form,  and  be  not  changed  :  but  if  thou  be  enchanted,  return  to 
thy  original  form,  by  permission  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted ! — upon  which  he 
shook,  and  became  a  man  ;  and  I  threw  myself  upon  him,  and  said,  I  conjure  thee 
by  Allah  that  thou  relate  to  me  all  that  my  cousin  did  to  thee  and  to  thy  mother. 
So  he  related  to  me  all  that  had  happened  to  them  both  ;  and  I  said  to  him,  0  my 
son,  God  hath  given  thee  one  to  liberate  thee,  and  to  avenge  thee :  and  I  married  to 
him,  0  Genie,  the  herdsman's  daughter;  after  which,  she  transformed  my  cousin 
into  this  gazelle.."  And  as  I  happened  to  pass  this  way,  I  saw  this  merchant,  and 
asked  him  what  had  happened  to  him  ;  and  when  he  had  informed  me,  I  sat  down  to 
see  the  result. — This  is  my  story.  The  Genie  said.  This  is  a  wonderful  tale  ;  and  I 
give  up  to  thee  a  third  of  my  claim  to  his  blood. 

The  second  sheikh,  the  owner  of  the  two  hounds,  then  advanced,  and  said  to  the 
Genie,  If  I  relate  to  thee  the  story  of  myself  and  these  hounds,  and  thou  find  it  to 
be  in  like  manner  wonderful,  wilt  thou  remit  to  me,  also,  a  third  of  thy  claim  to 
the  blood  of  this  merchant?     The  Genie  answered.  Yes. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  SHEIKH  AND  THE  TWO  BLACK  HOUNDS. 

Then  said  the  sheikh.  Know,  0  lord  of  the  kings  of  the  Genii,  that  these  two 
hounds  are  my  brothers.  My  father  died,  and  left  to  us  three  thousand  pieces  of 
gold'  and  I  opened  a  shop  to  sell  and  buy.  But  one  of  my  brothers  made  a  journey, 
with  a  stock  of  merchandise,  and  was  absent  from  us  for  the  space  of  a  year  with 
the  caravans;  after  which  he  returned  destitute.  I  said  to  him.  Did  I  not  advise 
thee  to  abstain  from  travelling?  But  he  wept,  and  said,  0  my  brother,  God,  to 
whom  be  ascribed  all  might  and  glory,  decreed  this  event;  and  there  is  no  longer 
any  profit  in  these  words :  I  have  nothing  left.  So  I  took  him  up  into  the  shop,  and 
then  went  with  him  in  the  ba.th,  and  clad  him  in  a  costly  suit  of  my  own  clothing ; 
after  which  we  sat  down  together  to  eat ;  and  I  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  I  will 
calculate  the  gain  of  my  shop  during  the  year,  and  divide  it,  exclusive  of  the 
principal,  between  me  and  thee.  Accordingly,  I  made  the  calculation,  and  found 
my  gain  to  amount  to  two  thousand  pieces  of  gold ;  and  I  praised  God,  to  whom  be 
ascribed  all  might  and  glory,  and  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  divided  the  gain  in  two 
equal  parts  between  myself  and  him.  My  other  brother  then  set  forth  on  a  journey ; 
and  after  a  year  returned  in  the  like  condition  ;  and  I  did  unto  him  as  I  had  done 
to  the  former. 

After  this,  when  we  had  lived  together  for  some  time,  my  brothers  again  wished 
to  travel,  and  were  desirous  that  I  should  accompany  them  ;  but  I  would  not. 
What,  said  I,  have  ye  gained  in  your  travels,  that  I  should  expect  to  gain  ?  They 
importuned  me;  but  I  would  not  comply  with  their  request;  and  we  remained 
selling  and  buying  in  our  shops  a  whole  year.  Still,  however,  they  persevered  in 
proposing  that  we  should  travel,  and  I  still  refused,  until  after  the  lapse  of  six 
entire  years,  when  at  last  I  consented,  and  said  to  them,  0  my  brothers,  let  us  cal- 
culate what  property  we  possess.  We  did  so,  and  found  it  to  be  six  thousand  pieces 
of  gold :  and  I  then  said  to  them.  We  will  bury  half  of  it  in  the  earth,  that  it  may 
be  of  service  to  us  if  any  misfortune  befall  us,  in  which  case  each  of  us  shall  take 
a  thousand  pieces,  with  which  to  traffic.  Excellent  is  thy  advice,  said  they.  So  I 
took  the  money  and  divided  it  into  two  equal  portions,  and  buried  three  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  ;  and  of  the  other  half,  I  gave  to  each  of  them  a  thousand  pieces. 
We  then  prepared  merchandise ;  and  hired  a  ship,  and  embarked  our  goods,  and 
proceeded  on  our  voyage  for  the  space  of  a  whole  month,  at  the  expiration  of  which 

'  These  are  dinars,  in  value  about  ten  shillings  each. 


THE    SECOND   SHEIKH   AND   THE   TWO    BLACK   HOUNDS.  25 

we  arrived  at  a  city,  where  we  sold  our  merchandise  ;  and  for  every  piece  of  gold 
we  gained  ten. 

And  when  we  were  about  to  set  sail  again,  we  found  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  a 
maiden  clad  in  tattered  garments,  who  kissed  my  hand,  and  said  to  me,  O  my 
master,  art  thou  possessed  of  charity  and  kindness  ?  If  so,  I  will  requite  thee  for 
them.  I  answered,  Yes,  I  have  those  qualities,  though  thou  requite  me  not.  Then 
said  she,  0  my  master,  accept  me  as  thy  wife,  and  take  me  to  thy  country  ;  for  I 
give  myself  to  thee :  act  kindly  towards  me  ;  for  I  am  one  who  requires  to  be  treated 
with  kindness  and  charity,  and  who  will  requite  thee  for  so  doing ;  and  let  not  my 
present  condition  at  all  deceive  thee.  When  I  heard  these  words,  my  heart  was 
moved  with  tenderness  towards  her,  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  a  purpose 
of  God,  to  whom  be  ascribed  all  might  and  glory  ;  and  I  took  her,  and  clothed  her, 
and  furnished  for  her  a  place  in  the  ship  in  a  handsome  manner,  and  regarded  her 
with  kind  and  respectful  attention. 

We  then  set  sail ;  and  I  became  most  cordially  attached  to  my  wife,  so  that,  on 
her  account,  I  neglected  the  society  of  my  brothers,  who,  in  consequence,  became 
jealous  of  me,  and  likewise  envied  me  my  wealth,  and  the  abundance  of  my  mer- 
chandise ;  casting  the  eyes  of  covetousness  upon  the  whole  of  the  property.  They 
therefore  consulted  together  to  kill  me,  and  take  my  wealth  ;  saying,  Let  us  kill  our 
brother,  and  all  the  property  shall  be  ours  : — and  the  devil  made  these  actions  to  seem 
fair  in  their  eyes  ;  so  they  came  while  I  was  sleeping  by  the  side  of  my  wife,  and  took 
both  of  us  up,  and  threw  us  into  the  sea.  But  as  soon  as  my  wife  awoke,  she  shook  her- 
self, and  became  transformed  into  a  Fairy.  She  immediately  bore  me  away,  and 
placed  me  upon  an  island,  and,  for  a  while,  disappeared.  In  the  morning,  however, 
she  returned,  and  said  to  me,  I  am  thy  wife,  who  carried  thee,  and  rescued  thee  from 
death,  by  permission  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted.  Know  that  I  am  a  Fairy :  I 
saw  thee,  and  my  heart  loved  thee  for  the  sake  of  God  ;  for  I  am  a  believer  in  God 
and  his  apostle,  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !  I  came  to  thee  in  the  condition  in 
which  thou  sawest  me,  and  thou  didst  marry  me ;  and  see,  I  have  rescued  thee  from 
drowning.  But  I  am  incensed  against  thy  brothers,  and  I  must  kill  them.  —  When 
I  heard  her  tale,  I  was  astonished,  and  thanked  her  for  what  she  had  done; — But, 
said  I,  as  to  the  destruction  of  my  brothers,  it  is  not  what  I  desire.  I  then  related 
to  her  all  that  had  happened  between  myself  and  them  from  first  to  last ;  and  when 
she  had  heard  it,  she  said,  I  will,  this  next  night,  fly  to  them,  and  sink  their  ship, 
and  destroy  them.  But  I  said,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  do  it  not ;  for  the 
author  of  the  proverb  saith,  0  thou  benefactor  of  him  who  hath  done  evil,  the  action 
that  he  hath  done  is  sufiicient  for  him : — besides,  they  are  at  all  events  my  brothers. 
She  still,  however,  said.  They  must  be  killed;  —  and  I  continued  to  propitiate  her 
towards  them  ;  and  at  last  she  lifted  me  up,  and  soared  through  the  air,  and  placed 
me  on  the  roof  of  my  house. 

Having  opened  the  doors,  I  dug  up  what  I  had  hidden  in  the  earth ;  and  after  I 
had  saluted  my  neighbours,  and  bought  merchandise,  I  opened  my  shop.  And  in 
the  following  night  when  I  entered  my  house,  I  found  these  two  dogs  tied  up  in  it; 
and  as  soon  as  they  saw  me,  they  came  to  me  and  wept,  and  clung  to  me  ;  but  I 
knew  not  what  had  happened  until  immediately  my  wife  appeared  before  me,  and 
said.  These  are  thy  brothers.  And  who,  said  I,  hath  done  this  unto  them  ?  She 
answered,  I  sent  to  my  sister,  and  she  did  it ;  and  they  shall  not  be  restored  until 
after  the  lapse  of  ten  years.  And  I  was  now  on  my  way  to  her,  that  she  might 
restore  them,  as  they  have  been  in  this  state  ten  years,  when  I  saw  this  man,  and, 
being  informed  of  what  had  befallen  him,  I  determined  not  to  quit  the  place  until  I 
should  have  seen  what  would  happen  between  thee  and  him.  —This  is  my  story. — 
Verily,  said  the  Genie,  it  is  a  wonderful  tale  ;  and  I  give  up  to  thee  a  third  of  the 
claim  that  I  had  to  his  blood  on  account  of  his  offence. 

Upon  this,  the  third  sheikh,  the  owner  of  the  mule,  said  to  the  Genie,  As  to  me, 
break  not  my  heart  if  I  relate  to  thee  nothing  more  than  this : — 


THE    THIRD    SHEIKH    AND    THE    MULE. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  THIRD  SHEIKH  AND  THE  MULE. 

The  mule  that  thou  seest  was  my  wife :  she  became  enamoured  of  a  black  slave  ; 
and  when  I  discovered  her  with  him,  she  took  a  mug  of  water,  and,  having  uttered 
a  spell  over  it,  sprinkled  me  and  transformed  me  into  a  dog.  In  this  state,  I  ran  to 
the  shop  of  a  butcher,  whose  daughter  saw  me,  and,  being  skilled  in  enchantment, 
restored  me  to  my  original  form,  and  instructed  me  to  enchant  my  wife  in  the 
manner  thou  beholdest. — And  now  I  hope  that  thou  wilt  remit  to  me  also  a  third  of 
the  merchant's  offence.     Divinely  was  he  gifted  who  said, 

Sow  good,  even  on  an  unworthy  soil;  for  it  will  not  be  lost  wherever  it  is  sown. 

When  the  sheikh  had  thus  finished  his  story,  the  Genie  shook  with  delight,  and 
remitted  the  remaining  third  of  his  claim  to  the  merchant's  blood.  The  merchant 
then  approached  the  sheikhs  and  thanked  them,  and  they  congratulated  him  on  his 
safety,  and  each  went  his  way. 

But  this,  said  Sheherazade,  is  not  more  wonderful  than  the  story  of  the  fisher- 
man. The  King  asked  her,  And  what  is  the  story  of  the  fisherman  ?  And  she 
related  it  as  follows : — 


^    . 


^'^'''•'l^l'jl- 


The  Genie  listening  to  the  TaleH  of  the  Sheikhs. 


THE   FISHERMAN.  27 


CHAPTER    II. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Third  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Ninth. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  FISHERMAN. 

There  was  a  certain  fisherman,  advanced  in  age,  who  had  a  wife  and  three  chil- 
dren ;  and  though  he  was  in  indigent  circumstances,  it  was  his  custom  to  cast  his 
net,  every  day,  no  more  than  four  times.  One  day  he  went  forth,  at  the  hour  of 
noon,  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  put  down  his  basket,  and  cast  his  net,  and  waited 
until  it  was  motionless  in  the  water,  when  he  drew  together  its  strings,  and  found 
it  to  be  heavy:  he  pulled,  but  could  not  draw  it  up :  so  he  took  the  end  of  the  cord, 
and  knocked  a  stake  into  the  shore,  and  tied  the  cord  to  it.  He  then  stripped  him- 
self, and  dived  round  the  net,  and  continued  to  pull  until  he  drew  it  out:  whereupon 
he  rejoiced,  and  put  on  his  clothes  ;  but  when  he  came  to  examine  the  net,  he  found 
in  it  the  carcass  of  an  ass.  At  the  sight  of  this  he  mourned,  and  exclaimed.  There 
is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  This  is  a  strange  piece 
of  fortune !     And  he  repeated  the  following  verse  : — 

0  thou  who  occupiest  thyself  in  the  darkness  of  night,  and  in  peril!     Spare  tbv  trouble;  for 
the  support  of  Providence  is  not  obtained  by  toil ' 

He  then  disencumbered  the  net  of  the  dead  ass,  and  wrung  it  out;  after  which  he 
spread  it,  and  descended  into  the  sea,  and, — exclaiming.  In  the  name  of  God  ! — cast 
it  again,  and  waited  till  it  had  sunk  and  was  still,  when  he  pulled  it,  and  found  it 
more  heavy  and  more  difficult  to  raise  than  on  the  former  occasion.  He  therefore 
concluded  that  it  was  full  of  fish  :  so  he  tied  it  and  stripped,  and  plunged  and  dived, 
and  pulled  until  he  raised  it,  and  drew  it  upon  the  shore ;  when  he  found  in  it  only 
a  large  jar,  full  of  sand  and  mud;  on  seeing  which,  he  was  troubled  in  his  heart, 
and  repeated  the  following  words  of  the  poet : — 

0  angry  Fate,  forbear  !  or,  if  thou  wilt  not  forbear,  relent ! 

Neither  favour  from  fortune  do  I  gain,  nor  profit  from  the  work  of  my  hands. 

1  came  forth  to  seek  my  sustenance,  but  have  found  it  to  be  exhausted. 

How  many  of  the  igri-irant  are  in  splendour!  and  how  many  of  the  wise  in  obscurity! 

So  saying,  he  threw  aside  the  jar,  and  wrung  out  and  cleansed  his  net ;  and,  begging 
the  forgiveness  of  God  for  his  impatience,  returned  to  the  sea  the  third  time,  and 
threw  the  net,  and  waited  till  it  had  sunk  and  was  motionless:  he  then  drew  it  out, 
and  found  in  it  a  quantity  of  broken  jars  and  pots. 

Upon  this,  he  raised  his  head  towards  heaven,  and  said,  0  God,  thou  knowest 
that  I  cast  not  my  net  more  than  four  times  ;  and  I  have  now  cast  it  three  times ! 
Then  —  exclaiming,  In  the  name  of  God!  —  he  cast  the  net  again  into  the  sea,  and 
waited  till  it  was  still ;  when  he  attempted  to  draw  it  up  but  could  not,  for  it  clung 
to  the  bottom.  And  he  exclaimed,  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God !  — 
and  stripped  himself  again,  and  dived  round  the  net,  and  pulled  it  until  he  raised 
it  upon  the  shore ;  when  he  opened  it,  and  found  in  it  a  bottle  of  brass,  filled  with 
something,  and  having  its  mouth  closed  with  a  stopper  of  lead,  bearing  the  ira- 


28  THE   FISHERMAN. 

pression  of  the  seal  of  King  Solomon.  At  the  sight  of  this,  the  fisherman  was 
rejoiced,  and  said,  This  I  will  sell  in  the  copper-market;  for  it  is  worth  ten  pieces 
of  gold. — He  then  shook  it,  and  found  it  to  be  heavy,  and  said,  I  must  open  it,  and 
see  what  is  in  it,  and  store  it  in  my  bag ;  and  then  I  will  sell  the  bottle  in  the 
copper-market.  So  he  took  out  a  knife,  and  picked  at  the  lead  until  he  extracted  it 
from  the  bottle.  He  then  laid  the  bottle  on  the  ground,  and  shook  it,  that  its  con- 
tents might  pour  out;  but  there  came  forth  from  it  nothing  but  smoke,  which 
ascended  towards  the  sky,  and  spread  over  the  face  of  the  earth  ;  at  which  he 
wondered  excessively.  And  after  a  little  while,  the  smoke  collected  together,  and 
was  condensed,  and  then  became  agitated,  and  was  converted  into  an  Afrite,  whose 
head  was  in  the  clouds,  while  his  feet  rested  upon  the  ground:  his  head  was  like  a 
dome:  his  hands  were  like  winnowing  forks;  and  his  legs  like  masts:  his  mouth 
resembled  a  cavern  ;  his  teeth  were  like  stones  ;  his  nostrils  like  trumpets  ;  and  his 
eyes  like  lamps ;  and  he  had  dishevelled  and  dustrcoloured  hair. 

When  the  fisherman  beheld  this  Afrite,  the  muscles  of  his  sides  quivered,  his 
teeth  were  locked  together,  his  spittle  dried  up,  and  he  saw  not  his  way.  The 
Afrite,  as  soon  as  he  perceived  him,  exclaimed,  There  is  no  deity  but  God :  Solomon 
is  the  Prophet  of  God.  0  Prophet  of  God,  slay  me  not ;  for  I  will  never  again 
oppose  thee  in  word,  or  rebel  against  thee  in  deed?  —  0  Marid,'  said  the  fisherman, 
dost  thou  say,  Solomon  is  the  Prophet  of  God  ?  Solomon  hath  been  dead  a  thou- 
sand and  eight  hundred  years ;  and  we  are  now  in  the  end  of  time.  What  is  thy 
history,  and  what  is  thy  tale,  and  what  was  the  cause  of  thy  entering  this  bottle? 
When  the  Marid  heard  these  words  of  the  fisherman,  he  said.  There  is  no  deity  but 
God!  Receive  news,  0  fisherman  ! — Of  what,  said  the  fisherman,  dost  thou  give  me 
news  ?  He  answered.  Of  thy  being  instantly  put  to  a  most  cruel  death.  The 
fisherman  exclaimed.  Thou  deservest,  for  this  news,  O  master  of  the  Afrites,  the 
withdrawal  of  protection  from  thee,  0  thou  remote  I^  Wherefore  wouldst  thou  kill 
me?  and  what  requires  thy  killing  me,  when  I  have  liberated  thee  from  the  bottle, 
and  rescued  thee  from  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  and  brought  thee  up  upon  the  dry 
land.  The  Afrite  answered,  Choose  what  kind  of  death  thou  wilt  die,  and  in  what 
manner  thou  shalt  be  killed. — What  is  my  oS"ence,  said  the  fisherman,  that  this 
should  be  my  recompense  from  thee  ?  The  Afrite  replied.  Hear  my  story,  0  fisher- 
man.— Tell  it  then,  said  the  fisherman,  and  be  short  in  thy  words  ;  for  my  soul 
hath  sunk  down  to  my  feet. 

Know  then,  said  he,  that  I  am  one  of  the  heretical  Genii :  I  rebelled  against 
Solomon  the  son  of  David;  I  and  Sacar'  the  Genie;  and  he  sent  to  me  his  Vizier, 
Asaph  the  son  of  Barakhia,  who  came  upon  me  forcibly,  and  took  me  to  him  in 
bonds,  and  placed  me  before  him:  and  when  Solomon  saw  me,  he  ofi"ered  up  a 
prayer  for  protection  against  me,  and  exhorted  me  to  embrace  the  faith,  and  to 
submit  to  his  authority ;  but  I  refused  ;  upon  which  he  called  for  this  bottle,  and 
confined  me  in  it,  and  closed  it  upon  me  with  the  leaden  stopper,  which  he  stamped 
with  the  Most  Great  Name:  he  then  gave  orders  to  the  Genii,  who  carried  me 
away,  and  threw  me  into  the  midst  of  the  sea.  There  I  remained  a  hundred  years  ; 
and  I  said  in  my  heart.  Whosoever  shall  liberate  me,  I  will  enrich  him  for  ever : — 
but  the  hundred  years  passed  over  me,  and  no  one  liberated  me ;  and  I  entered 
upon  another  hundred  years ;  and  I  said,  Whosoever  shall  liberate  me,  I  will  open 
to  him  the  treasures  of  the  earth  ;  but  no  one  did  so :  and  four  hundred  years  more 
passed  over  me,  and  I  said,  Whosoever  shall  liberate  me,  I  will  perform  for  him 
three  wants ;  but  still  no  one  liberated  me.  I  then  fell  into  a  violent  rage,  and 
said  within  myself.  Whosoever  shall  liberate  me  now,  I  will  kill  him  ;  and  only 

'  A  Marid  is  an  evil  Genie,  of  the  most  powerful  class. 

'  The  word  remote  implies  far  from  goodness :  and  is  employed  in  relating  a  Btory,  as  a  sub- 
Btitute  for  some  opprobrious  expression  supposed  to  have  been  actually  used. 
*  Saoar  was  a  Genie  of  great  power,  who  deprived  Solomon  of  his  kingdom  by  treachery 


THE    FISHERMAN.  29 

suffer  him  to  choose  in  what  mamier  he  will  die.     And,  lo !  now  thou  hast  liberated 
me,  and  I  have  given  thee  thy  choice  of  the  manner  in  which  thou  wilt  die. 

When  the  fisherman  had  heard  the  story  of  the  Afrite,  he  exclaimed,  0  Allah  ! 
that  I  should  not  have  liberated  thee  but  in  such  a  time  as  this  !  Then  said  he  to 
the  Afrite,  Pardon  me,  and  kill  me  not,  and  so  may  God  pardon  thee  ;  and  destroy 
me  not,  lest  God  give  power  over  thee  to  one  who  will  destroy  thee.  The  Marid 
answered,  I  must  positively  kill  thee ;  therefore  choose  by  what  manner  of  death 
thou  wilt  die.  The  fisherman  then  felt  assured  of  his  death  ;  but  he  again  implored 
the  Afrite,  saying.  Pardon  me  by  way  of  gratitude  for  my  liberating  thee. — Why, 
answered  the  Afrite,  I  am  not  going  to  kill  thee  but  for  that  very  reason,  because 
thou  hast  liberated  me.  —  0  sheikh  of  the  Afrites,  said  the  fisherman,  do  I  act 
kindly  towards  thee,  and  dost  thou  recompense  me  with  baseness  ?  But  the  pro- 
verb lieth  not  that  saith, — 

We  did  good  to  them,  and  they  returned  us  the  reverse ;  and  such,  by  my  life,  is  the  conduct 

of  the  wicked. 
Thus  he  who  acteth  kindly  to  the  undeserving  is  recompensed  in  the  same  manner  as  the 

aider  of  Umm  Amir.' 

The  Afrite,  when  he  heard  these  words,  answered  by  saying.  Covet  not  life,  for 
thy  death  is  unavoidable.  Then  said  the  fisherman  within  himself.  This  is  a  Genie, 
and  I  am  a  man  ;  and  God  hath  given  me  sound  reason  ;  therefore,  I  will  now  plot 
his  destruction  with  my  heart  and  reason,  like  as  he  hath  plotted  with  his  cunning 
and  perfidy.  So  he  said  to  the  Afrite,  Hast  thou  determined  to  kill  me?  He 
answered  yes.  Then  said  he,  by  the  Most  Great  Name  engraved  upon  the  seal  of 
Solomon,  I  will  ask  thee  one  question  ;  and  wilt  thou  answer  it  to  me  truly  ?  On 
hearing  the  mention  of  the  Most  Great  Name,  the  Afrite  was  agitated,  and  trem- 
bled, and  replied.  Yes ;  ask,  and  be  brief.  The  fisherman  then  said.  How  wast 
thou  in  this  bottle?  It  will  not  contain  thy  hand  or  thy  foot;  how  then  can  it 
contain  thy  vfhole  body?  Dost  thou  not  believe  that  I  was  in  it?  said  the  Afrite. 
The  fisherman  answered,  I  will  never  believe  thee  until  I  see  thee  in  it.  Upon  this, 
the  Afrite  shook,  and  became  converted  again  into  smoke,  vrhich  rose  to  the  sky, 
and  then  became  condensed,  and  entered  the  bottle  by  little  and  little,  until  it  was 
all  enclosed  ;  when  the  fisherman  hastily  snatched  the  sealed  leaden  stopper,  and, 
having  replaced  it  in  the  mouth  of  the  bottle,  called  out  to  the  Afrite,  and  said. 
Choose  in  what  manner  of  death  thou  wilt  die.  I  will  assuredly  throw  thee  here 
into  the  sea,  and  build  me  a  house  on  this  spot ;  and  whosoever  shall  come  here,  I 
will  prevent  his  fishing  in  this  place,  and  will  say  to  him,  Here  is  an  Afrite,  who 
to  any  person  that  liberates  him  will  propose  various  kinds  of  death,  and  then  give 
him  his  choice  of  one  of  them.  On  hearing  these  words  of  the  fisherman,  the 
Afrite  endeavoured  to  escape ;  but  could  not,  finding  himself  restrained  by  the  im- 
pression of  the  seal  of  Solomon,  and  thus  imprisoned  by  the  fisherman  as  the  vilest 
and  filthiest  and  least  of  Afrites.  The  fisherman  then  took  the  bottle  to  the  brink 
of  the  sea.  The  Afrite  exclaimed.  Nay  ;  nay!  —  to  which  the  fisherman  answered. 
Yea,  without  fail !  yea,  without  fail !  The  Marid  then,  addressing  him  with  a  soft 
voice  and  humble  manner,  said,  What  dost  thou  intend  to  do  with  me,  0  fisherman  ? 
He  answered,  I  will  throw  thee  into  the  sea,  and  if  thou  hast  been  there  a  thousand 
and  eight  hundred  years,  I  will  make  thee  to  remain  there  until  the  hour  of  judg- 
ment. Did  I  not  say  to  thee,  Spare  me,  and  so  may  God  spare  thee ;  and  destroy 
me  not,  lest  God  destroy  thee?  But  thou  didst  reject  my  petition,  and  wouldst 
nothing  but  treachery  ;  therefore  God  hath  caused  thee  to  fall  into  my  hand,  and  I 
have  betrayed  thee. — Open  to  me,  said  the  Afrite,  that  I  may  confer  benefits  upon 
thee.  The  fisherman  replied.  Thou  liest,  thou  accursed  ;  I  and  thou  are  like  the 
Vizier  of  the  Grecian  King  and  the  sage  Douban.  What,  said  the  Afrite,  was  the 
case  of  the  Vizier  of  the  Grecian  King  and  the  sage  Douban,  and  what  is  their 
story?     The  fisherman  answered  as  follows: — 

'  An  epithet  of  the  hyaena. 


30 


THE    GRECIAN    KING    AND    THE    SAGE    DOUBAN. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  GRECIAN  KING  AND  THE  SAGE  DOUBAN. 


Know,  0  Afrite,  that  there  was,  in  former  times,  a  monarch  who  was  King  of  the 
Grecians,  possessing  great  treasures  and  numerous  forces,  valiant,  and  having  troops 
of  every  description  ;  but  he  was  afl3icted  with  leprosy,  which  the  physicians  and 
sages  had  failed  to  remove;  neither  their  potions,  nor  powders,  nor  ointments  were 
of  any  benefit  to  h\tx\  ;  and  none  of  the  physicians  was  able  to  cure  him.  At  length 
there  arrived  at  the  city  of  this  king  a  great  sage,  stricken  in  years,  who  was  called 
the  sage  Douban  :  he  was  acquainted  with  ancient  Greek,  Persian,  modern  Greek, 
Arabic,  and  Syrian  books,  and  with  medicine  and  astrology,  both  with  respect  to 
their  scientific  principles,  and  the  rules  of  their  practical  applications  for  good  and 
evil ;  as  well  as  the  properties  of  plants,  dried  and  fresh  ;  the  injurious  and  the  use- 
ful:  he  was  versed  in  the  wisdom  of  the  philosophers,  and  embraced  a  knowledge 
of  all  the  medical  and  other  sciences. 

After  this  sage  ha(J  arrived  in  the  city,  and  remained  in  it  a  few  days,  he  heard 
of  the  case  of  the  King,  of  the  leprosy  with  which  God  had  afiiicted  him,  and  that 

the  physicians  and  men  of  science 
had  failed  to  cure  him.  In  conse- 
quence of  this  information,  he  passed 
the  next  night  in  deep  study  ;  and 
when  the  morning  came,  and  difi- 
used  its  light,  and  the  sun  saluted 
the  Ornament  of  the  Good,'  he 
attired  himself  in  the  richest  of  his 
apparel,  and  presented  himself 
before  the  King.  Having  kissed 
the  ground  before  him,  and  ofi"ered 
up  a  prayer  for  the  continuance  of 
his  power  and  happiness,  and 
greeted  him  in  the  best  manner  he 
was  able,  he  informed  him  who  he 
was,  and  said,  0  King,  I  have  heard 
of  the  disease  which  hath  attacked 
thy  person,  and  that  many  of  the 
physicians  are  unacquainted  with 
the  means  of  removing  it ;  and  I 
will  cure  thee  without  giving  thee 
to  drink  any  potion  or  anointing 
thee  with  ointment.  When  the 
King  heard  his  words,  he  won- 
dered, and  said  to  him.  How  wilt 
thou  do  this?  By  Allah,  if  thou 
cure  me,  I  will  enrich  thee  and  thy 
children's  children,  and  I  will  heap 
favours  upon  thee,  and  whatever 
thou  shalt  desire  shall  be  thine, 
and  thou  shalt  be  my  companion 
and  my  friend.  He  then  bestowed 
upon  him  a  robe  of  honour,  and  other  presents,  and  said  to  him  Wilt,  thou  cure 
me  of  this  disease  without  potion  or  ointment?  He  answered,  Yes;  I  will  cure 
thee  without  any  discomfort  to  thy  person.  And  the  King  was  extremely  astonished, 
and  said,  0  sage,  at  what  time,  and  on  what  day,  shall  that  which  thou  hast  pro- 
posed to  me  be  done?  Hasten  it,  0  my  Son.  He  answered,  I  hear  and  obey. 
'  A  title  of  tbe  Prophet  Mahomet 


Douban  in  his  Dress  of  Ho 


^i 


^^^■^(= 


The  Cure  of  the  King.     (Page  88.) 


31 


THE    GRECIAN    KING    AND    THE    SAGE    DOUBAN.  3.'] 

He  then  went  out  from  the  presence  of  the  King,  and  hired  a  house,  in  which  he 
deposited  his  books,  and  medicines,  and  drugs.  Having  done  this,  he  selected 
certain  of  his  medicines  and  drugs,  and  made  a  goff-stick,  with  a  hollow  handle, 
into  which  he  introduced  them  ;  after  which  he  made  a  ball  for  it,  skilfully  adapted ; 
and  on  the  following  day,  after  he  had  finished  these,  he  went  again  to  the  King,  and 
kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  directed  him  to  repair  to  the  horse-course,  and  to 
play  with  the  ball  and  gofi'-stick.  The  King,  attended  by  his  Emirs  and  Chamber- 
lains and  Viziers,  went  thither,  and,  as  soon  as  he  arrived  there,  the  sage  Douban 
presented  himself  before  him,  tind  handed  to  him  the  goff-stick,  saying.  Take  this 
goff-stick,  and  grasp  it  thus,  and  ride  along  the  horse-course,  and  strike  the  ball  with 
it  with  all  thy  force,  until  the  palm  of  thy  hand  and  thy  whole  body  becomes  moist 
with  perspiration,  when  the  medicine  will  penetrate  into  thy  hand,  and  pervade 
thy  whole  body ;  and  when  thou  hast  done  this,  and  the  medicine  remains  in  thee, 
return  to  thy  palace,  and  enter  the  bath,  and  wash  thyself,  and  sleep :  then  shalt. 
thou  find  thyself  cured :  and  peace  be  on  thee.  So  the  King  took  the  goff-stick 
from  the  sage,  and  grasped  it  in  his  hand,  and  mounted  his  horse  ;  and  the  ball  was 
thrown  before  him,  and  he  urged  his  horse  after  it  until  he  overtook  it,  when  he 
struck  it  with  all  his  force ;  and  when  he  had  continued  this  exercise  as  long  as 
was  necessary,  and  bathed  and  slept,  he  looked  upon  his  skin,  and  not  a  vestige 
of  the  leprosy  remained  :  it  was  clear  as  white  silver.  Upon  this  he  rejoiced  ex- 
ceedingly ;  his  heart  was  dilated,  and  he  was  full  of  happiness. 

On  the  following  morning  he  entered  the  council-chamber,  and  sat  upon  his 
throne ;  and  the  chamberlains  and  great  ofiScers  of  his  court  came  before  him.  The 
sage  Douban  also  presented  himself,  and  when  the  King  saw  him,  he  rose  to  him  in 
haste,  and  seated  him  by  his  side.  Services  of  food  were  then  spread  before  them, 
and  the  sage  ate  with  the  King,  and  remained  as  his  guest  all  the  day ;  and  when 
the  night  approached,  the  King  gave  him  two  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  besides 
dresses  of  honour  and  other  presents,  and  mounted  him  on  his  own  horse,  and  so 
the  sage  returned  to  his  house.  And  the  King  was  astonished  at  his  skill;  saying, 
This  man  hath  cured  me  by  an  external  process,  without  anointing  me  with  oint 
ment:  by  Allah,  this  is  consummate  science;  and  it  is  incumbent  on  me  to  bestow 
favours  and  honours  upon  him,  and  to  make  him  my  companion  and  familiar  friend 
as  long  as  I  live.  He  passed  the  night  happy  and  joyful  on  account  of  his  recovery, 
and  when  he  arose,  he  went  forth  again,  and  sat  upon  his  throne :  the  officers  of  his 
court  standing  before  him,  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  sitting  on  his  right  hand  and 
on  his  left;  and  he  called  for  the  sage  Douban,  who  came,  and  kissed  the  ground 
before  him  ;  and  the  King  rose,  and  seated  him  by  his  side,  and  ate  with  him,  and; 
greeted  him  with  compliments :  he  bestowed  upon  him  again  a  robe  of  honour  and^ 
other  presents,  and,  after  conversing  with  him  till  the  approach  of  night,  gave  orders- 
that  five  other  robes  of  honour  should  be  given  to  him,  and  a  thousand  pieces- of 
gold ;  and  the  sage  departed,  and  returned  to  his  house. 

Again,  when  the  next  morning  came,  the  King  went  as  usual  to  his  cou-neil- 
chamber,  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  Chamberlains  surrounded  him.  Now  there 
was,  among  his  Viziers,  one  of  ill  aspect,  and  of  evil  star;  sordid,  avaricious,  and  of 
an  envious  and  malicious  disposition  ;  and  when  he  saw  that  the  Kinghad.  made  the 
sage  Douban  his  friend,  and  bestowed  upon  him  these  favours,  he  envied  him  this 
distinction,  and  meditated  evil  against  him  ;  agreeably  with  the  adage  which  saith. 
There  is  nobody  void  of  envy ; — and  another,  which  saith,  Tyranny  lurketh  in  the 
soul:  power  manifesteth  it,  and  weakness  concealeth  it.  So  he  approached  the 
King,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  thou  art  he 
whose  goodness  extended  to  all  men,  and  I  have  an  important  piece  of  advice  to 
give  thee :  if  I  were  to  conceal  it  from  thee,  I  should  be  a  base-born  wretch  :  there- 
fore, if  thou  order  me  to  impart  it,  I  will  do  so.  The  King,  disturbed  by  these 
words  of  the  Vizier,  said.  What  is  thy  advice  ?  He  answered,  0  glorious  King,  it 
hath  been  said  by  the  ancients.  He  who  looketh  not  to  results,  fortune  will  not 
3 


34  THE  HUSBAND  AND  THE  PARROT. 

attend  him: — now  I  have  seen  the  King  in  a  way  that  is  not  right;  since  he  hath 
bestowed  favours  upon  his  enemy,  and  upon  him  who  desireth  the  downfall  of  his 
dominion  :  he  hath  treated  him  with  kindness,  and  honoured  him  with  the  highest 
honours,  and  admitted  him  to  the  closet  intimacy  :  I  therefore  fear,  for  the  King,  the 
consequence  of  this  conduct. — At  this  the  King  was  troubled,  and  his  countenance 
changed;  and  he  said,  Who  is  he  whom  thou  regardest  as  mine  enemy,  and  to 
whom  I  show  kindness?  He  replied,  0  King,  if  thou  hast  been  asleep,  awake!  I 
allude  to  the  sage  Douban.  The  King  said.  He  is  my  intimate  companion,  and  the 
dearest  of  men  in  my  estimation;  for  he  restored  me  by  a  thing  that  I  merely  held 
in  my  hand,  and  cured  me  of  my  disease  which  the  physicians  were  unable  to  re- 
move; and  there  is  not  now  to  be  found  one  like  to  him  in  the  whole  world,  from 
west  to  east.  Wherefore,  then,  dost  thou  utter  these  words  against  him  ?  I  will, 
from  this  day,  appoint  him  a  regular  salary  and  maintenance,  and  give  him  every 
month  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold;  and  if  I  gave  him  a  share  of  my  kingdom  it 
were  but  a  small  thing  to  do  unto  him.  I  do  not  think  that  thou  hast  said  this  from 
any  other  motive  than  that  of  envy.  If  I  did  what  thou  desirest,  I  should  repent 
after  it,  as  the  man  repented  who  killed  his  parrot. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  HUSBAND  AND  THE  PARROT. 

There  was  a  certain  merchant,  of  an  excessively  jealous  disposition,  having  a 
wife  endowed  with  perfect  beauty,  who  had  prevented  him  from  leaving  his  home  ; 
but  an  event  happened  which  obliged  him  to  make  a  journey  ;  and  when  he  found 
his  doing  so  to  be  indispensable,  he  went  to  the  market  in  which  birds  were  sold, 
and  bought  a  parrot,  which  he  placed  in  his  house  to  act  as  a  spy,  that,  on  his 
return,  she  might  inform  him  of  what  passed  during  his  absence  ;  for  this  parrot  was 
cunning  and  intelligent,  and  remembered  whatever  she  heard.  So,  when  be  had 
made  his  journey,  and  accomplished  his  business,  be  returned,  and  caused  the  parrot 
to  be  brought  to  him,  and  asked  her  respecting  the  conduct  of  his  wife.  She 
answered,  Thy  wife  has  a  lover,  who  visited  her  every  night  during  thy  absence  ; 
and  when  the  man  heard  this,  he  fell  into  a  violent  rage,  and  went  to  his  wife  and 
gave  her  a  severe  beating. 

The  woman  imagined  that  one  of  the  female  slaves  had  informed  him  of  what  had 
pa$"ed  between  her  and  her  paramour  during  his  absence:  she  therefore  called  them 
together,  and  made  them  swear;  and  they  all  swore  that  they  had  not  told  their 
mas'ieV..-  nything  of  the  matter;  but  confessed  that  they  had  heard  the  parrot  relate 
to  him  what  had  passed.  Having  thus  established,  on  the  testimony  of  the  slaves, 
the  fact  of  the  parrot's  having  informed  her  husband  of  her  intrigue,  she  ordered 
one  of  the  slaves  to  grind  with  a  hand-mill  under  the  cage,  another  to  sprinkle  water 
from  above,  and  a  third  to  move  a'mirror  from  side  to  side,  during  the  next  night  on 
which  her  husband  was  absent;  and  on  the  following  morning,  when  the  man  re- 
turned from  an  entertainment  at  which  he  hsid  been  present,  and  inquired  again  of 
the  parrot  what  had  passed  that  night  during  his  absence;  the  bird  answered. -0  my 
master,  I  could  neither  see  nor  hear  anything,  on  account  of  the  excessive. darkness, 
and  thunder,  and  lightning,  and  rain.  Now  this  happened  during  summer:  so  he 
said  to  her.  What  strange  words  are  these?  It  is  now  summer,  when' nothing  of 
what  thou  hast  described  ever  happens.  The  parrot,  however,  swore  by  Allah  the 
Great  that  what  she  had  said  was  true:  and  that  it  had  so  happened:  upon  which 
the  man,  not  understanding  the  case,  nor  knowing  the  plot,  becanu!  violently  en- 
raged, and  took  out  the  bird  from  the  cage,  and  threw  her  down  upon  the  ground 
with  such  violence  that  he  killed  her. 

But  after  some  days,  one  of  his  female  slaves  informed  him  of  the  truth  ;  yet  he 
would  not  believe  it,  until  he  saw  his  wife's  paramour  going  out  from  his  house ; 
when  he  drew  his  sword,  and  slew  the  traitor  by  a  blow  on  the  back  of  his  neck: 


THE    ENVIOUS   VIZIER    AND    THE    PRINCE    AND    THE    GHOUL.  35 

80  also  did  he  to  his  treacherous  wife  ;  and  thus  both  of  them  went,  laden  with  the 
sin  which  they  had  committed,  to  the  fire ;  and  the  merchant  discovered  that  the 
parrot  had  informed  him  truly  of  what  she  had  seen  ;  and  he  mourned  grievously  for 
her  loss. 

When  the  Vizier  heard  these  words  of  the  Grecian  King  he  said,  0  King  of  great 
dignity  —  what  hath  this  crafty  sage  —  this  man  from  whom  nought  but  mischief 
proceedeth  —  done  unto  me,  that  I  should  be  his  enemy,  and  speak  evil  of  him,  and 
plot  with  thee  to  destroy  him  ?  I  have  informed  thee  respecting  him  in  compassion 
for  thee,  and  in  fear  of  his  despoiling  thee  of  thy  happiness ;  and  if  my  words  be 
not  true,  destroy  me  as  the  Vizier  of  Sindbad  was  destroyed.  The  King  asked, 
IIow  was  that?     And  the  Vizier  thus  answered: — 


THE   STORY  OF   THE  ENVIOUS  VIZIER   AND  THE   PRINCE   AND 
THE  GHOUL. 

The  King  above-mentioned  had  a  son  who  was  ardently  fond  of  the  chase ;  and 
had  a  Vizier  whom  he  charged  to  be  always  with  this  son  wherever  he  went.  One 
day  the  son  went  forth  to  hunt,  and  his  father's  Vizier  was  with  him  ;  and  as  they 
rode  together  they  saw  a  great  wild  beast:  upon  which  the  Vizier  exclaimed^ to  the 
Prince,  Away  after  this  wild  beast!  The  King's  son  pursued  it  until  he  was  out  of 
the  sight  of  his  attendants,  and  the  beast  also  escaped  from  before  his  eyes  in  the 
desert;  and  while  the  Prince  wandered  in  perplexity,  not  knowing  whither  to  direct 
his  course,  he  met  in  his  way  a  damsel,  who  was  weeping.  He  said  to  her,  who  art 
thou? — and  she  answered,  I  am  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  kings  of  India;  I  was  in 
the  desert,  and  slumber  overtook  me,  and  I  fell  from  my  horse  in  a  state  of  insensi- 
bility, and  being  thus  separated  from  my  attendants,  I  lost  my  way.  The  Prince, 
on  hearing  this,  pitied  her  forlorn  state,  and  placed  her  behind  him  on  his  horse ; 
and  as  they  proceeded,  they  passed  by  a  ruin,  and  the  damsel  said  to  him,  0  my 
master,  I  would  alight  here  for  a  little  while.  The  Prince  therefore  lifted  her  from 
his  horse  at  this  ruin  ;  but  she  delayed  so  long  to  return,  that  he  wondered  where- 
fore she  had  loitered  so,  and  entering  after  her,  without  her  knowledge,  perceived 
that  she  was  a  Ghoul,'  and  heard  her  say.  My  children,  I  have  brought  you  to-day  a 
fat  young  man: — on  which  they  exclaimed,  Bring  him  to  us,  0  mother!  that  we 
may  fill  our  stomachs  with  his  fliesh.  AVhen  the  Prince  heard  these  words,  he  felt 
assured  of  destruction  ;  the  muscles  of  his  side  quivered,  and  fear  overcame  '.im, 
and  he  retreated.  The  Ghoul  then  came  forth,  and  seeing  that  he  appeared  uiarmed 
and  fearful,  and  that  he  was  trembling,  said  to  him.  Wherefore  dost  thou  fear!  He 
answered,  I  have  an  enemy  of  whom  I  am  in  fear.  The  Ghoul  then  said.  Thou 
assertest  thyself  to  be  the  son  of  the  King.  He  replied,  Yes.  —  Then,  said  she, 
wherefore  dost  thou  not  give  some  money  to  thine  enemy,  and  so  conciliate  him? 
He  answered.  He  will  not  be  appeased  with  money  nor  with  anything  but  life ;  and 
therefore  do  I  fear  him :  I  am  an  injured  man.  She  then  said  to  him,  If  thou  be  an 
injured  man,  as  thou  affirmest,  beg  aid  of  God  against  thine  oppressor,  and  he  will 
avert  from  thee  his  mischievous  design,  and  that  of  every  other  person  whom  thou 
fearest.  Upon  this,  therefore,  the  Prince  raised  his  head  towards  heaven,,  and  said, 
0  Thou  who  answerest  the  distressed  when  he  prayeth  to  thee,  and  dispellest  evil, 
assist  me  and  cause  mine  enemy  to  depart  from  me  ;  for  Thou  art  able  to  do  whatso- 
ever Thou  wilt ! — and  the  Ghoul  no  sooner  heard  his  prayer,  than  she  departed  from 
him.  The  Prince  then  returned  to  his  father,  and  informed  him  of  the  conduct  of 
the  Vizier;  upon  which  the  King  gave  orders  that  the  minister  should  be  put  to 
death. 

'  A  sort  of  evil  Genie  that  eats  men :  a  cannibal. 


36  THE    GRECIAN    KING    AND    THE    SAGE    DOUBAN. 


CONTINUATION   OF    THE    STORY   OF    THE    GRECIAN   KING  AND  THE 
SAGE  DOUBAN. 

And  thou,  0  King,  continued  the  "Vizier  of  the  Grecian  King,  if  thou  trust  in  thia 
sage  he  will  kill  thee  in  the  foulest  manner.  If  thou  continue  to  bestow  favours 
upon  him,  and  to  make  him  thine  intimate  companion,  he  will  plot  thy  destruction. 
Dost  thou  not  see  that  he  hath  cured  thee  of  the  disease  by  external  means,  by  a 
thing  that  thou  heldest  in  thy  hand  ?  Therefore  thou  art  not  secure  against  his 
killing  thee  by  a  thing  that  thou  shalt  hold  in  the  same  manner.  The  King 
answered,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth:  the  case  is  as  thou  bast  said,  0  faithful  Vizier: 
it  is  probable  that  this  sage  came  as  a  spy  to  accomplish  my  death ;  and  if  he  cured 
me  by  a  thing  I  held  in  my  hand,  he  may  destroy  me  by  a  thing  that  I  may  smell : 
what  then,  0  Vizier,  shall  be  done  respecting  him  ?  The  Vizier  answered.  Send  to 
him  immediately,  and  desire  him  to  come  hither ;  and  when  he  is  come,  strike  oflF 
his  head,  and  so  shalt  thou  avert  from  thee  his  evil  design,  and  be  secure  from  him. 
Betray  him  before  he  betray  thee. — The  King  said,  Thou  hast  spoken  right. 

Immediately,  therefore,  he  sent  for  the  sage,  who  came  full  of  joy,  not  knowing 
what  the  Compassionate  had  decreed  against  him,  and  addressed  the  King  with 
these  words  of  the  poet : — ■ 

If  I  fail  any  day  to  render  thee  due  thanks,  tell  me  for  what  I  have  camposed  my  verse  and 

prose. 
Thou  hadst  loaded  me  with  favours    unsolicited,  bestowed    without   delay  on    thy    part,  or 

excuse. 
How  then  should  I  abstain  from  praising  thee  as  thou  deservest,  and  lauding  thee  both  with 

my  heart  and  voice? 
Nay,  I  will  thank  thee  for  thy  benefits  conferred  upon  me :  they  are  light  upon  my  tongue, 

though  weighty  to  my  back. 

Knowest  thou,  said  the  King,  wherefore  "I  have  summoned  thee?  The  sage 
answered.  None  knoweth  what  is  secret  but  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  Then 
said  the  King,  I  have  summoned  thee  that  I  may  take  away  thy  life.  The  sage,  in 
the  utmost  astonishment  at  thia  announcement,  said,  O  King,  wherefore  wouldst 
thou  kill  me,  and  what  offence  hath  been  committed  by  me  ?  •  The  King  answered. 
It  hath  been  told  me  that  thou  art  a  spy,  and  that  thou  hast  come  hither  to  kill  me ; 
but  I  will  prevent  thee  by  killing  thee  first: — and  so  saying,  he  called  out  to  the 
executioner,  Strike  off  the  head  of  this  traitor,  and  relieve  me  from  his  wickedness. 
— Spare  me,  said  the  sage,  and  so  may  God  spare  thee ;  and  destroy  me  not,  lest 
God  destroy  thee.  And  he  repeated  these  words  several  times,  like  as  I  did,  O 
Afrite  :  but  thou  wouldst  not  let  me  go,  desiring  to  destroy  me. 

The  Grecian  King  then  said  to  the  sage  Douban,  I  shall  not  be  secure  unless  I  kill 
thee  ;  for  thou  curedst  me  by  a  thing  that  I  held  in  my  hand,  and  I  have  no  security 
against  thy  killing  me  by  a  thing  that  I  may  smell,  or  by  some  other  means. — 0 
King,  said  the  sage,  is  this  my  recompense  from  thee?  Dost  thou  return  evil  for 
good? — The  King  answered.  Thou  must  be  slain  without  delay.  When  the  sage, 
therefore,  was  convinced  that  the  King  intended  to  put  him  to  death,  and  that  his 
fate  was  inevitable,  he  lamented  the  benefit  that  he  had  done  to  the  undeserving. 
The  executioner  then  advanced  and  bandaged  his  eyes,  and  having  drawn  his  sword, 
said.  Give  permission.  Upon  this  the  sage  wept,  and  said  again.  Spare  me,  and  so 
may  God  spare  thee ;  and  destroy  me  not,  lest  God  destroy  thee !  Wouldst  thou 
return  me  the  recompense  of  the  crocodile? — What,  said  the  King,  is  the  story  of 
the  ?ronndile? — The  sage  answered,  I  cannot  relate  it  while  in  this  condition  ;  but  I 
conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  spare  me,  and  so  may  Ho  spare  thee.  And  he  wept 
bitterly.  Then  one  of  the  chief  officers  of  the  King  arose  and  said,  0  King,  give 
up  to  me  the  blood  of  this  sage  ;  for  we  have  not  seen  him  commit  any  offence  against 
thee ;  nor  have  we  seen  him  do  aught  but  cure  thee  of  thy  disease,  which  wearied 


THE    GRECIAN   KING   AND   THE   SAGE   DOUBAN.  37 

the  other  ph3'sicians   and  sages.     The   King   answered,  Ye   know  not  the  reason 

wherefore  I  would  kill  the  sage :  it  is  this,  that 

if  I  suffered  him  to  live,  I  should  myself  inevitably 

perish  ;  for  he  who  cured  me  of  the  disease  under 

which    I  suffered  by  a  thing  that  I  held  in  my 

hand,  may  kill  me  by  a  thing  that  I  may  smell : 

and  I  fear  that  he  would  do  so,  and  would  receive 

an  appointment  on  account  of  it ;  seeing  that  it  is 

probable  he  is  a  spy  who  hath  come  hither  to  kill 

me;  I  must   therefore  kill   him,  and   then  shall 

I  feel  myself  safe. — The   sage   then    said  again. 

Spare    me,    and   so   may   God   spare   thee ;    and 

destroy  me  not,  lest  God  destroy  thee. 

But  he  now  felt  certain,  0  Afrite,  that  the 
King  would  put  him  to  death,  and  that  there 
was  no  escape  for  him  ;  so  he  said,  0  King,  if  my 
death  is  indispensable,  grant  me  some  respite,  that 
I  may  return  to  my  house,  and  acquit  myself  of  m  ^°"'"'"  """^  ""  Execut.oner. 

duties,  and  give  directions  to  my  family  and  neighbours  to  bury  me,  and  dispose  of 
my  medical  books ;  and  among  my  books  is  one  of  most  especial  value,  which  I 
offer  as  a  present  to  thee,  that  thou  mayst  treasure  it  in  thy  library.  And  what, 
eaid  the  King,  is  this  book?  He  answered,  it  contains  things  not  to  be  enumerated; 
and  the  smallest  of  the  secret  virtues  that  it  possesses  is  this ;  that  when  thou  hast 
cut  off  my  head,  if  thou  open  this  book,  and  count  three  leaves,  and  then  read  three 
lines  on  the  page  to  the  left,  the  head  will  speak  to  thee,  and  answer  whatever  thou 
ehalt  ask.  At  this  the  King  was  excessively  astonished,  and  shook  with  delight, 
and  said  to  him,  O  Sage,  when  I  have  cut  off  thy  head  will  it  speak  ?  He  answered, 
Yes,  0  King;  and  this  is  a  wonderful  thing. 

The  King  then  sent  him  in  the  custody  of  guards:  and  the  sage  descended  to  his 
house,  and  settled  all  his  affairs  on  that  day  ;  and  on  the  following  day  he  went  up 
to  the  court:  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  Chamberlains  and  Deputies,  and  all 
the  great  oflScers  of  state,  went  thither  also  ;  and  the  court  resembled  a  flower-garden* 
And  when  the  sage  had  entered,  he  presented  himself  before  the  King,  bearing  an 
old  book,  and  a  small  pot  containing  a  powder:  and  he  sat  down  and  said.  Bring  me 
a  tray.  So  they  brought  him  one  ;  and  he  poured  out  the  powder  into  it,  and  spread 
it.  He  then  said,  O  King,  take  this  book,  and  do  nothing  with  it  until  thou  hast  cut 
off  my  head  :  and  when  thou  hast  done  so,  place  it  upon  this  tray,  and  order  some 
one  to  press  it  down  upon  the  powder ;  and  when  this  is  done,  the  blood  will  be 
stanched :  then  open  the  book.  As  soon  as  the  sage  had  sai-d  this,  the  King  gave 
orders  to  strike  off  his  head ;  and  it  was  done.  The  King  then  opened  the  book, 
and  found  that  its  leaves  were  stuck  together ;  so  he  put  his  finger  to  his  mouth,  and 
moistened  it  with  his  spittle,  and  opened  the  first  leaf,  and  the  second,  and  the  third  ; 
but  the  leaves  were  not  opened  without  difficulty.  He  opened  six  leaves,  and  looked 
at  them;  but  found  upon  them  no  writing.  So  he  said,  0  Sage,  there  is  nothing 
written  in  it.  The  head  of  the  sage  answered.  Turn  over  more  leaves.  The  King 
did  so ;  and  in  a  little  while,  the  poison  penetrated  into  his  system  ;  for  the  book  was 
poisoned  ;  and  the  King  fell  back,  and  cried  out.  The  poison  hath  penetrated  into 
me! — and  upon  this,  the  head  of  the  sage  Douban  repeated  these  verses:  — 

They  made  use  of  their  power,  and  used  it  tyrannically;  and  soon  it  became  as  though  it  had 
never  existed. 

Had  they  acted  equitably,  they  had  experienced  equity ;  but  they  oppressed ;  wherefore  for- 
tune oppressed  them  with  calamities  and  trials. 

Then  did  the  case  itself  announce  to  them,  This  is  the  reward  of  your  conduct,  and  fortune  is 
blameless. 
And  when  the  head  of  the  sage  Douban  had  uttered  these  words,  the  King  imme 
.iiately  fell  down  dead. 


THE   FISHERMAN. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  THE  FISHERMAN. 

Now,  0  Afrite,  continued  the  fisherman,  know  that  if  the  Grecian  King  haa 
spared  the  sage  Douban,  God  had  spared  him,  but  he  refused,  and  desired  his  de- 
struction ;  therefore  God  destroyed  him  ;  and  thou,  0  Afrite,  if  thou  hadst  spared 
me,  God  had  spared  thee,  and  I  had  spared  thee ;  but  thou  desiredst  my  death  • 
therefore  will  I  put  thee  to  death  imprisoned  in  this  bottle  ;  and  will  throw  thee  here 
into  the  sea.  The  Marid  upon  this,  cried  out,  and  said,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0 
fisherman,  that  thou  do  it  not:  spare  me  in  generosity,  and  be  not  angry  with  me 
for  what  I  did  ;  but  if  I  have  done  evil,  do  thou  good,  according  to  the  proverb, — 0 
thou  benefactor  of  him  who  hath  done  evil,  the  action  that  he  hath  done  is  sufficient 
for  him  : — do  not  therefore  as  Imama  did  to  Ateca. — And  what,  said  the  fisherman, 
was  their  case?  The  Afrite  answered,  This  is  not  a  time  for  telling  stories,  when  I 
am  in  this  prison :  but  when  thou  liberatest  me,  I  will  relate  to  thee  their  case. 
The  fisherman  said,  Thou  must  be  thrown  into  the  sea,  and  there  shall  be  no  way  of 
escape  for  thee  from  it;  for  I  endeavoured  to  propitiate  thee,  and  humbled  myself 
before  thee,  yet  thou  wouldst  nothing  but  my  destruction,  though  I  had  committed 
no  offence  to  deserve  it,  and  had  done  no  evil  to  thee  whatever,  but  only  good, 
delivering  thee  from  thy  confinement ;  and  when  thou  didst  thus  unto  me,  I  perceived 
that  thou  wast  radically  corrupt:  and  I  would  have  thee  know,  that  my  motive  for 
throwing  thee  into  this  sea  is,  that  I  may  acquaint  with  thy  story  every  one  that 
shall  take  thee  out,  and  caution  him  against  thee,  that  he  may  cast  thee  in  again  ; 
thus  shalt  thou  remain  in  this  sea  to  the  end  of  time,  and  experience  varieties  of 
torment.  The  Afrite  then  said,  Liberate  me,  for  this  is  an  opportunity  for  thee  to 
display  humanity ;  and  I  vow  to  thee  that  I  will  never  do  thee  harm  ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  will  do  thee  a  service  that  shall  enrich  thee  for  ever. 

Upon  this  the  fisherman  accepted  his  covenant  that  he  would  not  hurt  him;  but 
that  he  would  do  him  good ;  and  when  he  had  bound  him  by  oaths  and  vows,  and 
made  him  swear  by  the  Most  Great  Name  of  God,  he  opened  to  him  ;  and  the  smoke 
ascended  until  it  had  all  come  forth,  and  then  collected  together,  and  became,  as 
before,  an  Afrite  of  hideous  form.  The  Afrite  then  kicked  the  bottle  into  the  sea. 
When  the  fisherman  saw  him  do  this,  he  made  sure  of  destruction,  and  said,  This  is 
no  sign  of  good :  —  but  afterwards  he  fortified  his  heart,  and  said,  0  Afrite,  God, 
whose  name  be  exalted,  hath  said.  Perform  the  covenant,  for  the  covenant  shall  be 
inquired  into:— and  thou  hast  covenanted  with  me,  and  sworn  that  thou  wilt  not  act 
treacherously  towards  me ;  therefore,  if  thou  so  act,  God  will  recompense  thee  ;  for 
He  is  jealous;  He  respiteth,  but  suffereth  not  to  escape;  and  remember  that  I  said 
to  thee  as  said  the  sage  Douban  to  the  Grecian  King,  Spare  me,  and  so  may  God 
spare  thee. 

The  Afrite  laughed,  and,  walking  on  before  him,  said,  0  fisherman,  follow  me 
The  fisherman  did  so,  not  believing  in  his  escape,  until  they  had  quitted  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  city,  and  ascended  a  mountain,  and  descended  into  a  wide  desert 
tract,  in  the  midst  of  which  was  a  lake  of  water.  Here  the  Afrite  stopped,  and 
ordered  the  fisherman  to  cast  his  net  and  take  some  fish  ;  and  the  fisherman  looking 
into  the  lake,  saw  in  it  fish  of  different  colours,  white,  and  red,  and  blue,  and  yellow; 
at  which  he  was  astonished ;  and  he  cast  his  net,  and  drew  it  in,  and  found  in  it 
four  fish,  each  fish  of  a  different  colour  from  the  others,  at  the  sight  of  which  he 
rejoiced.  The  Afrite  then  said  to  him.  Take  them  to  the  Sultan,  and  present  them 
to  him,  and  he  will  give  thee  what  will  enrich  thee ;  and  for  the  sake  of  God  accept 
my  excuse,  for,  at  present,  I  know  no  other  way  of  rewarding  thee ;  for  having  been 
in  the  sea  a  thousand  and  eight  hundred  years,  and  not  seen  the  surface  of  the  earth 
until  now :  but  take  not  the  fish  from  the  lake  more  than  once  each  day  :  and  now  I 
commend  thee  to  the  care  of  God. — Having  thus  said,  he  struck  the  earth  with  his 
feet,  and  it  clove  asunder,  and  swallowed  him. 


THE    FISHERMAN. 


39 


The  fisherman  then  went  back  to  the  city,  wondering  at  all  that  had  befallen  him 
with  the  Afrite,  and  carried  the  fish  to  his  house  ;  and  he  took  an  earthern  bowi, 
and,  having  filled  it  with  water,  put  the  fish  into  it ;  and  they  struggled  in  the 
water:  and  when  he  had  done  this,  he  placed  the  bowl  upon  his  head,  and  repaired 
to  the  King's  palace,  as  the  Afrite  had  commanded  him,  and,  going  up  unto  the 
King,  presented  to  him  the  fish  ;  and  the  King  was  excessively  astonished  at  them, 
for  be  bad  never  seen  any  like  them  in  the  course  of  his  life ;  and  he  said,  Give  these 


'I'he  Fj.shernian  sliuwmg  the  Fish  Ki  the  Siiltaa, 


fish  to  the  slave  cook-maid.  This  maid  had  been  sent  as  a  present  to  him  by  the 
King  of  .the  Greeks,  three  days  before;  and  he  had  not  yet  tried  her  skill.  The 
Vizier,  therefore,  ordered  her  to  fry  the  fish,  and  said  to  her,  0  maid,  the  King'saith 
unto  thee,  I  have  not  reserved  my  tear  but  for  the  time  of  my  difficulty  :  —  to-day. 
then,  gratify  us  by  a  specimen  of  thy  excellent  cookery,  for  a  person  hath  brought 
these  fish  as  a  present  to  the  Sultan.  After  having  thus  charged  her,  the  Vizier 
returned,  and  the  King  ordered  him  to  give  the  fisherman  four  hundred  pieces  of 
gold :  so  the  Vizier  gave  them  to  him  ;  and  he  took  them  in  his  lap,  and  returned  to 
his  home  and  his  wife,  joyful  and  happy,  and  bought  what  was  needful  for  his 
family. 

Such  were  the  events  that  befell  the  fisherman  ;  now  we  must  relate  what  hap- 
pened to  the  maid. — She  took  the  fish,  and  cleaned  them,  and  arranged  them  in  the 
frying-pan,  and  left  them  until  one  side  was  cooked,  when  she  turned  them  upon  the 
other  side  ;  and,  lo !  the  wall  of  the  kitchen  clove  asunder,  and  there  came  forth 
from  it  a  damsel  of  tall  stature,  smoothed-cheeked,  of  perfect  form,  with  eyes 
adorned  with  kohl,'  beautiful  in  countenance,  and  with  heavy  swelling  hips;  wearing 
31  coif  interwoven  with  blue  silk  ;  with  rings  in  her  ears,  and  bracelets  on  her  wrists, 
and  rings  set  with  precious  jewels  on  her  fingers;  and  in  her  hand  was  a  rod  of 
Indian  cane :  and  she  dipped  the  end  of  the  rod  in  the  frying-pan,  and  said,  0  fish, 
are  ye  remaining  faithful  to  your  covenant?  At  the  sight  of  this  the  cook-maid 
fainted.  The  damsel  then  repeated  the  same  words  a  second  and  third  time ;  after 
which  the  fish  raised  their  heads  from  the  frying-pan,  and  answered,  Yes,  yes. 
They  then  repeated  the  following  verse : — 

If  thou  return,  wc  return;  and  if  thou  come,  we  come;  and  if  thou  forsake,  we  verily  do 
the  same. 

And  upon  this  the  damsel  overturned  the  frying-pan,  and  departed,  by  the  way  she 
'  A  black  powder  applied  to  the  edges  of  the  eyelids  as  an  ornament. 


40  THE    FISHERMAN. 

had  entered,  and  the  wall  of  the  kitchen  closed  up  again.  The  cook-maid  then 
arose,  and  beheld  the  four  fish  burnt  like  charcoal ;  and  she  exclaimed,  In  his  first 
encounter  his  staff  broke  ! — and  as  she  sat  reproaching  herself,  she  beheld  the  Vizier 
standing  at  her  head  ;  and  he  said  to  her,  Bring  the  fish  to  the  Sultan  :  —  and  she 
wept,  and  informed  him  of  what  had  happened. 

The  Vizier  was  astonished  at  her  words,  and  exclaimed,  This  is  indeed  a  wonderful 
event; — and  he  sent  for  the  fisherman,  and  when  he  was  brought,  he  said  to  him,  0 
fisherman,  thou  must  bring  to  us  four  fish  like  those  which  thou  broughtest  before. 
The  fisherman  accordingly  went  forth  to  the  lake,  and  threw  his  net,  and  when  he 
had  drawn  it  in  he  found  in  it  four  fish  as  before  ;  and  he  took  them  to  the  Vizier, 
who  went  with  them  to  the  maid,  and  said  to  her.  Rise,  and  fry  them  in  my  pre- 
sence, that  I  may  witness  this  occurrence.  The  maid,  therefore,  prepared  the  fish, 
and  put  them  in  the  frying-pan,  and  they  remained  but  a  little  while  when  the  wall 
clove  asunder,  and  the  damsel  appeared,  clad  as  before,  and  holding  the  rod ;  and 
she  dipped  the  end  of  the  rod  in  the  frying-pan,  and  said,  0  fish,  0  fish,  are  ye  re- 
maining faithful  to  your  old  covenant?  Upon  which  they  raised  their  heads,  and 
answered  as  before  ;  and  the  damsel  overturned  the  frying-pan  with  the  rod,  and 
returned  by  the  way  she  had  entered,  and  the  wall  closed  up  again. 

The  Vizier  then  said.  This  is  an  event  which  cannot  be  concealed  from  the  King: 
— so  he  went  to  him,  and  informed  him  of  what  had  happened  in  his  presence  ;  and 
the  King  said,  I  must  see  this  with  my  own  eyes.  He  sent,  therefore,  to  the  fisher- 
man, and  commanded  him  to  bring  four  fish  like  the  former ;  granting  him  a  delay 
of  three  days.  And  the  fisherman  repaired  to  the  lake,  and  brought  the  fish  thence 
to  the  King,  who  ordered  again  that  four  hundred  pieces  of  gold  should  be  given  to 
him  ;  and  then,  turning  to  the  Vizier,  said  to  him,  Cook  the  fish  thyself  here  before 
me.  The  Vizier  answered,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  brought  the  frying-pan,  and,  after 
he  had  cleaned  the  fish,  threw  them  into  it ;  and  as  soon  as  he  had  turned  them,  the 
wall  clove  asunder,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  a  negro,  in  size  like  a  bull,  or  like 
one  of  the  tribe  of  Ad,*  having  in  his  hand  a  branch  of  a  green  tree :  and  he  said, 
with  a  clear  but  terrifying  voice.  0  fish,  0  fish,  are  ye  remaining  faithful  to  your  old 
covenant?     Upon  which  they  raised  their  heads,  and  answered  as  before.  Yes,  yes  ; 

If  thou  return,  we  return  ;    and  if  thou  come,  we  come ;    and  if  thou  forsake,  we  verily  do 
the  same. 

The  black  then  approached  the  frying-pan,  and  overturned  it  with  the  branch,  and 
the  fish  became  like  charcoal,  and  he  went  away  as  he  had  come. 

When  he  had  thus  disappeared  from  before  their  eyes,  the  King  said.  This  is  an 
event  respecting  which  it  is  impossible  to  keep  silence,  and  there  must  undoubtedly 
be  some  strange  circumstance  connected  with  these  fish.  He  then  ordered  that  the 
fisherman  should  be  brought  before  him,  and  when  he  had  come  he  said  to  him, 
Whence  came  these  fish?  The  fisherman  answered.  From  a  lake  between  four 
mountains  behind  this  mountain  which  is  without  thy  city.  The  King  said  to  him, 
How  many  days' journey  distant?  He  answered,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan,  a  journey 
of  half-an-hour.  And  the  Sultan  was  astonished,  and  ordered  his  troops  to  go  out 
immediately  with  him  and  the  fisherman,  who  began  to  curse  the  Afrite.  They  pro- 
ceeded until  they  had  ascended  the  mountain,  and  descended  into  a  wide  desert  tract 
which  they  had  never  before  seen  in  their  whole  lives ;  and  the  Sultan  and  all  the 
troops  wondered  at  the  sight  of  this  desert,  which  was  between  four  mountains,  and 
at  the  fish,  which  were  of  four  colours,  red  and  white,  and  yellow  and  blue.  The 
King  T^aused  in  astonishment,  and  said  to  the  troops,  and  to  the  other  attendants 
who  were  with  him.  Hath  any  of  you  before  seen  this  lake  in  this  place?  They  all 
answered.  No.  Then  said  the  King,  By  Allah,  I  will  not  enter  my  city,  nor  will  I 
sit  upon  my  throne,  until  I  know  the  true  history  of  this  lake,  and  of  its  fish.     And 

'  A  race  of  ancient  Arabs,  destroyed  for  their  intideliiy. 


THE   FISHERMAN.  4J 

upon  this  he  ordered  his  people  to  encamp  around  these  mountains ;  and  they  did 
so.  He  then  called  for  the  Vizier,  who  was  a  well-informed,  sensible,  prudent,  and 
learned  man  ;  and  when  he  had  presented  himself  before  him,  he  said  to  him,  I 
desire  to  do  a  thing  with  which  I  will  acquaint  thee  ;  and  it  is  this : — I  have  resolved  to 
depart  alone  this  night,  to  seek  for  information  respecting  this  lake  and  its  fish  : 
therefore  sit  thou  at  the  door  of  my  pavilion,  and  say  to  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and 
Chamberlains,  The  Sultan  is  sick,  and  hath  commanded  me  not  to  allow  any  person 
to  go  in  unto  him : — and  acquaint  no  one  with  my  intention. 

The  Vizier  was  unable  to  oppose  his  design  ;  so  the  King  disguised  himself,  and 
slung  on  his  sword,  and  withdrew  himself  from  the  midst  of  his  troops.  He 
journeyed  the  whole  of  the  night,  until  the  morning,  and  proceeded  until  the  heat 
became  oppressive  to  him:  he  then  paused  to  rest;  after  which  he  again  proceeded 
the  remainder  of  the  diiy  and  the  second  night  until  the  morning,  when  there  ap- 
peared before  him,  in  the  distance,  something  black,  at  the  sight  of  which  he  re- 
joiced, and  said.  Perhaps  I  shall  there  find  some  person  who  will  inform  me  of  the 
history  of  the  lake  and  its  fish.  And  when  he  approached  this  black  object,  he 
found  it  to  be  a  palace  built  of  black  stones,  and  overlaid  with  iron  ;  and  one  of  the 
leaves  of  its  door  was  open  and  the  other  shut.  The  King  was  glad,  and  he  stood 
at  the  door,  and  knocked  gently,  but  heard  no  answer ;  he  knocked  a  second  and  a 
third  time,  but  again  heard  no  answer :  then  he  knocked  a  fourth  time,  and  with 
violence;  but  no  one  answered.  So  he  said,  It  is  doubtless  empty  :  —  and  he  took 
courage,  and  entered  from  the  door  into  the  passage,  and  cried  out,  saying,  0  in- 
habitants of  the  palace,  I  am  a  stranger  and  a  traveller !  have  ye  any  provision  ? 
And  he  repeated  these  words  a  second  and  a  third  time,  but  heard  no  answer.  And 
upon  this  he  fortified  his  heart,  and  emboldened  himself,  and  proceeded  from  the 
passage  into  the  midst  of  the  palace;  but  he  found  no  one  there,  and  only  saw  that 
it  was  furnished,  and  that  there  was,  in  the  centre  of  it,  a  fountain  with  four  lions 
of  red  gold,  which  poured  forth  the  water  from  their  mouths,  like  pearls  and  jewels  : 
around  this  were  birds ;  and  over  the  top  of  the  palace  was  extended  a  net  which 
prevented  their  flying  out.  At  the  sight  of  these  objects  he  was  astonished,  and  he 
was  grieved  that  he  saw  no  person  there  whom  he  could  ask  for  information  respect- 
ing the  lake,  and  the  fish,  and  the  mountains,  and  the  palace.  He  then  sat  down 
between  the  doors,  reflecting  upon  these  things ;  and  as  he  thus  sat,  he  heard  a 
voice  of  lamentation  from  a  sorrowful  heart,  chanting  these  verses : — 

0  fortune,  thou  pitiest  me  not,  nor  releasest  me!  See,  my  heart  is  straightened  between  afflic- 
tion and  peril ! 

Will  not  you  [0  my  wife]  have  compassion  on  the  mighty  whom  love  hath  abased,  and  the 
wealthy  who  is  reduced  to  indigence  ? 

We  were  jealous  even  of  the  zephyr  which  passed  over  you;  but  when  the  divine  decree  is 
issued,  the  eye  becometh  blind ! 

What  resource  hath  th^  archer,  when  in  the  hour  of  conflict,  he  desireth  to  discharge  the 
arrow,  but  findeth  his  bow-string  broken  ? 

And  when  troubles  are  multiplied  upon  the  noble-minded,  where  shall  he  find  refuge  from 
fate  and  from  destiny  ? 

When  the  Sultan  heard  this  lamentation,  he  sprang  upon  his  feet,  and,  seeking 
the  direction  whence  it  proceeded,  found  a  curtain  suspended  before  the  door  of  a 
chamber  ;  and  he  raised  it,  and  beheld  behind  it  a  young  man  sitting  on  a  sofa  raised 
to  the  height  of  a  cubit  from  the  floor.  He  was  a  handsome  youth,  well  shaped,  and 
of  eloquent  speech,  with  shining  forehead,  and  rosy  cheek,  marked  with  a  mole  re- 
sembling ambergris.  The  King  was  rejoiced  at  seeing  him,  and  saluted  him  ;  and 
the  young  man  (who  remained  sitting,  and  was  clad  with  a  vest  of  silk,  embroidered 
with  gold,  but  who  exhibited  traces  of  grief)  returned  his  salutation,  and  said  to  him, 
0  my  master,  excuse  my  not  rising.  —  0  youth  I  said  the  King,  inform  me  respect* 
ing  the  lake,  and  its  fish  of  various  colours,  and  respecting  this  palace,  and  the 


42 


THE    YOUNG    KING    OF   THE    BLACK    ISLANDS. 


reason  of  tKy  being  alone  in  it,  and  of  thy  lamentation.  When  the  young  man 
heard  these  words,  tears  trickled  down  his  cheeks,  and  he  wept  bitterly.  And  the 
King  was  astonished,  and  said  to  him.  What  causeth  thee  to  weep,  0  youth  ?  He 
answered,  How  can  I  refrain  from  weeping  when  this  is  ray  state? — and  so  saying, 
he  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  lifted  up  the  skirts  of  his  clothing ;  and,  lo !  half 
of  him,  from  his  waist  to  the  soles  of  his  feet  was  stone  ;  and  from  his  waist  to  the 
hair  of  his  head  he  was  like  other  men.  He  then  said.  Know,  0  King,  that  the 
story  of  the  fish  is  extraordinary ;  if  it  were  engraved  upon  the  intellect,  it  would 
be  a  lesson  to  him  who  would  be  admonished  : — and  he  related  as  follows : — 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  YOUNG  KING  OF  THE  BLACK  ISLANDS. 

My  father  was  King  of  the  city  which  was  here  situated  :  his  name  was  Mahmoud, 
and  he  was  lord  of  the  Black  Islands,  and  of  the  four  mountains.  After  a  reign  of 
seventy  years,  he  died,  and  I  succeeded  to  his  throne ;  whereupon  I  took  as  my  wife 
the  daughter  of  my  uncle ;  and  she  loved  me  excessively,  so  that  when  I  absented 
myself  from  her,  she  would  neither  eat  nor  drink  till  she  saw  me  again.  She  re- 
mained under  my  protection  five  years.  After  this,  she  went  one  day  to  the  bath  ; 
and  I  had  commanded  the  cook  to  prepare  the  supper,  and  entered  this  palace,  and 
slept  in  my  usual  place.  I  had  ordered  two  maids  to  fan  me ;  and  one  of  them  sat 
at  my  head  and  the  other  at  my  feet ;  but  I  was  restless  because  my  wife  was  not 
with  me ;  and  I  could  not  sleep.  My  eyes  were  closed,  but  my  spirit  was  awake ; 
and  I  heard  the  maid  at  my  head  say  to  her  at  my  feet,  O  Masouda,  verily  our  lord 
is  unfortunate  in  his  youth  ;  and  what  a  pity  it  is  that  it  should  be  passed  with  our 
depraved,  wicked  mistress  ! — Perditiou  to  unfaithful  wives  !  replied  the  other ;  but 
(added  she)  such  a  person  as  our  lord,  so  endowed  by  Nature,  is  not  suited  to  this 
profligate  woman,  who  passes  every  night  absent  from  his  bed. — Verily,  rejoined 


H 


'I'lie  Youii?  King;  on  his  Bed  ai tended  by  two  Maids. 

she  at  my  head,  our  lord  is  careless  in  not  making  any  inquiry  respecting  her. — 
Wo  to  thee !  said  the  other  :  hath  our  lord  any  knowledge  of  her  conduct,  or  doth 
she  leave  him  to  his  choice?  Nay,  on  the  contrary,  she  contriveth,  to  defraud  him 
by  means  of  the  cup  of  wine  which  he  drinketh  every  night  before  he  sleepeth, 
putting  bhang'  into  it;  in  consequence  of  which  he  sleepeth  so  soundly  that  he 

'  An  intoxicating  or  stupifying  drug. 


THE   YOUNG   KING    OF  THE   BLACK   ISLANDS.  43 

knoweth  not  what  happeneth,  nor  whither  she  goeth,  nor  what  she  doth  ;  for,  after 
she  hath  given  him  the  wine  to  drink,  she  dresseth  herself,  and  goeth  out  from  him, 
and  is  absent  until  daybreak,  when  she  returneth  to  him,  and  burneth  a  perfume 
under  his  nose,  upon  which  he  awaketh  from  his  sleep. 

When  I  heard  this  conversation  of  the  maids,  the  light  became  darkness  before 
my  face,  and  I  was  hardly  conscious  of  the  approach  of  night,  when  my  cousin  re- 
turned from  the  bath.  The  table  was  prepared,  and  we  ate,  and  sat  awhile  drinking 
our  wine  as  usual.  I  then  called  for  the  wine  which  I  was  accustomed  to  drink 
before  I  lay  down  to  sleep,  and  she  handed  to  me  the  cup ;  but  I  turned  away,  and, 
pretending  to  drink  it  as  I  was  wont  to  do,  poured  it  into  my  bosom,  and  imme- 
diately lay  down :  upon  which  she  said,  Sleep  on  ;  I  wish  that  thou  wouldst  never 
wake  again  !  By  Allah,  I  abhor  thee,  and  abhor  thy  person,  and  my  soul  is  weary 
of  thy  company  ! — She  then  arose,  and  attired  herself  in  the  most  magnificent  of  her 
apparel,  and  having  perfumed  herself,  and  slung  on  a  sword,  opened  the  door  of  the 
palace,  and  went  out.  I  got  up  immediately,  and  followed  her  until  she  had  quitted 
the  palace,  and  passed  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  and  arrived  at  the  city-gates, 
when  she  pronounced  some  words  that  I  understood  not:  whereupon  the  locks  fell 
off,  and  the  gates  opened,  and  she  went  out,  I  still  following  her,  without  her  know- 
ledge. Thence  she  proceeded  to  a  space  among  the  mounds,  and  arrived  at  a 
strong  edifice,  in  which  was  a  kubbeh'  constructed  of  mud,  with  a  door,  which  she 
entered.  I  then  climbed  upon  the  roof,  and  looking  down  upon  her  through  an  aper- 
ture, saw  that  she  was  visiting  a  black  slave,  whose  large  lips,  one  of  which  over- 
lapped the  other,  gathered  up  the  sand  from  the  pebbly  floor,  while  he  lay,  in  a  filthy 
and  wet  condition,  upon  a  few  stalks  of  sugar-cane. 

She  kissed  the  ground  before  this  slave  ;  and  he  raised  his  head  towards  her,  and 
said.  Wo  to  thee  !  Wherefore  hast  thou  remained  until  this  hour?  The  other  blacka 
have  been  here  drinking  wine,  and  each  of  them  has  gone  away  with  his  mistress  ; 
and  I  refused  to  drink  on  thy  account.  She  answered,  0  my  master,  and  beloved  of 
my  heart,  knowest  thou  not  that  I  am  married  to  my  cousin,  and  that  I  abhor  every 
man  who  resembles  him,  and  hate  myself  while  I  am  in  his  company?  If  I  did  not 
fear  to  displease  thee,  I  would  reduce  the  city  to  ruin,  so  that  the  owl  and  the  raven 
should  cry  in  it,  and  would  transport  its  stones  beyond  Mount  Kaf — Thou  liest,  thou 
infamous  woman,  replied  the  slave ;  and  I  swear  by  the  generosity  of  the  blacks 
(and  if  I  speak  not  truth,  may  our  valour  be  as  the  valour  of  the  whites),  that  if 
thou  loiter  as  thou  hast  now  done  till  this  hour,  I  will  no  longer  give  thee  my  com- 
pany, nor  approach  thy  person,  thou  faithless  one  !  Dost  thou  inconvenience  me  for 
the  sake  of  thine  own  pleasure,  thou  filthy  wretch,  and  vilest  of  the  whites  ? — When 
I  heard  (continued  the  King)  their  words,  and  witnessed  what  passed  between  them, 
the  world  became  dark  before  my  face,  and  I  knew  not  where  I  was.  —  My  cousin 
still  stood  weeping,  and  abasing  herself  before  him,  and  said,  0  my  beloved,  and 
treasure  of  my  heart,  there  remaineth  to  me  none  but  thee  for  whom  I  care,  and  if 
thou  cast  me  off,  alas  for  me  !  0  my  beloved  I  0  light  of  mine  eye  ! — Thus  she  con- 
tinued to  weep,  and  to  humble  herself  before  him,  until  he  became  pacified  towards 
her;  upon  which  she  rejoiced,  and  arose,  and,  having  disrobed  herself,  said  to  him, 
0  my  master,  hast  thou  here  anything  that  thy  maid  may  eat  ?  He  answered,  Un- 
cover the  dough-pan  ;  it  contains  some  cooked  rats'  bones ;  eat  of  them,  and  pick 
them;  and  take  this  earthen  pot;  thou  wilt  find  in  it  some  boozah^  to  drink.  So 
she  arose,  and  ate  and  drank,  and  washed  her  hands  ;  after  which  she  lay  down  V)y 
the  side  of  the  slave,  upon  the  stalks  of  sugar-cane,  and  covered  herself  with  his 
tattered  clothes  and  rags. 

When  I  saw  her  do  this,  I  became  unconscious  of  my  existence,  and  descending 
from  the  roof  of  the  kubbeh,  entered,  and  took  the  sword  from  the  side  of  my  cousin, 

'  A  chamber  with  an  arched  root. 

'  A  sort  of  beer,  prepared  from  barley  or  millet. 


44  THE   YOUNG   KING   OF   THE   BLACK   ISLANDS. 

with  the  intention  of  killing  them  both.  I  struck  the  slave  upon  his  neck,  and 
thought  that  he  was  killed ;  but  the  blow,  which  I  gave  with  the  view  of  severing 
his  head,  only  cut  the  gullet  and  skin  and  flesh  ;  and  when  I  thought  that  I  had 
killed  him,  he  uttered  a  loud  snore,  upon  which  my  cousin  started  up,  and,  as  soon 
as  I  had  gone,  took  the  sword  and  returned  it  to  its  scabbard,  and  came  back  to  the 
city  and  to  the  palace,  and  lay  down  again  in  my  bed,  in  which  she  remained  until 
the  morning. 

On  the  following  day,  I  observed  that  my  cousin  had  cut  off  her  hair  and  put  on 
the  apparel  of  mourning ;  and  she  said  to  me,  0  my  cousin,  blame  me  not  for  what 
I  do ;  for  I  have  received  news  that  my  mother  is  dead,  and  that  my  father  hath  been 
slain  in  a  holy  war,  and  that  one  of  my  two  brothers  hath  died  of  a  poisonous  sting, 
and  the  other  by  the  fall  of  a  house  ;  it  is  natural,  therefore,  that  I  should  weep  and 
mourn.  On  hearing  these  words,  I  abstained  from  upbraiding  her,  and  said,  Do  what 
seemeth  fit  to  thee ;  for  I  will  not  oppose  thee.  Accordingly,  she  continued  mourn- 
ing and  weeping  and  wailing  a  whole  year  ;  after  which  she  said  to  me,  I  have  a 
desire  to  build  for  myself,  in  thy  palace,  a  tomb,  with  a  cupola,  that  I  may  repair 
thither  alone  to  mourn,  and  I  will  call  it  the  House  of  Lamentations.  I  replied,  Do 
what  thou  seest  fit.  So  she  built  for  herself  a  house  for  mourning,  with  an  arched 
chamber  in  the  middle  of  it,  like  the  tomb  of  a  saint ;  after  which  she  removed 
thither  the  slave,  and  there  she  lodged  him.  He  was  in  a  state  of  excessive  weak- 
ness, and  unable  to  render  her  any  service,  though  he  drank  wine  ;  and  from  the 
day  on  which  I  had  wounded  him  he  had  never  spoken  ;  yet  he  remained  alive, 
because  the  appointed  term  of  his  life  had  not  expired.  My  cousin  every  day  visited 
him  in  this  tomb  early  and  late,  to  weep  and  mourn  over  him,  and  took  to  him  wine 
to  drink,  and  boiled  meats;  and  thus  she  continued  to  do,  morning  and  evening, 
until  the  expiration  of  the  second  year,  while  I  patiently  suffered  her,  till,  one  day, 
I  entered  her  apartment  unawares,  and  found  her  weeping,  and  slapping  her  face, 
and  repeating  these  verses  : — 

I  have  lost  my  existence  among  mankind  since  your  absence  ;  for  my  heart  loveth  none  but 
you. 

Take  my  body,  then,  in  mercy,  to  the  place  where  you  are  laid;  and  there  bury  me  by  your 
side: 

And  if,  at  my  grave,  you  utter  my  name,  the  moaning  of  my  bones  shall  answer  to  your  call. 

As  soon  as  she  had  finished  the  recitation  of  these  verses,  I  said  to  her,  holding 
my.  drawn  sword  in  my  hand.  This  is  the  language  of  those  faithless  women  who 
renounce  the  ties  of  affinity;  and  regard  not  lawful  fellowship  ! — and  I  was  about  to 
strike  her  with  the  sword,  and  had  lifted  up  my  arm  to  do  so,  when  she  arose — for 
she  knew  that  it  was  I  who  had  wounded  the  slave — and,  standing  before  me,  pro- 
nounced some  words  which  I  understood  not,  and  said.  May  God,  by  means  of  my 
enchantment,  make  thee  to  be  half  of  stone,  and  half  of  the  substance  of  man  ! — 
whereupon  I  became  as  thou  seest,  unable  to  move,  neither  dead  nor  alive  ;  and  when 
I  had  been  reduced  to  this  state,  she  enchanted  the  city  and  its  markets  and  fields. 
The  inhabitants  of  our  city  were  of  four  classes  :  Mahometans,  and  Christians,  and 
Jews,  and  Magians ;  and  she  transformed  them  into  fish  :  the  white  are  the  Maho- 
metans ;  the  red,  the  Magians ;  the  blue,  the  Christians  ;  and  the  yellow  the  Jews. 
She  transformed,  also,  the  four  islands  into  four  mountains,  and  placed  them  around 
the  lake  ;  and  from  that  time  she  has  continued  every  day  to  torture  me,  inflicting 
upon  me  a  hundred  lashes  with  a  leather  whip,  until  the  blood  flows  from  my 
wounds  ;  after  which  she  puts  on  my  upper  half  a  vest  of  hair-cloth,  beneath  these 
garments. — Having  said  thus  the  young  man  wept,  and  ejaculated  the  following 
verses : — 

Give  me  patience,  0  Allah,  to  bear  what  thou  decreest !  I  will  be  patient,  if  so  I  may  obtain 
thine  approval. 

I  am  straitened,  indeed,  by  the  calamity  that  hath  befallen  me  :  but  the  Family  of  the 
favoured  Prophet  shall  intercede  f<>r  me  ! 


THE    YOUNG    KING    OF    THE    BLACK    ISLANDS.  45 

Upon  this,  the  King,  looking  towards  the  young  man,  said  to  him,  0  youth,  thou 
hast  increased  my  anxiety,  and  where  (he  added)  is  this  woman  ?  The  young  man 
answered.  She  is  in  the  tomb,  where  the  slave  is  lying,  in  the  arched  chamber;  and 
every  day,  before  she  visits  him,  she  strips  me  of  my  clothing,  and  inflicts  upon  me 
a  hundred  lashes  with  the  whip,  while  I  weep  and  cry  out,  unable  to  move  so  as  to 
repulse  her.  After  thus  torturing  me,  she  repairs  early  to  the  slave,  with  the  wine 
and  boiled  meat ! — By  Allah,  0  youth,  said  the  King,  I  will  do  thee  an  act  of  kind- 
ness for  which  I  shall  be  remembered,  and  a  favour  which  historians  shall  record  in 
a  biography  after  me. 

He  then  sat  and  conversed  with  him  until  the  approach  of  night,  upon  which  he 
arose,  and  waited  till  the  first  dawn  of  day,  when  he  took  off  his  clothes,  and  slung 
on  his  sword,  and  went  to  the  place  where  the  slave  lay.  After  remarking  the 
candles  and  lamps,  and  perfumes  and  ointments,  he  approached  the  slave,  and  with 
a  blow  of  his  sword  slew  him  ;  he  then  carried  him  on  his  back,  and  threw  him  into 
a  well  which  he  found  in  the  palace,  and,  returning  to  the  kubbeh,  clad  himself  with 
the  slave's  clothes,  and  lay  down  with  the  drawn  sword  by  his  side.  Soon  after,  the 
vile  enchantress  went  to  her  cousin,  and  having  pulled  off  his  clothes,  took  the  whip, 
and  beat  him,  while  he  cried,  Ah  !  it  is  enough  for  me  to  be  in  this  state !  Have 
pity  on  me  then  ! — Didst  thou  show  pity  to  me,  she  exclaimed,  and  didst  thou  spare 
my  lover  ? — She  then  put  on  him  the  hair-cloth  vest  and  his  outer  garments,  and  re- 
paired to  the  slave  with  a  cup  of  wine,  and  a  bowl  of  boiled  meat.  Entering  the 
tomb,  she  wept  and  wailed,  exclaiming,  0  my  master,  answer  me ! — 0  my  master 
speak  to  me ! — and  poured  forth  her  lamentation  in  the  words  of  this  verse  :— 

How  long  shall  this  aversion  and  harshness  continue?    SuflBcient  is  the  evil  which  my  passion 
hath  brought  upon  me  ! 

Then  weeping  as  before,  she  exclaimed  again,  0  my  master,  answer  me,  and  speak 
to  me  !  Upon  this  the  King,  speaking  in  a  low  voice,  and  adapting  his  tongue  to  the 
pronunciation  of  the  blacks,  ejaculated.  Ah  !  Ah  !  there  is  no  strength  nor  power 
but  in  God !  On  hearing  these  words,  she  screamed  with  joy,  and  fell  down  in 
a  swoon:  and  when  she  recovered,  she  exclaimed.  Possibly  my  master  is  restored 
to  health !  The  King,  again  lowering  his  voice  as  if  from  weakness,  replied, 
Thou  profligate  wretch,  thou  deservest  not  that  I  should  address  thee. — Where- 
fore? said  she?  He  answered.  Because  all  the  day  long  thou  tormentest  thy 
husband,  while  he  calleth  out,  and  imploreth  the  aid  of  God,  so  that  thou  hast 
prevented  my  sleeping  from  the  commencement  of  darkness  until  morning :  thy 
husband  hath  not  ceased  to  humble  himself,  and  to  imprecate  vengeance  upon 
thee,  till  he  hath  distracted  me  ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  this,  I  had  recovered 
my  strength:  this  it  is  which  hath  prevented  my  answering  thee. — Then,  with  thy 
permission,  she  replied,  I  will  liberate  him  from  his  present  sufferings. — Liberate 
him,  said  the  King,  and  give  us  ease. 

She  replied,  I  hear  and  obey  : — and  immediately  arose,  and  went  out  from  the 
tomb  to  the  palace,  and,  taking  a  cup,  filled  it  with  water,  and  pronounced  certain 
words  over  it,  upon  which  it  began  to  boil  like  a  cauldron.  She  then  sprinkled 
some  of  it  upon  her  cousin,  saying.  By  virtue  of  what  I  have  uttered,  be  changed 
from  thy  present  state  to  that  in  which  thou  wast  at  first ! — and  instantly  he  shook, 
and  stood  upon  his  feet,  rejoicing  in  his  liberation,  and  exclaimed,  I  testify  that  there 
is  no  deity  but  God,  and  that  Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle ;  God  fiivour  and  preserve 
him  !  She  then  said  to  him.  Depart  and  return  not  hither,  or  I  will  kill  thee  : — and 
she  cried  out  in  his  face  :  so  he  departed  from  before  her,  and  she  returned  to  the 
tomb,  and  said,  0  my  master,  come  forth  to  me  that  I  may  behold  thee.  He  replied 
with  a  weak  voice.  What  hast  thou  done?  Thou  hast  relieved  me  from  the  branch 
but  hast  not  relieved  me  from  the  root. — 0  my  beloved,  she  said,  and  what  is  the 
root  ?     He  answered,  The  people  of  this  city,  and    of  the   four    Islands ;    every 


46 


THE   YOUNG    KING    OF    THE    BLACK    ISLANDS. 


The  Sullaii  killms  tlie  Ln-li  intre' 


night,  at  the  middle  hour,  the  fish  raise  their  heads,  and  imprecate  vengeance 
upon  nie  and  upon  thee  ;  and  this  is  the  cause  that  prevents  the  return  of  vigour 
to  my  body  ;  therefore  liberate  them,  and  come  and  take  my  hand,  and  raise  me, 
for  vigour  hath  already  in  part  returned  to  me. 

On  hearing  these  words  of  the  King,  whom  she  imagined  to  be  the  slave,  she  said 
to  him  with  joy,  0  my  master,  on  my  head  and  my  eye  !     In  the  name  of  Allah  ! — 

and  she  sprang  up,  full  of  happiness, 
and  hastened  to  the  lake,  where, 
taking  a  little  of  its  water,  she  pro- 
nounced over  it  some  unintelligible 
words;  whereupon  the  fish  became 
agitated,  and  raised  their  heads,  and 
immediately  became  converted  into 
men  as  before.  Thus  was  the  enchant- 
ment removed  from  the  inhabitants 
of  the  city,  and  the  city  became  re- 
peopled,  and  the  market-streets  re- 
erected,  and  every  one  returned  to  his 
occupation  :  the  mountains  also  became 
changed  into  islands  as  they  were  at 
the  first.  The  enchantress  then  re- 
turned immediately  to  the  King,  whom 
she  still  imagined  to  be  the  slave,  and 
said  to  him,  0  my  beloved,  stretch 
forth  thy  honoured  hand,  that  I  may 
kiss  it. —  Approach  me,  said  the  King 
in  a  low  voice.  So  she  drew  near  t(, 
him  ;  and  he,  having  his  keen-edged 
sword  ready  in  his  hand,  thrust  it  into  her  bosom,  and  the  point  protruded  from  hur 
back  ;  he  then  struck  her  again,  and  clove  her  in  twain,  and  went  forth. 

He  found  the  young  man  who  had  been  enchanted  waiting  his  return,  and  con- 
gratulated him  on  his  safety :  and  the  young  prince  kissed  his  hand,  and  thanked 
him.  The  King  then  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou  remain  in  thy  city,  or  come  with  me 
to  my  capital?  —  0  King  of  the  age,  said  the  young  man,  dost  thou  know  the  dis- 
tance that  is  between  thee  and  thy  city?  The  King  answered.  Two  days  and  a 
half.  —  0  King,  replied  the  young  man,  if  thou  hast  been  asleep,  awake:  between 
thee  and  thy  city  is  a  distance  of  a  year's  journey  to  him  who  travelleth  with  dili- 
gence ;  and  thou  camest  in  two  days  and  a  half  only  because  the  city  was  enchanted  ; 
but,  0  King,  I  will  never  quit  thee  for  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  The  King  rejoiced 
at  his  words,  and  said.  Praise  be  to  God,  who  hath  in  his  beneficence  given  tbee  to 
me:  thou  art  my  son  ;  for  during  ray  whole  life  I  have  never  been  blest  with  a  son  ; 
—  and  they  embraced  each  other,  and  rejoiced  exceedingly.  They  then  went  to- 
gether into  the  palace,  where  the  King  who  had  been  enclianted  informed  tlie 
officers  of  his  court  that  he  was  about  to  perforin  the  holy  pilgrimage  ;  so  they  pre- 
pared for  him  everything  that  he  required;  and  he  departed  with  the  Sultan  ;  his 
heart  burning  with  reflections  upon  his  city,  because  he  had  been  deprived  of  the 
sight  of  it  for  the  space  of  a  year. 

He  set  forth,  accompanied  by  fifty  memlooks,  and  provided  with  presents,  and 
they  continued  their  journey  night  and  day  for  a  whole  year,  after  which  they  drew 
near  to  the  city  of  the  Sultan  ;  and  the  Vizier  and  the  troops,  who  had  lost  all  hope 
of  his  return,  came  forth  to  meet  him.  The  troops,  approaching  him,  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  and  congratulated  him  on  his  safe  return  ;  and  he  entered  the 
city  and  sat  upon  the  throne.  He  then  acquainted  the  Vizier  with  all  that  had  hap- 
pened to  the  young  King;  on  hearing  which,  the  Vizier  congratulated  tlie  latter, 
also,  on  his  safety;  and  when  all  things  were  restored  to  order,  the  Sultnn  bestowed 


The  Young  King  of  the  Elaek  Islands.    (Page  46.) 


THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD.  49 

presents  upon  a  number  of  his  subjects,  and  said  to  the  Vizier,  Bring  to  me  the 
fisherman,  -who  presented  to  me  the  fish.  So  he  sent  to  this  fisherman,  who  had 
been  the  cause  of  the  restoration  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  enchanted  city,  and 
brought  him  ;  and  the  King  invested  him  with  a  dress  of  honour,  and  inquired  of 
him  respecting  his  circumstances,  and  whether  he  had  any  children.  The  fisher- 
man informed  him  that  he  had  a  son  and  two  daughters  ;  and  the  King,  on  hearing 
this,  took  as  his  wife  one  of  the  daughters :  and  the  young  prince  married  the  other. 
The  King  also  conferred  upon  the  son  the  office  of  treasurer.  He  then  sent  the 
Vizier  to  the  city  of  the  young  prince,  the  capital  of  the  Black  Islands,  and  invested 
him  with  its  sovereignty,  despatching  with  him  the  fifty  memlooks  who  had  ac- 
companied him  thence,  with  numerous  robes  of  honour  to  all  the  Emirs  ;  and  the 
A'^izier  kissed  his  hands,  and  set  forth  on  his  journey  ;  while  the  Sultan  and  the 
young  prince  remained.  And  as  to  the  fisherman,  he  became  the  wealthiest  of  the 
people  of  his  age  ;  and  his  daughters  continued  to  be  the  wives  of  the  Kings  until 
they  died. 

But  this  (added  Sheherazade)  is  not  more  wonderful  than  what  happened  to  the 
porter. 


CHAPTER   III. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Ninth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Eighteenth. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD,  AND  OF 
THE  THREE  ROYAL  MENDICANTS,  &c. 

There  was  a  man  of  the  city  of  Bagdad,  who  was  unmarried,  and  he  was  a 
porter;  and  one  day,  as  he  sat  in  the  market,  reclining  against  his  crate,  there  ac- 
costed him  a  female  wrapped  in  an  izar  >  of  the  manufacture  of  Mosul,^  composed 
of  gold-embroidered  silk,  with  a  border  of  gold  lace  at  each  end,  who  raised  her 
face-veil,  and  displayed  beneath  it  a  pair  of  black  eyes,  with  lids  bordered  by  long 
lashes,  exhibiting  a  tender  expression,  and  features  of  perfect  beauty ;  and  she  said, 
with  a  sweet  voice,  Bring  thy  crate,  and  follow  me. 

The  porter  had  scarcely  heard  her  words  when  he  took  up  his  crate,  and  he  fol- 
lowed her  until  she  stopped  at  the  door  of  a  house,  and  knocked ;  whereupon  there 
came  down  to  her  a  Christian,  and  she  gave  him  a  piece  of  gold,  and  received  for  it 
a  quantity  of  olives,  and  two  large  vessels  of  wine,  which  she  placed  in  the  crate, 
saying  to  the  porter.  Take  it  up,  and  follow  me.  The  porter  exclaimed.  This  is, 
indeed,  a  fortunate  day  !  —  and  he  took  up  the  crate,  and  followed  her.  She  next 
stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  fruiterer,  and  bought  of  him  Syrian  apples,  and  Othmanee 
quinces,  and  peaches  of  Oman,  and  jasmine  of  Aleppo,  and  water-lilies  of  Damascus, 
and  cucumbers  of  the  Nile,  and  Egyptian  limes,  and  Sultanee  citrons,  and  sweet- 
scented  myrtle,  and  sprigs  of  the  henna-tree,  and  chamomile,  and  anemones,  and 
violets,  and  pomegranate-flowers,  and  eglantine :  all  these  she  put  into  the  porter's 
crate,  and  said  to  him.  Take  it  up.  So  he  took  it  up,  and  followed  her  until  she 
stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  butcher,  to  whom  she  said.  Cut  off  ten  pounds  of  meat  ;  — 

'  A  veil  three  yards  in  length,  worn  so  as  to  conceal  the  person. 

'Mosul  was  long  celebrated  for  its  manufacture  of  fine  cottons,  from  whence  our  word 
"  Muslin." 

4 


50  THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

and  he  cut  it  off  for  her,  and  she  wrapped  it  in  a  leaf  of  a  banana-tree,  and  put  it 
in  the  crate,  and  said  again,  Take  it  up,  0  porter: — and  he  did  so,  and  followed  her. 
She  next  stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  seller  of  dry  fruits,  and  took  some  of  every  kind 
of  these,  and  desired  the  porter  to  take  up  his  burden.  Having  obeyed,  he  followed 
her  until  she  stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  confectioner,  where  she  bought  a  dish,  and 
filled  it  with  sweets  of  every  kind  that  he  had,  which  she  put  into  the  crate  ;  where- 
upon the  porter  ventured  to  say.  If  thou  hadst  informed  me  beforehand,  I  had 
brought  with  me  a  mule  to  carry  all  these  things.  The  lady  smiled  at  his  remark, 
and  next  stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  perfumer,  of  whom  she  bought  ten  kinds  of 
scented  waters  ;  rose-water,  and  orange-flower-water,  and  willow-flower-water,  &c. ; 
together  with  some  sugar,  and  a  sprinkling-bottle  of  rose-water  infused  with  musk, 
and  some  frankincense,  and  aloes-wood,  and  ambergris,  and  musk,  and  wax-candles  ; 
and,  placing  all  these  in  the  crate,  she  said.  Take  up  thy  crate  and  follow  me.  He, 
therefore,  took  it  up,  and  followed  her  until  she  came  to  a  handsome  house,  before 
which  was  a  spacious  court.  It  was  a  lofty  structure,  with  a  door  of  two  leaves, 
composed  of  ebony,  overlaid  with  plates  of  red  gold. 

The  young  lady  stopped  at  this  door,  and  knocked  gently  ;  whereupon  both  its 
leaves  were  opened,  and  the  porter,  looking  to  see  who  opened  it,  found  it  to  be  a 
damsel  of  tall  stature,  high-bosomed,  fair,  and  beautiful,  and  of  elegant  form,  with 
a  forehead  like  the  bright  new  moon,  eyes  like  those  of  gazelles,  eyebrows  like  the 
new  moon  of  Ramadan,'  cheeks  resembling  anemones,  and  a  mouth  like  the  seal  of 
Solomon  ;  her  countenance  was  like  the  full  moon  in  its  splendour,  and  the  forms 
of  her  bosom  resembled  two  pomegranates  of  equal  size.  When  the  porter  beheld 
her,  she  captivated  his  reason:  the  crate  nearly  fell  from  his  head,  and  he  exclaimed, 
Never  in  my  life  have  I  seen  a  more  fortunate  day  than  this !  The  lady-portress, 
standing  within  the  door,  said  to  the  cateress  and  the  porter,  Ye  are  welcome:  — 
and  they  entered,  and  proceeded  to  a  spacious  saloon,  decorated  with  various 
colours,  and  beautifully  constructed,  with  carved  woodwork,  and  fountains,  and 
benches  of  different  kinds,  and  closets  with  curtains  hanging  before  them  ;  there 
was  also  in  it,  at  the  upper  end,  a  sofa  of  alabaster  inlaid  with  large  pearls  and 
jewels,  with  a  musquito-curtain  of  red  satin  suspended  over  it,  and  within  this  was 
a  young  lady  with  eyes  possessing  the  enchantment  of  Babylon,^  and  a  figure  like 
the  letter  Alif,^  with  a  face  that  put  to  shame  the  shining  sun  :  she  was  like  one  of 
the  brilliant  planets,  or  rather,  one  of  the  most  high-born  of  the  maidens  of  Arabia. 
This  third  lady,  rising  from  the  sofa,  advanced  with  a  slow  a.nd  elegant  gait  to  the 
middle  of  the  saloon,  where  her  sisters  were  standing,  and  said  to  them,  Why  stand 
ye  still?  Lift  down  the  burden  from  the  head  of  this  poor  porter : — whereupon  the 
cateress  placed  herself  before  him,  and  the  portress  behind  him,  and,  the  third  lady 
assisting  them,  they  lifted  it  down  from  his  head.  They  then  took  out  the  contents 
of  the  crate,  and,  having  put  everything  in  its  place,  gave  to  the  porter  two  pieces 
of  gold,  saying  to  him,  Depart,  0  porter. 

The  porter,  however,  stood  looking  at  the  ladies,  and  admiring  their  beauty  and 
their  agreeable  dispositions  ;  for  he  had  never  seen  any  more  handsome ;  and  when 
he  observed  that  they  had  not  a  man  among  them,  and  gazed  upon  the  wine,  and 
fruits,  and  sweet-scented  flowers,  which  were  there,  he  was  full  of  astonishment, 
and  hesitated  to  go  out  ;  upon  which  one  of  the  ladies  said  to  him.  Why  dost  thou 
not  go?  dost  thou  deem  thy  hire  too  little?  Then  turning  to  one  of  her  sisters,  she 
said  to  her,  Give  him  another  piece  of  gold. — By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  exclaimed 
the  porter,  my  hire  is  but  two  half-drachms,*  and  I  thought  not  what  ye  have  given 
too  little  ;  but  my  heart  and  mind  were  occupied  with  reflections  upon  you  and  your 
state,  ye  being  alone,  with  no  man  among  you,  not  one  to  amuse  you  with  his  com- 
pany ;  for  ye  know  that  the  minaret  standeth  not  firmly  but  on  four  walls  :  now  ye 

'  The  month  of  abstinence.  '  The  Chaldeans  were  famous  for  maj^ic. 

*  The  form  of  Alif  is  long  and  slender.  *  A  drachm  is  worth  about  sixpence. 


THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 


51 


have  not  a  fourth,  and  the  pleasure  of  women  is  not  complete  without  men  :  ye 
art,  three  only,  and  have  need  of  a  fourth,  who  should  be  a  man,  a  person  of  sense 
discreet,  acute,  and  a  concealer  jf  secrets.  We  are  maidens,  they  replied  ;  and 
fear  to  impart  our  secret  to  him  who  will  not  keep  it ;  for  we  have  read,  in  a  certain 
history,  this  verse : — 

Guard  thy  secret  from  another:  intrust  it  not:  for  he  who  instrusteth  a  secret  hath  lost  it. 

By  your  existence,  said  the  porter,  I  am  a  man  of  sense  and  trustworthy :  I  have 
read  various  books,  and  perused  histories :  I  make  known  what  is  fair,  and  con- 
ceal what  is  foul,  and  act  in  accordance  with  the  saying  of  the  poet : — 

None  keepeth  a  secret  but  a  faithful  ;person  :  with  the  best  of  mankind  it  remaineth  concealed. 
A  secret  is  with  me  as  in  a  house  with  a  lock  whose  key  is  lost,  and  whose  door  is  sealed. 

When  the  ladies  heard  the  verses  which  he  quoted,  and  the  words  with  which  he 
addressed  them,  they  said  to  him.  Thou  knowest  that  we  have  expended  here  a 
considerable  sum  of  money  :  hast  thou  then  wherewith  to  requite  us  ?  We  will  not 
suffer  thee  to  remain  with  us  unless  thou  contribute  a  sum  of  money ;  for  thou 
desirest  to  sit  with  us,  and  to  be  our  cup-companion,  and  to  gaze  upon  our  beautiful 
faces. — If  friendship  is  without  money,  said  the  mistress  of  the  house,  it  is  not  equi- 
valent to  the  weight  of  a  grain  : — and  the  portress  added,  If  thou  hast  nothing,  depart 
with  nothing: — but  the  cateress  said,  0  sister,  let  us  suffer  him  ;  for,  verily,  he  hath 
not  been  deficient  in  his  services  for  us  this  day  :  another  had  not  been  so  patient 
with  us  ;  whatever,  therefore,  falls  to  his  share  of  the  expense,  I  will  defray  for 
him. — At  this  the  porter  rejoiced,  and  exclaimed.  By  Allah,  I  obtained  my  first  and 
only  pay  this  day  from  none  but  thee : — and  the  other  ladies  said  to  him.  Sit  down  : 
thou  art  welcome. 

The  cateress  then  arose,  and  having  tightened  her  girdle,  arranged  the  bottles, 
and  strained  the  wine,  and  prepared  the  table  by  the  pool  of  the  fountain.  She  made 
ready  all  that  they  required,  brought  the  wine,  and  sat  down  with  her  sisters ;  the 
porter  also  sitting  with  them,  thinking  he  was  in  a  dream.  And  when  they  had 
seated  themselves,  the  cateress  took  ajar  of  wine,  and  filled  the  first  cup,  and  drank 


The  Porter  and  Ladies  Caruusing. 


it;  she  then  filled  another,  and  handed  it  to  one  of  her  sisters;  and  in  like  luannei 
she  did  to  her  other  sister;  after  which  she  filled  again,  and  handed  the  cup  to  the 
porter,  who,  having  taken  it  from  her  hand,  repeated  this  verse : — 

I  will  drink  the  wine,  and  enjoy  health ;  for,  verily,  this  beverage  is  a  remedy  for  disease. 


52  THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

The  xv'ine  continued  to  circulate  among  them,  and  the  porter,  taking  hia  part  in  the 
reveld,  dancing  and  singing  with  them,  and  enjoying  the  fragrant  odours,  began  to 
hug  and  kiss  them,  while  one  slapped  him,  and  another  pulled  him,  and  the  third 
beat  him  with  sweet-scented  flowers,  till,  at  length,  the  wine  made  sport  with  their 
reason :  and  they  threw  off  all  restraint,  indulging  their  merriment  with  as  much 
freedom  as  if  no  man  had  been  present. 

Thus  they  continued  until  the  approach  of  night,  when  they  said  to  the  porter, 
Depart  and  show  us  the  breadth  of  thy  shoulders  ; — but  he  replied.  Verily  the  de- 
parture of  my  soul  from  my  body  were  more  easy  to  me  than  my  departure  from 
your  company  ;  therefore  suffer  us  to  join  the  night  to  the  day,  and  then  each  of  us 
shall  return  to  his  own,  or  her  own,  affairs.  The  cateress,  also,  again  interceded  for 
him,  saying,  By  my  life  I  conjure  you  that  ye  suffer  him  to  pass  the  night  with  us, 
that  we  may  laugh  at  his  drolleries,  for  he  is  a  witty  rogue.  So  they  said  to  him, 
Thou  shalt  pass  the  night  with  us  on  this  condition,  that  thou  submit  to  our 
authority,  and  ask  not  an  explanation  of  anything  that  thou  shalt  see.  He  replied, 
Good. — Rise  then,  said  they,  and  read  what  is  inscribed  upon  the  door.  Accord- 
ingly, he  went  to  the  door,  and  found  the  following  inscription  upon  it  in  letters  of 
gold :  Speak  not  of  that  which  doth  not  concern  thee,  lest  thou  hear  that  which 
will  not  please  thee :  and  he  said.  Bear  witness  to  my  promise  that  I  will  not  speak 
of  that  which  doth  not  concern  me. 

The  cateress  then  rose,  and  prepared  for  them  a  repast ;  and,  after  they  had  eaten 
a  little,  they  lighted  the  candles  and  burned  some  aloes-wood.  This  done,  they  sat 
down  again  to  the  table ;  and  while  they  were  eating  and  drinking,  they  heard  a 
knocking  at  the  door;  whereupon,  without  causing  any  interruption  to  their  meal, 
one  of  them  went  to  the  door,  and,  on  her  return,  said.  Our  pleasure  this  night  is 
now  complete,  for  I  have  found,  at  the  door,  three  foreigners  with  shaven  chins,  and 
each  of  them  is  blind  of  the  left  eye :  it  is  an  extraordinary  coincidence.  They  are 
strangers  newly  arrived,  and  each  of  them  has  a  ridiculous  appearance  :  if  they 
come  in,  therefore,  we  shall  be  amused  with  laughing  at  them. — The  lady  ceased  not 
with  these  words,  but  continued  to  persuade  her  sisters  until  they  consented,  and 
said.  Let  them  enter ;  but  make  it  a  condition  with  them  that  they  speak  not  of  that 
which  doth  not  concern  them,  lest  they  hear  that  which  will  not  please  them. 
Upon  this  she  rejoiced:  and,  having  gone  again  to  the  door,  brought  in  the  three  men 
blind  of  one  eye  and  with  shaven  chins,  and  they  had  thin  and  twisted  moustaches. 
Being  mendicants  they  saluted  and  drew  back  ;  but  the  ladies  rose  to  them,  and 
seated  them  ;  and  when  these  three  men  looked  at  the  porter,  they  saw  that  he  t\a8 
intoxicated ;  and,  observing  him  narrowly,  they  thought  that  he  was  one  of  their 
own  class,  and  said,  He  is  a  mendicant  like  ourselves,  and  will  amuse  us  by  his 
conversation  ; — but  the  porter,  hearing  what  they  said,  arose,  and  rolled  his  eyes, 
and  exclaimed  to  them,  Sit  quiet,  and  abstain  from  impertinent  remarks.  Have  ye 
not  read  the  inscription  upon  the  door  ? — The  ladfes,  laughing,  said  to  each  other, 
Between  the  mendicants  and  the  porter  we  shall  find  matter  for  amusement.  They 
then  placed  before  the  former  some  food,  and  they  ate,  and  then  sat  to  drink.  The 
portress  handed  to  them  the  wine,  and,  as  the  cup  was  circulating  among  them,  the 
porter  said  to  them.  Brothers,  Tiave  ye  any  tale  or  strange  anecdote  wherewith  to 
amuse  us?  The  mendicants,  heated  by  the  wine,  asked  for  musical  instruments; 
and  the  portress  brouglit  them  a  tambourine  of  the  manufacture  of  Mosul,  with  a  lute 
of  Irak,  and  a  Persian  harp ;  whereupon  they  all  arose ;  and  one  took  the  tam- 
bourine ;  another  the  lute  ;  and  the  third,  the  harp :  and  they  played  upon  these  in- 
struments, the  ladies  accompanying  them  with  loud  songs;  and  while  they  were 
thus  diverting  themselves,  a  person  knocked  at  the  door.  The  portress,  therefore, 
went  to  see  who  was  there  ;  and  the  cause  of  the  knocking  was  this. 

The  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  had  gone  forth  this  night  to  see  and  hear  what  news 
he  could  collect,  accompanied  by  Giafar  his  Vizier,  and  Mesrour  his  executioner.  It 
was  his  custom  to  disguise  himself  in  the  attire  of  a  merchant;  and  this  night  as  he 


The  Lady  Whipping  the  Dog.     (Page  55.) 


53 


THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD.  55 

went  thronjih  the  city,  he  happened  to  pass,  with  his  attendants,  by  the  house  of 
these  ladies,  and  hearing  the  sounds  of  the  musical  instruments,  he  said  to  Giafar,  I 
have  a  desire  to  enter  this  house,  and  to  see  who  is" giving  this  concert. — They  are  a 
party  who  have  become  intoxicated,  replied  Giafar,  and  I  fear  that  we  may  expe- 
rience some  ill  usage  from  them; — but  the  Caliph  said,  We  must  enter,  and  I  would 
that  thou  devise  some  stratagem  by  which  we  may  obtain  admission  to  the  inmates. 
Giafar  therefore  answered,  I  hear  and  obey: — and  he  advanced,  and  knocked  at  the 
door ;  and  when  the  portress  came  and  opened  the  door,  he  said  to  her.  My  mistress, 
we  are  merchants  from  Tiberias,  and  have  been  in  Bagdad  ten  days ;  we  have 
brought  with  us  merchandise,  and  taken  lodgings  in  a  Khan  ;'  and  a  merchant  in- 
vited us  to  an  entertainment  this  night:  accordingly  we  went  to  his  house,  and  he 
placed  food  before  us,  and  we  ate,  and  sat  awhile  drinking  together,  after  which  he 
gave  us  leave  to  depart:  and  going  out  in  the  dark,  and  being  strangers,  we  missed 
our  way  to  the  Khan ;  we  trust,  therefore,  in  your  generosity,  that  you  will  admit  us 
to  pass  the  night  in  your  house ;  by  doing  which  you  will  obtain  a  reward  in 
heaven. — The  portress,  looking  at  them,  and  observing  that  they  were  in  the  garb 
of  merchants,  and  that  they  bore  an  appearance  of  respectability,  returned,  and 
consulted  her  two  companions ;  and  they  said  to  her.  Admit  them  :  so  she  returned, 
and  opened  to  them  the  door.  They  said  to  her,  Shall  we  enter  with  thy  permis- 
sion? She  answered.  Come  in.  The  Caliph,  therefore,  entered,  with  Giafar  and 
Mesrour  :  and  when  the  ladies  saw  them,  they  rose  to  them,  and  served  tjiem,  saying, 
Welcome  are  our  guests;  but  we  have  a  condition  to  impose  upon  you,  that  ye  speak 
not  of  that  which  doth  not  concern  you,  lest  you  hear  that  which  will  not  please  you. 
They  answered.  Good: — and  when  they  had  sat  down  to  drink,  the  Caliph  looked  at 
the  three  mendicants,  and  was  surprised  at  observing  that  each  of  them  was  blind 
of  the  left  eye ;  and  he  gazed  upon  the  ladies,  and  was  perplexed  and  amazed  at  their 
fairness  and  beauty.  And  when  the  others  proceeded  to  drink  and  converse,  the 
ladies  brought  wine  to  the  Caliph;  but  he  said,  I  am  a  pilgrim; — and  drew  back 
from  them.  AVhereupon  the  portress  spread  before  him  an  embroidered  cloth,  and 
placed  upon  it  a  China  bottle,  into  which  she  poured  some  willow-flower  water, 
adding  to  it  a  lump  of  ice,  and  sweetening  it  with  sugar,  while  the  Caliph  thanked 
her,  and  said  within  himself,  To-morrow  I  must  reward  her  for  this  kind  action. 

The  party  continued  their  carousal,  and  when  the  wine  took  eifeet  upon  them, 
the  mistress  of  the  house  arose,  and  waited  upon  them,  and  afterwards  taking  the 
hand  of  the  cateress,  said.  Arise,  O  my  sister,  that  we  may  fulfil  our  debt.  She  re- 
plied, Good.  The  portress  then  rose,  and,  after  she  had  cleared  the  middle  of  the 
saloon,  placed  the  mendicants  at  the  further  end,  beyond  the-  doors  ;  after  which  the 
ladies  called  to  the  porter,  saying,  How  slight  is  thy  friendship  !  thou  art  not  a 
stranger,  but  one  of  the  family.  So  the  porter  arose,  and  girded  himself,  and  said, 
What  would  ye? — to  which  one  of  the  ladies  answered.  Stand  where  thou  art: — and 
presently  the  cateress  said  to  him.  Assist  me : — and  he  saw  two  black  bitches,  with 
chains  attached  to  their  necks,  and  drew  them  to  the  middle  of  the  saloon  ;  where- 
upon the  mistress  of  the  house  arose  from  her  place,  and  tucked  up  her  sleeve  above 
her  wrist,  and,  taking  a  whip,  said  to  the  porter,  Bring  to  me  one  of  them.  Accord- 
ingly he  dragged  one  forward  by  the  chain.  The  bitch  whined,  and  shook  her  head 
at  the  lady  ;  but  the  latter  fell  to  beating  her  upon  the  head,  notwithstanding  the 
howling,  until  her  arms  were  tired,  when  she  threw  the  whip  from  her  hand,  and 
pressed  the  bitch  to  her  bosom,  and  wiped  away  her  tears,  and  kissed  her  head ; 
after  which  she  said  to  the  porter,  Take  her  back,  and  bring  the  other  ; — and  he 
brought  her,  and  she  did  to  her  as  she  had  done  to  the  first.  At  the  sight  of  this, 
the  mind  of  the  Caliph  was  troubled,  and  his  heart  was  contracted,  and  he  winked 
to  Giafar  that  he  should  ask  her  the  reason  :  but  he  replied  by  a  sign.  Speak  not. 

The  mistress  of  the  house  then  looked  towards  the  portress,  and  said  to  her,  Arise 
to  perform  what  thou  hast  to  do.     She  replied,  Good  : — and  the  mistress  of  the  house 

'  A  sort  of  inn. 


56  THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

seated  herself  upon  a  sofa  of  alabaster,  overlaid  -with  gold  and  silver,  and  said  to 
the  portress  and  the  cateress,  Novr  perform  your  parts.  The  portress  then  seaied 
herself  upon  a  sofa  by  her,  and  the  cateress,  having  entered  a  closet,  brought  out 
from  it  a  bag  of  satin  with  green  fringes,  and,  placing  herself  before  the  lady  of  the 
house,  shook  it,  and  took  out  from  it  a  lute ;  and  she  tuned  its  strings,  and  sang  to 
it  these  verses  : — 

Restore  to   my  eyelids  tbe  sleep  which  hath  been  ravished;  and  inform  me  of  my  reason, 

whither  it  hath  fled. 
I  discovered,  when  I  took  up  my  abode  with  love,  that  slumber  had  become  an  enemy  to  my 

eyes. 
They  said,  we  saw  thee  to  be  one  of  the  upright;  what,  then,  hath  seduced  thee?    I  answered, 

Seek  the  cause  from  his  glance. 
Yerily  I  excuse  him  for  the  shedding  of  my  blood,  admitting  that  I  urged  him  to  the  deed 

by  vexation. 
He  cast  his  sun-like  image  upon  the  mirror  of  my  mind,  and  its  reflection  kindled  a  flame  in 

my  vitals. 

When  the  portress  had  heard  this  song,  she  exclaimed,  Allah  approve  thee ; — and 
she  rent  her  clothes,  and  fell  upon  the  floor  in  a  swoon  ;  and  when  her  bosom  was 
thus  uncovered,  the  Caliph  saw  upon  her  the  marks  of  beating,  as  if  from  sticks  and 
whips ;  at  which  he  was  greatly  surprised.  The  cateress  immediately  arose, 
sprinkled  water  upon  her  face,  and  brought  her  another  dress,  which  she  put  on. 
The  Caliph  then  said  to  Giafar,  Seest  thou  not  this  woman,  and  the  marks  of  beat- 
ing upon  her?  I  cannot  keep  silence  respecting  this  affair,  nor  be  at  rest  until  I 
know  the  truth  of  the  history  of  this  damsel,  and  that  of  these  two  bitches.  But 
Giafar  replied,  0  our  lord,  they  have  made  a  covenant  with  us  that  we  shall  not  speak 
excepting  of  that  which  concerneth  us,  lest  we  hear  that  which  will  not  please  us. — 
The  cateress  then  took  the  lute  again,  and,  placing  it  against  her  bosom,  touched  the 
chords  with  the  ends  of  her  fingers,  and  thus  sang  to  it: — 

If  of  love  we  complain,  what  shall  we  say?     Or  consuming  through   desire,  how  can  we 

escape  ? 
Or  if  we  send  a  messenger  to  interpret  for  us,  he  cannot  convey  the  lover's  complaint. 
Or  if  we  would  be  patient,  short  were  our  existence  after  the  loss  of  those  we  love. 
Nought  remaineth  to  us  but  grief  and  mourning,  and  tears  streaming  down  our  cheeks. 
0  you  who  are  absent  from  my  sight,  but  constantly  dwelling  within  my  heart! 
Have  you  kept  your  faith  to  an  impassioned  lover,  who,  while  time  endureth,  will   never 

change  ? 
Or,  in  absence,  have  you  forgotten  that  lover  who,  on  your  account,  is  wasting  away  ? 
When  the  day  of  judgment  shall  bring  us  together,  I  will  beg  of  our  Lord  a  protractive  trial. 

On  hearing  these  verses  of  the  cateress,  the  portress  again  rent  her  clothes,  and  cried 
out,  and  fell  upon  the  floor  in  a  swoon  ;  and  the  cateress,  as  before,  put  on  her  an- 
other dress,  after  she  had  sprinkled  some  water  upon  her  face. 

The  mendicants,  when  they  witnessed  this  scene,  said.  Would  that  we  had  never 
entered  this  house,  but  rather  had  passed  the  night  upon  the  mounds  ; '  for  our  night 
hath  been  rendered  foul  by  an  event  that  breaketh  the  back!  The  Caliph,  looking! 
towards  them,  then  said,  Wherefore  is  it  so  with  you?  They  answered.  Our  hearts 
are  troubled  by  this  occurrence.  —  Are  ye  not,  he  asked,  of  this  house?  —  No,  they 
answered  ;  nor  did  we  imagine  that  this  house  belonged  to  any  but  the  man  who  is 
sitting  with  you  :  —  upon  which  the  porter  said.  Verily,  I  have  never  seen  this  place 
before  this  night;  and  I  would  that  I  had  passed  the  night  upon  the  mounds  rather 
than  here.  They  then  observed  one  to  another.  We  are  seven  men,  and  they  are  but 
three  women  ;  we  will,  therefore,  ask  them  of  their  history :  and  if  they  answer  us 
not  willingly  they  shall  do  it  in  spite  of  themselves:  — and  they  all  agreed  to  this, 

'  Eastern  cities  are  often  surrounded  by  mounds  of  ruins  and  rubbish. 


THE  PORTER  AND  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 


57 


excepting  Giafar,  who  said,  This  is  not  a  right  determination  ;  leave  them  to  them- 
Belves,  for  we  are  their  guests,  and  they  made  a  covenant  with  us  which  we  should 
fulfil ;  there  remaineth  but  little  of  the  night,  and  each  of  us  shall  soon  go  his  way 
Then  winking  to  the  Caliph,  he  said.  There  remaineth  but  an  hour;  and  to-morrow 
we  will  bring  them  before  thee,  and  thou  shalt  ask^them  their  story.  But  the  Caliph 
refused  to  do  so,  and  said,  I  have  not  patience  to  wait  so  long  for  their  history.  — 
"Words  followed  words,  and  at  last,  they  said,  Who  shall  put  the  question  to  them  ? 
and  one  answered.  The  porter. 

The  ladies  then  said  to  them,  0  people,  of  what  are  ye  talking?  —  whereupon  the 
porter  approached  the  mistress  of  the  house,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  ask 
thee,  and  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  to  tell  us  the  story  of  the  two  bitches,  and  for  what 
reason  you  beat  them,  and  then  wept,  and  kissed  them,  and  that  thou  acquaint  us 
with  the  cause  of  thy  sister's  having  been  beaten  with  sticks!  this  is  our  question, 
and  peace  be  on  you.  —  Is  this  true  that  he  saith  of  you  ?  inquired  the  lady  of  the 
other  men  ;  and  they  all  answered.  Yes, — excepting  Giafar,  who  was  silent.  When 
the  lady  heard  their  answer,  she  said.  Verily,  0  our  guests,  ye  have  wronged  us  ex- 
cessively ;  for  we  made  a  covenant  with 
you  beforehand,  that  he  who  should 
speak  of  that  which  concerned  him  not 
should  hear  that  which  would  not 
please  him.  Is  it  not  enough  that  we 
have  admitted  you  into  our  house,  and 
fed  you  with  our  provisions  ?  But  it  is 
not  so  much  your  fault,  as  the  fault  of 
her  who  introduced  you  to  us.  —  She 
then  tucked  up  her  sleeve  above  her 
wrist,  and  struck  the  door  three  times, 
saying,  Come  ye  quickly  !  —  and  imme- 
diately the  door  of  a  closet  opened,  and 
there  came  forth  from  it  seven  black 
Blaves,  each  having  in  his  hand  a  drawn 
Bword.  The  lady  said  to  them,  Tie 
behind  them  the  hands  of  these  men  of 
many  words,  and  bind  each  of  them  to 
another: — and  they  did  so,  and  said,  0 
virtuous  lady,  dost  thou  permit  us  to 
strike  off  their  heads?  She  answered. 
Give  them  a  short  respite,  until  I  shall 
have  inquired  of  them  their  histories, 
before  ye  behead  them.  —  By  Allah,  0 
my  mistress,  exclaimed  the  porter,  kill 
me  not  for  the  offence  of  others :  for 
they  have  all  transgressed  and  com- 
mitted an  offence,  excepting  me.  Verily  our  night  had  been  pleasant  if  we  had 
been  preserved  from  these  mendicants,  whose  presence  is  enough  to  convert  a  well- 
peopled  city  into  a  heap  of  ruins ! — He  then  repeated  this  couplet : — 

How  good  is  it  to  pardon  one  able  to  resist!  and  how  much  more  so,  one  who  is  helpless; 
For  the  sake  of  the  friendship  that  subsisted  between  us  destroy  not  one  for  the  crime  of 
another. 

On  bearing  these  words  of  the  porter,  the  lady  laughed  after  her  anger.  Then  ap- 
proaching the  men,  she  said.  Acquaint  me  with  your  histories,  for  there  remaineth 
of  your  lives  no  more  than  an  hour.  Were  ye  not  persons  of  honourable  and  high 
condition,  or  governors,  I  would  hasten  your  recompense.  —  The  Caliph  said  to 
Giafar,  Wo  to  thee,  0  Giafar !  make  known  to  her  who  we  are ;  otherwise  she  will 


The  Porter  seized. 


58  THE   FIRST   ROYAL   MENDICANT. 

kill  us  — It  were  what  we  deserve,  replied  he.  —  Jesting,  said  the  Caliph,  is  not  be- 
fitting in  a  time  for  seriousness:  each  has  its  proper  occasion.  —  The  lady  then  ap- 
proached the  mendicants,  and  said  to  them,  Are  ye  brothers  ?  They  answered,  No, 
indeed ;  we  are  only  poor  foreigners.  She  said  then  to  one  of  them,  Wast  thou 
born  blind  of  one  eye  ? — No,  verily,  he  answered  ;  but  a  wonderful  event  happened 
to  me  when  my  eye  was  destroyed,  and  the  story  of  it,  if  engraved  on  the  undar- 
standing,  would  serve  as  a  lesson  to  him  who  would  be  admonished.  She  asked  the 
second  and  the  third  also ;  and  they  answered  her  as  the  first ;  adding,  Each  of  us 
is  from  a  different  country,  and  our  history  is  wonderful  and  extraordinary.  The 
lady  then  looked  towards  them  and  said.  Each  of  you  shall  relate  his  story,  and  the 
cause  of  his  coming  to  our  abode,  and  then  stroke  his  head  and  go  his  way. 

The  first  who  advanced  was  the  porter,  who  said,  0  my  mistress,  I  am  a  porter; 
and  this  cateress  loaded  me  and  brought  me  hither,  and  what  hath  happened  to  me 
here  in  your  company  ye  know.  This  is  my  story  ;  and  peace  be  on  you.  —  Stroke 
thy  head,  then,  said  she,  and  go.  —  But  he  replied,  By  Allah,  I  will  not  go  until  I 
shall  have  heard  the  story  of  my  companions. — The  first  mendicant  then  advanced, 
and  related  as  follows : — 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  FIRST  ROYAL  MENDICANT. 

Know,  0  my  mistress,  that  the  cause  of  my  having  shaved  my  beard,  and  of  the 
loss  of  ray  eye,  was  this:  —  My  fother  was  a  King,  and  he  had  a  brother  who  was 
also  a  King,  and  who  resided  in  another  capital.  It  happened  that  my  mother  gave 
birth  to  me  on  the  same  day  on  which  the  son  of  my  uncle  was  born  ;  and  years 
and  days  passed  away  until  we  attained  to  manhood.  Now,  it  was  my  custom, 
some  years,  to  visit  my  uncle,  and  to  remain  with  him  several  months  ;  and  on  one 
of  these  occasions  my  cousin  paid  me  great  honour  ;  he  slaughtered  sheep  for  me, 
and  strained  the  wine  for  me,  and  we  sat  down  to  drink  ;  and  when  the  wine  had 
affected  us,  he  said  to  me,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  I  have  need  of  thine  assistance  in  an 
affair  of  interest  to  me,  and  I  beg  that  thou  wilt  not  oppose  me  in  that  which  I 
desire  to  do.  I  replied,  I  am  altogether  at  thy  service  ;  — and  he  made  me  swear  to 
him  by  great  oaths,  and,  rising  immediately,  absented  himself  for  a  little  while, 
and  then  returned,  followed  by  a  woman  decked  with  ornaments,  and  perfumed, 
and  wearing  a  dress  of  extraordinary  value.  He  looked  towards  me,  while  the 
woman  stood  behind  him,  and  said,  Take  this  woman,  and  go  before  me  to  the 
burial-ground  which  is  in  such  a  place:  —  and  he  described  it  to  me,  and  I  knew  it. 
He  then  added.  Enter  the  burial-ground,  and  there  wait  for  me. 

I  could  not  oppose  him,  nor  refuse  to  comply  with  his  request,  on  account  of  the 
oaths  which  I  had  sworn  to  him  ;  so  I  took  the  woman,  and  went  with  her  to  the 
burial-ground  ;  and  when  we  had  sat  there  a  short  time,  my  cousin  came,  bearing  a 
basin  of  water,  and  a  bag  containing  some  plaster;  and  a  small  adze.  Going  to  a 
tomb  in  the  midst  of  the  burial-ground,  he  took  the  adze,  and  disunited  the  stones, 
which  he  placed  on  one  side;  he  then  dug  up  the  earth  with  the  adze,  and  un- 
covered a  flat  stone,  of  the  size  of  a  small  door,  under  which  there  appeared  a 
vaulted  staircase.  Having  done  this,  he  made  a  sign  to  the  woman,  and  said  to 
her.  Do  according  to  thy  choice  :  —  whereupon  she  descended  the  stairs.  He  then 
looked  towards  me,  and  said,  O  son  of  my  uncle,  complete  thy  kindness,  when  I 
have  descended  into  this  place,  by  replacing  the  trap-door  and  the  earth  above  it  as 
they  were  before :  then,  this  plaster  which  is  in  the  bag,  and  this  water  which  is  in 
the  basin,  do  thou  knead  together  and  plaster  the  stones  of  the  tomb  as  they  were, 
80  that  no  man  may  know  it,  and  say,  This  hath  been  lately  opened,  but  its  interior 
is  old;  —  for  during  the  space  of  a  whole  year  I  have  been  preparing  this,  and  nc 
one  knew  it  but  God :  this  is  what  I  would  have  thee  do.     He  then  said  to  me,  May 


THE    FIKST    ROYAL    MENDICANT.  59 

God  never  deprive  thy  friends  of  thy  presence,  0  son  of  my  uncle  !  —  and,  having 
uttered  these  words,  he  descended  the  stairs.  ' 

When  he  had  disappeared  from  before  my  eyes,  I  replaced  the  trap-door,  and 
busied  myself  vrith  doing  as  he  had  ordered  me,  until  the  tomb  was  restored  to  the 
state  in  which  it  was  at  first ;  after  which  I  returned  to  the  palace  of  my  uncle,  who 
was  then  absent  on  a  hunting  excursion.  I  slept  that  night,  and  when  the  morning 
came,  I  reflected  upon  what  had  occurred  between  me  and  my  cousin,  and  repented 
of  what  I  had  done  for  him,  when  repentance  was  of  no  avail.  I  then  went  out  to 
the  burial-ground,  and  searched  for  the  tomb ;  but  could  not  discover  it.  I  ceased 
not  in  my  search  until  the  approach  of  night ;  and,  not  finding  the  way  to  it,  re- 
turned again  to  the  palace ;  and  I  neither  ate  nor  drank:  my  heart  was  troubled  re- 
specting my  cousin,  since  I  knew  not  what  had  become  of  him  ;  and  I  fell  into  ex- 
cessive grief.  I  passed  the  night  sorrowful  until  the  morning,  and  went  again  to  the 
burial-ground,  reflecting  upon  the  action  of  my  cousin,  and  repenting  of  my  com- 
pliance with  his  request ;  and  I  searched  among  all  the  tombs ;  but  discovered  not 
that  for  which  I  looked.  Thus  I  persevered  in  my  search  seven  days  without 
success. 

My  trouble  continued  and  increased  until  I  was  almost  mad  ;  and  I  found  no  relief 
but  in  departing,  and  returning  to  my  father;  but  on  my  arrival  at  his  capital,  a 
party  at  the  city-gate  sprang  upon  me  and  bound  me.  I  was  struck  with  the  utmost 
astonishment,  considering  that  I  was  the  son  of  the  Sultan  of  the  city,  and  that 
these  were  the  servants  of  my  father  and  myself:  excessive  fear  of  them  overcame 
me,  and  I  said  within  myself,  What  hath  happened  to  my  father?  I  asked  of  those 
who  had  bound  me  the  cause  of  this  conduct ;  but  they  returned  me  no  answer,  till 
after  a  while,  when  one  of  them,  who  had  been  my  servant,  said  to  me,  Fortune  hath 
betrayed  thy  father ;  the  troops  have  been  false  to  him,  and  the  Vizier  hath  killed 
him;  and  we  were  lying  in  wait  to  take  thee.  —  They  took  me,  and  I  was  as  one 
dead,  by  reason  of  this  news  which  I  had  heard  respecting  my  father ;  and  I  stood 
before  the  Vizier  who  had  killed  my  father. 

Now,  there  was  an  old  enmity  subsisting  between  me  and  him  ;  and  the  cause  of 
it  was  this: — I  was  fond  of  shooting  with  the  cross-bow;  and  it  happened  one  day, 
that  as  I  was  standing  on  the  roof  of  my  palace,  a  bird  alighted  on  the  roof  of  the 
palace  of  the  Vizier,  who  was  standing  there  at  the  time,  and  I  aimed  at  the  bird; 
but  the  arrow  missed  it,  and  struck  the  eye  of  the  Vizier,  and  knocked  it  out,  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  appointment  of  fate  and  destiny,  as  the  poet  hath  said : — 

We  trod  the  steps  appointed  for  us :  and  the  man  whose  steps  are  appointed  must  tread  them. 
He  whose  death  is  decreed  to  take  place  in  one  land  will  not  die  in  any  land  but  that. 

When  I  had  thus  put  out  the  eye  of  the  Vizier,  he  could  say  nothing,  because  my 
father  was  King  of  the  city.  This  was  the  cause  of  the  enmity  between  him  and 
me :  and  when  I  stood  before  him,  with  my  hands  bound  behind  me,  he  gave  the 
order  to  strike  off  my  head.  I  said  to  him,  Wouldst  thou  kill  me  for  no  offence  ?  — 
What  offence,  he  exclaimed,  could  be  greater  than  this?  —  and  he  pointed  to  the 
place  of  the  eye  which  was  put  out.  I  did  that,  said  I,  unintentionally.  He  replied, 
If  thou  didst  it  unintentionally,  I  will  do  the  same  to  thee  purposely :  — and  imme- 
diately he  said,  Bring  him  forward  to  me: — and,  when  they  had  done  so,  he  thrust 
his  finger  into  my  left  eye,  and  pulled  it  out.  Thus  I  became  deprived  of  one  eye, 
as  ye  see  me.  He  then  bound  me  firmly,  and  placed  me  in  a  chest,  and  said  to  the 
executioner.  Take  this  fellow,  and  draw  thy  sword,  and  convey  him  without  the  city; 
then  put  him  to  death,  and  let  the  wild  beasts  devour  him. 

Accordingly,  he  went  forth  with  me  from  the  city,  and,  having  taken  me  out  from 
the  chest,  bound  hand  and  foot,  was  about  to  bandage  my  eye,  and  kill  me ;  where- 
upon I  wept,  and  exclaimed, — 

How  many  brothers  have  I  taken  as  armour !  and  such  they  were ;  but  to  guard  my  enemiea. 
I  thought  they  would  be  as  piercing  arrows  :  and  such  they  were  ;  but  to  enter  my  heart ! 


60  THE    FIRST    ROYAL    MENDICANT. 

The  executioner,  who  had  served  my  father  in  the  same  capacity,  and  to  whom  1 
l<ad  shown  kindnesses,  said,  on  hearing  these  verses,  0  my  master,  what  can  I  do, 
being  a  slave  under  my  command?  —  but  presently  he  added.  Depart  with  thy  life, 
and  return  not  to  this  country,  lest  thou  perish,  and  cause  me  to  perish  with  thee. 
The  poet  saith, — 

Flee  with  thy  life  if  thou  fearest  oppression,  and  leave  the  house  to  tell  its  builder's  fate. 
Thou  wilt  find,  for  the  land  that  thou  quittest,  another:  but  no  soul  wilt  thou  find  to  replace 
thine  own. 

As  soon  as  he  had  thus  said,  I  kissed  his  hands,  and  believed  not  in  my  safety 
until  I  had  fled  from  his  presence.  The  loss  of  my  eye  appeared  light  to  me  when  I 
considered  my  escape  from  death  ;  and  I  journeyed  to  my  uncle's  capital,  and,  pre- 
senting myself  before  him,  informed  him  of  what  had  befallen  my  fother,  and  of 
the  manner  in  which  I  had  lost  my  eye :  upon  which  he  wept  bitterly,  and  said, 
Thou  hast  added  to  my  trouble  and  my  grief:  for  thy  cousin  hath  been  lost  for  some 
days,  and  I  know  not  what  hath  happened  to  him,  nor  can  any  one  give  me  informa- 
tion respecting  him.  Then  he  wept  again,  until  he  became  insensible ;  and  when 
he  recovered,  he  said,  0  my  son,  the  loss  of  thine  eye  is  better  than  the  loss  of  thy 
life. 

Upon  this  I  could  no  longer  keep  silence  respecting  his  son,  my  cousin  ;  so  I  in- 
formed him  of  all  that  had  happened  to  him  ;  and  on  hearing  this  news  he  rejoiced 
exceedingly,  and  said,  Show  me  the  tomb. — By  Allah,  0  my  uncle,  I  replied,  I  know 
not  where  it  is  ;  for  I  went  afterwards  several  times  to  search  for  it,  and  could  not 
recognise  its  place.  We,  however,  went  together  to  the  burial-ground,  and,  looking 
to  the  right  and  left,  I  discovered  it;  and  both  I  and  my  uncle  rejoiced.  I  then 
entered  the  tomb  with  him,  and  when  we  had  removed  the  earth,  and  lifted  up  the 
trap-door,  we  descended  fifty  steps,  and,  arriving  at  the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  there 
issued  forth  upon  us  a  smoke  which  blinded  our  eyes ;  whereupon  my  uncle  pro- 
nounced those  words  which  relieve  from  fear  him  who  uttereth  them  —  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great ! — After  this,  we  proceeded,  and 
found  ourselves  in  a  saloon,  filled  with  flour  and  grain,  and  various  eatables  ;  and 
we  saw  there  a  curtain  suspended  over  a  couch,  upon  which  my  uncle  looked,  and 
found  there  his  son  and  the  woman  who  had  descended  with  him,  lying  side  by  side, 
and  converted  into  black  charcoal,  as  if  they  had  been  thrown  into  a  pit  of  fire. 
And  when  he  beheld  this  spectacle,  he  spat  in  his  son's  face,  and  exclaimed.  This  is 
what  thou  deservedst,  0  thou  wretch  !  This  is  the  punishment  of  the  present  world, 
and  there  remaineth  the  punishment  of  the  other  world,  which  will  be  more  severe 
and  lasting!  —  and  he  struck  him  with  his  shoes.  Astonished  at  this  action,  and 
grieved  for  my  cousin,  seeing  him  and  the  damsel  thus  converted  into  charcoal,  I 
said,  By  Allah,  0  my  uncle,  moderate  the  trouble  of  thy  heart,  for  my  mind  is  per- 
plexed by  that  which  hath  happened  to  thy  son,  and  by  thinking  how  it  hath  come 
to  pass  that  he  and  the  damsel  are  converted  into  black  charcoal.  Dost  thou  not 
deem  it  enough  fur  him  to  be  in  this  state,  that  thou  beatest  him  with  tliy  shoes  ? 

0  son  of  my  brother,  he  replied,  this  my  son  was,  from  his  early  years,  inflamed 
with  love  for  his  foster-sister;  and  I  used  to  forbid  him  from  entertaining  this  pas- 
sion for  her,  and  to  say  within  myself.  They  are  now  children,  but  when  they  grow 
older  a  base  act  will  be  committed  by  them  :  —  and,  indeed,  I  heard  that~  such  had 
been  the  case,  but  I  believed  it  not.  I,  however,  reprimanded  him  severely,  and  said 
to  him.  Beware  of  so  foul  an  action,  which  none  before  thee  hath  committed,  nor 
will  any  commit  after  thee : — otherwise  we  shall  suS'er  disgrace  and  disparagement 
among  the  Kings  until  we  die,  and  our  history  will  spread  abroad  with  the  cara- 
vans :  have  a  care  for  thyself  that  such  an  action  proceed  not  from  thee,  for  I  should 
be  incensed  against  thee,  and  kill  thee.  I  then  separated  him  from  her,  and  her 
from  him  :  but  the  vile  woman  loved  him  excessively  ;  the  Devil  got  possession  of 
them  both  ;  and  when  my  son  saw  that  I  had  separated  him,  he  secretly  made  this 


THE    SECOND    ROYAL    MENDICANT.  61 

place  beneath  the  earth,  and,  having  conveyed  hither  the  provisions  which  thou 
seest,  took  advantage  of  my  inadvertence  when  I  had  gone  out  to  hunt,  and  came 
hither:  but  the  Truth'  (whose  perfection  be  extolled  and  whose  name  be  exalted!) 
was  jealously  vigilant  over  them,  and  consumed  them  by  fire  ;  and  the  punishment  of 
the  world  to  come  will  be  more  severe  and  lasting. — He  then  wept,  and  I  wept  with 
him  ;  and  he  said  to  me,  Thou  art  my  son  in  his  stead. — I  remained  awhile  reflecting 
upon  the  world  and  its  vicissitudes,  upon  the  murder  of  my  father  by  the  Vizier,  and 
his  usurping  his  throne,  and  the  loss  of  my  eye,  and  the  strange  events  which  had 
happened  to  my  cousin,  and  I  wept  again. 

We  then  ascended,  and  having  replaced  the  trap-door  and  the  earth  above  it,  and 
restored  the  tomb  to  its  former  state,  returned  to  our  abode ;  but  scarcely  had  we 
seated  ourselves  when  we  heard  the  sounds  of  drums  and  trumpets,  warriors  gal- 
loped about,  and  the  air  was  filled  with  dust  raised  by  the  horses'  hoofs.  Our  minda 
were  perplexed,  not  knowing  what  had  happened,  and  the  King,  asking  the  news, 
was  answered,  The  Vizier  of  thy  brother  hath  slain  him  and  his  soldiers  and  guards, 
and  come  with  his  army  to  assault  the  city  unawares,  and  the  inhabitants,  being 
unable  to  withstand,  have  submitted  to  him : — whereupon  I  said  within  myself,  If  I 
fall  into  his  hand,  he  will  slay  me. — Griefs  overwhelmed  me,  and  I  thought  of  the 
calamities  which  had  befallen  my  father  and  my  mother,  and  knew  not  what  to  do ; 
for  if  I  appeared,  the  people  of  the  city  would  know  me,  and  the  troops  of  my  father 
would  hasten  to  kill  and  destroy  me.  I  knew  no  way  of  escape  but  to  shave  off  my 
beard :  so  I  shaved  it,  and,  having  changed  my  clothes,  departed  from  the  city,  and 
came  hither,  to  this  abode  of  peace,  in  the  hope  that  some  person  would  introduce 
me  to  the  Prinee  of  the  Faithful,  the  Caliph  of  the  Lord  of  all  creatures,  that  I 
might  relate  to  him  my  story,  and  all  that  had  befallen  me.  I  arrived  in  this  city 
this  night ;  and  as  I  stood  perplexed,  not  knowing  whither  to  direct  my  steps,  I  saw 
this  mendicant,  and  saluted  him,  and  said  I  am  a  stranger.  He  replied,  And  I  too  am 
a  stranger: — and  while  we  were  thus  addressing  each  other,  our  companion,  this 
third  person,  came  up  to  us,  and  saluting  us,  said  I  am  a  stranger.  We  replied. 
And  we,  also,  are  strangers.  So  we  walked  on  together,  and  darkness  overtook  us, 
and  destiny  directed  us  unto  your  abode. — This  was  the  cause  of  the  shaving  of  my 
beard,  and  of  the  loss  of  my  eye. 

The  lady  then  said  to  him,  Stroke  thy  head,  and  depart: — but  he  replied,  I  will 
not  depart  until  I  have  heard  the  stories  of  the  others.  And  they  wondered  at  his 
tale ;  and  the  Caliph  said  to  Giafar,  Verily  I  have  never  known  the  like  of  that 
which  hath  happened  to  this  mendicant. 

The  second  mendicant  then  advanced,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground,  said: — 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  ROYAL  MENDICANT. 

0  MT  mistress,  I  was  not  born  with  only  one  eye ;  but  my  story  is  wonderful,  and 
if  written,  would  serve  as  a  lesson  to  him  who  would  be  admonished.  I  am  a  King, 
and  son  of  a  King:  I  read  the  Koran  according  to  the  seven  traditions,  and  perused 
various  works  under  the  tuition  of  different  learned  professors  of  their  subjects:  I 
studied  the  science  of  the  stars,  and  the  writings  of  the  poets,  and  made  myself  a 
proficient  in  all  the  sciences ;  so  that  I  surpassed  the  people  of  my  age.  My  hand- 
writing was  extolled  among  all  the  scribes,  my  fame  spread  among  all  countries, 
and  my  history  among  all  Kings  ;  and  the  King  of  India,  hearing  of  me,  requested 
my  father  to  allow  me  to  visit  him,  sending  him  various  gifts  and  curious  presents, 
such  as  were  suitable  to  Kings.  My  father,  therefore,  prepared  for  me  six  ships. 
and  we  proceeded  by  sea  for  the  space  of  a  whole  month,  after  which  we  came  to 
land,  and,  having  disembarked  some  horses  which  we  had  with  us  in  the  ship,  we 
loaded  ten  camels  with  presents,  and  commenced  our  journey  ;  but  soon  there  ap- 
peared a  cloud  of  dust,  which  rose  and  spread  until  it  filled  the  air  before  us,  and. 

'  One  of  the  names  of  God. 


62 


THE    SECOND    ROYAL    MENDICANT. 


after  a  while,  cleared  a  little,  and  discovered  to  us  in  the  midst  of  it,  sixty  horsemen 
like  fierce  lions,  whom  we  perceived  to  be  Arab  highwaymen  ;  and  when  they  saw 
us,  that  we  were  a  small  company  with  ten  loads  of  presents  for  the  King  of  India, 
they  galloped  towards  us,  pointing  their  spears  at  us.  We  made  signs  to  them  with 
our  fingers,  and  said,  We  are  ambassadors  to  the  honoured  King  of  India  ;  therefore 
do  us  no  injury: — but  they  replied.  We  are  not  in  his  territories,  nor  under  his 
government.  They  slew  certain  of  the  young  men,  and  the  rest  fled.  I  also  fled, 
after  I  had  received  a  severe  wound ;  the  Arabs  being  employed,  without  further 
regard  to  us,  in  taking  possession  of  the  treasure  and  presents  which  we  had 
with  us. 

I  proceeded  without  knowing  whither  to  direct  my  course,  reduced  from  a  mighty 
to  an  abject  state,  and  journeyed  till  I  arrived  at  the  summit  of  a  mountain,  where 
I  took  shelter  in  a  cavern  until  the  next  morning.  I  then  resumed  my  journey,  and 
arrived  at  a  flourishing  city :  the  winter,  with  its  cold,  had  passed  away,  and  the 
spring  had  come,  with  its  flowers  ;  and  I  rejoiced  at  my  arrival  there,  being  wearied 
with  my  journey,  anxious  and  palKd,     My  condition  being  thus  changed,  I  knew 


The  Second  Prince  as  a  Woodcutter. 


not  whither  to  bend  my  steps,  and  turning  to  a  tailor  sitting  in  his  shop,  I  saluted 
him,  and  he  returned  my  salutation,  and  welcomed  me,  and  wished  me  joy,  asking 
me  the  reason  of  my  having  come  thither.  I  acquainted  him,  therefore,  with  what 
had  befallen  me  from  first  to  last,  and  he  was  grieved  for  me  and  said,  O  young  man, 


THE   SECOND   ROYAL   MENDICANT.  63 

reveal  not  thy  case,  for  I  fear  what  the  King  of  this  city  might  do  to  thee,  since  he 
is  the  greatest  of  thy  father's  enemies,  and  hath  a  debt  of  blood  against  him.  He 
then  placed  some  food  and  drink  before  me,  and  we  ate  together,  and  I  conversed 
with  him  till  night,  when  he  lodged  me  in  a  place  by  his  shop,  and  brought  me  a 
bed  and  coverlet ;  and,  after  I  had  remained  with  him  three  days,  he  said  to  me, 
Dost  thou  not  know  any  trade  by  which  to  make  gain?  I  answered,  I  am  acquainted 
with  the  law,  a  student  of  sciences,  a  writer,  and  an  arithmetician. — Thy  occupation, 
he  said,  is  profitless  in  our  country :  there  is  no  one  in  our  city  acquainted  with 
science  or  writing,  but  only  with  getting  money.  Verily,  I  replied,  I  know  nothing 
but  what  I  have  told  thee.  Gird  thyself,  then,  said  he,  and  take  an  axe  and  a  rope, 
and  cut  fire-wood  in  the  desert,  and  so  obtain  thy  subsistence  until  God  dispel  thy 
afliiction :  but  acquaint  no  one  with  thy  history,  else  they  will  kill  thee.  He  then 
bought  for  me  an  axe  and  a  rope,  and  sent  me  with  a  party  of  woodcutters,  giving 
them  a  charge  respecting  me.  Accordingly,  I  went  forth  with  them,  and  cut  some 
wood,  and  brought  back  a  load  upon  my  head,  and  sold  it  for  half  a  piece  of  gold, 
part  of  which  I  expended  in  food,  laying  by  the  remainder. 

Thus  I  continued  for  the  space  of  a  year,  after  which  I  went  one  day  into  the 
desert,  according  to  my  custom,  to  cut  fire-wood,  and  finding  there  a  tract  with 
abundance  of  wood,  I  entered  it,  and  came  to  a  tree,  around  which  I  dug ;  and  as  I 
was  removing  the  earth  from  its  roots,  the  axe  struck  against  a  ring  of  brass  ;  and 
I  cleared  away  the  earth  from  it,  and  found  that  it  was  affixed  to  a  trap-door  of 
wood,  which  I  immediately  removed.  Beneath  it  appeared  a  staircase,  which  I  de- 
scended ;  and  at  the  bottom  of  this  I  entered  a  door  and  beheld  a  palace,  strongly 
constructed,  where  I  found  a  lady,  like  a  pearl  of  great  price,  whose  aspect  banished 
from  the  heart  all  anxiety  and  grief  and  affliction.  At  the  sight  of  her  I  prostrated 
myself  in  adoration  of  her  Creator  for  the  fairness  and  beauty  which  He  had  dis- 
played in  her  person  ;  and  she,  looking  towards  me,  said.  Art  thou  a  man  or  a 
genie  ?  I  answered  her,  I  am  a  man. — And  who,  she  asked,  hath  brought  thee  to 
this  place,  in  which  I  have  lived  five-and-twenty  years  without  ever  seeing  a  human 
being  ? — Her  words  sounded  sweetly  to  me,  and  I  answered  her,  0  my  mistress, 
God  hath  brought  me  to  thy  abode,  and  I  hope  will  put  an  end  to  my  anxiety  and 
grief:  and  I  related  to  her  my  story  from  beginning  to  end.  She  was  grieved  at 
my  case,  and  wept,  and  said,  I  also  will  acquaint  thee  with  my  story.  Know  that  I 
am  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  the  further  parts  of  India,  the  lord  of  the  Ebony 
Island.  My  father  had  married  me  to  the  son  of  my  uncle  ;  but  on  the  night  of  my 
bridal  festivities,  an  Afrite  named  Jarjaris,  the  son  of  Rejmoos,  the  son  of  Eblis, 
carried  me  off,  and,  soaring  with  me  through  the  air,  alighted  in  this  place,  to  which 
he  conveyed  all  things  necessary  for  me,  such  as  ornaments,  and  garments,  and 
linen,  and  furniture,  and  food,  and  drink  ;  and  once  in  every  ten  days  he  cometh  to 
me,  and  spendeth  a  night  here ;  and  he  hath  appointed  with  me,  that,  in  case  of 
my  wanting  anything  by  night  or  day,  I  should  touch  with  my  hand  these  two  lines 
which  are  inscribed  upon  the  arched  door,  and  as  soon  as  I  remove  my  hand  I  see 
him  before  me.  Four  days  have  now  passed  since  he  was  last  with  me,  and  there 
remain  therefore  six  days  before  he  will  come  again ;  wilt  thou  then  remain  with  me 
five  days,  and  depart  one  day  before  his  visit  ? — I  answered.  Yes ; — rejoicing  at  the 
proposal ;  and  she  arose,  and  taking  me  by  the  hand,  conducted  me  through  the 
arched  door  to  a  small  and  elegant  bath,  where  I  took  off  my  clothes,  while  she 
seated  herself  upon  a  mattrass.  After  this,  she  seated  me  by  her  side,  and  brought 
me  some  sherbet  of  sugar  infused  with  musk,  and  handed  it  to  me  to  drink :  she 
then  placed  some  food  before  me,  and  after  we  had  eaten  and  conversed  together,  she 
said  to  me,  Sleep,  and  rest  thyself,  for  thou  art  fatigued. 

I  slept,  0  my  mistress,  and  forgot  all  that  had  befallen  me ;  and  when  I  awoke,  I 
found  her  rubbing  my  feet ;  upon  which  I  called  to  her,  and  we  sat  down  again, 
and  conversed  awhile  ;  and  she  said  to  me,  By  Allah,  I  was  straitened  in  my  heart, 
living  her"  alone,  without  any  person  to  talk  with  me,  five-and-twenty  years.    Praise 


64  THE   SECOND   ROYAL   MENDICANT. 

be  to  God  who  hath  sent  thee  to  me. — I  thanked  her  for  her  kind  expressions ;  and 
love  of  her  took  possession  of  my  heart,  and  my  anxiety  and  grief  fled  away.  We 
then  sat  down  to  drink  together ;  and  I  remained  by  her  side  all  the  night,  delighted 
with  her  company,  for  I  had  never  seen  her  like  in  my  whole  life ;  and  in  the  morn- 
ing, when  we  were  both  full  of  joy,  I  said  to  her.  Shall  I  take  thee  up  from  this  sub- 
terranean place,  and  release  thee  from  the  Genie?  But  she  laughed,  and  replied, 
Be  content,  and  hold  thy  peace ;  for,  of  every  ten  days  one  day  shall  be  for  the 
Afrite,  and  nine  for  thee.  I  persisted,  however,  being  overcome  with  passion  ;  and 
said,  I  will  this  instant  demolish  this  arch  upon  which  the  inscription  is  engraved, 
and  let  the  Afrite  come,  that  I  may  slay  him :  for  I  am  predestined  to  kill  Afrites. 
She  entreated  me  to  refrain  ;  but,  paying  no  attention  to  her  words,  I  kicked  t4ie 
door  with  violence  ;  upon  which  she  exclaimed,  The  Afrite  hath  arrived  !  Did  I  not 
caution  thee  against  this  ?  Verily  thou  hast  brought  a  calamity  upon  me  ;  but  save 
thyself,  and  ascend  by  the  way  that  thou  earnest. 

In  the  excess  of  my  fear  I  forgot  my  sandals  and  my  axe,  and  when  I  had  as- 
cended two  steps,  turning  round  to  look  for  them,  I  saw  that  the  ground  had  opened, 
and  there  arose  from  it  an  Afrite  of  hideous  aspect,  who  said.  Wherefore  is  this  dis- 
turbance with  which  thou  hast  alarmed  me,  and  what  misfortune  hath  befallen  thee? 
She  answered.  No  misfortune  hath  happened  to  me,  excepting  that  my  heart  was 
contracted,  and  I  desired  to  drink  some  wine  to  dilate  it,  and,  rising  to  perform  my 
purpose,  I  fell  against  the  door. — Thou  liest,  vile  woman,  he  exclaimed  ; — and, 
looking  about  the  palace  to  the  right  and  left,  he  saw  the  sandals  and  axe;  and  said 
to  her,  These  are  the  property  of  none  but  a  man.  Who  hath  visited  thee?  I  have 
not  seen  them,  she  answered,  until  this  instant;  probably  they  belong  to  thee.  This 
language,  said  he,  is  absurd,  and  will  have  no  effect  upon  me,  thou  shameless  woman  ! 
and,  so  saying,  he  stripped  her  of  her  clothing,  and  tied  her  down,  with  her  arma 
and,  legs  extended,  to  four  stakes,  and  began  to  beat  her,  urging  her  to  confess  what 
had  happened. 

For  myself,  being  unable  to  endure  her  cries,  I  ascended  the  stairs  overpowered 
by  fear,  and  arriving  at  the  top,  replaced  the  trap-door  as  it  was  at  first,  and  covered 
it  over  with  earth.  I  repented  bitterly  of  what  I  had  done,  and  reflecting  upon  the 
lady  and  her  beauty,  and  how  this  wretch  was  torturing  her  after  she  had  lived  with 
him  five-and-twenty  years,  and  that  he  tortured  her  only  on  my  account;  and  reflect- 
ing also  upon  my  father  and  his  kingdom,  and  how  I  had  been  reduced  to  the  con- 
dition of  a  woodcutter,  I  repeated  this  verse : — 

When  fortune  bringeth  thee  affliction,  console  thyself  by  remembering  that  one  day  thou  must 
see  prosperity,  and  another  day  difficulty. 

Returning  to  my  companion,  the  tailor,  I  found  him  awaiting  my  return  as  if  he 
were  placed  in  a  pan  upon  burning  coals.  I  passed  last  night,  said  he,  with  anxious 
heart  on  thy  account,  fearing  for  thee  from  some  wild  beast  or  other  calamity. 
Praised  be  to  God  for  thy  safe  return. — I  thanked  him  for  his  tender  concern  for 
me,  and  entered  my  apartment ;  and  as  I  sat  meditating  upon  that  which  had  befallen 
me,  and  blaming  myself  for  having  kicked  the  kubbeh,  my  friend  the  tailor,  came  in  to 
me,  and  said.  In  the  shop  is  a  foreigner,  who  asks  for  thee,  and  he  has  thy  axe  and 
sandals ;  he  came  with  them  to  the  woodcutters,  and  said  to  them,  I  went  out  at  the 
time  of  the  call  of  the  Mueddin,  to  morning-prayer,  and  stumbled  upon  these,  and 
know  not  to  whom  they  belong:  can  ye  guide  me  to  their  owner? — The  woodcutters, 
therefore,  directed  him  to  thee:  he  is  sitting  in  my  shop :  so  go  out  to  him  and  thank 
him,  and  take  thy  axe  and  thy  sandals. — On  hearing  these  words,  my  countenance 
turned  pale,  and  my  whole  state  became  changed  ;  and  while  I  was  in  this  condition 
the  floor  of  my  chamber  clove  asunder,  and  there  arose  from  it  the  stranger,  and  lo, 
he  was  the  Afrite:  he  had  tortured  the  lady  with  the  utmost  cruelty  ;  but  she  would 
confess  nothing:  so  he  took  the  axe  and  the  sandals,  and  said  to  her.  If  I  am  Jarjaris, 
of  the  descendants  of  Eblis,  I  will  bring  the  owner  of  this  axe  and  these  sandals. 


THE  ENVIER  AND  THE  ENVIED.  65 

Accordingly  lie  came,  with  the  pretence  before  mentioned,  to  the  woodcutters,  and, 
naving  enten^l  my  chamber,  without  granting  me  any  debxy,  seized  me,  and  soared 
with  me  through  the  air ;  he  then  descended,  and  dived  into  the  earth,  and  brought 
me  up  into  the  pahice  where  I  was  before. 

Here  I  beheld  the  lady  stripped  of  her  clothing,  and  with  blood  flowing  from  her 
sides  ;  and  tears  trickled  from  my  eyes.  The  Afrite  then  took  hold  of  her,  and  said. 
Vile  woman,  this  is  thy  lover: — whereupon  she  looked  at  me,  and  replied,  I  know 
him  not,  nor  have  I  ever  seen  him  until  this  instant.  The  Afrite  said  to  her.  With 
all  this  torture  wilt  thou  not  confess?  She  answered,  Never  in  my  life  have  I  seen 
him  before,  and  it  is  not  lawful  in  the  sight  of  God  that  I  should  speak  falsely 
against  him. — Then,  said  he,  if  thou  know  him  not,  take  this  sword  and  strike  off 
his  head.  She  took  the  sword,  and  came  to  me,  and  stood  over  my  head ;  but  I  ■ 
made  a  sign  to  her  with  my  eyebrow,  while  tears  ran  down  my  cheeks.  She  replied 
in  a  similar  manner.  Thou  art  he  who  hath  done  all  this  to  me : — I  made  a  sign  to 
her,  however,  that  this  was  a  time  for  pardon,  conveying  my  meaning  in  the  manner 
thus  described  by  the  poet:  — 

Our  signal  in  love  is  the  glance  of  our  eyes  ;  and  every  intelligent  person  understands  the  sign. 
Our  eyebrows  carry  on  an  intercourse  between  us;  we  are  silent;  but  love  speaketh. 

And  when  she  understood  me,  she  threw  the  sword  from  her  hand,  0  my  mistress, 
and  the  Afrite  handed  it  to  me,  saying,  Strike  off  her  head,  and'I  will  liberate  thee, 
and  do  thee  no  harm.  I  replied.  Good: — and  quickly  approaching  her,  raised  my 
hand ;  but  she  made  a  sign  as  though  she  would  say,  I  did  no  injury  to  thee ;  where- 
upon my  eyes  poured  with  tears,  and,  throwing  down  the  sword,  I  said,  0  mighty 
Afrite,  and  valiant  hero,  if  a  woman,  deficient  in  sense  and  religion,  seeth  it  not 
lawful  to  strike  off  my  head,  how  is  it  lawful  for  me  to  do  so  to  her,  and  especially 
when  I  have  never  seen  her  before  in  my  life  !  I  will  never  do  it,  though  I  should 
drink  the  cup  of  death  and  destruction. — There  is  affection  between  you,  said  the 
Afrite,  and,  taking  the  sword,  he  struck  off  one  of  the  hands  of  the  lady;  then,  the 
other;  after  this,  her  right  foot;  and  then,  her  left  foot:  thus  with  four  blows,  he 
cut  off  her  four  extremities,  while  I  looked  on,  expecting  my  own  death.  She  then 
made  a  sign  to  me  with  her  eye;  and  the  Afrite,  observing  her,  exclaimed,  Now  thou 
hast  been  guilty  of  incontinence  with  thine  eye  ; — and,  with  a  blow  of  his  sword, 
struck  off  her  head ;  after  which,  he  turned  towards  me,  and  said,  0  man,  it  is  al- 
lowed us  by  our  law,  if  a  wife  be  guilty  of  incontinence,  to  put  her  to  death.  This 
woman  I  carried  off  on  her  wedding  night,  when  she  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and 
she  was  acquainted  with  no  man  but  me ;  and  I  used  to  pass  one  night  with  her  in 
the  course  of  every  ten  days  in  the  garb  of  a  foreigner ;  and  when  I  discovered  of  a 
certainty  that  she  had  been  unfaithful  to  me,  I  killed  her;  but  as  for  thee,  I  am  not 
convinced  that  thou  hast  wronged  me  with  respect  to  her;  yet  I  must  not  leave  thee 
unpunished  ;  choose,  therefore,  what  injury  I  shall  do  to  thee. 

Upon  this,  0  my  mistress,  I  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and,  eager  to  obtain  his  pardon, 
I  said  to  him,  What  shall  I  choose  from  thy  hands? — Choose,  he  answered,  into  what 
form  I  shall  change  thee  ;  either  the  form  of  a  dog,  or  that  of  an  ass,  or  that  of  an  ape. 
I  replied,  in  my  desire  of  forgiveness,  Verily,  if  thou  wilt  pardon  me,  God  will 
pardon  thee  in  recompense  of  thy  showing  mercy  to  a  Mahometan  who  hath  done 
thee  no  injury: — and  I  humbled  myself  in  the  most  abject  manner,  and  said  to  him, 
Pardon  me  as  the  envied  man  did  the  envier. — And  how  was  that  ?  said  he.  I  an- 
swered as  follows : — 

THE  STORY  OF  THE  ENVIER  AND  THE  ENVIED. 

Know,  0  my  master,  that  there  was  a  certain  man  who  had  a  neighbour  that 
envied  him  ;  and  the  more  this  person  envied  him,  so  much  the  more  did  God  in- 
crease the  prosperity  of  the  former.     Thus  it  continued  a  long  time  ;  but  when  the 
5 


66 


THE  ENVIER  AND  THE  ENVIED. 


envied  man  found  that  his  neighbour  persisted  in  troubling  him,  he  removed  to  a 
place  where  there  was  a  deserted  well  ;  and  there  he  built  for  himself  an  oratory, 
and  occupied  himself  in  the  worship  of  God.  Numerous  fakirs  assembled  around 
him,  and  he  acquired  great  esteem,  people  repairing  to  him  from  every  quarter, 
placing  firm  reliance  upon  his  sanctity  ;  and  his  fame  reached  the  ears  of  his  envious 
neighbour,  who  mounted  his  horse,  and  went  to  visit  him :  and  when  the  envied  man 
saw  him,  he  saluted  him,  and  paid  him  the  utmost  civility.  The  envier  then  said 
to  him,  I  have  come  hither  to  inform  thee  of  a  matter  in  which  thou  wilt  find  advan- 
tage, and  for  which  I  shall  obtain  a  recompense  in  heaven.  The  envied  man  replied, 
May  God  requite  thee  for  me  with  every  blessing.  Then,  said  the  envier,  Order  the 
fakirs  to  retire  to  their  cells,  for  the  information  that  I  am  about  to  give  thee  I  would 
have  no  one  overhear.  So  he  ordered  them  to  enter  their  cells  ;  and  the  envier  said 
to  him,  Arise  and  let  us  walk  together,  and  converse :  and  they  walked  on  until  they 


^'^•f*>' 


The  Envied  Sheikh  and  the  Genii  in  tlie  Well. 


came  to  the  deserted  well  before  mentioned,  when  the  envier  pushed  the  envied  man 
into  this  well,  without  the  knowledge  of  anybody,  and  went  his  way,  imagining 
that  he  had  killed  him. 

But  this  well  was  inhabited  by  Genii,  who  received  him  unhurt,  and  seated  him 
upon  a  large  stone ;  and  when  they  had  done  this,  one  of  them  said  to  the  others, 
Do  ye  know  this  man  ?  They  answered.  We  know  him  not. — This,  said  he,  is  the 
envied  man  who  fled  from  him  who  envied  him,  and  took  up  his  abode  in  this  quar- 
ter, in  the  neighbouring  oratory,  and  who  eutertaineth.  us  by  his  zikr'  and  his 
readings  ;  and  when  his  envier  heard  of  him,  he  came  hither  to  him,  and,  devising 
a  stratagem  against  him,  threw  him  down  here.  His  fame  hath  this  night  reached 
the  Sultan  of  this  city,  who  hath  purposed  to  visit  him  to-morrow,  on  account  of 
'  Devotional  repetitions  of  the  name  of  God. 


THE    SECOND    ROYAL    MENDICANT.  67 

the  affliction  -which  hath  befallen  his  daughter. — And  what,  said  they,  hath  happened 
to  his  daughter?  He  answered,  Madness  ;  for  Genie  Maimoun,  the  son  of  Dimdim, 
hath  become  inflamed  with  love  for  her  ;  and  her  cure  is  the  easiest  of  things.  They 
asked  him,  What  is  it? — and  he  answered,  The  black  cat  that  is  with  him  in  the 
oratory  hath  at  the  end  of  her  tail  a  white  spot,  of  the  size  of  a  piece  of  silver ;  and 
from  this  white  spot  should  be  taken  seven  hairs,  and  with  these  the  damsel  should 
be  fumigated,  and  the  Marid  would  depart  from  over  her  head,  and  not  return  to 
her  ;  so  she  would  be  instantly  cured.     And  now  it  is  our  duty  to  take  him  out. 

When  the  morning  came,  the  fakirs  saw  the  Sheikh  rising  out  of  the  well ;  and  he 
became  magnified  in  their  eyes.  And  when  he  entered  the  oratory,  he  took  from 
the  white  spot  at  the  end  of  the  cat's  tail  seven  hairs,  and  placed  them  in  a  portfolio 
by  him  :  and  at  sunrise  the  King  came  to  him,  and  when  the  Sheikh  saw  him,  he 
said  to  him,  0  King,  thou  hast  come  to  visit  me  in  order  that  I  may  cure  thy  daughter. 
The  King  replied,  Yes,  0  virtuous  Sheikh. — Then,  said  the  Sheikh,  send  some 
person  to  bring  her  hither ;  and  I  trust  in  God,  whose  name  be  exalled,  that  she  may 
be  instantly  cured.  And  when  the  King  had  brought  his  daughter,  the  Sheikh  be- 
held her  bound,  and,  seating  her,  suspended  a  curtain  over  her,  and  took  out  the 
hairs,  and  fumigated  her  with  them  ;  whereupon  the  Marid  cried  out  from  over  her 
head,  and  left  her;  and  the  damsel  immediately  recovered  her  reason,  and,  veiling 
her  face,  said  to  her  father.  What  is  this,  and  wherefore  didst  thou  bring  me  to  this 
place?  He  answered  her.  Thou  hast  nothing  to  fear; — and  rejoiced  greatly.  He 
kissed  the  hand  of  the  envied  Sheikh,  and  said  to  the  great  men  of  his  court  who 
were  \fith  him,  What  shall  be  the  recompense  of  this  Sheikh  for  that  which  he  hath 
done?  They  answered,  His  recompense  should  be  that  thou  marry  him  to  her. — 
Ye  have  spoken  truly,  said  the  King, — and  he  gave  her  in  marriage  to  him,  and  thus 
the  Sheikh  became  a  connection  of  the  King;  and  after  some  days  the  King  died, 
and  he  was  made  King  in  his  place. 

And  it  happened  one  day  that  this  envied  King  was  riding  with  his  troops,  and 
he  saw  his  envier  approaching ;  and  when  this  man  came  before  him  he  seated  him 
upon  a  horse  with  high  distinction  and  honour,  and,  taking  him  to>his  palace,  gave 
him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  costly  dress ;  after  which  he  sent  him  back 
from  the  city,  with  attendants  to  escort  him  to  his  house,  and  reproached  him  for 
nothing. — Consider,  then,  0  Afrite,  the  pardon  of  the  envied  to  the  envier,  and  his 
kindness  to  him,  notwithstanding  the  injuries  he  had  done  him. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  ROYAL  MENDICANT. 

The  Afrite,  when  he  had  heard  this  story,  replied.  Lengthen  not  thy  words  to  me : 
as  to  my  killing  thee,  fear  it  not:  and  as  to  my  pardoning  thee,  covet  it  not;  but 
as  to  my  enchanting  thee,  there  is  no  escape  from  it ; — and,  so  saying,  he  clove  the 
earth  asunder,  and  soared  with  me  through  the  sky  to  such  a  height  that  I  beheld 
the  world  beneath  me  as  though  it  were  a  bowl  of  water:  then  alighting  upon  a 
mountain,  he  took  up  a  little  dust,  and,  having  muttered  and  pronounced  certain 
words  over  it,  sprinkled  me  with  it,  saying.  Quit  this  form,  and  take  the  form  of  an 
ape! — whereupon  I  became  like  an  ape  of  a  hundred  years  of  age. 

When  I  saw  mj^sclf  changed  into  this  ugly  form  I  wept  for  myself,  but  determined 
to  be  patient  under  the  tyranny  of  fortune,  knowing  it  to  be  constant  to  no  one.  I 
descended  from  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and,  after  having  journeyed  for  the 
space  of  a  month,  arrived  at  the  sea-shore ;  and  when  I  had  stood  there  a  short  time, 
I  saw  a  vessel  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  with  a  favourable  wind  approaching  the  land  ; 
I  therefore  hid  myself  behind  a  rock  on  the  beach,  and  when  the  ship  came  close  up, 
I  sprang  into  the  midst  of  it.  But  as  soon  as  the  persons  on  board  saw  me,  one  of 
them  cried.  Turn  out  thi^i  unlucky  brute  from  the  ship:  —  another  said,  Let  us  kill 
him  :  —  and  a  third  exclaimed,  1  will  kill  him  with  this  sword.     I,  however,  caught 


bo  THE    SECOND    ROYAL    MENDICANT. 

hold  of  the  end  of  the  sword,  and  tears  flowed  from  my  eyes  ;  at  the  sight  of  -which 
the  captain  took  compassion  on  me,  and  said  to  the  passengers,  0  merchant,  this 
ape  hath  sought  my  aid,  and  I  give  it  him  ;  he  is  under  my  protection  ;  let  no  one, 
therefore,  oppose  or  trouble  him.  He  then  treated  me  with  kindness,  and  whatever 
he  said  to  me  I  understood,  and  all  that  he  required  to  be  done  I  performed  as  his 
servant. 

We  continued  our  voyage  for  fifty  days  with  a  fair  wind,  and  cast  anchor  under  a 
large  city  containing  a  population  which  no  one  but  God,  whose  name  be  exalted, 
could  reckon ;  and,  when  we  had  moored  our  vessel,  there  came  to  us  some  mam- 
louks'  from  the  King  of  the  city;  who  came  on  board  the  ship,  and  complimented 
the  merchants  on  their  safe  arrival,  saying.  Our  King  greeteth  you,  rejoicing  in  your 
safety,  and  hath  sent  to  you  this  roll  of  paper,  desiring  that  each  of  you  shall  write 
a  line  upon  it;  for  the  King  had  a  Vizier  who  was  an  eminent  caligraphist,  and  he 
is  dead,  and  the  King  hath  sworn  that  he  will  not  appoint  any  person  to  his  office 
who  cannot  write  equally  well.  Though  in  the  form  of  an  ape,  I  arose  and  snatched 
the  paper  from  their  hands:  upon  which  fearing  that  I  would  tear  it  and  throw  it 
into  the  sea,  they  cried  out  against  me,  and  would  have  killed  me  ;  but  I  made  signs 
to  them  that  I  would  write,  and  the  captain  said  to  them.  Suffer  him  to  write,  and 
if  he  scribble  we  will  turn  him  away  ;  but  if  he  write  well  I  will  adopt  hira  as  my 
son;  for  I  have  never  seen  a  more  intelligent  ape.  So  I  took  the  pen,  and  demanded 
the  ink,  and  wrote  in  an  epistolary  hand  this  couplet: — 

Fame  hath  recorded  the  virtues  of  the  noble;  but  no  one  hath  been  able  to  reckon  thine. 
May  God  not  deprive  mankind  of  such  a  father;  for  thou  art  the  parent  of  every  excellence. 

Then  in  a  more  formal  large  hand,  I  wrote  the  folloM'ing  verses: — 

There  is  no  writer  that  shall  not  perish  ;  but  what  his  hand  hath  written  shall  endure. 
Write,  therefore,  nothing  but  what  will  please  thee  when  thou  shalt  see  it  on  the  day  of  resur- 
rection. 

Two  other  specimens  I  wrote,  in  two  different  and  smaller  hands,  and  returned  the 
paper  to  the  mamlouks,  who  took  it  back  to  the  King ;  and  when  he  saw  what  was 
written  upon  it,  the  hand  of  no  one  pleased  him  excepting  mine  ;  and  he  said  to  his 
attendants.  Go  to  the  author  of  this  hand-writing,  put  upon  him  this  dress,  and 
mount  hira  upon  a  mule,  and  conduct  him,  with  a  band  of  music  before  him,  to  my 
presence.  On  hearing  this  order  they  smiled  ;  and  the  King  was  angry  with  them, 
and  said.  How  is  it  that  I  give  you  an  order,  and  ye  laugh  at  me  ?  They  answered, 
0  King,  we  laugh  not  at  thy  words,  but  because  he  who  wrote  this  is  an  ape,  and 
not  a  son  of  Adam :  he  is  with  the  captain  of  the  ship  newly  arrived. 

The  King  was  astonished  at  their  words  ;  he  shook  with  delight,  and  said,  I  would 
purchase  this  ape.  He  then  sent  some  messengers  to  the  ship,  with  the  mule  and 
the  dress  of  honour,  saying  to  them.  Ye  must  clothe  him  with  this  dress,  and  mount 
him  upon  the  mule,  and  bring  him  hither.  So  they  came  to  the  ship,  and,  taking 
me  from  the  captain,  clad  me  with  the  dress;  and  the  people  were  astonished, -dnd 
flocked  to  amuse  themselves  with  the  sight  of  me.  And  when  they  brought  me  to 
the  King,  and  I  beheld  him,  I  kissed  the  ground  before  him  three  times,  and  he 
ordered  me  to  sit  down  ;  so  I  sat  down  upon  my  knees,  and  the  persons  present  were 
surprised  at  my  polite  manners,  and  especially  the  King,  who  presently  ordered  his 
people  to  retire.  They  therefore  did  so  ;  none  remaining  but  the  King,  and  a  eunuch, 
and  a  young  mamlouk,  and  myself.  The  King  then  commanded  that  a  repast  should 
be  brought ;  and  they  placed  before  him  a  service  of  viands  such  as  gratified  the 
appetite  and  delighted  the  eye ;  and  the  King  made  a  sign  to  me  that  I  should  eat ; 
whereupon  I  arose,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground  before  him  seven  times,  sat  down 

'  Privileged  servants. 


THE    SECOND    ROYAL    MENDICANT.  69 

to  eat  with  him ;  and  when  the  table  was  removed,  I  washed  my  hands,  and,  taking 
the  ink-case,  and  pen  and  paper,  I  wrote  these  two  verses : — 

Great  is  my  appetite  for  thee,  0  Kunafeh  ! '  I  cannot  be  happy  nor  endure  without  thee. 
Be  thou  every  day  and  night  my  food ;  and  may  drops  of  honey  not  be  wanting  to  moisten 
thee. 

Having  done  this,  I  arose,  and  seated  myself  at  a  distance ;  and  the  King,  looking 
at  what  I  had  written,  read  it  with  astonishment,  and  exclaimed.  Can  an  ape  possess 
such  fluency  and  such  skill  in  caligraphy  ?  This  is,  indeed,  a  wonder  of  wonders  ! — 
Afterwards,  a  chess-table  was  brought  to  the  King,  and  he  said  to  me,  Wilt  thou 
play  ?  By  a  motion  of  my  head  I  answered.  Yes :  —  and  I  advanced,  and  arranged 
the  pieces.  I  played  with  him  twice,  and  beat  him  ;  and  the  King  was  perplexed, 
and  said  :  Were  this  a  man,  he  would  surpass  all  the  people  of  his  age. 

lie  then  said  to  his  eunuch,  Go  to  thy  mistress,  and  say  to  her.  Answer  the  sum- 
mons of  the  King : — that  she  may  come  and  gratify  her  curiosity  by  the  sight  of  this 
wonderful  ape.  The  eunuch  therefore  went,  and  returned  with  his  mistress,  the 
King's  daughter,  who  as  soon  as  she  saw  me,  veiled  her  face,  and  said,  0  my  father, 
how  is  it  that  thou  art  pleased  to  send  for  me,  and  suffer  strange  men  to  see  me?  — 
0  ray  daughter,  answered  the  King,  there  is  no  one  here  but  the  young  mamlouk, 


The  Second  Pnnce  transforined  into  an  Aoe. 

nnd  the  eunuch  who  brought  thee  up,  and  this  ape,  with  myself,  thy  father;  from 
whom,  then,  dost  thou  veil  thy  face  ?— This  ape,  said  she,  is  the  son  of  a  King,  and 
the  name  of  his  father  is  Eymar :  he  is  enchanted,  and  it  was  the  Afrite  Jarjaris,  a 
descendant  of  Eblis,  who  transformed  him.  after  having  slain  his  own  wife,  the 
daughter  of  King  Aknamus.  This  whom  thou  supposedst  to  be  an  ape,  is  a  learned 
and  wise  man. — The  King  was  amazed  at  his  daughter's  words,  and,  looking  towards 
me,  said,  Is  it  true  that  she  saith  of  thee? — I  answered,  by  a  motion  of  my  head. 
Yes : — and  wept.  The  King  then  said  to  his  daughter.  By  what  means  didst  thou 
discover  that  he  was  enchanted? — 0  my  fixther,  she  answered,  I  had  with  me  in  my 
younger  years  an  old  woman  who  was  a  cunning  enchantress,  and  she  taught  me  the 
art  of  enchantment :  I  have  committed  its  rules  to  memory,  and  know  it  thoroughly, 
being  acquainted  with  a  hundred  and  seventy  modes  of  performing  it,  by  the  least 


A  sort  of  vermicelli. 


70  THE   SECOND   ROYAL   MENDICANT. 

of  which  I  could  transport  the  stones  of  thy  city  beyond  Mount  Caucasus,  and  make 
its  site  to  be  an  abyss  of  the  sea,  and  convert  its  inhabitants  into  fish  in  the  midst 
of  it. — I  conjure  thee,  then,  by  the  name  of  Allah,  said  her  father,  to  restore  this 
young  man,  that  I  may  make  him  my  Vizier.  Is  it  possible  that  thou  possessedst 
this  excellence,  and  I  knew  it  not  ?  Restore  him,  that  I  may  make  him  my  Vizier, 
for  he  is  a  polite  and  intelligent  youth. 

She  replied.  With  pleasure:  and,  taking  a  knife  upon  which  were  engraved  some 
Hebrew  names,  marked  with  it  a  circle  in  the  midst  of  the  palace.  Within  this  she 
wrote  certain  names  and  talismans,  and  then  she  pronounced  invocations,  and  ut- 
tered unintelligible  words ;  and  soon  the  palace  around  us  became  immersed  in 
gloom  to  such  a  degree,  that  we  thought  the  whole  world  was  overspread,  and  lo, 
the  Afrite  appeared  before  us  in  a  most  hideous  shape,  with  hands  like  winnowing- 
forks,  and  legs  like  masts,  and  eyes  like  burning  torches  ;  so  that  we  were  terrified 
at  him.  The  King's  daughter  exclaimed.  No  welcome  to  thee  ! — to  which  the  Afrite, 
assuming  the  form  of  a  lion,  replied.  Thou  traitress,  how  is  it  that  thou  hast  broken 
thine  oath?  Did  we  not  swear  that  we  would  not  oppose  one  another? — Thou 
wretch,  said  she,  when  didst  thou  receive  an  oath  ? — The  Afrite,  still  in  the  form  of 
a  lion,  then  exclaimed,  Take  what  awaiteth  thee ! — and,  opening  his  mouth,  rushed 
upon  the  lady  ;  but  she  instantly  plucked  a  hair  from  her  head,  and  muttered  with 
her  lips,  whereupon  the  hair  became  converted  into  a  piercing  sword,  with  which 
she  struck  the  lion,  and  he  was  cleft  in  twain  by  the  blow  ;  but  his  head  became 
changed  into  a  scorpion.  The  lady  immediately  transformed  herself  into  an  enor- 
mous sei'pent,  and  crept  after  the  execrable  wretch  in  the  shape  of  a  scorpion,  and 
a  sharp  contest  ensued  between  them;  after  which,  the  scorpion  became  an  eagle, 
and  the  serpent  changing  to  a  vulture,  pursued  the  eagle  for  a  length  of  time.  The 
latter  then  transformed  himself  into  a  black  cat,  and  the  King's  daughter  became  a 
wolf,  and  they  fought  together  long  and  fiercely,  till  the  cat,  seeing  himself  overcome, 
changed  himself  into  a  large  red  pomegranate,  which  fell  into  a  pool ;  but  the  wolf 
pursuing  it,  it  ascended  into  the  air,  and  then  fell  upon  the  pavement  of  the  palace, 
and  broke  in  pieces,  its  grains  became  scattered,  each  apart  from  the  others,  and  all 
spread  about  the  whole  space  of  ground  enclosed  by  the  palace.  The  wolf,  upon 
this,  transformed  itself  into  a  cock,  in  order  to  pick  up  the  grains,  and  not  leave  one 
of  them  ;  but  according  to  the  decree  of  fate,  one  grain  remained  hidden  by  the  side 
of  the  pool  of  the  fountain.  The  cock  began  to  cry  and  flapped  its  wings,  and  made 
a  sign  to  us  with  its  beak ;  but  we  understood  not  what  it  would  say.  It  then  ut- 
tered at  us  such  a  cry,  that  we  thought  the  palace  had  fallen  down  upon  us ;  and  it 
ran  about  the  whole  of  the  ground,  until  it  saw  the  grain  that  had  lain  hid  by  the 
side  of  the  pool,  when  it  pounced  upon  it  to  pick  it  up  ;  but  it  fell  into  the  midst  of 
the  water,  and  became  transformed  into  a  fish,  and  sank  into  the  water ;  upon  which 
the  cock  became  a  fish  of  a  larger  size,  and  plunged  in  after  the  other.  For  awhile 
it  was  absent  from  our  sight ;  but  at  length  we  heard  a  loud  cry,  and  trembled  at 
the  sound  ;  after  which,  the  Afrite  arose  as  a  flame  of  fire,  casting  fire  from  his 
mouth,  and  fire  and  smoke  from  his  eyes  and  nostrils :  the  King's  daughter  also  be- 
came as  a  vast  body  of  fire ;  and  we  would  have  plunged  into  the  water  from  fear  of 
our  being  burnt  and  destroyed ;  but  suddenly  the  Afrite  cried  out  from  within  the 
fire,  and  came  towards  us  upon  the  raised  floor,  blowing  fire  at  our  fiices.  The  lady, 
however,  overtook  him,  and  blew  fire  in  like  manner  in  his  face  ;  and  some  sparks 
struck  us  both  from  her  and  from  him :  her  sparks  did  us  no  harm  ;  but  one  from  him 
struck  me  in  my  eye,  and  destroyed  it,  I  being  still  in  the  form  of  an  ape  ;  and  a 
spark  from  him  reached  the  face  of  the  King,  and  burned  the  lower  half,  with  his 
beard  and  mouth,  and  struck  out  his  lower  teeth  ;  another  spark  also  fell  upon  the 
breast  of  the  eunuch  ;  who  was  burnt,  and  died  immediately.  We  expected  destruc- 
tion, and  gave  up  all  hope  of  preserving  our  lives  ;  but  while  we  were  in  this  state,  a 
voice  exclaimed,  God  is  most  great !  God  is  most  great !  He  hath  conquered  and 
aided,  and  abandoned  the  denier  of  the  faith  of  Mahomet,  the  chief  of  mankind  ! 


THE   SECOND   ROYAL   MENDICANT.  71 

The  person  from  -whom  this  voice  proceeded  was  the  King's  daughter :  she  had  burnt 
the  Afrite  ;  and  when  we  looked  towards  him,  we  perceived  that  he  had  become  a 
heap  of  ashes. 

The  lady  then  came  to  us,  and  said.  Bring  me  a  cup  of  water: — and  when  it  was 
brought  to  her,  she  pronounced  over  it  some  words  which  we  understood  not,  and, 
sprinkling  me  with  it,  said.  Be  restored,  by  virtue  of  the  name  of  the  Truth,  and  by 
virtue  of  the  most  great  name  of  God,  to  thy  original  form!  —  whereupon  I  became 
a  man  as  I  was  at  first,  excepting  that  my  eye  was  destroyed.  After  this,  she  cried 
out.  The  fire  !  the  fire !  0  my  father,  I  shall  no  longer  live,  for  I  am  predestined  to 
be  killed.  Had  he  been  a  human  being  I  had  killed  him  at  the  first  of  the  encounter. 
I  experienced  no  difiSculty  till  the  scattering  of  the  grains  of  the  pomegranate,  when 
I  picked  them  up  excepting  the  one  in  which  was  the  life  of  the  Genie  ;  had  I  picked 
up  that,  he  had  instantly  died ;  but  I  saw  it  not,  as  fate  and  destiny  had  appointed; 
and  suddenly  he  came  upon  me,  and  a  fierce  contest  ensued  between  us  under  the 
earth,  and  in  the  air,  and  in  the  water ;  and  every  time  that  he  tried  against  me  a 
new  mode,  1  employed  against  him  one  more  potent,  until  he  tried  against  me  the 
mode  of  fire  ;  and  rarely  does  one  escape  against  whom  the  mode  of  fire  is  employed. 
Destiny,  however,  aided  me,  so  that  I  burned  him  first ;  but  I  exhorted  him  previ- 
ously to  embrace  the  Mahometan  faith.  Now  I  die  ;  and  may  God  supply  my  place 
to  you. — Having  thus  said,  she  ceased  not  to  pray  for  relief  from  the  fire  ;  and  lo,  a 
spark  ascended  to  her  breast,  and  thence  to  her  face ;  and  when  it  reached  her  face, 
she  wept,  and  exclaimed,  I  testify  that  there  is  no  Deity  but  God,  and  I  testify  that 
Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle  ? — We  then  looked  towards  her,  and  saw  that  she  had  be- 
come a  heap  of  ashes  by  the  side  of  the  ashes  of  the  Afrite. 

We  were  plunged  into  grief  on  her  account,  and  I  wished  that  I  had  been  in  her 
place  ratlier  than  have  seen  that  sweet-faced  creature  who  had  done  me  this  kindness 
reduced  to  a  heap  of  ashes  ;  but  the  decree  of  God  cannot  be  averted.  The  King, 
on  beholding  his  daughter  in  this  state,  plucked  out  what  remained  of  his  beard,  and 
slapped  his  face,  and  rent  his  clothes  ;  and  I  also  did  the  same,  while  we  both  wept 
for  her.  Then  came  the  chamberlains  and  other  great  officers  of  the  court,  who, 
finding  the  King  in  a  state  of  insensibility,  with  two  heaps  of  ashes  before  him, 
were  astonished,  and  remained  encompassing  him  until  he  recovered  from,  his  fit, 
when  he  informed  them  of  what  had  befallen  his  daughter  with  the  Afrite ;  and 
great  was  their  afiliction.  The  women  shrieked,  with  the  female  slaves,  and  con- 
tinued their  mourning  seven  days.  After  this,  the  King  gave  orders  to  build,  over 
the  ashes  of  his  daughter,  a  great  tomb  with  a  dome,  and  illuminated  it  with  candles 
and  lamps:  but  the  ashes  of  the  Afrite  they  scattered  in  the  wind,  exposing  them 
to  the  curse  of  God.  The  King  then  fell  sick,  and  was  near  unto  death  :  his  illness 
lasted  a  month ;  but  after  this  he  recovered  his  health,  and  summoning  me  to  his 
presence,  said  to  me,  0  young  man,  we  passed  our  days  in  the  enjoyment  of  the 
utmost  happiness,  secure  from  the  vicissitudes  of  fortune,  until  thou  camest  to  us, 
when  troubles  overcame  us.  Would  that  we  had  never  seen  thee,  nor  thy  ugly  form, 
on  account  of  which  we  have  been  reduced  to  this  state  of  privation  ;  for  in  the  first 
place  I  have  lost  my  daughter,  who  was  worth  a  hundred  men  ;  and  secondly,  I  have 
sufiered  this  burning,  and  lost  my  teeth  ;  my  eunuch  also  is  dead :  but  it  was  not  in 
thy  power  to  prevent  these  afilictions :  the  decree  of  God  hath  been  fulfilled  on  us 
and  on  thee  ;  and  praise  be  to  God  that  my  daughter  restored  thee,  though  she  de- 
stroyed herself.  Now,  however,  depart,  0  my  son,  from  my  city.  It  is  enough  that 
hath  happened  on  thy  account ;  but  as  it  was  decreed  against  us  and  thee,  depart 
in  peace. 

So  I  departed,  0  my  mistress,  from  his  presence  ;  but  before  I  quitted  the  city,  I 
entered  a  public  bath,  and  shaved  my  beard.  I  traversed  various  regions,  and  passed 
through  great  cities  and  bent  my  course  to  the  Abode  of  Peace,  Bagdad,  in  the  hope 
of  obtaining  an  interview  with  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  I  might  relate  to  him 
all  that  had  befallen  me. 

The  third  mendicant  then  advanced,  and  thus  related  his  story :  — 


72  THE    THIRD    ROYAL    MENDICANT. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  THIRD  ROYAL  MEXDICANT. 

0  ILLUSTRIOUS  lady,  my  story  is  not  like  those  of  my  two  companions,  but  more 
wonderful:  the  course  of  fate  and  destiny  brought  upon  them  events  against  which 
they  could  not  guard ;  but  as  to  myself,  the  shaving  of  my  beard  and  the  loss  of 
my  eye  were  occasioned  by  my  provoking  fate  and  misfortune ;  and  the  cause  was 
this :  — 

1  was  a  King,  and  the  son  of  a  King;  and  when  my  father  died,  I  succeeded  to  his 
throne,  and  governed  my  subjects  with  justice  and  beneficence.  I  took  pleasure  in 
sea-voyages  ;  and  my  capital  was  on  the  shore  of  an  extensive  sea,  interspersed  with 
fortified  and  garrisoned  islands,  which  I  desired,  for  my  amusement,  to  visit:  I 
therefore  embarked  with  a  fleet  of  ten 'ships,  and  took  with  me  provisions  sufficient 
for  a  whole  month.  I  proceeded  twenty  days,  after  which  there  arose  against  us  a 
contrary  wind:  but  at  daybreak  it  ceased,  and  the  sea  became  calm,  and  we  arrived 
at  an  island  where  we  landed,  and  cooked  some  provisions  and  ate ;  after  which  we 
remained  there  two  days.  We  then  continued  our  voyage:  and  when  twenty  days 
more  had  passed,  we  found  ourselves  in  strange  waters,  unknown  to  the  captain,  and 
desired  the  watch  to  look  out  from  the  mast-head:  so  he  went  aloft,  and  when  he  ' 
had  come  down  he  said  to  the  captain,  I  saw,  on  my  right  hand,  fish  floating  upon 
the  surface  of  the  water ;  and  looking  towards  the  midst  of  the  sea,  I  perceived 
something  looming  in  the  distance,  sometimes  black,  and  sometimes  white. 

When  the  captain  heard  this  report  of  the  watch,  he  threw  his  turban  on  the  deck, 
and  plucked  his  beard,  and  said  to  those  who  were  with  him.  Receive  warning  of 
lur  destruction,  which  will  befall  all  of  us:  not  one  will  escape?  So  saying,  he 
began  to  weep  ;  and  all  of  us  in  like  manner  bewailed  our  lot.  I  desired  him  to 
inform  us  of  that  which  the  watch  had  seen.  0  my  lord,  he  replied,  know  that  we 
have  wandered  from  our  course  since  the  commencement  of  the  contrary  wind  that 
was  followed  in  the  morning  by  a  calm,  in  consequence  of  which  we  remained  sta- 
tionary two  days  ;  from  that  period  we  have  deviated  from  our  course  for  twenty-one 
days,  and  we  have  no  wind  to  carry  us  back  from  the  fate  which  awaits  us,  after  this 
day ;  to  morrow  we  shall  arrive  at  a  mountain  of  black  stone,  called  loadstone :  the 
current  is  now  bearing  us  violently  towards  it,  and  the  ships  will  fall  in  pieces,  and 
every  nail  in  them  will  fly  to  the  mountain,  and  adhere  to  it ;  for  God  hath  given  to 
the  loadstone  a  secret  property  by  virtue  of  which  everything  of  iron  is  attracted 
towards  it.  On  that  mountain  is  such  a  quantity  of  iron  as  no  one  knoweth  but 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ;  for  from  times  of  old  great  numbers  of  ships  have  been 
destroyed  by  the  influence  of  that  mountain.  There  is,  upon  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  a  cupola  of  brass  supported  by  ten  columns,  and  upon  the  top  of  this  cupola 
is  a  horseman  upon  a  horse  of  brass,  having  in  his  hand  a  brazen  spear,  and  upon 
his  breast  suspended  a  tablet  of  lead,  upon  which  are  engraved  mysterious  names 
and  talismans ;  and  as  long,  0  King,  as  this  horseman  remains  upon  the  horse,  so 
long  will  every  ship  that  approaches  be  destroyed,  with  every  person  on  board,  and 
all  the  iron  contained  in  it  will  cleave  to  the  mountain  :  no  one  will  be  safe  until  the 
horseman  shall  have  fallen  from  the  horse. — The  captain  then  wept  bitterly  ;  and  we 
felt  assured  that  our  destruction  was  inevitable,  and  every  one  of  us  bade  adieu  to 
his  friend. 

On  the  following  morning  we  drew  near  to  the  mountain :  the  current  carried  us 
towards  it  with  violence,  and  when  the  ships  were  almost  close  to  it,  they  fell  asunder, 
and  all  the  nails,  and  everything  else  that  was  of  iron,  flew  from  them  towards  the 
loadstone.  It  was  near  the  close  of  day  when  the  ships  fell  in  pieces.  Some  of  us 
were  drowned,  and  some  escaped;  but  the  greater  number  were  drowned  ;  and  of 
those  who  saved  their  lives  none  knew  what  became  of  the  others,  so  stupified  were 
they  by  the  waves  and  the  boisterous  wind.  As  for  myself,  O  my  mistress,  God, 
whose  name  be  exalted,  spared  me  on  account  of  the  trouble  and  torment  and  affliction 
that  He  had  predestined  to  befall  me.     I  placed  myself  upon  a  plank,  and  the  wind 


THE  THIRD  ROYAL  MENDICANT.  73 

and  waves  cast  it  upon  the  mountain ;  and  wiien  I  had  landed,  I  found  a  practicable 
way  to  the  summit,  resembling  steps  cut  in  the  rock  ;  so  I  exclaimed,  In  the  name 
of  God ! — and  offered  up  a  prayer,  and  attempted  the  ascent,  holding  fast  by  the 
notches ;  and  presently  God  stilled  the  wind,  and  assisted  me  in  my  endeavours,  so 
that  I  arrived  in  safety  at  the  summit.  Rejoicing  greatly  in  my  escape,  I  imme- 
diately entered  the  cupola,  and  performed  the  prayers  of  two  rekahs'  in  gratitude  to 
God  for  my  preservation,  after  which  I  slept  beneath  the  cupola,  and  heard  a  voice 
saying  to  me,  0  son  of  Cassib,  when  thou  awakest  from  thy  sleep,  dig  beneath  thy 
feet,  and  thou  wilt  find  a  bow  of  brass  and  three  arrows  of  lead,  whereon  are  en- 
graved talismans :  then  take  the  bow  and  arrows,  and  shoot  at  the  horseman  that  is 
upon  the  top  of  the  cupola,  and  relieve  mankind  from  this  great  affliction :  for  when 
thou  hast  shot  at  the  horseman  he  will  fall  into  the  sea  ;  the  bow  will  also  fall,  and 
do  thou  bury  it  in  its  place  ;  and  as  soon  as  thou  hast  done  this,  the  sea  will  swell 
and  rise  until  it  attains  the  summit  of  the  mountain  ;  and  there  will  appear  upon  it 
a  boat  bearing  a  man  different  from  him  whom  thou  shalt  have  cast  down,  and  he 
will  come  to  thee  having  an  oar  in  his  hand:  then  do  thou  embark  with  him  ;  but 
utter  not  the  name  of  God :  and  he  will  convey  thee  in  ten  days  to  a  safe  sea,  where, 
on  thy  arrival  thou  wilt  find  one  who  will  take  thee  to  thy  city.  All  this  shall  be 
done  if  thou  utter  not  the  name  of  God. 

Awaking  from  my  sleep,  I  sprang  up  and  did  as  the  voice  had  directed.  I  shot  at 
the  horseman  and  he  fell  into  the  sea ;  and  the  bow  having  fallen  from  my  hand,  I 
buried  it ;  the  sea  then  became  troubled,  and  rose  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
and  when  I  had  stood  waiting  there  a  little  while,  I  beheld  a  boat  in  the  midst  of  the 
sea  approaching  me.  I  praised  God,  whose  name  be  exalted,  and  when  the  boat  came 
to  me  I  found  in  it  a  man  of  brass,  with  a  tablet  of  lead  upon  his  breast,  engraven 
with  names  and  talismans.  Without  uttering  a  word,  I  embarked  in  the  boat,  and  the 
man  rowed  me  ten  successive  days,  after  which  I  beheld  the  islands  of  security, 
whereupon,  in  the  excess  of  my  joy,  I  exclaimed.  In  the  name  of  God  !  There  is  no 
deity  but  God  !  God  is  most  great! — and  as  soon  as  I  had  done  this,  he  cast  me  out 
of  the  boat,  and  sank  in  the  sea. 

Being  able  to  swim,  I  swam  until  night,  when  my  arms  and  shoulders  were  tired, 
and,  in  this  perilous  situation,  I  repeated  the  profession  of  the  fiiith,  and  gave  myself 
up  as  lost ;  but  the  sea  rose  with  the  violence  of  the  wind,  and  a  wave  like  a  vast 
castle  threw  me  upon  the  land,  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  purpose  of  God. 
I  ascended  the  shore,  and  after  I  had  wrung  out  my  clothes,  and  spread  them  upon 
the  ground  to  dry,  I  slept,  and  in  the  morning  I  put  on  my  clothes  again,  and,  looking 
about  to  see  which  way  1  should  go,  I  found  a  tract  covered  with  trees,  to  which  I 
advanced,  and  when  I  had  walked  round  it,  I  found  that  I  was  upon  a  small  island 
in  the  midst  of  the  sea;  upon  which  I  said  within  myself,  Every  time  that  I  escape 
from  one  calamity  I  fall  into  another  that  is  worse : — but  while  I  was  reflecting  upon 
my  unfortunate  case,  and  wishing  for  death,  I  beheld  a  vessel  bearing  a  number  of 
men.  I  arose  immediately  and  climbed  into  a  tree  ;  and  lo,  the  vessel  came  to  the 
shore,  and  there  landed  from  it  ten  black  slaves  bearing  axes.  They  proceeded  to 
the  middle  of  the  island,  and,  digging  up  the  earth,  uncovered  and  lifted  up  a  trap- 
door, after  which  they  returned  to  the  vessel,  and  brought  from  it  bread  and  flour, 
and  clarified  butter  and  honey,  and  sheep  and  everything  that  the  wants  of  an  in- 
habitant would  require,  continuing  to  pass  backwards  and  forwards  between  the 
vessel  and  the  trap-door,  bringing  loads  from  the  former,  and  entering  the  latter,  until 
they  had  removed  all  the  stores  from  the  ship.  They  then  came  out  of  the  vessel 
with  various  clothes  of  the  most  beautiful  description,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  was 
an  old  oheikh,  enfeebled  and  wasted  by  extreme  age,  leading  by  the  hand  a  young 
man  cast  in  the  mould  of  graceful  symmetry,  and  invested  with  such  perfect  beauty 
as  deserved  to  be  a  subject  for  proverbs.      He  was  like  a  fresh  and  slender  twig,  en- 

'  Repetitions  of  set  forms  of  words,  chiefly  from  the  Koran. 


74  THE   THIRD   ROYAL  MENDICANT. 

chanting  and  captivating  every  heart  by  his  elegant  form.  The  party  proceeded  to 
the  trap-door,  and,  entering  it,  became  concealed  from  my  eyes. 

They  remained  beneath  about  tveo  hours  or  more  ;  after  which  the  sheikh  and  the 
slaves  came  out :  but  the  youth  came  not  with  them  :  and  they  replaced  the  earth, 
and  embarked  and  set  sail.  Soon  after,  I  descended  from  the  tree,  and  went  to  the 
excavation.  I  removed  the  earth,  and,  entering  the  aperture,  saw  a  flight  of  wooden 
steps,  which  I  descended  ;  and,  at  the  bottom,  I  beheld  a  handsome  dwelling-place, 
furnished  with  a  variety  of  silken  carpets  ;  and  there  was  the  youth,  sitting  upon  a 
high  mattrass,  with  sweet-smelling  flowers  ;  and  fruits  placed  before  him.  On  seeing 
me  his  countenance  became  pale:  but  I  saluted  him,  and  said,  Let  thy  mind  be 
composed,  0  ray  master:  thou  hast  nothing  to  fear,  0  delight  of  my  eye;  for  I  am 
a  man,  and  the  son  of  a  King,  like  thyself:  fate  hath  impelled  me  to  thee,  that  I 
may  cheer  thee  in  thy  solitude.  The  youth,  when  he  heard  me  thus  address  him, 
and  was  convinced  that  I  was  one  of  his  own  species,  rejoiced  exceedingly  at  my 
arrival,  his  colour  returned,  and,  desiring  me  to  approach  him,  he  said,  0  my  brother, 
my  story  is  wonderful:  my  father  is  a  jeweller;  he  had  slaves  who  made  voyages 
by  his  orders,  for  the  purposes  of  commerce,  and  he  had  dealings  with  Kings ;  but 
he  had  never  been  blessed  with  a  son :  and  he  dreamt  that  he  was  soon  to  have  a 
son,  but  one  whose  life  would  be  short;  and  he  awoke  sorrowful.  Shortly  after,  in 
accordance  with  the  decrees  of  God,  my  mother  conceived  me,  and  when  her  time 
was  complete,  she  gave  birth  to  me;  and  my  father  was  greatly  rejoiced;  the  as- 
trologers, however,  came  to  him,  and  said,  Thy  son  will  live  fifteen  years;  his  fate 
is  intimated  by  the  fact  that  there  is,  in  the  sea,  a  mountain  called  the  Mountain  of 
Loadstone,  whereon  is  a  horseman  on  a  horse  of  brass,  on  the  former  of  which  is  a 
tablet  of  lead  suspended  to  his  neck,  and  when  the  horseman  shall  be  thrown  down 
from  his  horse,  thy  son  will  be  slain;  the  person  who  is  to  slay  him  is  he  who  will 
throw  down  the  horseman,  and  his  name  is  King  Ajib,  the  son  of  King  Cassib.  My 
father  was  greatly  afiiicted  at  this  announcement;  and  when  he  had  reared  me  until 
I  had  nearly  attained  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  the  astrologers  came  again,  and  in- 
formed him  that  the  horseman  had  fallen  into  the  sea,  and  that  it  had  been  thrown 
down  by  King  Ajib,  the  son  of  King  Cassib :  on  hearing  which,  he  prepared  for  me 
this  dwelling,  and  here  left  me  to  remain  until  the  completion  of  the  term,  of  which 
there  now  remain  ten  days.  All  this  he  did  from  fear  lest  King  Ajib  should 
kill  me. 

When  I  heard  this  I  was  filled  with  wonder,  and  said  within  myself,  I  am  King 
Ajib,  the  son  of  King  Cassib,  and  it  was  I  who  threw  down  the  horseman ;  but,  by 
Allah,  I  will  neither  kill  him  nor  do  him  any  injury.  Then  said  I  to  the  youth,  Far 
from  thee  be  both  destruction  and  harm,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  ex- 
alted: thou  hast  nothing  to  fear;  I  will  remain  with  thee  to  serve  thee,  and  will  go 
forth  with  thee  to  thy  father,  and  beg  of  him  to  send  me  back  to  my  country,  for  the 
which  he  will  obtain  a  reward.  The  youth  rejoiced  at  my  words,  and  I  sat  and  con- 
versed with  him  until  night,  when  I  spread  his  bed  for  him,  and  covered  him,  and 
slept  near  to  his  side.  And  in  the  morning  I  brought  him  water,  and  he  washed  his 
face,  and  said  to  me.  May  God  requite  thee  for  me  with  every  blessing !  If  I  escape 
from  King  Ajib,  I  will  make  my  father  reward  thee  with  abundant  favours. — Never, 
I  replied,  may  the  day  arrive  that  would  bring  thee  misfortune.  I  then  placed 
before  him  some  refreshments,  and  after  we  had  eaten  together,  we  passed  the  day 
conversing  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness. 

I  continued  to  serve  him  for  nine  days ;  and  on  the  tenth  day  the  youth  rejoiced 
at  finding  himself  in  safety,  and  said  to  me,  O  my  brother,  I  wish  that  thou  wouldst 
in  thy  kindness  warm  for  me  some  water,  that  I  may  wash  myself  and  change  my 
clothes ;  for  I  have  smelt  the  odour  of  escape  from  death,  in  consequence  of  thy  as- 
sistance.— With  pleasure,  I  replied: — and  warmed  the  water;  after  which  he  entered 
a  place  concealed  from  my  view,  and,  having  washed  himself  and  changed  his 
clothes,  laid  himself  upon  the  mattrass  to  rest  after  his  batli.     He  then  said  to  me, 


Consulting  the  Astrologers.    (Page  74.) 


75 


THE    THIRD    ROYAL    MENDICANT.  li 

Cut  up  for  mc,  0  mj  brother,  a  water-melon,  and  mix  its  juice  with  some  sugar: — 
80  I  arose,  and,  taking  a  melon,  brought  it  upon  a  plate,  and  said  to  him,  Knowest 
thou,  0  my  master,  where  is  the  knife  ? — See,  here  it  is,  he  answered,  upon  the  shelf 
over  my  head.  I  sprang  up  hastily,  and  took  it  from  its  sheath,  and  as  I  was  draw- 
ing back,  my  foot  slipped,  as  God  had  decreed,  and  I  fell  upon  the  youth,  grasping  in 
my  hand  the  knife,  which  entered  his  body,  and  he  died  instantly.  When  I  per- 
ceived that  he  was  dead,  and  that  I  had  killed  him,  I  uttered  a  loud  shriek,  and  beat 
my  face,  and  rent  my  clothes,  saying.  This  is  indeed  a  calamity!  0  what  a  calamity! 
0  my  Lord,  I  implore  thy  pardon,  and  declare  to  thee  my  innocence  of  his  death  ! 
Would  that  I  had  died  before  him  !     How  long  shall  I  devour  trouble  after  trouble  ! 

With  these  reflections  I  ascended  the  steps,  and,  having  replaced  the  trap-door,  re- 
turned to  my  first  station,  and  looked  over  the  sea,  where  I  saw  the  vessel  that  had 
come  before,  approaching,  and  cloaving  the  waves  in  its  rapid  course.  Upon  this  I 
said  within  myself,  Now  will  the  men  come  forth  from  the  vessel,  and  find  the  youth 
slain,  and  they  will  slay  me  also: — so  I  climbed  into  a  tree,  and,  concealing  myself 
among  its  leaves,  sat  there  till  the  vessel  arrived  and  cast  anchor,  when  the  slaves 
landed  with  the  old  sheikh,  the  father  of  the  youth,  and  went  to  the  place,  and  re- 
moved the  earth.  They  were  surprised  at  finding  it  moist,  and,  when  they  had  de- 
scended the  steps,  discovered  the  youth  lying  on  his  back,  exhibiting  a  fiice  beaming 
with  beauty,  though  dead,  and  clad  in  white  and  clean  clothing,  with  the  knife  re- 
maining in  his  body.  They  all  wept  at  the  sight,  and  the  father  fell  down  in  a 
swoon,  vrhich  lasted  so  long  that  the  slaves  thought  he  was  dead.  At  length,  how- 
ever, he  recovered,  and  came  out  with  the  slaves,  who  had  wrapped  the  body  of  the 
youth  in  his  clothes.  They  then  took  back  all  that  was  in  the  subterranean  dwell- 
ing to  the  vessel,  and  departed. 

I  remained,  0  my  mistress,  by  day  hiding  myself  in  a  tree,  and  at  night  walking 
about  the  open  part  of  the  island.  Thus  I  continued  for  the  space  of  two  months; 
and  I  perceived  that,  on  the  western  side  of  the  island,  the  water  of  the  sea  every 
day  retired,  until,  after  three  months,  the  land  that  had  been  beneath  it  became  dry. 
Rejoicing  at  this,  and  feeling  confident  now  in  my  escape,  I  traversed  this  dry  tract, 
and  arrived  at  an  expanse  of  sand ;  whereupon  I  emboldened  myself,  and  crossed 
it.  I  then  saw  in  the  distance  an  appearance  of  fire,  and  advancing  towards  it, 
found  it  to  be  a  palace,  overlaid  with  plates  of  copper,  which,  reflecting  the  rays  of 
the  sun,  seemed  from  a  distance  to  be  fire :  and  when  I  drew  near  to  it,  reflecting 
upon  this  sight,  there  approached  me  an  old  sheikh,  accompanied  by  ten  young  men 
who  were  all  blind  of  one  eye,  at  which  I  was  extremely  surprised.  As  soon  as  they 
saw  me,  they  saluted  me,  and  asked  me  my  story,  which  I  related  to  them  from  first 
to  last :  and  they  were  filled  with  wonder.  They  then  conducted  me  into  the  palace, 
where  I  saw  ten  benches,  upon  each  of  which  was  a  mattrass  covered  with  a  blue 
stuff;  and  each  of  the  young  men  seated  himself  upon  one  of  these  benches,  while 
the  sheikh  took  his  place  upon  a  smaller  one  ;  after  which  they  said  to  me.  Sit  down, 
0  young  man,  and  ask  no  question  respecting  our  condition,  nor  respecting  our  being 
blind  of  one  eye.  Then  the  sheikh  arose,  and  brought  to  each  of  them  some  food, 
and  the  same  to  me  also  ;  and  next  he  brought  to  each  of  us  some  wine :  and  after 
we  had  eaten,  we  sat  drinking  together  until  the  time  for  sleep,  when  the  young  men 
said  to  the  sheikh.  Bring  to  us  our  accustomed  supply:  —  upon  which  the  sheikh 
arose,  and  entered  a  closet,  from  which  he  brought  upon  his  head  ten  covered  trays» 
Placing  these  upon  the  floor,  he  lighted  ten  candles,  and  stuck  one  of  them  upon 
each  tray;  and,  having  done  this,  he  removed  the  covers,  and  there  appeared  beneath 
them  ashes  mixed  with  pounded  charcoal.  The  young  men  then  tucked  up  their 
sleeve's  above  the  elbow,  and  blackened  their  faces,  and  slapped  their  cheeks,  ex- 
claiming, We  were  reposing  at  our  ease,  and  our  impertinent  curiosity  suffered  us 
not  to  remain  so !  Thus  they  did  until  the  morning,  when  the  sheikh  brought  them 
some  hot  water,  and  they  washed  their  faces,  and  put  on  other  clothes. 

On  witnessing  this  conduct,  my  reason  was  confounded,  my  heart  was  so  troubled 


78  THE    THIKD    ROYAL    MENDICANT. 

that  I  forgor  my  own  misfortunes,  and  I  asked  them  the  cause  of  their  strange  be- 
haviour; upon  which  they  looked  towards  me,  and  said,  0  young  man,  ask  not 
respecting  that  which  doth  not  concern  thee  ;  but  be  silent ;  for  in  silence  is  secu- 
rity from  error.  —  I  remained  with  them  a  whole  month,  during  which  every  night 
they  did  the  same  ;  and  at  length  I  said  to  them,  I  conjure  you  by  Allah  to  remove 
this  disquiet  from  my  mind,  and  to  inform  me  of  the  cause  of  your  acting  in  this 
manner,  and  of  your  exclaiming,  We  were  reposing  at  our  ease,  and  our  impertinent 
curiosity  suffered  us  not  to  remain  so !  — if  ye  inform  me  not,  I  will  leave  you,  and 
go  my  way ;  for  the  proverb  saith,  When  the  eye  seeth  not,  the  heart  doth  not  grieve. 
—  On  hearing  these  words  they  replied.  We  have  not  concealed  this  affair  from  thee 
but  in  our  concern  for  thy  welfare,  lest  thou  shouldst  become  like  us,  and  the  same 
affliction  that  hath  befallen  us  happen  also  to  thee.  I  said,  however,  Ye  must  posi- 
tively inform  me  of  this  matter.  We  give  thee  good  advice,  said  they,  and  do  thou 
receive  it,  and  ask  us  not  respecting  our  case  ;  otherwise  thou  wilt  become  blind  of 
one  eye,  like  us  : — but  I  still  persisted  in  my  request ;  whereupon  they  said,  0  young 
man,  if  this  befall  thee,  know  that  thou  wilt  be  banished  from  our  company.  They 
then  all  arose,  and,  taking  a  ram,  slaughtered  and  skinned  it,  and  said  to  me,  Take 
this  knife  with  thee,  and  introduce  thyself  into  the  skin  of  the  ram,  and  we  will 
sew  thee  up  in  it,  and  go  away ;  whereupon  a  bird  called  the  roc  will  come  to  thee, 
and  taking  thee  by  its  talons,  will  fly  away  with  thee,  and  set  thee  down  upon  a 
mountain :  then  cut  open  the  skin  with  this  knife,  and  get  out,  and  the  bird  will  fly 
away.  Thou  must  arise,  as  soon  as  it  hath  gone,  and  journey  for  half  a  day,  and 
thou  wilt  see  before  thee  a  lofty  palace,  encased  with  red  gold,  set  with  various  pre- 
cious stones,  such  as  emeralds  and  rubies,  &c. ;  and  if  thou  enter  it  thy  case  will  be 
as  ours ;  for  our  entrance  into  that  palace  was  the  cause  of  our  being  blind  of  one 
eye;  and  if  one  of  us  would  relate  to  thee  all  that  hath  befallen  him,  his  story 
would  be  too  long  for  thee  to  hear. 

They  then  sewed  me  up  in  the  skin,  and  entered  their  palace  ;  and  soon  after 
there  came  an  enormous  white  bird,  which  seized  me,  and  flew  away  with  me,  and 
set  me  down  upon  the  mountain  ;  whereupon  I  cut  open  the  skin,  and  got  out;  and 
the  bird  as  soon  as  it  saw  me,  flew  away.  I  rose  up  quickly,  and  proceeded  towards 
the  palace,  which  I  found  to  be  as  they  had  described  it  to  me ;  and  when  I  had 
entered  it,  I  beheld,  at  the  upper  end  of  a  saloon,  forty  young  damsels,  beautiful  as 
so  many  moons,  and  magnificently  attired,  who,  as  soon  as  they  saw  me,  exclaimed, 
Welcome  !  Welcome!  0  our  master  and  our  lord  !  AVe  have  been  for  a  month  ex- 
pecting'thee.  Praise  be  to  God,  who  hath  blessed  us  with  one  who  is  worthy  of  us, 
and  one  of  whom  we  are  worthy  I'— After  having  thus  greeted  me,  they  seated  me 
upon  a  mattress,  and  said.  Thou  art  from  this  day  our  master  and  prince,  and  we 
are  thy  handmaids,  and  entirely  under  thy  authority.  They  then  brought  to  me 
some  refreshments,  and,  when  I  had  eaten  and  drunk,  they  sat  and  conversed  with 
me,  full  of  joy  and  happiness.  So  lovely  were  these  ladies,  that  even  a  devotee,  if 
he  saw  them  would  gladly  consent  to  be  their  servant,  and  to  comply  with  all  that 
they  would  desire.  At  the  approach  of  night  they  all  assembled  around  me,  and 
placed  before  me  a  table  of  fresh  and  dried  fruits,  with  other  delicacies  that  the 
tongue  cannot  describe,  and  wine;  and  one  began  to  sing,  while  another  played 
upon  the  lute.  The  wine-cups  circulated  among  us,  and  joy  overcame  me  to  such 
a  degree  as  to  obliterate  from  my  mind  every  earthly  care,  and  make  me  exclaim, 
This  is  indeed  a  delightful  life  !  In  this  state  of  happiness  I  continued  till  midnight, 
when  the  ladies  repeated  their  professions  of  readiness  to  comply  with  Avhatever  I 
should  desire,  and  bade  me  exercise  my  privileges  as  their  lord ;  so,  availing  myself 
of  the  right  that  the  law  allows  to  a  master  over  his  slaves,  I  passed  a  night  of  such 
enjoyment  as  I  had  never  before  experienced.  On  the  morrow  I  entered  the  bath ; 
and,  after  I  had  washed  myself,  they  brought  me  a  suit  of  the  richest  clothing,  and 
we  again  sat  down  to  a  repast. 

In  this  manner  I  lived  with  them  a  whole  year ;  but  on  the  first  day  of  the  neT 


THE   THIRD    ROYAL   MENDICANT.  79 

year,  they  seated  themselves  around  me,  and  began  to  weep,  and  bade  me  adieu, 
clinging  to  my  skirts. — What  calamity  hath  befallen  you  ?  said  I.  Ye  have  broken 
my  heart.  They  ansvrered,  Would  that  we  had  never  known  thee  ;  for  we  have  as- 
sociated with  many  men,  but  have  seen  none  like  thee  !  May  God,  therefore,  not 
deprive  us  of  thy  company.  —  And  they  wept  afresh.  I  said  to  them,  I  wish  that 
you  Avduld  acquaint  me  with  the  cause  of  this  weeping. — Thou,  they  replied,  art  the 
cause ;  yet  now,  if  thou  wilt  attend  to  what  we  tell  thee,  we  shall  never  be  parted  ; 
but  if  thou  act  contrary  to  it,  we  are  separated  from  this  time;  and  our  hearts 
whisper  to  us  that  thou  wilt  not  regard  our  warning. — Inform  me,  said  I,  and  I  will 
attend  to  your  directions :— and  they  replied.  If  then  thou  wouldst  inquire  respecting 
our  history,  know  that  we  are  the  daughters  of  Kings :  for  many  years  it  hath  been 
our  custom  to  assemble  here,  and  every  year  we  absent  ourselves  during  a  period  of 
forty  days  ;  then  returning,  we  indulge  ourselves  for  a  year  in  feasting  and  drinking. 
This  is  our  usual  practice;  and  now  we  fear  that  thou  wilt  disregard  our  directions 
when  we  are  absent  from  thee.  We  deliver  to  thee  the  keys  of  the  palace,  which 
are  a  hundred  in  number,  belonging  to  a  hundred  closets.  Open  each  of  these,  and 
amuse  thyself,  and  eat  and  drink,  and  refresh  thyself,  excepting  the  closet  that  hath 
a  door  of  red  gold ;  for  if  thou  open  this,  the  consequence  will  be  a  separation  be- 
tween us  and  thee.  We  conjure  thee,  therefore,  to  observe  our  direction,  and  to  be 
patient  during  this  period. — Upon  hearing  this,  I  swore  to  them  that  I  would  never 
open  the  closet  to  which  they  alluded ;  and  they  departed,  urging  me  to  be  faithful 
to  my  promise. 

I  remained  alone  in  the  palace,  and  at  the  approach  of  evening  I  opened  the  first 
closet,  and,  entering  it,  found  a  mansion  like  paradise,  with  a  garden  containing 
green  trees  loaded  with  ripe  fruits,  abounding  with  singing  birds,  and  watered  by 
copious  streams.  My  heart  was  soothed  by  the  sight,  and  I  wandered  among  the 
trees,  scenting  the  fragrance  of  the  flowers,  and  listening  to  the  warbling  of  the  birds 
as  they  sang  the  praises  of  the  One,  the  Almighty.  After  admiring  the  mingled 
colours  of  the  apple  resembling  the  hue  upon  the  cheek  of  a  beloved  mistress,  and 
the  sallow  countenance  of  the  perplexed  and  timid  lover,  the  sweet-smelling  quince 
diffusing  an  odour  like  musk  and  ambergris,  and  the  plum  shining  as  the  ruby,  I 
retired  from  this  place,  and  having  locked  the  door,  opened  that  of  the  next  closet, 
within  which  I  beheld  a  spacious  tract  planted  with  numerous  palm-trees,  and  watered 
by  a  river  flowing  among  rose-trees,  and  jasmine,  and  marjoram,  and  eglantine,  and 
narcissus,  and  gilliflower,  the  odours  of  which,  diffused  in  every  direction  by  the 
wind,  inspired  me  with  the  utmost  delight.  I  locked  again  the  door  of  the  second 
closet,  and  opened  that  of  the  third.  Within  this  I  found  a  large  saloon,  paved  with 
marbles  of  various  colours,  and  with  costly  minerals  and  precious  gems,  and  containing 
cages  constructed  of  sandal  and  aloes-wood  with  singing  birds  within  them,  and  others 
upon  the  branches  of  trees  which  were  planted  there.  My  heart  was  charmed,  my  trouble 
was  dissipated,  and  I  slept  there  until  the  morning.  I  then  opened  the  door  of  the 
fourth  closet,  and  within  this  door  I  found  a  great  building  in  which  were  forty 
closets  with  open  doors ;  and,  entering  these,  I  beheld  pearls,  and  rubies,  and  chry- 
solites, and  emeralds,  and  other  precious  jewels  such  as  the  tongue  cannot  describe. 
I  was  astonished  at  the  sight,  and  said.  Such  things  as  these,  I  imagine,  are  not 
found  in  the  treasury  of  any  King.  I  am  now  the  king  of  my  age,  and  all  these 
treasures,  through  the  goodness  of  God,  are  mine,  together  with  forty  damsels  under 
my  authority  who  have  no  man  to  share  them  with  me. 

Thus  I  continued  to  amuse  myself,  passing  from  one  place  to  another,  until  thirty- 
nine  days  had  elapsed,  and  I  had  opened  the  doors  of  all  the  closets  excepting  that 
which  they  had  forbidden  me  to  open.  My  heart  was  then  disturbed  by  curiosity 
respecting  this  hundredth  closet,  and  the  Devil,  in  order  to  plunge  me  into  misery, 
induced  me  to  open  it.  I  had  not  patience  to  abstain,  though  there  remained  of  the 
appointed  period  only  one  day:  so  I  approached  the  closet,  and  opened  the  door; 
and  when  I  had  entered,  I  perceived  a  fragrant  odour,  such  as  I  had  never  before 


80  THE   FIRST    OF   THE   THREE   LADIES    OF   BAGDAD. 

smelt,  which  intoxicated  me  so  that  I  fell  down  insensible,  and  remained  some  time 
in  this  state  ;  but  at  length  recovei-ing,  I  fortified  my  heart,  and  proceeded.  I  found 
the  door  overspread  with  safi"ron,  and  the  place  illuminated  by  golden  lamps  and  by 
candles,  which  diffused  the  odours  of  musk  and  ambergris,  and  two  large  perfuming 
vessels  filled  with  aloes-wood  and  ambergris,  and  a  perfume  compounded  with  honey, 
spread  fragrance  through  the  whole  place.  I  saw  also  a  black  horse,  of  the  hue  of 
the  darkest  night,  before  which  was  a  manger  of  white  crystal  filled  with  cleansed 
sesame,  and  another  similar  to  it,  containing  rose-water  infused  Avith  musk:  he  was 
saddled  and  bridled,  and  his  saddle  was  of  red  gold.  Wondering  at  the  sight  of 
him,  I  said  within  myself,  This  must  be  an  animal  of  extraordinary  qualities  ; — and, 
seduced  by  the  Devil,  I  led  him  out,  and  mounted  him ;  but  he  moved  not  from  his 
place  :  I  kicked  him  with  my  heel ;  but  still  he  moved  not:  so  I  took  a  stick  and 
struck  him  with  it ;  and  as  soon  as  he  felt  the  blow  he  uttered  a  sound  like  thunder, 
and,  expanding  a  pair  of  wings,  soared  with  me  to  an  immense  height  through  the 
air,  and  then  alighted  upon  the  roof  of  another  palace,  where  he  threw  me  from  his 
back,  and  by  a  violent  blow  with  his  tail  upon  my  face,  as  I  sat  upon  the  roof,  struck 
out  my  eye,  and  left  me. 

In  this  state  I  descended  from  the  roof,  and  below  I  found  the  one-eyed  young 
men  before  mentioned,  who,  as  soon  as  they  beheld  me,  exclaimed,  No  welcome  to 
thee!  —  Receive  me,  said  I,  into  your  company;  —  but  they  replied,  By  Allah,  thou 
shalt  not  remain  with  us : — so  I  departed  from  them,  with  moui-nful  heart  and  weep- 
ing eye,  and,  God  having  decreed  me  a  safe  journey  hither,  I  arrived  at  Bagdad, 
after  I  had  shaved  my  beard,  and  become  a  mendicant. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

The  mistress  of  the  house  then  looked  towards  the  Caliph  and  Giafar  and  Mesrour, 
and  said  to  them,  Acquaint  me  with  your  histories :  —  upon  which  Giafar  advanced 
towards  her,  and  related  to  her  the  same  story  that  he  had  told  to  the  portress  before 
they  entered:  and  when  she  had  heard  it,  she  liberated  them  all.  They  accordingly 
departed,  and  when  they  had  gone  out  into  the  street,  the  Caliph  inquired  of  the 
mendicants  whither  they  were  going.  They  answered.  That  they  knew  not  whither 
to  go :  whereupon  he  desired  them  to  accompany  his  party ;  and  then  said  to  Giafar, 
Take  them  home  with  thee,  and  bring  them  before  me  to-morrow,  and  we  will  see 
the  result.  Giafar,  therefore,  did  as  he  was  commanded,  and  the  Caliph  returned  to 
his  palace  ;  but  he  was  unable  to  sleep  during  the  remainder  of  the  night. 

On  the  following  morning  he  sat  upon  his  throne,  and  when  his  courtiers  had  pre- 
sented themselves  before  him,  and  departed,  excepting  Giafar,  he  said  to  him.  Bring 
before  me  the  three  ladies  and  the  two  bitches  and  the  mendicants.  So  Giafar  arose, 
and  brought  them,  and,  placing  the  ladies  behind  the  curtains,  said  to  them.  We 
have  forgiven  you  on  account  of  your  previous  kindness  to  us,  and  because  ye  knew 
us  not ;  and  now  I  acquaint  you  that  ye  are  in  the  presence  of  the  fiftli  of  the  sons 
of  Abbas,  Ilaroun  Alraschid,  therefore  relate  to  him  nothing  but  the  truth.  And 
when  the  ladies  heai-d  the  words  which  Giafar  addressed  to  them  on  the  part  of  the 
Caliph,  the  eldest  of  them  advanced,  and  thus  related  her  story : — 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  FIRST  OF  THE  THREE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  my  story  is  wonderful ;  for  these  two  bitches  are  my 
si«ters,  born  to  my  father,  but  of  another  mother ;  and  I  am  the  youngest  of  the 
three.  After  the  death  of  our  father,  who  left  us  five  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  these 
my  twc  sisters  married ;  and  when  they  had  resided  some  time  with  their  husbands, 
each  of  the  latter  prepared  a  stock  of  merchandise,  and  received  from  his  wife  a 


THE   FIRST   OF   THE   THREE   LADIES    OF   BAGDAD. 


8i 


thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  they  all  set  forth  on  a  journey  together,  leaving  me 
here ;  but  after  they  had  been  absent  four  years,  my  sisters'  husbands  lost  all  their 
property,  and  abandoned  them  in  a  strange  land,  and  they  returned  to  me  in  the 
garb  of  beggars.  When  T  first  saw  them  in  this  state,  I  knew  them  not;  and,  as 
soon  as  I  recognised  them,  I  exclaimed,  How  is  it  that  ye  are  in  this  condition  ? — 0 
our  sister,  they  answered,  thy  inquiry  now  is  of  no  use ;  the  pen  hath  written  what 
God  hath  decreed.  —  I  sent  them,  therefore,  to  the  bath,  and  having  clad  them  in 


The  First  Lady  recognising  her  Sisters 


new  apparel,  said  to  them,  0  my  sisters.  Ye  are  my  elders,  and  I  am  young ;  so  ye 
shall  be  to  me  in  the  places  of  my  father  and  mother.  The  inheritance  which  1 
shared  with  you  God  hath  blessed;  partake  then  of  its  increase,  for  my  affairs  are 
prosperous;  and  I  and  ye  shall  fare  alike.  —  I  treated  them  with  the  utmost  kind-' 
ness,  and  during  a  whole  year  they  remained  with  me,  and  enriched  themselves  by 
the  money  that  I  had  given  them  ;  but  after  this  period  they  said  to  me.  It  will  be 
more  agreeable  to  us  to  marry  again,  for  we  can  no  longer  abstain  from  doing  so. — 
O  my  sisters,  I  replied,  ye  have  seen  no  happiness  in  marriage :  a  good  husband  in 
this  age  is  rarely  found,  and  ye  have  already  had  experience  of  the  marriage-state. 
They,  however,  heeded  not  my  words  ;  but  married  against  my  consent:  yet  I  gave 
them  dowries  from  my  own  property,  and  continued  to  them  my  protection.  They 
went  to  their  husbands,  and  the  latter,  after  they  had  resided  with  them  a  short  time, 
defrauded  them  of  all  that  they  possessed,  and  setting  forth  on  a  journey,  left  them 
destitute:  so  again  they  returned  to  me,  and,  in  a  state  of  nudity,  implored  my  for- 
giveness, saying,  Be  not  angry  with  us  ;  for  though  thou  art  younger  than  we  thou 
hast  more  mature  sense ;  and  we  promise  thee  that  we  will  never  again  mention  the 
subject  of  marriage.  I  replied.  Ye  are  welcome,  0  my  sisters ;  for  I  have  no  one 
dearer  to  me  than  yourselves:  —  and  I  received  them,  and  treated  them  with  every 
kindness,  and  we  remained  happily  together  for  the  space  of  a  year. 

After  this  I  resolved  to  fit  out  a  vessel  for  a  mercantile  voyage  :  accordingly  I  stocked 
.a  large  ship  with  various  goods  and  necessary  provisions,  and  said  to  my  sisters. 
Will  ye  rather  stay  at  home  during  my  voyage,  or  will  ye  go  with  me? — to  which 
they  answered.  We  will  accompany  thee  during  the  voyage,  for  we  cannot  endure  to 
be  separated  from  thee.  I  therefore  took  them  with  me,  and  we  set  sail ;  but  first  I 
divided  my  property  into  two  equal  portions ;  one  of  which  I  took  with  me,  and  the 
other  I  concealed,  saying  within  myself.  Perhaps  some  evil  accident  may  happen  to 
the  ship,  and  our  lives  may  be  prolonged  ;  in  which  case,  when  we  return  we  shall 
0 


82  THE   FIRST   OP   THE   THREE   LADIES   OF   BAGDAD. 

find  that  which  will  be  of  service  to  us.— We  continued  our  voyage  by  day  and 
night,  till  at  length  the  vessel  pursued  a  wrong  course,  and  the  captain  knew  not 
■whither  to  steer.  The  ship  had  entered  a  different  sea  from  that  which  we  wished 
to  cross,  and  for  some  time  we  knew  it  not ;  but  for  ten  days  we  had  a  pleasant 
wind,  and  after  this,  a  city  loomed  before  us  in  the  distance.  We  asked  the  captain 
what  was  the  name  of  this  city ;  and  he  answered,  I  know  it  not,  I  have  never  seen, 
it  till  this  day,  nor  have  I  ever  before  in  the  course  of  my  life  navigated  this  sea : 
but  as  we  have  come  hither  in  safety,  ye  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  enter  this  city 
and  land  your  goods,  and,  if  ye  find  opportunity,  sell  or  exchange  there:  if  not,  we 
will  rest  there  two  days,  and  take  in  fresh  provisions.  So  we  entered  the  port  of 
the  city,  and  the  captain  landed,  and  after  a  while  returned  to  us,  saying,  Arise,  and 
go  up  into  the  city,  and  wonder  at  that  which  God  hath  done  unto  his  creatures,  and 
pray  to  be  preserved  from  his  anger.  And  when  we  had  entered  the  city,  we  found 
all  its  inhabitants  converted  into  black  stones.  We  were  amazed  at  the  sight,  and 
as  we  walked  through  the  market-streets,  finding  the  merchandise  and  the  gold  and 
silver  remaining  in  their  original  state,  we  rejoiced,  and  said.  This  must  have  been 
occasioned  by  some  wonderful  circumstance.  We  then  separated  in  the  streets, 
each  of  us  attracted  from  his  companions  by  the  wealth  and  stuffs  in  the  shops. 

As  for  myself,  I  ascended  to  the  citadel,  which  I  found  to  be  a  building  of  admir- 
able, construction  ;  and,  entering  the  King's  palace,  I  found  all  the  vessels  of  gold 
and  silver  remaining  in  their  places,  and  the  King  himself  seated  in  the  midst  of 
his  chamberlains  and  viceroys  and  viziers,  and  clad  in  apparel  of  astonishing  rich- 
ness. Drawing  nearer  to  him,  I  perceived  that  he  was  sitting  upon  a  throne,  adorned 
with  pearls  and  jewels,  every  one  of  the  pearls  shining  like  a  star:  his  dress  was 
embroidered  with  gold,  and  around  him  stood  fifty  memlooks,  attired  in  silks  of 
various  descriptions,  and  having  in  their  hands  drawn  swords.  Stupified  at  this 
spectacle,  I  proceeded  and  entered  the  saloon  of  the  Harem,  upon  the  walls  of  which 
were  hung  silken  curtains  ;  and  here  I  beheld  the  Queen,  attired  in  a  dress  embroi- 
dered with  fresh  pearls,  and  having  upon  her  head  a  diadem  adorned  with  various 
jewels,  and  necklaces  of  different  kinds  on  her  neck.  All  her  clothing  and  orna- 
ments remained  as  they  were  at  first,  though  she  herself  was  converted  into  black 
stone.  Here  also  I  found  an  open  door,  and,  entering  it,  I  saw  a  flight  of  seven 
steps,  by  which  I  ascended  to  an  apartment  paved  with  marble,  furnished  with  gold- 
embroidered  carpets,  and  containing  a  sofa  of  alabaster,  ornamented  with  pearls  and 
jewels  ;  but  my  eyes  Avere  first  attracted  by  a  gleam  of  light,  and  when  I  approached 
the  spot  whence  it  proceeded,  I  found  a  brilliant  jewel  of  the  size  of  an  ostrich's 
egg,  placed  upon  a  small  stool,  diffusing  a  light  like  that  of  a  candle.  The  coverings 
of  the  sofa  above-mentioned  were  of  various  kinds  of  silk,  the  richness  of  which 
would  surprise  every  beholder :  and  I  looked  at  them  with  wonder.  In  this  apart- 
ment I  likewise  observed  some  lighted  candles,  and  reflected  that  there  must  then 
have  been  some  person  there  to  light  them.  I  passed  thence  to  another  part  of  the 
palace,  and  continued  to  explore  the  different  apartments,  forgetting  myself  in  the 
amazement  of  my  mind  at  all  these  strange  circumstances,  and  immersed  in  thoughts 
respecting  what  I  beheld,  until  the  commencement  of  night,  when  I  would  have  de- 
parted, but  could  not  find  the  door ;  so  I  returned  to  the  place  in  which  were  the 
lighted  candles,  and  there  I  laid  myself  upon  the  sofa,  and,  covering  myself  with  a 
quilt,  repeated  some  words  of  the  Koran,  and  endeavoured  to  compose  myself  to 
sleep  ;  but  I  could  not.  I  continued  restless  ;  and  at  midnight  I  heard  a  recitation 
of  the  Koran,  performed  by  a  melodious  and  soft  voice :  upon  which  I  arose,  and, 
looking  about,  saw  a  closet  with  an  open  door,  and  I  entered  it,  and  found  that  it- 
was  an  oratory;  lighted  lamps  were  suspended  in  it,  and  upon  a  prayer-carpet 
spread  on  the  floor  sat  a  young  man  of  handsome  aspect.  Wondering  that  he  had 
escaped  the  fate  of  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  city,  I  saluted  him  ;  and  he  raised 
his  eyes,  and  returned  my  salutation :  and  I  then  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  the 
truth  of  that  which  thou  art  reading  in  the  Book  of  God',  that  thou  answer  the 


THE   FIRST    OP   THE   THREE   LADIES   OF   BAGDAD.  83 

question  which  I  am  about  to  ask  thee : — whereupon  he  smiled,  and  replied,  Do  thou 
first  acquaint  me  with  the  cause  of  thine  entrance  into  this  place,  and  then  I  will 
answer  thy  question ;  so  I  told  him  ray  story,  and  inquired  of  him  the  history  of  this 
city.  Wait  a  little,  said  he ; — and  he  closed  the  Koran,  and,  having  put  it  in  a  bag 
of  satin,  seated  me  by  his  side.  As  I  now  beheld  him,  his  countenance  appeared 
like  the  full  moon,  and  his  whole  person  exhibited  such  perfect  elegance  and  loveli- 
ness, that  a  single  glance  at  him  drew  from  me  a  thousand  sighs,  and  kindled  a  fire 
in  my  heart.  I  repeated  my  request  that  he  would  give  me  an  account  of  the  city; 
and,  replying,  I  hear  and  obey,  he  thus  addressed  me. 

Know  that  this  city  belonged  to  my  father  and  his  family  and  subjects ;  and  he  is 
the  King  whom  thou  hast  seen  converted  into  stone  ;  and  the  Queen  whom  thou  hast 
seen  is  my  mother.  They  were  all  Magi,  worshipping  fire  in  the  place  of  the 
Almighty  King ;  and  they  swore  by  the  fire  and  the  light,  and  the  shade  and  the 
heat,  and  the  revolving  orb.  My  father  had  no  son,  till,  in  his  declining  years,  he 
was  blest  with  me,  whom  he  reared  until  I  attained  to  manhood.  But,  happily  for 
me,  there  was,  in  our  family,  an  old  woman,  far  advanced  in  age,  who  was  a  Maho- 
metan, believing  in  God  and  his  Apostle  in  her  heart,  though  she  conformed  with 
my  family  in  outward  observances :  and  my  father  confided  in  her,  on  account  of  the 
faithfulness  and  modesty  that  he  had  observed  in  her  character,  and  showed  her 
great  favour,  firmly  believing  that  she  held  the  same  faith  as  himself;  therefore, 
when  I  had  passed  my  infancy,  he  committed  me  to  her  care,  saying.  Take  him,  and 
rear  him,  and  instruct  him  in  the  ordinances  of  our  faith,  and  educate  him,  and 
serve  him  in  the  best  manner.  The  old  woman  accordingly  received  me,  but  took 
care  to  instruct  me  in  the  Mahometan  faith,  teaching  me  the  laws  of  purification, 
and  the  divine  ordinances  of  ablution,  together  with  the  forms  of  prayer ;  after 
which  she  made  me  commit  to  memory  the  whole  of  the  Koran.  She  then  charged 
me  to  keep  my  faith  a  secret  from  my  father,  lest  he  should  kill  me ;  and  I  did  so ; 
and  a  few  days  after,  the  old  woman  died.  The  inhabitants  of  the  city  had  now 
increased  in  their  impiety  and  arrogance,  and  in  their  dereliction  of  the  truth  ;  and 
while  they  were  in  this  state  they  heard  a  crier  proclaim  with  a  voice  like  thunder, 
so  as  to  be  audible  to  both  the  near  and  distant,  0  inhabitants  of  this  city,  abstain 
from  the  Worship  of  fire,  and  worship  the  Almighty  King! — The  people  were  struck 
with  consternation,  and,  flocking  to  my  father,  the  King  of  the  city,  said  to  him. 
What  is  this  alarming  voice  which  hath  astounded  us  by  its  terrible  sound? — but  he 
answered  them,  Let  not  the  voice  terrify  you,  nor  let  it  turn  you  from  your  faith  : — 
and  their  hearts  inclined  to  his  words  ;  so  they  persevered  in  the  worship  of  fire,  and 
remained  obstinate  in  their  iflipiety  during  another  year,  until  the  return  of  the 
period  at  which  they  had  heard  the  voice  the  first  time.  It  was  then  heard  a  second 
time  ;  and  again,  in  the  next  year,  they  heard  it  a  third  time  ;  but  still  they  persisted 
in  their  evil  ways,  until,  drawing  down  upon  themselves  the  abhorrence  and  indig- 
nation of  Heaven,  one  morning,  shortly  after  daybreak,  they  were  converted  into 
black  stones,  together  with  their  beasts  and  all  their  cattle.  Not  one  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  city  escaped,  excepting  me  ;  and  from  the  day  on  which  this  catastrophe 
happened  I  have  continued  occupied  as  thou  seest,  in  prayer,  and  fasting,  and  read- 
ing the  Koran:  but  I  have  become  weary  of  this  solitary  state,  having  no  one  to 
cheer  me  with  his  company. 

On  hearing  these  words,  I  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou  go  with  me  to  the  city  of  Bagdad, 
and  visit  its  learned  men  and  lawyers,  and  increase  thy  knowledge?  If  so  I  will  be 
thy  handmaid,  though  I  am  the  mistress  of  my  family,  and  have  authority  over  a 
household  of  men.  I  have  here  a  ship  laden  with  merchandize,  and  destiny  hath 
driven  us  to  this  city,  in  order  that  we  might  become  acquainted  with  these  events : 
our  meeting  was  predestined. — In  this  manner  I  continued  to  persuade  him  until  he 
gave  his  consent.  I  slept  that  night  at  his  feet,  unconscious  of  my  state  through 
excessive  joy ;  and  in  the  morning  we  arose,  and  entering  the  treasuries,  took  away 
a  quantity  of  the  lighter  and  most  valuable  of  the  articles  that  they  contained,  and 


84  THE    FIRST    OF   THE    THREE    LADIES    OF    BAGDAD. 

descended  from  the  citadel  into  the  city,  ^Yhe^e  we  met  the  slaves  and  the  captain, 
•who  were  searching  for  me.  They  were  rejoiced  at  seeing  me,  and,  to  their  questions 
respecting  my  absence,  I  replied  by  informing  them  of  all  that  I  had  seen,  and  re- 
lated to  them  the  history  of  the  young  man,  and  the  cause  of  the  transmutation  of 
the  people  of  the  city,  and  of  all  that  had  befallen  them,  which  filled  them  with 
■wonder.  But  when  my  two  sisters  saw  me  with  the  young  man,  they  envied  me  on 
his  account,  and  malevolently  plotted  against  me. 

We  embarked  again,  and  I  experienced  the  utmost  happiness,  chiefly  owing  to 
the  company  of  the  young  man  ;  and  after  we  had  waited  a  while  till  the  wind  was 
favourable,  we  spread  our  sails,  and  departed.  My  sisters  sat  with  me  and  the 
young  man  ;  and,  in  their  conversation  with  me,  said,  0  our  sister,  what  dost  thou 
purpose  to  do  with  this  handsome  youth  ?  I  answered,  I  desire  to  take  him  as  my 
husband: — and,  turning  to  him,  and  approaching  him,  1  said,  0  my  master,  I  wish 
to  make  a  proposal  to  thee,  and  do  not  thou  oppose  it.  He  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey  : — and  I  then  looked  towards  my  sisters,  and  said  to  them.  This  young  man  is 
all  that  I  desire,  and  all  the  wealth  that  is  here  is  yours. — Excellent,  they  replied,  is 
thy  determination:  —  yet  still  they  designed  evil  against  me. — We  continued  our 
voyage  with  a  favourable  wind,  and,  quitting  the  sea  of  peril,  entered  the  sea  of 
security,  across  which  we  proceeded  for  some  days,  until  we  drew  near  to  the  city 
of  Balsora,  the  buildings  of  which  loomed  before  us  at  the  approach  of  evening; 
but  as  soon  as  we  had  fallen  asleep,  my  sisters  took  us  up  in  our  bed,  both  myself 
and  the  young  man,  and  threw  us  into  the  sea.  The  youth,  being  unable  to  swim, 
was  drowned :  God  recorded  him  among  the  company  of  the  martyrs  ;  while  I  was 
registered  among  those  whose  life  was  yet  to  be  preserved  :  and,  accordingly,  as 
soon  as  I  awoke  and  found  myself  in  the  sea,  the  providence  of  God  supplied  me 
with  a  piece  of  timber,  upon  which  I  placed  myself,  and  the  waves  cast  me  upon  the 
shore  of  an  island. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  night  I  walked  along  this  island,  and  in  the  morning 
I  saw  a  neck  of  land  bearing  the  marks  of  a  man's  feet,  and  uniting  with  the  main 
land.  The  sun  having  now  risen,  I  dried  my  clothes  in  its  rays,  and  proceeded  along 
the  path  that  I  had  discovered  until  I  drew  near  to  the  shore  upon  which  stands  the 
city,  when  I  beheld  a  snake  approaching  me,  and  followed  by  a  serpent  which  was 
endeavouring  to  destroy  it :  the  tongue  of  the  snake  was  hanging  from  its  mouth  in 
consequence  of  excessive  fatigue,  and  it  excited  my  compassion  ;  so  I  took  up  a  stone, 
and  threw  it  at  the  head  of  the  serpent,  which  instantly  died :  the  snake  then  ex- 
tended a  pair  of  wings,  and  soared  aloft  into  the  sky,  leaving  me  in  wonder  at  the 
sight.  At  the  time  of  this  occurrence  I  had  become  so  fatigued,  that  I  now  laid  my- 
self down  and  slept;  but  I  awoke  after  a  little  while,  and  found  a  damsel  seated  at 
my  feet,  and  gently  rubbing  them  with  her  hands  ;  upon  which  I  immediately  sat 
up,  feeling  ashamed  that  she  should  perform  this  service  for  me,  and  said  to  her, 
Who  art  thou,  and  what  dost  thou  want? — How  soon  hast  thou  forgotten  me!  she 
exclaimed:  I  am  she  to  whom  thou  hast  just  done  a  kindness,  by  killing  my  enemy: 
I  am  the  snake  whom  thou  savedst  from  the  serpent;  for  I  am  a  Fairy,  and  the 
serpent  was  a  Genie  at  enmity  with  me  :  and  none  but  thou  delivered  me  from  him: 
therefore,  as  soon  as  thou  didst  this,  I  flew  to  the  ship  from  which  thy  sisters  cast 
thee,  and  transported  all  that  it  contained  to  thy  house :  I  then  sunk  it ;  but  as  to 
thy  sisters,  I  transformed  them  by  enchantment  into  two  black  bitches  ;  for  I  knew 
all  that  they  had  done  to  thee:  the  young  man,  however,  is  drowned. — Having  thus 
said,  she  took  me  up,  and  placed  me  with  the  two  black  bitches  on  the  roof  of  my 
house;  and  I  found  all  the  treasures  that  the  ship  had  contained  collected  in  the 
midst  of  my  house  ;  nothing  was  lost.  She  then  said  to  me,  I  swear  by  that  which 
was  engraved  upon  the  seal  of  Solomon,  that,  if  thou  do  not  inflict  three  hundred 
lashes  upon  each  of  these  bitches  every  day,  I  will  come  and  transform  thee  in  the 
like  manner: — so  I  replied  I  hear  and  obey:  and  have  continued  ever  since  to  inflict 
upon  them  these  stripes,  though  pitying  them  while  I  do  so. 


85 


THE   SECOND   OF  THE   THREE   LADIES   OF   BAGDAD.  87 

The  Caliph  heard  this  story  with  astonishment,  and  then  said  to  the  second  lady, 
And  what  occasioned  the  stripes  of  which  thou  bearest  the  marks  ?  She  answered 
as  follows: 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  SECOND  OF  THE  THREE   LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  my  father,  at  his  death,  left  considerable  property ;  and 
soon  after  that  event  I  married  to  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  of  the  age,  who,  when 
I  had  lived  with  him  a  year,  died,  and  I  inherited  from  him  eighty  thousand  pieces 
of  gold,  the  portion  that  fell  to  me  according  to  the  law;  with  part  of  which  I  made 
for  myself  ten  suits  of  clothing,  each  of  the  value  of  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 
And  as  I  was  sitting  one  day,  there  entered  my  apartment  an  old  woman  disgust- 
ingly ugly,  who  saluted  me,  and  said,  I  have  an  orphan  daughter  whose  marriage  I 
am  to  celebrate  this  night,  and  I  would  have  thee  obtain  a  reward  and  recompense 
in  heaven  by  thy  being  present  at  her  nuptial  fete;  for  she  is  broken-hearted,  having 
none  to  befriend  her  but  God,  whose  name  be  exalted.  She  then  wept,  and  kissed 
my  feet ;  and,  being  moved  with  pity  and  compassion,  I  assented,  upon  which  she 
desired  me  to  prepare  myself,  telling  me  that  she  would  come  at  the  hour  of  nightfall 
and  take  me;  and  so  saying,  she  kissed  my  hand,  and  departed. 

1  arose  immediately,  and  attired  myself,  and  when  I  had  completed  my  prepara- 
tions, the  old  woman  returned,  saying,  0  my  mistress,  the  ladies  of  the  city  have 
arrived,  and  I  have  informed  them  of  thy  coming,  and  they  are  waiting  with  joy  to 
receive  thee  : — so  I  put  on  my  outer  garments,  and,  taking  my  female  slaves  with 
me,  proceeded  until  we  arrived  at  a  street  in  which  a  soft  wind  was  delightfully 
playing,  where  we  saw  a  gateway  over-arched  with  a  marble  vault,  admirably  con- 
structed, forming  the  entrance  to  a  palace  which  rose  from  the  earth  to  the  clouds. 
On  our  arrival  here,  the  old  woman  knocked  at  the  door,  and,  when  it  was  opened, 
we  entered  a  carpeted  passage,  illuminated  by  lamps  and  candles,  and  decorated 
with  jewels  and  precious  metals.  Through  this  passage  we  passed  into  a  saloon  of 
unequalled  magnificence,  furnished  with  mattresses  covered  with  silk,  lighted  by 
hanging  lamps  and  by  candles,  and  having,  at  its  upper  end,  a  couch  of  alabaster 
decorated  with  pearls  and  jewels,  and  canopied  by  curtains  of  satin,  from  which  there 
came  forth  a  lady  beautiful  as  the  moon,  who  exclaimed  to  me.  Most  welcome  art 
thou,  0  my  sister:  thou  delightest  me  by  thy  company,  and  refreshest  my  heart. 
She  then  sat  down  again,  and  said  to  me,  0  my  sister,  I  have  a  brother  who  hath 
seen  thee  at  a  fete;  he  is  a  young  man,  more  handsome  than  myself,  and,  his  heart 
being  violently  inflamed  with  thy  love,  he  hath  bribed  this  old  woman  to  go  to  thee, 
and  to  employ  this  artifice  in  order  to  obtain  for  me  an  interview  with  thee.  He 
desireth  to  marry  thee  according  to  the  ordinance  of  God  and  his  Apostle,  and  in 
that  which  is  lawful  there  is  no  disgrace. — When  I  heard  these  words,  and  saw  ray- 
self  thus  confined  in  the  house  so  that  I  could  not  escape,  I  replied  I  hear  and  obey: 
— and  the  lady,  rejoicing  at  my  consent,  clapped  her  hands,  and  opened  a  door,  upon 
which  there  came  out  from  it  a  young  man  so  surpassingly  handsome,  that  my  heart 
immediately  inclined  to  him.  No  sooner  had  he  sat  down  than  the  Cadi  and  four 
witnesses  entered,  and  saluted  us,  and  proceeded  to  perform  the  ceremony  of  the 
marriage-contract  between  me  and  the  young  man,  which  having  done  they  departed ; 
and  when  they  had  retired,  the  young  man  looked  towards  me,  and  said.  May  our 
night  be  blessed.  He  then  informed  me  that  he  desired  to  impose  a  covenant  upon 
me,  and,  bringing  a  copy  of  the  Koran,  said,  Swear  that  thou  wilt  not  indulge  a 
preference,  nor  at  all  incline,  to  any  man  but  me: — and  when  I  had  sworn  to  this 
effect,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  embraced  me;  and  the  love  of  him  took  entire 
possession  of  my  heart. 

We  lived  together  in  the  utmost  happiness  for  the  space  of  a  month,  after  which 
I  begged  that  he  would  allow  me  to  go  to  the  bazaar,  in  order  to  purchase  some  stuffs 


88         THE  SECOND  OF  THE  THREE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

for  dress,  and  having  obtained  his  permission,  went  thither  in  company  with  the  old 
woman,  and  seated  myself  at  the  shop  of  a  young  merchant  with  whom  she  was  ac- 
quainted, and  whose  father,  as  she  informed  me,  had  died,  and  left  him  great  wealth. 
She  desired  him  to  show  me  his  most  costly  stuffs;  and  while  he  was  occupied  in 
doing  so,  she  began  to  utter  various  flattering  expressions  in  praise  of  him ;  but  I 
said  to  her,  We  have  no  concern  with  the  praises  that  thou  bestowest  upon  him;  we 
desire  only  to  make  our  purchase,  and  to  return  home.  Meanwhile  he  produced  to 
us  what  we  wanted,  and  we  handed  him  the  money;  he  refused,  however,  to  take  it, 
saying.  It  is  an  offering  of  hospitality  to  you  for  your  visit  this  day:  whereupon  I 
said  to  the  old  woman.  If  he  will  not  take  the  money,  return  to  him  his  stuff.  But 
he  would  not  receive  it  again,  and  exclaimed.  By  Allah,  I  will  take  nothing  from 
you;  all  this  is  a  present  from  me  for  a  single  kiss,  which  I  shall  value  more  than 
the  entire  contents  of  my  shop.  What  will  a  kiss  profit  thee?  asked  the  old  woman. 
Then  turning  to  me,  she  said,  0  my  daughter,  thou  hast  heard  what  the  youth  hath 
said :  no  harm  will  befall  thee  if  he  give  thee  a  kiss  and  thou  shalt  take  what  thou 
wantest.  Dost  thou  not  know,  said  I,  that  I  have  taken  an  oath?  She  answered, 
Let  him  kiss  thee  then  without  thy  speaking,  and  so  it  will  be  of  no  consequence  to  thee, 
and  thou  shalt  take  back  thy  money.  Thus  she  continued  to  palliate  the  matter 
until  I  put  my  head  (as  it  were)  into  the  bag,  and  consented:  so  I  covered  my  eyes, 
and  held  the  edge  of  my  veil  in  sucli  a  manner  as  to  prevent  the  passengers  from 
seeing  me,  whereupon  ho  put  his  mouth  to  my  cheek  beneath  the  veil,  but  instead 
of  merely  kissing  me,  he  lacerated  my  cheek  by  a  violent  bite.  I  fell  into  a  swoon 
from  the  pain,  and  the  old  woman  laid  me  on  her  lap  tilll  recovered,  when  I  found 
the  shop  closed,  and  the  old  woman  uttering  expressions  of  grief,  and  saying.  What 
God  hath  averted  would  have  been  a  greater  calamity;  let  us  return  home,  and  do 
thou  feign  to  be  ill,  and  I  will  come  to  thee  and  apply  a  remedy  that  shall  cure  the 
wound,  and  thou  wilt  quickly  bo  restored. 

After  remaining  there  some  time  longer,  I  arose,  and,  in  a  state  of  great  uneasiness 
and  fear,  returned  to  the  house,  and  professed  myself  unwell :  upon  which  my  hus- 
band came  in  to  me,  and  said.  What  hatli  befallen  thee,  0  my  mistress,  during  this 
excursion  ?  I  answered,  I  am  not  well. — And  what  is  this  wound,  said  he,  that  is  upon 
thy  cheek,  and  in  the  soft  part  ?  I  answered,  When  I  asked  thy  permission,  and  went 
out  to  day  to  purchase  some  stuff  for  dress,  a  camel  loaded  with  fire-wood  drove 
against  me  in  a  crowed,  and  tore  my  veil  and  wounded  my  cheek,  as  thou  seest,  for 
the  streets  of  this  city  are  narrow. — To-morrow,  then,  he  exclaimed,  I  will  go  to  the 
governor,  and  make  a  complaint  to  him,  and  he  shall  hang  every  seller  of  fire-wood 
in  the  city. — By  Allah,  said  I,  burden  not  thyself  by  an  injury  to  any  one  ;  for  the 
truth  is,  that  I  was  riding  upon  an  ass,  which  took  fright  with  me,  and  I  fell  upon 
the  ground,  and  a  stick  lacerated  my  cheek. — If  it  be  so,  then,  he  replied,  I  will  go 
to-morrow  to  Giafar  the  Barmecide  and  relate  the  matter  to  him,  and  he  shall  kill 
every  ass-driver  in  this  city. — Wilt  thou,  said  I,  kill  "all  those  men  on  my  account, 
when  this  which  befell  me  was  decreed  by  God? — Undoubtedly,  he  answered  ;  and, 
so  saying,  he  seized  me  violently,  and  then  sprang  up,  and  uttered  a  loud  cry,  upon 
which  the  door  opened,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  seven  black  slaves,  who  dragged 
me  from  my  bed,  and  threw  me  down  in  the  middle  of  the  apartment ;  whereupon 
he  ordered  one  of  them  to  hold  me  by  my  shoulders  and  to  sit  upon  my  head  ;  and 
another  to  sit  upon  my  knees  and  to  hold  my  feet.  A  third  then  came,  with  a  sword 
in  his.  hand,  and  said,  0  my  lord,  shall  I  strike  her  with  the  sword,  and  cleave  her  in 
twain,  that  each  of  these  may  take  a  half  and  throw  it  into  the  Tigris  for  the  fish  to 
devour?  For  such  is  the  punishment  of  her  who  is  unfaithful  to  her  oath  and  to  the 
laws  of  love. — My  husband  answered.  Strike  her,  0  Saad  : — and  the  slave  with  the 
drawn  sword  in  his  hand  said.  Repeat  the  profession  of  the  faith,  and  reflect  what 
thou  wouldst  have  to  be  done,  that  thou  m.ayst  give  thy  testamentary  directions,  for 
this  is  the  end  of  thy  life. — Good  slave,  I  replied,  release  me  for  a  while  that  I  may 


THE  SECOND  OF  THE  THREE  LADIES  OP  BAGDAD. 


spoke,  addressed  my  husband  with 


do  80 : — and  I  raised  my  head,  and  weeping  i 

these  verses  ;— 

You  render  me  lovelorn,  and  remain  at  ease.     You  make  ray  wounded  eyelid  to  be  restless, 
and  you  sleep. 

Your  abode  is  between  my  heart  and  my  eyes  :  and  my  heart  will  not  relinquish  you,  nor  my 
tears  conceal  my  passion. 

You  made  a  covenant  with  me  that  you  would  remain  faithful;  but  when  you  Had  got  pos- 
session of  my  heart  you  deceived  me. 

Will  you  not  pity  my  loue  for  you  and  my  moaning?     Have  you  yourself  been  secure  from 
misfortunes  ? 

I  conjure  you,  by  Allah,  if  I  die,  that  you  write  upon  my  tombstone,  This  was  a  slave  of  love. 

That,  perchance,  some  mourner  who  hath  felt  the  same  flame  may  pass  by  the  lover's  gra  ;> 
and  pity  her. 
But  on  hearing  these  verses,  and  witnessing  my  weeping,  he  became  more  incensed 
and  replied  in  the  words  of  this  couplet : 

I  reject  not  the  beloved  of  my  heart  from  weariness;  her  own  guilty  conduct  is  the  cause  of 

her  punishment. 
She  desired  that  another  should  share  with  me  her  love;  but  the  faith  of  my  heart  inclineth 

not  to  partnership. 

I  continued  to  weep,  and  to  endeavour  to  excite  his  compassion,  saying  within  my- 
self, I  will  humble  me  before  him,  and  address  him  with  soft  words,  that  he  may  at 
least  refrain  from  killing  me,  though  he  take  all  that  I  possess: — but  he  cried  out  to 
the  slave.  Cleave  her  in  twain  ;  for  she  is  no  longer  of  any  value  to  us. — So  th(» 
slave  approached  me,  and  I  now  felt  assured  of  my  death,  and  committed  myself  to 
God ;  but  suddenly  the  old  woman  came  and  threw  herself  at  my  husband's  feet, 


01(1  Woman  interceding  for  the  Second  Lady. 

and,  kissing  them,  exclaimed,  0  my  son,  by  the  care  with  which  I  nursed  thee,  I 
conjure  thee  to  pardon  this  damsel,  for  she  hath  committed  no  offence  that  deserveth 


90  THE  THREE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

Buch  a  punishment:  thou  art  young,  and  I  fear  the  effect  of  the  imprecations  that 
she  may  utter  against  thee: — and  after  she  had  thus  addressed  him,  she  wept,  and 
continued  to  importune  him.  until,  at  length,  he  said,  I  pardon  her,  but  must  cause 
her  to  bear  upon  her  person  such  marks  of  her  offence  as  shall  last  fur  the  remainder 
of  her  life.  So  saying,  he  commanded  the  slaves  to  strip  off  my  vest,  and  taking  a 
stick  cut  from  a  quince-tree,  he  beat  me  upon  my  back  and  my  sides  until  I  became 
insensible  from  the  violence  of  the  blows,  and  despaired  of  my  life.  He  then  ordered 
the  slaves  to  take  me  away  as  soon  as  it  was  night,  accompanied  by  the  old  woman, 
and  to  throw  me  into  my  house  in  which  I  formerly  resided.  They  accordingly  ex- 
ecuted their  lord's  commands,  and  when  they  had  deposited  me  in  my  house,  I  ap- 
plied myself  to  the  healing  of  my  wounds  ;  but,  after  I  had  cured  myself,  my  sides 
still  bore  the  appearance  of  having  been  beaten  with  sticks.  I  continued  to  apply 
remedies  for  four  months  before  I  was  restored,  and  then  repaired  to  view  the  house 
in  which  this  event  had  happened  ;  but  I  found  it  reduced  to  ruin,  and  the  whole 
street  pulled  down  ;  the  site  of  the  house  I  found  occupied  by  mounds  of  rubbish, 
and  I  knew  not  the  cause. 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  went  to  reside  with  this  my  sister,  who  is  of  the 
same  father  as  myself,  and  I  found  with  her  these  two  bitches.  Having  saluted  her, 
I  informed  her  of  all  that  had  befallen  me;  to  which  she  replied,  Who  is  secure 
from  the  afflictions  of  fortune?  Praise  be  to  God,  who  terminated  the  affair  with 
safety  to  thy  life  !  —  She  then  related  to  me  her  own  story,  and  that  of  her  sisters, 
and  I  remained  with  her,  and  neither  of  us  ever  mentioned  the  subject  of  marriage. 
Afterwards  we  were  joined  by  this  our  other  sister,  the  cateress,  who  every  day 
goes  out  to  purchase  for  us  whatever  we  happen  to  want. 


CONCLUSION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  THE  LADIES  OF  BAGDAD. 

The  Caliph  was  astonished  at  this  story,  and  ordered  it  to  be  recorded  in  a  book, 
as  an  authentic  history,  and  deposited  the  book  in  his  library.  He  then  said  to  the 
first  lady,  Knowest  thou  where  the  Fairy  who  enchanted  thy  sister  is  to  be  found? 
She  answered,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  gave  me  a  lock  of  her  hair,  and  said, 
When  thou  desirest  my  presence,  burn  a  few  of  these  hairs,  and  I  will  be  with  thee 
quickly,  though  I  should  be  beyond  Mount  Caucasus. — Bring  then  the  hair,  said  the 
Caliph.  The  lady,  therefore,  produced  it ;  and  the  Caliph  taking  it,  burned  a  por- 
tion of  it,  and,  when  the  odour  had  diffused  itself,  the  palace  shook,  and  they  heard 
a  sound  of  thunder,  and  lo,  the  Fairy  appeared  before  them.  She  was  a  Maho- 
metan, and  therefore  greeted  the  Caliph  by  saying.  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Caliph  of 
God !  —  to  which  he  replied.  On  you  be  peace,  and  the  mercy  of  God,  and  his  bless- 
ings ! — She  then  said.  Know  that  this  lady  hath  conferred  on  me  a  benefit  for  which 
I  am  unable  to  requite  her ;  for  she  rescued  me  from  death,  by  killing  my  enemy ; 
and  I  having  seen  what  her  sisters  had  done  to  her,  determined  to  take  vengeance 
upon  them  ;  therefore  I  transformed  them  by  enchantment  into  two  bitches  ;  and, 
indeed,  I  had  wished  rather  to  kill  them,  fearing  lest  they  should  trouble  her ;  but 
now,  if  thou  desire  their  restoration,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  will  restoi-e  them, 
as  a  favour  to  thee  and  to  her;  for  I  am  one  of  the  true  believers.  —  Do  so,  said  the 
Caliph  ;  and  then  we  will  enter  upon  the  consideration  of  the  affair  of  the  lady  who 
bath  been  beaten,  and  examine  her  case,  and,  if  her  veracity  be  established,  I  will 
take  vengeance  for  her  upon  him  who  hath  oppressed  her.  The  Fairy  replied,  0 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  will  guide  thee  to  the  discovery  of  him  who  acted  thus  to 
this  lady,  and  oppressed  her,  and  took  her  property :  he  is  thy  nearest  relation. 
She  then  took  a  cup  of  water,  and  having  pronounced  a  spell  over  it,  sprinkled  the 
fiicesof  the  two  bitches,  saying.  Be  restored  to  your  original  human  forms! — where- 
upon they  became  again  two  young  ladies.  —  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  their 
Creator!     Having  done  this,  the  Fairy  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  who  beat 


THE    THREE   APPLES.  91 

the  lady  is  thy  son  Amin,  who  had  heard  of  her  beauty  and  loveliness: — and  she 
proceeded  to  relate  what  had  happened.  The  Caliph  was  astonished,  and  exclaimed, 
Praise  be  to  God  for  the  restoration  of  these  two  bitches  which  hath  been  effected 
through  my  means ! — and  immediately  he  summoned  before  him  his  son  Amin,  and 
inquired  of  him  the  history  of  the  lady ;  and  he  related  to  him  the  truth.  He  then 
sent  for  Cadis  and  witnesses,  and  the  first  lady  and  her  two  sisters  who  had  been 
transformed  into  bitches  he  married  to  the  three  mendicants  who  had  related  that 
they  were  the  sons  of  Kings ;  and  these  he  made  chamberlains  of  his  court,  ap- 
pointing them  all  that  they  required,  and  allotting  them  apartments  in  the  palace 
of  Bagdad.  The  lady  who  had  been  beaten  he  restored  to  his  son  Amin,  giving  h«r 
a  large  property,  and  ordering  that  the  house  should  be  rebuilt  in  a  more  handsome 
style.  Lastly,  the  lady-cateress  he  took  as  his  own  wife  ;  he  admitted  her  at  once 
to  his  own  apartment,  and,  on  the  following  day,  he  appointed  her  a  separate  lodging 
for  herself,  with  female  slaves  to  wait  upon  her :  he  also  allotted  to  her  a  regular 
income ;  and  afterwards  built  for  her  a  palace. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Eighteenth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Twenty-fourth. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  THREE  APPLES,  ETC. 

One  night,  after  the  adventure  above  described,  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  said 
to  Giafar,  his  Vizier,  We  will  go  down  to-night  into  the  city,  and  inquire  respecting 
the  affairs  of  those  who  are  at  present  in  authority,  and  him  against  whom  any  one 
shall  complain  we  will  displace.  Giafar  replied,  I  hear  and  obey  :  —  and  when  the 
Caliph  had  gone  forth  with  him  and  Mesrour,  and  they  had  passed  through  several 
of  the  market-streets,  they  proceeded  along  a  lane,  and  saw  there  an  old  man,  with 
a  net  and  basket  upon  his  head,  and  a  staff  in  his  hand,  walking  at  his  leisure,  and 
reciting  these  verses : — 

They  say  to  me.  Thou  shinest  among  mankind,  by  thy  knowledge,  like  the  moonlight  night; 
But  I  answer,  Abstain  from  thus  addressing  me,  since  there  is  no  knowledge  without  power: 
For  if  they  would  pawn  me,  and  my  knowledge  with  me,  and  all  my  papers  and  ink-case  too. 
For  one  day's  food,  they  would  never  find  the  pledge  accepted  to  the  day  of  judgment. 
As  for  the  poor,  and  his  condition,  and  his  whole  life,  how  full  of  trouble  ! 
In  the  summer  he  fails  to  earn  his  food,  and  in  winter  he  warms  himself  over  the  fire-pot. 
The  dogs  follow  him  wherever  he  goes,  and  any  reviler,  and  he  cannot  repel  him. 
If  he  states  his  case,  and  proves  himself  wronged,  the  judge  will  not  admit  his  plea. 
Such,  then,  being  the  poor  man's  life,  his  fittest  place  is  in  the  burial-ground. 

The  Caliph,  when  he  heard  this  recitation,  said  to  Giafar,  Observe  this  poor  man, 
and  consider  these  verses ;  for  they  indicate  his  necessity.  Then  approacliing  the 
man,  he  said  to  him,  0  sheikh,  what  is  thine  occupation  ?  —  0  my  master,  answered 
the  old  man,  I  am  a  fisherman,  and  have  a  family  to  maintain,  and  I  went  forth 
from  my  house  at  noon,  and  have  remained  until  now,  but  God  hath  allotted  me 
nothing  wherewith  to  obtain  food  for  my  household ;  therefore  I  have  hated  myself, 
and  wished  for  death. — Wilt  thou,  said  the  Caliph,  return  with  us  to  the  river,  and 
station  thyself  on  the  bank  of  the  Tigris,  and  cast  thy  net  for  my  luck?  If  thou 
wilt  do  so  I  will  Durchase  of  thee  whatever  cometh  up  for  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold. 


92  THE   THREE   APPLES. 

— The  fisherman  rejoiced  when  he  heard  these  words,  and  said,  On  my  head  be  your 
commands:  I  will  return  with  you.  So  he  went  again  to  the  river,  and  cast  his  net, 
and,  having  waited  till  it  sank,  drew  the  cords,  and  dragged  back  the  net,  and  there 
came  up  in  it  a  chest,  locked  and  heavy.  When  the  Caliph  saw  it,  he  felt  its  weight, 
and  found  it  to  be  heavy ;  and  he  gave  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  to  the  fisherman, 
who  went  away,  while  Mesrour,  assisted  by  Giafar,  took  up  the  chest,  and  conveyed 
it,  in  company  with  the  Caliph,  to  the  palace,  where  they  lighted  the  candles,  and 
placed  the  chest  before  the  Caliph.  Giafar  and  Mesrour  then  broke  it  open,  and 
they  found  in  it  a  basket  of  palm-leaves  sewed  up  with  red  worsted  ;  and  they  cut 
the  threads,  and  saw  within  it  a  piece  of  carpet,  and  lifting  up  this  they  found  be- 
neath it  an  izar,'  and  when  they  had  taken  up  the  izar  they  discovered  under  it  a 
damsel  like  molten  silver,  killed  and  cut  in  pieces. 

When  the  Caliph  beheld  this,  tears  ran  down  his  cheeks,  and,  looking  towards 
Giafar,  he  exclaimed,  0  dog  of  Viziers,  shall  people  be  murdered  in  my  time,  and 
be  thrown  into  the  river,  and  become  burdens  upon  my  responsibility?  By  Allah, 
I  must  retaliate  for  this  damsel  upon  him  who  killed  her,  and  put  him  to  death  !  — 
Then  said  he  to  Giafor,  By  the  truth  of  my  descent  from  the  Caliphs  of  the  sons  of 
Abbas,  if  thou  do  not  bring  to  me  him  who  killed  this  woman,  that  I  may  avenge 
her  upon  him,  I  will  crucify  thee  at  the  gate  of  my  palace,  together  with  forty  of 
thy  kinsmen  !  And  the  Caliph  was  enraged.  Grant  me,  said  Giafar,  a  delay  of 
three  days.  —  I  grant  thee  the  delay,  replied  the  Caliph.  Giafar  then  went  forth 
from  his  presence,  and  took  his  route  through  the  city,  sorrowful,  and  saying  within 
himself,  How  shall  I  discover  him  who  killed  this  damsel,  that  I  may  take  him 
before  the  Caliph  ?  And  if  I  take  to  him  any  other  persoft,  he  will  become  a  weight 
upon  my  conscience.  I  know  not  what  to  do.  —  For  three  days  he  remained  in  his 
house,  and  on  the  fourth  day  the  Caliph  sent  to  summon  him,  and  when  he  had  pre- 
sented himself  before  him,  said  to  him.  Where  is  the  murderer  of  the  damsel?  —  0 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  answered  Giafar,  am  I  acquainted  with  things  hidden  from 
the  senses,  that  I  should  know  who  is  her  murderer?  The  Caliph,  incensed  at  this 
answer,  gave  orders  to  crucify  him  at  the  gate  of  his  palace,  and  commanded  a  crier 
to  proclaim  through  the  streets  of  Bagdad,  Whosoever  desireth  to  amuse  himself  by 
seeing  the  crucifixion  of  Giafar  El-Barmekee,  the  Vizier  of  the  Caliph,  and  the  cruci- 
fixion of  his  kinsmen,  at  the  gate  of  the  Caliph's  palace,  let  him  come  forth  and 
amuse  himself.  —  So  the  people  came  forth  from  every  quarter  to  see  the  crucifixion 
of  Giafar  and  his  kinsmen  ;  and  they  knew  not  the  cause  of  this.  The  Caliph  then 
gave  orders  to  set  up  the  crosses ;  and  they  did  so,  and  placed  the  Vizier  and  his 
kinsmen  beneath,  to  crucify  them,  and  were  awaiting  the  Caliph's  permission,  while 
the  people  wept  for  Giafar  and  his  relatives. 

But  while  they  were  thus  waiting,  a  handsome  and  neatly-dressed  young  man 
came  forward  quickly  through  the  crowd,  and,  approaching  the  Vizier,  said  to  him, 
Safety  to  thee  from  this  predicament,  0  chief  of  emirs,  and  refuge  of  the  poor !  It 
was  I  who  killed  the  woman  whom  ye  found  in  the  chest:  kill  me  therefore  for  her, 
and  retaliate  her  death  upon  me. — When  Giafar  heard  these  words,  he  rejoiced  for 
his  own  deliverance,  and  grieved  for  the  young  man  ;  but  while  he  was  speaking  to 
him,  lo,  an  old  sheikh  pressed  hastily  through  the  crowd  to  him  and  the  young  man, 
and,  having  saluted  them,  said,  0  Vizier,  believe  not  the  woi-ds  of  this  young  man, 
for  no  one  killed  the  damsel  but  myself;  therefore  retaliate  her  death  upon  me. 
The  young  man,  however,  said,  O  Vizier,  this  is  an  old  man,  imbecile  through  age: 
he  knoweth  not  what  he  saith  :  it  was  I  who  killed  her,  avenge  her  therefore  upon 
me. — 0  my  son,  said  the  sheikh,  thou  art  young,  and  wilt  find  pleasure  in  the  world  ; 
and  I  am  old,  and  satiated  with  the  world :  I  will  be  a  ransom  for  thee  and  for  the 
Vizier  and  his  kinsmen  :  and  no  one  killed  the  damsel  but  myself:  by  Allah,  there- 
fore, hasten  to  retaliate  upon  me. 


THE   THREE   APPLES.  93 

On  witnessing  this  scene,  the  Vizier  was  astonished ;  and  he  took  the  young  man 
and  the  sheikh  to  the  Caliph,  and  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  murderer  of 
the  damsel  hath  come. — Where  is  he?  said  the  Caliph.  This  young  man,  answered 
Giafar,  saith,  I  am  the  murderer ;  and  this  sheikh  accuseth  him  of  falsehood,  and 
saith,  Nay,  but  /  am  the  murderer.  The  Caliph,  looking  towards  the  slieikh  and 
the  young  man,  said,  Which  of  you  killed  this  damsel.?  The  young  man  answered, 
No  one  killed  her  but  myself :  —  and  the  sheikh  said  also,  No  one  killed  her  but 
myself.  The  Caliph  therefore  said  to  Giafar;  Take  them  both  and  crucify  them. — 
If  the  murderer  be  one,  replied  Giafar,  to  kill  the  other  would  be  unjust.  The 
young  man  then  said.  By  Him  who  raised  the  heavens  and  spread  out  the  earth,  it 
was  I  who  killed  the  damsel: — and  he  gave  an  account  of  the  manner  of  his  killing 
her,  and  described  what  the  Caliph  had  found.  The  Caliph  therefore  was  convinced 
that  the  young  man  was  he  who  had  killed  the  damsel ;  and  he  was  astonished,  and 
said,  AVhat  was  the  cause  of  thy  killing  this  damsel  unjustly,  and  of  thy  confessing 
the  murder  without  being  beaten,  and  thy  saying,  Retaliate  her  death  upon  me? 
The  young  man  answered  as  follows: — • 

Know,  0  Princ<3  of  the  Faithful,  that  this  damsel  was  my  wife,  and  the  dauc-hter 
of  my  uncle  ;  this  sheikh  was  her  father,  and  is  my  uncle.  I  married  her  when  she 
was  a  virgin,  and  God  blessed  me  with  three  male  children  by  her ;  and  she  loved 
me  and  served  me,  and  I  saw  in  her  no  evil.  At  the  commencement  of  this  month 
she  was  attacked  by  a  severe  illness,  and  I  brought  to  her  the  physicians,  who  at- 
tended her  until  her  health  returned  to  her;  and  I  desired  them  to  send  her  to  the 
bath  ;  but  she  said  to  me,  I  want  something  before  I  enter  the  bath,  for  I  have  a 
longing  for  it. — V7hat  is  it?  said  I.  She  answered,  I  have  a  longing  for  an  apple, 
to  smell  it  and  take  a  bite  from  it.  So  I  went  out  immediately  into  the  city,  and 
searched  for  the  apple,  and  would  have  bought  it  had  its  price  been  a  piece  of  gold: 
but  I  could  not  find  one.  I  passed  the  next  night  full  of  thought,  and  when  the 
morning  came,  I  quitted  my  house  again,  and  went  about  to  all  the  gardens,  one 
after  another:  yet  I  found  none  in  them.  There  met  me,  however,  an  old  gardener, 
of  whom  I  inquired  for  the  apple,  and  he  said  to  me,  0  my  son,  this  is  a  rare  thing, 
and  not  to  be  found  here,  nor  anywhere  excepting  in  the  garden  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  at  Balsora,  and  preserved  there  for  the  Caliph.  I  returned  therefore  to  my 
wife,  and  my  love  for  her  so  constrained  me  that  I  prepared  myself  and  journeyed 
fifteen  days,  by  night  and  day,  in  going  and  returning,  and  brought  her  three  apples, 
which  I  purchased  of  the  gardener  at  Balsora  for  three  pieces  of  gold  ;  and,  going 
in,  I  handed  them  to  her;  but  she  was  not  pleased  by  them,  and  left  them  by  her 
side.  She  was  then  suffering  from  a  violent  fever,  and  she  continued  ill  during  a 
period  of  ten  days. 

After  this  she  recovered  her  health,  and  I  went  out  and  repaired  to  my  shop,  and 
sat  there  to  sell  and  buy  ;  and  while  I  was  thus  occupied,  at  mid-day  there  passed 
by  me  a  black  slave,  having  in  his  hand  an  apple  with  which  he  was  playing:  so  I 
said  to  him,  Whence  didst  thou  get  this  apple,  for  I  would  procure  one  like  it?  — 
Upon  which  he  laughed,  and  answered,  I  gut  it  from  my  sweetheart:  I  had  been 
absent,  and  came  and  found  her  ill,  and  she  had  three  apples ;  and  she  said  to  me, 
My  unsuspecting  husband  journeyed  to  Balsora  for  them,  and  bought  them  for  three 
pieces  of  gold:  —  and  I  took  this  apple  from  her. — When  I  heard  the  words  of  the 
slave,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  world  became  black  before  my  face,  and  I  shut 
up  my  shop,  and  returned  to  my  house,  deprived  of  my  reason  by  excessive  rage. 
I  found  not  the  third  apple,  and  said  to  her,  W^here  is  the  apple  ?  She  answered,  I 
know  not  whither  it  is  gone.  I  was  convinced  thus  that  the  slave  had  spoken  the 
truth,  and  I  arose,  and  took  a  knife,  and  throwing  myself  upon  her  bosom,  pluno-od 
the  knife  into  her:  I  then  cut  off  her  head  and  limbs,  and  put  them  in  the  basket 
in  haste,  and  covered  them  with  the  izar,  over  which  I  laid  a  piece  of  carpet;  then 
I  put  the  basket  in  the  chest,  and  having  locked  this,  conveyed  it  on  my  mule,  and 
threw  it  with  my  own  hands  into  the  Tigris. 


94  THE  THREE  APPLES. 

And  now,  continued  the  young  man,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  to  hasten  my  death  in  retaliation  for  her  murder,  as  I  dread,  otherwise,  her 
appeal  for  vengeance  upon  me  on  the  day  of  resurrection:  for  when  I  had  thrown 
her  into  the  Tigris  without  the  knowledge  of  anybody,  I  returned  to  my  house,  and 
found  my  eldest  boy  crying,  though  he  knew  not  what  I  had  done  to  his  mother :  so 
I  said  to  him,  AVhat  maketh  thee  cry? — and  he  answered,  I  took  one  of  the  apples 
that  my  mother  had,  and  went  down  with  it  into  the  street  to  play  with  my  brothers, 
and  a  tall  black  slave  snatched  it  from  me,  and  said  to  me,  Whence  came  this  to 
thee?  I  answered  him,  My  father  made  a  journey  for  it,  and  brought  it  from  Bal- 
Bora,  for  the  sake  of  my  mother ;  for  she  is  sick :  he  bought  three  apples  for  three 
pieces  of  gold :  —  but  he  took  it  from  me  and  beat  me,  and  went  away  with  it ;  and 
I  am  afraid  that  my  mother  may  beat  me  on  account  of  the  apple. — When  I  heard 
my  son's  story,  I  discovered  that  the  slave  had  forged  a  lie  against  the  daughter  of 
my  uncle,  and  found  that  she  had  been  killed  unjustly;  and  as  I  was  weeping  bit- 
terly for  what  I  had  done,  this  sheikh,  my  uncle  and  her  father,  came  to  me,  and  I 
informed  him  of  the  event ;  and  he  seated  himself  by  me,  and  wept.  We  wept 
until  midnight,  and  continued  our  mourning  for  her  five  days,  ceasing  not  to  the 
present  day  to  bewail  her  death.  By  the  honour  of  thine  ancestors,  therefore,  hasten 
my  death,  to  retaliate  her  murder  upon  me. 

The  Caliph  wondered  at  the  young  man's  story,  and  said,  By  Allah,  I  will  not  put 
to  death  any  but  the  wicked  slave ;  for  the  young  man  is  excusable.  Then  looking 
towards  Giafai-,  he  said  to  him.  Bring  before  me  this  wicked  slave  who  hath  been 
the  cause  of  the  catastrophe :  or,  if  thou  bring  him  not,  thou  shalt  be  put  to  death 
in  his  stead.  So  the  Vizier  departed  weeping,  and  saying,  Whence  shall  I  bring 
him  ?  Not  every  time  that  the  jar  is  struck  doth  it  escape  being  broken  !  I  have 
no  stratagem  to  employ  in  this  affair:  but  He  who  delivered  me  in  the  first  case 
may  deliver  me  in  the  second.  By  Allah,  1  will  not  go  out  from  my  house  for  three 
days ;  and  the  Truth,  whose  perfection  be  extolled,  will  do  what  He  willeth  ! —  So 
he  remained  in  his  house  three  days,  and  on  the  fourth  day  he  caused  the  Cadi  to 
be  brought,  and  made  his  testamentary  arrangements ;  and  as  he  was  bidding  fare- 
well to  his  children,  and  weeping,  lo,  the  messenger  of  the  Caliph  came  and  said  to 
him.  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful  is  in  a  most  violent  rage,  and  hath  sent  me  to  thee ; 
and  he  hath  sworn  that  this  day  shall  not  pass  until  thou  art  put  to  death  if  thou 
do  not  bring  to  him  the  slave. 

On  hearing  this,  Giafar  wept,  and  his  children  wept  with  him :  and  when  he  had 
bidden  them  all  farewell  except  his  youngest  daughter,  he  approached  her  for  the 
same  purpose.  He  loved  her  more  than  all  his  other  children  ;  and  he  pressed  her 
to  his  bosom,  and  wept  at  the  thought  of  his  separation  from  her:  but  in  doing  this 
he  felt  something  round  in  her  pocket,  and  said  to  her.  What  is  in  thy  pocket?  She 
answered,  0  my  father,  it  is  an  apple  ;  our  slave  Reyhan  brought  it,  and  I  have  had 
it  four  days :  he  would  not  give  it  me  until  he  had  received  from  me  two  pieces  of 
gold. — At  this  mention  of  the  slave  and  the  apple,  Giafar  rejoiced,  and  exclaimed, 
0  ready  Dispeller  of  trouble ! — and  immediately  he  ordered  that  the  slave  should  be 
brought  before  him.  He  was  therefore  brought  in,  and  he  said  to  him.  Whence 
came  this  apple  ?  0  my  master  he  answered,  I  went  out  five  days  ago,  and,  entering 
one  of  the  bye  streets  of  the  city,  I  saw  some  children  playing,  and  one  of  them  had 
this  apple  ;  and  I  snatched  it  from  him,  and  beat  him  ;  and  he  cried,  and  said.  That 
belongs  to  my  mother,  and  she  is  sick ;  she  wanted  my  father  to  bring  her  an  apple, 
and  he  made  a  journey  to  Balsora,  and  brought  back  for  her  three  apples  which  ho 
bought  for  three  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  I  took  this  to  play  with  it: — then  he  cried  again  ; 
but  paying  no  regard  to  him,  I  took  it  away  and  brought  it  hither:  and  my  little 
mistress  bought  it  of  me  for  two  pieces  of  gold. — When  he  heard  this  story,  Giafar 
was  filled  with  wonder  at  discovering  that  this  distressing  event,  and  the  murder  of 
the  damsel,  had  been  occasioned  by  his  slave :  and  he  took  the  slave  and  went  with 


NOUREDDIN  AND   HIS   SON,  ETC.  95 

him  to  the  Caliph,  who  ordered  that  the  story  should  be  committed  to  writing,  and 
published. 

Giafar  then  said  to  him.  Wonder  not,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful  at  this  tale,  foi 
it  is  not  more  extraordinary  than  the  story  of  the  Vizier  Noureddin,  and  Shem- 
seddin,  his  brother. — What  story,  said  the  Caliph,  can  be  more  wonderful  than  this? 
— 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  replied  Giafar,  I  will  not  relate  it  to  thee  unless  on  the 
condition  that  thou  exempt  my  slave  from  the  punishment  of  death.  The  Caliph 
said,  T  give  thee  his  blood: — and  Giafar  thereupon  commenced  the  relation  of  the 
story  as  follows  : — 

THE  STORY  OF  NOUREDDIN  AND  HIS  SON,  AND  OF  SHEMSEDDIN 
AND  HIS  DAUGHTER. 

Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  there  was,  in  Cairo,  a  Sultan,  just  and  bene- 
ficent, who  had  a  wise  and  well-informed  Vizier,  possessing  a  knowledge  of  the 
affairs  of  the  world,  and  of  the  art  of  government.  This  minister  was  an  aged  man,  and 
he  had  two  sons,  like  two  moons  ;  the  name  of  the  elder  was  Shemseddin,  and  that  of 
the  younger,  Noureddin:  and  the  latter  was  more  distinguished  than  the  former  by 
handsomeness  and  comeliness;  there  was  no  one  in  his  day  more  handsome,  so  that 
the  fame  of  his  charms  spread  through  the  neighbouring  regions,  and  some  of  the 
inhabitants  of  those  parts  travelled  to  his  country  merely  to  obtain  a  sight  of  him. 
And  it  came  to  pass  that  their  father  died,  and  the  Sultan  mourned  for  him,  and, 
turning  his  regards  towards  the  sons,  took  them  into  his  favour,  invested  them  with 
robes  of  honour,  and  said  to  them.  Ye  two  are  instated  in  your  father's  office: — at 
which  they  rejoiced,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  They  observed  the  cere- 
monies of  mourning  for  their  father  during  a  period  of  a  whole  month,  and  entered 
upon  the  office  of  Viziers,  each  of  them  discharging  the  duties  of  this  station  for  a 
week  at  a  time  ;  and  whenever  the  Sultan  had  a  desire  to  go  forth  on  a  journey,  he 
took  one  of  them  with  him. 

Now  it  happened,  one  night,  that  the  Sultan  purposed  commencing  a  journey  on 
the  following  morning;  and  it  was  the  turn  of  the  elder  Vizier  to  accompany  him; 
a.nd  as  the  two  brothers  were  conversing  together  that  night,  the  eldest  said,  0  my 
brother,  it  is  my  wish  that  we  should  both  marry  on  one  night. — Do,  0  my  brother, 
as  thou  desirest,  answered  the  younger ;  and  I  will  comply  with  that  which  thou 
shalt  say.  So  they  agreed  to  do  this.  The  elder  then  said  to  his  brother,  If  God 
80  decree  that  we  obtain  the  betrothal  of  two  maidens,  and  accomplish  our  marriage 
on  the  same  night,  and  they  give  birth  to  children  on  the  same  day,  and  God  will 
that  thy  wife  have  a  son,  and  my  wife  have  a  daughter,  we  will  marry  them  to  each 
other,  for  they  will  be  cousins. — And  what,  0  my  brother,  said  Noureddin,  wilt  thou 
require  of  my  son  as  the  dowry  of  thy  daughter?  He  answered,  I  will  require  of 
thy  son,  as  the  dowry  of  my  daughter,  three  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  three  gar- 
dens, and  three  farms ;  for  if  the  young  man  make  any  other  contract  than  this,  it 
will  not  be  proper.  But  when  Noureddin  heard  this  proposal,  he  exclaimed.  What 
is  this  dowry  that  thou  imposest  upon  my  son?  Dost  thou  not  know  that  we  are 
two  brothers-,  and  that  we  are  both  Viziers  of  one  dignity  ?  It  were  incumbent  on 
thee  to  offer  thy  daughter  to  my  son  as  a  free  gift,  without  any  dowry  ;  for  thou  knowest 
that  the  male  is  more  honourable  than  the  female,  and  my  child  is  a  male,  and  by 
him  shall. our  memory  be  preserved  ;  not  by  thy  daughter. — What  sayest  thou  of  her? 
asked  his  brother. — That  our  memory  will  not  be  preserved  by  her  among  the  nobles, 
answered  Noureddin.  But  thou  desirest,  added  he,  to  act  with  me  according  to  the 
opinion  of  him  who  saith,  If  thou  desire  to  drive  away  a  person  who  would  buy, 
demand  of  him  a  high  price. — I  see  thee,  replied  Shemseddin,  to  have  committed  a 
fault,  in  making  thy  son  more  honourable  than  my  daughter ;  thou  art  doubtless 
deficient  in  judgment,  and  destitute  of  good  disposition,  seeing  that  thou  mentionest 
the  partnership  in  the  office  of  Vizier,  when  I  admitted  thee  not  to  share  it  with  me 


96  NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS   SON, 

excepting  in  my  pity  for  thee,  and  that  thou  mightest  assist  me ;  but  talk  as  thou 
wilt;  since  thou  halh  said  this,  by  Allah  I  will  not  marry  my  daugliter  to  thy  son, 
though  thou  offer  me  her  weight  in  gold. — On  hearing  these  words  of  his  brother, 
Noureddin  was  enraged,  and  said,  I  will  not  marry  my  son  to  thy  daughter. — I  will 
not  accept  him  as  a  husband  for  her,  replied  Shemseddin  ;  and  if  I  were  not  purpos- 
ing a  journey,  I  would  do  to  thee  deeds  that  should  serve  as  warnings  to  others; 
however,  when  I  return,  God  will  do  what  He  willeth.  When  Noureddin  heard  this, 
he  was  full  of  anger,  and  became  unconscious  of  existence  ;  but  he  concealed  his 
feelings ;  and  each  of  the  two  brothers  passed  the  night  apart  from  the  other ;  and 
in  the  morning  the  Sultan  set  out  on  his  journey,  and,  crossing  over  to  the  island, 
proceeded  towards  the  Pyramids,  accompanied  by  the  Vizier  Shemseddin. 

Noureddin  passed  that  night  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  rage  ;  and  when  the 
morning  came  he  arose,  and,  having  performed  the  morning-prayers,  went  to  his 
closet  and  took  out  from  it  a  pair  of  small  saddle-bags,  which  he  filled  with  gold ; 
and  as  he  reflected  upon  the  words  of  his  brother,  and  the  contempt  which  he  had 
shown  him,  and  the  pride  that  he  had  manifested  towards  him,  he  repeated  these 


Travel.  Thou  wilt  find  a  friend  in  the  place  of  him  thou  leavest;  and  fatigue  thyself;  for  by 
labour  are  the  sweets  of  life  obtained. 

To  a  man  of  intelligence  and  education  there  is  no  glory  in  a  constant  residence:  therefore 
quit  thy  native  place  and  go  abrcad. 

I  have  observed  that  the  stagnation  of  water  corrupteth  it;  if  it  floweth,  it  becometh  sweet; 
but  otherwise  it  doth  not. 

If  the  full  moon  never  set,  the  eye  of  the  contemplative  would  not  on  every  occasion  pay  re- 
gard to  it: 

The  lions,  if  they  left  not  the  forest,  would  capture  no  prey  ;  and  the  arrow,  if  it  quitteth  not 
the  bow,  would  not  strike  the  mark  : 

The  grains  of  gold  upon  their  native  bed  are  regarded  as  mere  dust;  and  the  aloes-wood, 
where  it  groweth,  is  a  kind  of  fire-wood. 

If  exported,  it  becometh  an  object  of  high  demand;  but  if  not,  it  attaineth  no  kind  of  dis- 
tinction. 

He  then  ordered  one  of  his  young  men  to  saddle  for  him  a  dapple  mule,  tall,  and  of 
quick  pace ;  and  he  did  so,  placing  upon  her  a  saddle  adorned  with  gold,  with  stir- 
rups of  Indian  steel,  and  housings  of  the  velvet  of  Ispahan;  and  she  resembled  a 
bride  displayed  before  her  husband.  He  ordered  him  also  to  place  upon  her  a  car- 
pet of  silk,  and  a  prayer-carpet,  and  to  put  the  saddle-bags  beneath  the  latter;  and 
when  this  was  done,  he  said  to  the  young  man  and  the  slaves,  I  have  a  desire  to  take 
a  ride  for  my  amusement  outside  the  city,  towards  the  Province  of  Calioub,  and 
shall  be  absent  three  nights ;  and  let  none  of  you  follow  me,  for  my  heart  is  con- 
tracted. 

Having  thus  said,  he  mounted  his  mule  in  haste,  and,  taking  with  him  a  small 
supply  of  food,  departed  from  the  city,  turning  his  face  towards  the  open  country. 
The  hour  of  noon  overtook  him  not  until  he  entered  the  city  of  Bilbeis,  where  he 
alighted  to  repose  himself,  and  rest  his  mule,  and  eat:  after  which  he  took  from  this 
place  what  he  required  for  himself,  and  some  provender  for  his  mule,  and,  having 
placed  these  provisions  upon  her,  went  forth  again  into  the  plain,  and  before  noon 
on  the  second  following  day  he  entered  Jerusalem.  Here  he  alighted  again,  and 
rested  himself  and  his  beast,  and  ate:  he  then  placed  his  saddle-bags  under  his 
head,  and  spread  his  carpet,  and  slept,  still  overcome  by  anger.  He  passed  the 
night  in  this  place ;  and  in  the  morning  he  remounted,  and  he  continued  to  urge  on 
his  mule  until  he  arrived  at  Aleppo,  where  he  alighted  at  a  Khan,  and  remained 
three  days  to  give  rest  to  himself  and  his  mule,  and  to  enjoy  the  air  of  the  place: 
which  having  done,  he  determined  to  prosecute  his  journey,  and  mounted  his  mule, 
and  went  forth.  He  knew  not  whither  to  direct  his  course ;  but  travelled  on  until 
he  arrived  at  the  city  of  Balsora;  and  scarcely  was  he  aware  that  the  night  had 


AND    SHEMSEDDIN    AND    HIS    DAUGHTER.  97 

overtaken  him,  when  he  alighted  there  at  a  Khan,  where  he  took  off  the  saddle-baga 
from  the  mule,  and  spread  the  prayer-carpet,  committing  the  mule  with  its  equipage 
to  the  care  of  the  door-keeper,  and  ordering  him  to  walk  her  about  a  little. 

The  door-keeper  did  so  ;  and  it  happened  that  the  Vizier  of  Balsora,  sitting  at  a 
window  of  his  palace,  saw  the  mule,  and,  observing  its  costly  equipage,  thought  that 
it  must  belong  to  some  Vizier  or  King ;  and  as  he  attentively  regarded  it  he  was 
surprised,  and  said  to  one  of  his  pages.  Bring  before  me  that  door-keeper.  So  the 
page  went  and  brought  him  ;  and  the  door-keeper,  approaching,  kissed  the  ground 
before  him.  The  Vizier,  who  was  an  aged  person,  then  said  to  this  man.  Who  is 
the  owner  of  this  mule,  and  what  is  his  appearance  ? — 0  my  Lord,  answered  the 
door-keeper,  her  owner  is  a  young  man  of  elegant  person,  of  the  sons  of  the  merchants, 
and  of  a  dignified  and  grave  aspect.  On  hearing  this,  the  Vizier  arose,  and,  mount- 
ing his  horse,  went  to  the  Khan,  and  introduced  himself  to  the  young  man,  who, 
as  soon  as  he  saw  him  approaching,  rose  to  meet  him,  and  embraced  him.  The 
Vizier,  after  he  had  alighted  from  his  horse,  saluted  him,  and  welcomed  him,  and, 
seating  him  by  his  side,  said  to  him,  Whence,  0  my  son,  hast  thou  come ;  and  for 
what  purpose  ? — 0  my  lord,  answered  Noureddin,  I  have  come  from  the  city  of  Cairo  : 
my  father  was  Vizier  there;  and  he  hath  departed  to  receive  the  mercy  of  God; — 
and  he  informed  him  of  all  that  had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last,  adding,  I 
have  determined  that  I  will  not  return  until  I  shall  have  seen  all  the  cities  and 
countries  of  the  world. — 0  my  son,  replied  the  Vizier,  obey  not  the  suggestions  of 
thy  mind,  lest  thou  expose  thyself  to  destruction;  for  the  countries  are  waste,  and  I 
fear  on  thine  account  the  issues  of  fortune.  So  saying,  he  ordered  that  the  saddle- 
bags should  be  placed  again  on  the  mule,  together  with  the  carpet  of  silk  and  the 
prayer-carpet,  and  took  Noureddin  with  him  to  his  house,  where  he  lodged  him  in 
an  elegant  apartment,  and  treated  him  with  honour  and  kindness  ;  and,  conceiving  a 
strong  afi'ection  for  him,  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  I  have  become  an  old  man,  and  I  have  no 
male  child ;  God,  however,  hath  blessed  me  with  a  daughter  who  resembleth  thee  in 
comeliness,  and  I  have  rejected  many  persons  who  have  been  her  suitors:  but  now, 
iove  for  thee  hath  entered  my  heart:  wilt  thou  then  take  my  daughter,  as  thy  hand- 
maid to  serve  thee,  and  be  her  husband?  If  thou  consent  to  this,  I  will  go  up  to 
the  Sultan  of  Balsora,  and  will  say  to  him.  This  is  the  son  of  my  brother; — and  I 
will  introduce  thee  to  him,  that  I  may  make  thee  Vizier  in  my  place,  and  I  will  re- 
main in  my  house;  for  I  am  now  aged. — Noureddin,  on  hearing  this  proposal  of  the 
Vizier  of  Balsora,  hung  down  his  head,  and  then  answered,  I  hear  and  obey. 

The  Vizier  rejoiced  at  his  assent,  and  ordered  his  servants  to  prepare  for  him  a  repast, 
and  to  decorate  the  great  saloon,  which  was  furnished  for  the  reception  of  the  chiefs  of 
the  Emirs.  He  then  called  togetherhis  friends,  and  invited  the  great  ofiicers  of  the  state, 
and  the  merchants  of  Balsora;  and  when  they  had  come  into  his  presence,  he  said  to 
them,  I  had  a  brother  who  was  Vizier  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  God  blessed  him 
with  two  sons;  and  me,  as  you  know.  He  hath  blessed  with  a  daughter:  now  my 
brother  enjoined  me  to  marry  my  daughter  to  one  of  his  sons,  and  I  consented  to  do 
so;  and  when  she  attained  a  fit  age  for  marriage,  he  sent  to  me  one  of  his  sons,  who 
is  this  young  man  here  present.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  he  had  come,  I  desired  to 
perform  the  marriage  contract  between  him  and  my  daughter,  and  that  he  should 
introduce  himself  to  her  here  in  my  house. — Excellently  hast  thou  done  !  they  re- 
plied. They  then  drank  sherbet  of  sugar,  and  the  pages  sprinkled  rose-water  upon 
them,  and  they  departed:  after  which,  the  Vizier  ordered  his  servants  to  conduct 
Noureddin  to  the  bath,  and  gave  him  a  suit  of  his  best  clothes,  and  sent  to  him  the 
napkins  and  cups  and  perfuming-vessels,  and  everything  else  that  he  required.  So 
when  he  came  out  from  the  bath,  he  put  on  the  suit  of  clothes,  and  appeared  like 
tlie  full  moon  ;  and  he  mounted  his  mule,  and  returning  to  the  palace,  alighted  and 
presented  himself  before  the  Vizier,  and  kissed  his  hand:  and  the  Vizier  welcomed 
him,  saying.  Arise,  and  introduce  thyself  this  night  to  thy  wife;  and  to-morrow  I 
will  go  up  with  thee  to  the  Sultan,  and  I  pray  that  God  may  bless  thee  with  every 


98  NOUREDDIN    AND   HIS   SON. 

kind  of  happiness.  Noureddin  therefore  arose,  and  went  to  his  wife,  the  daughter 
of  the  Vizier. — Thus  did  it  happen  to  Noureddin. 

As  to  his  brother,  he  con 
tinued  a  while  journeying  with 
the  Sultan,  and  when  he  re- 
turned, and  found  not  his  bro- 
ther, he  inquired  of  the  servants 
respecting  him,  and  they  an- 
swered. On  the  day  of  thy  depar- 
ture with  the  Sultan,  he  mounted 
his  mule,  caparisoned  as  for  a 
procession  of  state,  and  said,  I 
am  going  towards  the  province 
of  Calioub,  and  shall  be  absent 
a  day  or  two  days  ;  for  my  heart 
Noureddin  after  the  Bath.  .^  contracted  ;  therefore  let  none 

of  you  follow  me: — and  from  the  day  on  which  he  went  forth,  to  the  present 
day,  we  have  heard  no  tidings  of  him.  Upon  this  the  heart  of  Shemseddin  was 
troubled  at  the  separation  of  his  brother,  and  he  grieved  excessively  for  his  loss, 
saying  within  himself,  The  cause  of  this  is  nothing  else  than  my  having  spoken 
harshly  to  him  in  my  conversation  on  the  night  before  my  departure  with  the 
Sultan;  and  probably  his  mind  was  disturbed,  and  he  went  on  a  journey:  I  must 
therefore  send  after  him.  He  then  went  up  and  related  this  event  to  the  Sultan,  who 
wrote  letters  and  sent  them  to  his  vicegerents  in  all  the  provinces ;  but  Noureddin 
had  traversed  distant  regions  during  the  absence  of  his  brother  with  the  Sultan : 
therefore  the  messengers,  when  they  had  gone  with  the  letters,  returned  Avithout 
having  obtained  any  information  respecting  him.  So  Shemseddin  despaired  of  his 
brother,  and  said,  I  have  enraged  my  brother  by  what  I  said  to  him  concerning  the 
marriage  of  the  children.  "Would  that  I  had  not  done  so.  This  was  not  occasioned 
but  by  my  want  of  sense  and  judgment ! — And  soon  after  this,  he  demanded  in  mar- 
riage the  daughter  of  one  of  the  merchants  of  Cairo,  and  performed  the  marriage- 
contract  between  himself  and  her,  and  introduced  himself  to  her:  and  it  happened 
that  the  night  when  this  event  took  place,  was  the  same  night  on  which  Noureddin 
introduced  himself  to  his  wife,  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  of  Balsora:  this  being  in 
accordance  with  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted,  that  He  might  execute  his 
decree  upon  his  creatures. 

The  event  was  as  they  both  had  said :  for  it  came  to  pass  that  the  two  wives  con- 
ceived by  them  :  the  wife  of  Shemseddin,  the  Vizier  of  Egypt,  gave  birth  to  a 
daughter,  than  whom  there  was  not  seen,  in  that  country,  one  more  beautiful ;  then 
the  wife  of  Noureddin  gave  birth  to  a  son,  one  more  beautiful  than  whom  was  not 
seen  in  his  time:  as  the  poet  hath  said, 

If  beauty  came  to  be  compared  with  him,  it  would  hang  down  its  head  in  shame : 
Or  if  it  were  said,  0  beauty,  hast  thou  seen  the  like  ? — It  would  answer,  The  equal  of  this  I 
have  not. 

So  they  named  him  Hassan;  and  on  the  seventh  day  after  his  birth,  they  made  enter- 
tainments and  spread  repasts  such  as  were  fit  for  the  sons  of  Kings:  after  which  the 
Vizier  of  Balsora  took  with  him  Noureddin,  and  went  up  with  him  to  the  Sultan  ; 
and  when  he  came  into  his  presence  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  Nou- 
reddin, being  eloquent  in  tongue,  and  firm  of  heart,  and  comely  in  person  and  in 
actions,  recited  these  words  of  the  poet: — 

This  is  he  whose  justice  extendeth  to  all  men,  and  who   hath  overrun   and   subd  led  every 

region. 
Be  thankful  for  his  benefits;  for  they  are  not  mere  benefits,  but  they  are  strings  of  jewels  on 

the  necks  of  his  people: 
And  kiss  his  fingers  ;  for  they  are  not  mere  fingers,  but  they  are  the  keys  of  the  supplies  of 
Providence. 


AND    SHEMSEDDIN   AND    HIS    DAUGHTER.  99 

The  Sultan  treated  them  both  with  honour,  and,  having  thanked  Noureddin  for  hib 
address,  said  to  his  Vizier,  Who  is  this  young  man?  The  Vizier  therefore  related  to 
him  his  story  from  beginning  to  end,  and  added,  This  is  the  son  of  my  brother. — 
How  is  it,  said  the  Sultan,  that  he  is  the  son  of  thy  brother,  and  we  have  not  before 
heard  of  him  ?  The  Vizier  answered,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan,  I  had  a  brother  who 
was  Vizier  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  he  died,  leaving  two  sons  :  the  eldest  succeeded 
to  his  father's  office,  as  Vizier,  and  thjs  his  younger  son  came  to  me  ;  and  I  swore 
that  I  would  not  marry  my  daughter  to  any  but  him:  so,  when  he  came,  I  married 
him  to  her.  He  is  a  young  man,  and  T  am  now  aged ;  my  hearing  is  impaired,  and 
my  judgment  faileth :  it  is  my  wish,  therefore,  that  our  lord  the  Sultan  would  in- 
state him  in  ray  office,  seeing  that  he  is  the  son  of  my  brother  and  the  husband  of 
my  daughter,  and  a  person  worthy  of  the  dignity  of  Vizier;  for  he  is  endowed  with 
knowledge  and  judgment. — The  Sultan,  upon  this,  looked  towards  him,  and,  being 
pleased  with  him,  approved  of  the  advice  of  the  Vizier  that  he  should  promote  him 
to  that  office ;  so  he  bestowed  it  upon  him,  and  ordered  that  a  magnificent  dress  of  honour 
should  be  given  to  him,  and  one  of  the  best  of  the  mules  upon  which  he  was  himself 
accustomed  to  ride,  allotting  him  also  supplies  and  salaries;  and  Noureddin  kissed 
the  hand  of  the  Sultan,  and  descended  with  his  father-in-law  to  their  house,  both  in 
high  delight,  and  saying,  Verily  the  birth  of  this  child  is  fortunate.  On  the  follow- 
ing day  Noureddin  went  again  to  the  King,  and  kissed  the  ground,  and  the  Sultan 
ordered  him  to  sit  in  the  place  of  the  Vizier:  so  he  sat,  and  occupied  himself  with 
the  affairs  of  his  office,  and  examined  the  cases  of  the  people,  and  their  suits,  ac- 
cording to  the  custom  of  Viziers:  and  the  Sultan,  observing  him,  was  surprised  at 
his  conduct,  and  the  acuteness  of  his  understanding,  and  his  good  judgment.  He 
attentively  considered  his  qualities,  and  loved  him,  and  advanced  him  in  his  fovour: 
and  when  the  court  was  dissolved,  Noureddin  returned  to  his  house,  and  related 
what  had  passed  to  his  father-in-law,  who  was  rejoiced  at  hearing  it. 

The  old  Vizier  ceased  not  to  superintend  the  rearing  of  the  child,  who  was  named 
Hassan,  for  many  days,  while  Noureddin  was  constantly  occupied  with  the  affairs 
of  his  office,  so  that  he  left  not  the  Sultan  by  day  nor  by  night;  and  the  King  in- 
creased his  salaries  and  supplies  until  his  circumstances  became  ample:  he  had  ships 
which  made  voyages  under  his  orders  with  merchandise  and  other  thinijs,  and  he 
founded  numerous  estates,  and  made  water-wheels  and  gardens.  Thus  did  he  until 
his  son  Hassan  was  four  years  of  age,  when  the  old  Vizier,  the  father  of  his  wife, 
died;  and  he  conveyed  his  corpse  with  great  pomp,  and  decently  deposited  it  in  the 
earth.  He  then  turned  his  thoughts  towards  the  education  of  his  son  ;  and  when 
the  child  had  gained  strength,  he  brought  him  a  tutor  to  teach  him  in  his  own  house, 
charging  him  to  instruct  him  and  educate  him  well :  and  the  tutor  did  so,  and 
taught  liim  various  useful  sciences,  after  he  had  passed  some  years  in  learning  the 
Koran:  Hassan  meanwhile  increased  in  loveliness  and  beauty  and  elegance  of  person. 
The  tutor  continued  to  educate  him  in  his  father's  palace  ;  and  from  the  time  that 
he  arrived  at  adolescence  he  went  not  out  of  the  Vizier's  palace,  until  his  father  took 
him  one  day,  and,  having  clad  him  in  one  of  the  richest  of  his  dresses,  mounted  him 
on  one  of  his  best  mules,  and  conducted  him  to  the  Sultan,  and  introduced  him. 
AVhen  the  King  beheld  Bedreddin  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier  Noureddin,  he  was 
astonished  at  his  beauty;  and  the  people  when  he  passed  by  them  for  the  first  time, 
going  up  with  his  father  to  the  King,  were  amazed  at  his  surpassing  beauty  and 
loveliness,  and  elegance  of  person.  The  Sultan,  as  soon  as  he  saw  him,  loved  him, 
and  bestowed  marks  of  favour  upon  him,  and  said  to  his  father,  0  Vizier,  thou  must 
bring  him  with  thee  every  day.  The  Vizier  answered,  I  hear  and  obey; — and  re- 
turned with  his  son  to  his  abode:  and  he  continued  every  day  to  go  up  with  him  to 
the  Sultan  until  the  youth  attained  the  age  of  fifteen  years. 

His  father,  the  Vizier  Noureddijji,  then  fell  sick,  and  called  him  into  his  presence, 
and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  know  that  this  world  is  a  perishable  abode,  and  the 
world  to  come  is  an  everlasting  abode.     I  wish  to  give  thee  some  precepts,  and  do 


100 


NOUREDDIN    AND    HIS    SON, 


thou  understand  what  I  am  about  to  say  to  thee,  and  incline  thy  heart  to  it. — And 
he  began  to  counsel  him  respecting  the  proper  mode  of  conducting  himself  in  society, 
and  the  due  management  of  his  affairs ;  and  when  he  had  done  so,  he  reflected  upon 
his  brother  and  his  native  place  and  country,  and  wept  at  the  thought  of  his  separa- 
tion from  those  he  loved  ;  his  tears  flowing :  and  he  said,  0  my  son,  hear  my  words. 
I  have  a  brother  in  Cairo,  and  I  quitted  him  and  departed  against  his  will. — lie 
then  took  a  piece  of  paper,  and  wrote  upon  it  all  that  had  happened  to  him  from 
first  to  last,  together  with  the  date  of  his  marriage  and  introduction  to  the  daughter 
of  the  Vizier,  and  the  date  of  his  arrival  at  Balsora,  and  his  interview  with  its  Vizier: 
and,  having  added  some  strict  admonition,  he  said  to  his  son,  Keep  this  charge,  for 
the  paper  on  which  it  is  written  containeth  an  account  of  thine  origin  and  thy  rank 
and  lineage  ;  and  if  any  evil  accident  befall  thee,  repair  to  Cairo,  and  inquire  for 
thine  uncle,  and  salute  him,  and  inform  him  that  I  died  in  a  strange  land,  ardently 
desiring  that  I  could  see  him.  Therefore  Bedreddin  Hassan  took  the  paper,  and 
having  folded  it,  and  wrapped  it  in  a  piece  of  waxed  cloth,  sewed  it  between  the 
lining  and  the  outer  cloth  of  his  cap,  and  wept  for  his  father,  that  he  should  be 
parted  from  him  in  his  youth. 


Noureddin  and  his  Son. 

Nourcddin  then  said  to  his  son,  I  charge  thee  that  thou  be  not  familiar  with  any 
one ;  for  in  retirement  is  security.     Divinely  gifted  was  the  poet  who  said  : — 

There  is  none  in  thy  time  whose  friendship  thou  shouldst  covet;  nor  any  intimate  who,  when 

fortune  is  treacherous,  will  be  faithful. 
Live  then  apart,  and  rely  upon  no  man  :  I  have  given  thee,  in  these  words,  good  advice,  and 

sufficient. 

Accustom  thyself  to  taciturnity;  occupy  thyself  with  thine  own  affairs,  and  use  not 
many  words:  for  the  poet  saith  : — 

Taciturnity  is  an  ornament,  and  in  silence  is  security  :  therefore,  when  thou  speakest,  be  not 

loquacious  : 
For  if  thou  repent  once  of  thy  silence,  thou  wilt  assuredly  repent  many  times  of  thy  speech. 


Beware  of  drinking  wine  ;  for  it  is  the  source  of  every  kind  of  mischief.    The  poet 
Baith  on  this  subject : — 

I  have  abandoned  wine  and  those  who  drink  it;  and»have  become  the  friend  of  such  as  oon- 

demn  it. 
Wine  leadeth  astray  from  the  paths  of  rectitude,  and  openeth  doors  to  evil. 


AND   SHEMSEDDIN  AND   HIS   DAUGHTER.  101 

Hate  no  man  and  oppress  none  ;  for  oppression  is  base.     The  poet  saith  : — 

Oppress  not  if  thou  hast  the  power  to  do  so  ;  for  opprf^fsion  '^ill  eventually  bi'ing  thee  repent 

ance  : 
Thine  eye  will  sleep  while  the  oppressed,  wakeful,  will  call  for  vengeaaco  npor  thee;  and  the 

eye  of  God  sleepeth  not. 

Despise  thy  wealth,  but  not  thyself:  yet  bestow  not  wealth  save  upon  him  who 
deserveth  it.  If  thou  keep  it,  it  will  keep  thee  ;  but  if  thou  squander  it,  it  will  ruin 
thee  ;  and  then  wilt  thou  need  assistance  of  the  least  of  mankind.  It  hath  been  said 
by  the  poet : — 

When  my  wealth  faileth,  no   friend  assisteth   me ;  but  when  it  aboundeth,  all  men   are  my 

friends. 
How  many  enemies  for  the  sake  of  wealth  have  consorted  with  me  !     And  my  companion  in 

the  time  of  want  hath  abandoned  me  ! 

In  this  manner  he  continued  to  admonish  his  son  Bedreddin  Hassan  until  his 
spirit  departed.  The  house  became  a  scene  of  mourning,  and  the  Sultan  and  all 
the  Emirs  grieved  for  him  ;  and  they  buried  him.  They  continued  their  mourning 
during  a  period  of  two  months,  and  the  son  of  Noureddin  rode  not  out,  nor  went  to 
the  court,  nor  presented  himself  before  the  Sultan  ;  and  the  King  instated  one  of  the 
chamberlains  in  his  place,  and  appointed  a  new  Vizier  in  the  place  of  his  father,  and 
ordered  this  Vizier  to  put  seals  upon  all  the  houses  of  Noureddin,  and  upon  his 
wealth  and  all  his  buildings  and  other  possessions.  So  the  new  Vizier  went  with 
the  chamberlains  to  the  house  of  the  Vizier  Noureddin,  to  seal  its  door  and  to  arrest 
his  son  Bedreddin  Hassan,  and  brii^p  him  before  the  Sultan,  that  he  might  do  to 
him  what  his  judgment  required.  But  there  was  among  the  troops  one  of  the 
mamlouks  of  the  deceased  Vizier  Noureddin  ;  and  he  could  not  endure  that  the  son 
of  his  master  should  be  thus  treated:  he  therefore  repaired  to  Bedreddin  Hassan, 
whom  he  found  with  downcast  head  and  mourning  heart,  on  account  of  the  death 
of  his  fiither,  and  acquainted  him  with  what  had  passed.  And  he  asked  him,  Will 
the  execution  of  the  order  be  delayed  long  enough  for  me  to  enter  my  house,  and 
take  somewhat  of  my  worldly  possessions  by  which  to  obtain  support  during  my 
exile?  But  the  mamlouk  answered,  Save  thyself: — and  when  Hassan  heard  these 
words,  he  covered  his  head  with  the  skirt  of  his  robe,  and,  going  forth  on  foot,  fled 
out  of  the  city: — and  he  heard  the  people  saying.  The  Sultan  hath  sent  the  new 
Vizier  to  the  house  of  the  deceased  Vizier  to  seal  his  wealth  and  other  possessions, 
and  to  arrest  his  son  Bedreddin  Hassan,  and  bring  him  before  him  that  he  may  put 
him  to  death :  and  the  people  were  mourning  for  him  on  account  of  his  beauty  and 
loveliness.  So  when  he  heard  what  they  said,  he  took  a  course  that  he  had  not 
intended,  and,  not  knowing  whither  to  go,  walked  on  until  destiny  urged  him  to  the 
tomb  of  his  father. 

Entering  the  burial-ground,  he  bent  his  way  among  the  tombs  until  he  seated  him- 
self at  that  of  his  father,  where  he  removed  his  skirt  from  over  his  head.  And  as 
he  was  sitting  there,  a  Jew  of  Balsora  approached,  and  said  to  him,  Wherefore,  0 
my  master,  do  I  see  thee  thus  changed?  He  answered,  I  was  just  now  sleeping, 
and  I  beheld  my  father  reproaching  me  for  having  failed  to  visit  his  tomb:  where- 
fore I  arose  in  alarm,  fearing  that  the  day  would  pass  without  my  visiting  it,  and  so 
the  occurrence  would  distress  me.  The  Jew  then  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  thy 
father  despatched  some  vessels  with  merchandise,  and  some  of  them  have  returned  ; 
and  it  is  my  wish  to  purchase  of  thee  the  cargo  of  every  vessel  that  hath  arrived  for 
I  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  so  saying,  he  took  out  a  purse  filled  with  gold,  and 
counted  out  from  it  a  thousand  pieces,  which  he  paid  to  Hassan  the  son  of  the  Vizier, 
and  said  to  him.  Write  me  a  paper,  and  seal  it.  So  Hassan  took  a  paper,  and  wrote 
upon  it,  The  writer  of  this  paper,  Bedreddin  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier  Nou- 


102  NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS   SON, 

reddin,  hatb  sold  to  the  Jew  such  a  one  the  whole  cargo  of  every  one  of  his  father's 
vessels  that  hathreturned  fr(\m  h^r  voyage,  for  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  hath 
received  the  price  in  advance.'  Aiid  after  he  had  taken  a  copy  of  it,  the  Jew  went 
away  with  the  paper ;  aad  Hassan  wept,  reflecting  upon  his  former  state  of  dignity 
and  fav'lut.  'At  lerg'th  the,  ni^jht  closed  in  upon  him,  and  sleep  overtook  him,  and 
he  remained  asleep  at  his  father's  tomb  until  the  moon  rose,  when  his  head  rolled 
from  the  tomb,  and  he  lay  and  slept  on  his  back,  his  face  shining  in  the  moonlight. 

Now  the  burial-ground  was  inhabited  by  believing  Genii ;  and  a  female  Genie, 
coming  forth,  saw  the  face  of  Hassan  as  he  lay  asleep,  and,  when  she  beheld  him, 
■was  surprised  at  his  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  exclaimed,  Extolled  be  Allah's  per- 
fection! This  youth  is  like  none  but  the  virgins  of  paradise ! — She  then  soared  into 
the  air,  to  perform  her  accustomed  circuits,  and  saw  an  Afrite  on  his  flight.  She 
saluted  him,  and  he  returned  her  salutation  ;  and  she  said  to  him,  Whence  coraest 
thou  ?  He  answered,  From  Cairo  :  —  and  she  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou  go  with  me  to 
behold  the  beauty  of  the  youth  who  is  sleeping  in  the  burial-ground?  He  replied. 
Yes.  So  they  went  together ;  and  when  they  had  descended  into  the  burial-ground 
she  said  to  him.  Hast  thou  seen  in  the  course  of  thy  life  a  person  like  this  ?  —  And 
the  Afrite  looked  upon  him,  and  exclaimed.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  unto 
whom  none  is  to  be  compared !  But,  0  my  sister,  he  added,  if  thou  desire,  I  will 
relate  to  thee  what  I  have  seen.  —  Tell  me,  she  replied:  so  he  said,  I  have  seen  a 
person  resembling  this  youth  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  that  person  is  the  daughter 
of  the  Vizier.  The  King  had  heard  of  her,  and  demanded  her  of  her  father,  the 
Vizier  Shemseddin,  in  marriage;  but  he  answered  him,  0  our  Lord  Sultan,  accept 
my  excuse,  and  pity  my  grief;  for  thou  knowest  that  my  brother  Noureddin  departed 
from  us,  and  we  know  not  where  he  is ;  and  that  he  shared  with  me  the  office  of 
Vizier :  and  the  cause  of  his  departure  was  th^,  that  I  was  sitting  conversing  with 
him  on  the  subject  of  marriage,  and  he  was  angry  with  me,  and  in  anger  went 
away : — and  he  related  to  the  King  all  that  had  passed  between  them  ;  adding,  This 
was  the  cause  of  his  indignation,  and  I  have  been  under  an  oath  that  I  will  not 
marry  my  daughter  to  any  but  the  son  of  my  brother  from  the  day  that  her  mother 
gave  birth  to  her ;  and  that  was  about  fifteen  years  ago :  and  lately  I  heard  that  my 
brother  had  married  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  of  Balsora,  and  obtained  a  son  by 
her ;  and  I  will  not  marry  my  daughter  to  any  but  him,  in  honour  of  my  brother. 
After  I  had  heard  this,  I  recorded  the  date  of  my  marriage,  and  of  my  wife's  con- 
ception, and  of  the  birth  of  this  daughter ;  she  is  intended  for  the  son  of  her  uncle ; 
and  of  other  maidens  there  are  plenty.  But  when  the  Sultan  heard  these  words  of 
the  Vizier,  he  was  violently  enraged,  and  said)  How  is  it  that  such  a  one  as  myself 
demandeth  in  marriage  a  daughter  from  one  like  thee,  and  thou  withholdest  her 
from  him,  and  excusest  thyself  by  an  absurd  pretext  ?  By  my  head,  I  will  not 
marry  her  but  to  one  of  less  consideration  than  myself,  in  scorn  of  thy  pride  ! — And 
the  King  had  a  humpbacked  groom,  with  a  hump  before  and  a  hump  behind  ;  and 
he  ordered  him  to  be  brought,  and  affianced  him  to  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier,  com- 
manding that  he  should  introduce  himself  to  her  this  night,  and  be  conducted  in 
pompous  procession.  I  left  him  in  the  midst  of  the  mamlouks  of  the  Sultan,  who 
were  surrounding  him  with  lighted  candles  in  their  hands,  laughing  at  him  and 
mocking  him,  at  the  door  of  the  bath,  while  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  was  sitting 
weeping  in  the  midst  of  the  dye-women  and  tire-women.  She  resembles  more  than 
any  other  person  this  youth.  They  have  prohibited  her  father  from  going  to  her; 
and  I  have  never  seen,  0  my  sister,  a  more  ugly  wretch  than  this  humpback :  but 
as  to  the  maiden,  she  is  more  beautiful  than  this  youth. 

To  this  story  of  the  Afrite,  the  Fairy  answered.  Thou  liest ;  for  this  youth  is  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  people  of  his  age.  But  the  Afrite  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my 
sister,  the  maiden  is  more  beautiful  than  he:  however,  none  but  he  is  suited  to  her; 
for  they  resemble  each  other,  and  probably  are  brother  and  sister,  or  cousins ;  and 
how  will  she  be  thrown  away  upon  this  humpback  I     She  then  said  to  him   0  my 


m 


103 


AND    SHEMSEDDIN    AND    HIS    DAUGHTER.  105 

brother,  let  us  place  ourselves  beneath  him,  and  lift  him  up  and  take  him  to  the 
maiden  of  whom  thou  spakest,  and  see  which  of  the  two  is  the  more  beautiful.  The 
Afrite  answered,  I  hear  and  obey:  this  proposal  is  right,  and  there  can  be  no  better 
determination  than  this  which  thou  hast  chosen  ;  therefore  I  will  carry  him.  So  ha 
lifted  him  up,  and  soared  into  the  sky,  and  the  Fairy  rested  by  his  side  until  he  de- 
scended with  him  in  the  city  of  Cairo,  where  he  placed  him  upon  a  mastabah,'  and 
roused  him  from  his  sleep. 

When,  therefore,  he  awoke,  and  found  that  he  was  not  at  his  father's  tomb  in  the 
land  of  Balsora,  he  looked  to  the  right  and  left,  and  perceived  that  he  was  in  a  city 
that  was  not  Balsora,  and  would  have  cried  out;  but  the  Afrite  winked  to  him,  and. 
lighting  him  a  candle,  said  to  him,  Know  that  I  have  brought  thee  hither,  and  I 
desire  to  do  thee  a  service  for  the  sake  of  God :  take,  therefore,  this  candle,  and  go 
with  it  to  yonder  bath,  and  mix  with  the  people  there,  and  proceed  with  them  until 
thou  arrivest  at  the  saloon  of  the  bride ;  then  go  before,  and  enter  the  saloon  and 
fear  no  one  ;  and  when  thou  hast  entered,  station  thyself  on  the  right  of  the  hump- 
backed bridegroom ;  and  whenever  the  tire-women  and  singing-women  and  dye- 
women  come  to  thee,  put  thy  hand  into  thy  pocket:  thou  wilt  find  it  full  of  gold, 
and  do  thou  take  it  by  the  handful  and  throw  it  to  them  ;  and  imagine  not  that  thou 
wilt  put  thy  hand  in  and  not  find  it  filled  with  gold:  give  therefore  to  every  one 
who  Cometh  to  thee  by  the  handful,  and  fear  nothing  ;  but  rely  upon  Ilini  who 
created  thee;  for  this  will  not  be  through  thine  own  sti-ength  or  power,  but  through 
the  strength  of  God,  and  his  power. 

On  hearing  these  words  of  the  Afrite,  Bedreddin  Hassan  said.  What  is  this  event, 
and  what  manner  of  kindness  is  this  ?  And  he  went  with  his  candle  to  the  bathi 
where  he  found  the  humpback  mounted  on  his  horse;  and  he  joined  himself  to  the 
party,  in  the  same  garb  in  which  he  had  arrived,  and  with  the  same  comely  ap- 
pearance ;  being  attired  with  a  tarboosh^  and  turban,  and  a  farajiah''  interwoven 
with  gold.  lie  proceeded  with  the  pompous  train,  and  every  time  that  the  singing- 
women  stopped  for  the  people  to  give  them  money,  he  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket, 
and  found  it  filled  with  gold,  and  took  it  by  the  handful  and  threw  it  into  the  tam- 
bourine, for  the  singing-women  and  tire-women,  filling  the  tambourine  with  pieces 
of  gold :  and  the  singing-women  were  amazed,  and  the  people  wondered  at  his 
beauty  and  loveliness.  Thus  he  continued  to  do  until  they  arrived  at  the  house  of 
the  Vizier,  when  the  chamberlains  drove  back  the  people,  and  prevented  their  entrance ; 
but  the  singing-women  and  tire-women  said,  By  Allah,  we  will  not  enter  unless  this 
youth  enter  with  us,  for  he  hath  overwhelmed  us  with  his  favours,  and  the  bride 
shall  not  be  displayed  unless  he  be  present: — and  upon  this  they  entered  with  him 
into  the  saloon  of  the  festivity,  and  seated  him,  in  spite  of  the  humpbacked  bride- 
groom. All  the  ladies  of  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  Chamberlains  were  arranged 
in  two  rows,  each  lady  holding  a  large  lighted  candle,  and  having  her  head-veil 
drawn  across  the  lower  part  of  her  f\ice  :  thus  they  stood  in  two  rows,  to  the  right 
and  left,  from  the  foot  of  the  couch  of  the  bride  to  the  upper  end  of  the  leewan  that 
adjoined  the  chamber  from  which  the  bride  was  to  come  forth.  And  when  the  ladies 
beheld  Bedreddin  Hassan  and  his  beauty  and  loveliness,  his  face  shining  like  the 
crescent  of  the  moon,  the  hearts  of  all  of  them  inclined  to  him,  and  the  female 
singers  said  to  all  the  women  who  were  present,  Know  that  this  charming  youth 
hath  given  us  nothing  but  red  gold  ;  therefore  fail  not  to  serve  him  properly,  and 
obey  him  in  whatever  he  shall  say.  The  women  crowded  round  him  to  gaze  at  his 
charms,  and  their  minds  were  overpowered  by  astonishment  at  his  beauty,  and  each 
of  them  wished  that  she  might  be  in  his  bosom  for  a  year  or  a  month  or  an  hour : 
they  removed  the  veils  from  their  faces,  and  their  hearts  were  perplexed,  and  they 
said,  Joy  to  the  person  to  whom  this  youth  belongeth  or  to  the  person  over  whom 

'  A  bench  of  stone  placed  in  front  of  a  house.  'A  close  red  cap  of  woollen  cloth. 

'  A  loose  robe  with  long  sleeves. 


106  NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS    SON, 

he  is  lord!  Then  they  imprecated  evil  upon  the  humpbacked  groom  and  him  who 
was  the  cvuse  of  his  marriage  to  that  lovely  maiden  ;  and  every  time  that  they 
prayed  for  blessings  upon  Bedreddin  Hassan  they  imprecated  misfortunes  upon  the 
hucpback. 

The  singing-women  then  beat  the  tambourines,  and  the  tire-women  approached 
with  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  in  the  midst  of  them.  They  had  perfumed  her  with 
sweet  scents  and  essences,  and  clad  her,  and  adorned  her  hair  and  neck  with  various 
ornaments,  decking  her  with  garments  such  as  were  worn  by  the  ancient  monarchs 
of  Persia.  Among  these  was  a  loose  gown  embroidered  with  red  gold,  presenting 
the  forms  of  wild  beasts  and  birds,  hanging  down  over  her  other  clothes  ;  and  round 
her  neck  was  a  necklace  worth  thousands,  composed  of  jewels  such  as  neither  a 
King  of  Arabia  Felix  nor  a  Cajsar  ever  collected:  she  was  like  the  moon  shining  in 
its  fourteenth  night,  and  when  she  approached  she  resembled  a  Houri.  Extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  created  her  so  splendid  a  being!  The  women  encom- 
passed her,  and  appeared  like  stars ;  she,  in  the  midst  of  them,  being  as  the  moon 
when  the  clouds  have  withdrawn  from  before  it.  Meanwhile  Bedreddin  Hassan 
remained  sitting,  with  the  company  gazing  at  him  ;  and  as  the  bride  approached 
with  a  dignified  and  graceful  gait,  the  humpliacked  groom  rose  to  her,  to  kiss  her; 
but  she  turned  aside  from  him,  and  went  and  stood  before  Hassan,  the  son  of  her 
uncle.  The  company  laughed  at  this  ;  and  when  they  beheld  her  turn  towards  Bed- 
reddin Hassan,  and  saw  him  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket  and  take  out  handfuls  of 
gold  and  throw  it  into  the  tambourine  of  the  singing-women,  they  were  delighted, 
and  said.  We  wish  that  this  bride  were  thine  :  —  and  he  smiled.  All  this  time  the 
humpbacked  groom  was  alone,  looking  like  an  ape  ;  and  every  time  that  they  lighted 
his  candle  it  went  out  again,  and  he  was  confounded,  and  remained  sitting  in  the 
dark,  full  of  secret  indignation,  with  all  the  company  surrounding  him,  while  the 
lighted  candles  presented  an  appearance  of  beauty  that  was  most  admirable,  so  that 
every  person  of  reflection  was  amazed  at  their  splendour.  But  as  to  the  bride,  she 
raised  her  hands  towards  heaven,  and  said,  0  Allah,  make  this  to  be  my  husband, 
and  relieve  me  from  this  humpbacked  groom  !  — The  tire-women  then  proceeded  to 
display  the  bride  in  different  dresses,  to  the  seventh  suit,  before  Bedreddin  Hassan 
of  Balsora,  the  humpbacked  groom  remaining  alone  ;  and  when  they  had  finished 
this  ceremony  they  gave  permission  to  the  company  to  depart:  so  all  who  were  pre- 
sent at  the  festivity,  both  women  and  children,  went  out,  excepting  Bedreddin 
Hassan  and  the  humpbacked  groom  ;  .after  which  the  tire-women  conducted  the 
bride  to  an  inner  chamber,  to  take  ofi"  her  ornaments  and  outer  robes,  and  to  pre- 
pare her  for  the  bridegroom's  visit. 

Upon  this,  the  humpbacked  groom  approached  Bedreddin  Hassan,  and  said  to 
him,  0  my  master,  thou  hast  made  us  happy  by  thy  company  this  night,  and  over- 
whelmed us  with  thy  favours  ;  but  now  wherefore  dost  thou  not  arise  and  go  to  thy 
house  without  thy  being  ejected?  He  answered,  in  the  name  of  Allah  ; — and  arose, 
and  went  out  from  the  door  ;  but  the  Afrite  met  him,  and  said  unto  him.  Stay,  0 
Bedreddin  ;  and  when  the  humpback  retires  into  the  private  closet,  enter  thou  and 
seat  thyself  in  the  bride-chamber  ;  and  when  the  bride  cometh,  say  to  her,  I  am  thy 
husband  ;  and  the  King  had  not  recourse  to  this  stratagem  from  any  other  motive 
than  his  fearing  for  thee  the  effect  of  the  eye  ; '  and  this  whom  thou  hast  seen  is 
one  of  our  grooms:  —  then  approach  her,  and  uncover  her  face,  and  fear  no  evil 
from  any  one. 

While  Bedreddin  was  thus  conversing  with  the  Afrite,  lo,  the  groom  entered  the 
closet,  and  seated  himself;  and  immediately  the  Afrite  rose  before  him,  from  the 
trough  of  water  that  was  in  the  closet,  in  the  form  of  a  mouse,  and  cried  Zeek  ! — 
What  brought  thee  here?  said  the  humpback.  The  mouse  then  increased  in  size, 
and  became  like  a  cat ;  and  then  increased,  and  became  a  dog,  and  cried,  Owh  I 


'  It  is  not  unusual,  an  occasions  of  great  festivity,  to  present  some  disagreeable  ol.Ject  as  s 
foil,  in  order  to  divert  the  envious  eye,  and  obviate  its  evil  effect 


AND  SHEMSEDDIN  AND  HIS  DAUGHTER.  107 

Owh  !  At  the  sight  of  this  the  groom  was  terrified,  and  exclaimed,  Get  away,  thou 
unlucky  !  The  dog,  however,  still  increased  and  swelled  until  it  became  an  ass,  and 
brayed  in  his  face,  crying,  Hak !  Hak  ! — upon  which  the  groom,  in  terror,  cried 
out,  Come  to  my  aid,  0  people  of  the  house !  But  lo,  the  ass  increased,  and  became 
like  a  buffalo,  and,  stopping  up  the  place  before  him,  spoke  with  the  speech  of  a  son 
of  Adam,  and  said,  Wo  be  to  thee,  0  humpback !  0  filthiest  of  grooms ! — Upon 
this  the  groom  was  seized  with  a  colic,  and  seated  himself  upon  the  slabs,  and  his 
teeth  knocked  together.  The  Afrite  then  said  to  him.  Hath  the  earth  become  narrow 
to  thee,  that  thou  wouldst  marry  none  but  my  mistress?  But  the  groom  was  silent. 
Return  me  an  answer,  said  the  Afrite,  or  I  will  make  thine  abode  to  be  in  the  the  dust  I 
— By  Allah,  then  answered  the  groom,  I  am  not  in  fault;  for  they  compelled  me, 
and  I  knew  not  that  she  had  a  lover  among  the  buffaloes ;  but  now  I  repent  before 
Allah  and  before  thee.  Then  the  Afrite  said,  I  swear  by  Allah  that  if  thou  depart 
now  from  this  place,  or  utter  a  word  before  the  sun  hath  risen,  I  will  slay  thee;  and 
when  the  sun  hath  risen  go  thy  way,  and  never  return  to  this  house.  And  he  seized 
the  humpbacked  groom,  and,  placing  his  head  upside  down  upon  the  slabs,  and  his 
feet  upwards,  said  to  him.  Remain  here,  and  I  will  watch  thee  until  sunrise. — Thus 
did  it  happen  to  the  humpback. 

Now,  as  to  Bedreddin  Hassan  of  Balsora,  he  left  the  humpback  and  the  Afrite 
contending  together,  and,  entering  the  house,  seated  himself  in  the  bride-chamber  ; 
and  lo,  the  bride  approached  accompanied  by  an  old  woman,  who  stopped  at  the 
door  of  the  chamber,  and  said,  0  Abu  Sliihab,  arise,  and  take  thy  bride;  and  I  com- 
mend thee  to  the  care  of  Allah.  Then  the  old  woman  went  away,  and  the  bride, 
whose  name  was  the  Lady  of  Beauty,  advanced  to  the  upper  end  of  the  chamber. 
Her  heart  was  broken,  and  she  said  within  herself.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  suffer  him 
to  caress  me  though  my  spirit  depart  from  me  !  But  when  she  had  proceeded  to  the 
upper  end  of  the  chamber,  she  beheld  Bedreddin,  and  said,  My  beloved,  until  this 
hour  art  thou  remaining?  I  had  said  within  myself,  perhaps  thou  and  the  hump- 
backed groom  are  to  share  me  between  you. — What,  said  he,  should  give  the  groom 
access  to  thee,  and  wherefore  should  he  be  my  partner  in  the  possession  of  thee  ? — 
Who,  then,  she  asked,  is  my  husband?  Thou  or  he? — 0  my  mistress,  answered 
Bedreddin,  we  did  not  this  for  any  other  purpose  than  to  make  a  jest  of  him,  and 
that  we  might  laugh  at  him  ;  for  when  the  tire-women  and  the  singing-women  and 
thy  family  beheld  thine  admirable  beauty,  they  feared  for  us  the  effect  of  the  eye, 
and  thy  father  hired  him  for  ten  pieces  of  gold,  in  order  that  he  might  divert  from 
us  the  eye;  and  now  he  hath  departed.  When  the  Lady  of  Beauty  heard  these 
words  of  Bedreddin  she  smiled,  and  uttered  a  gentle  laugh,  and  said.  By  Allah, 
thou  hast  extinguished  my  fire !  Take  me  then,  I  conjure  thee,  and  press  me  to 
thy  bosom. — And  they  embraced  each  other. 

Not  long  after  this,  the  Afrite  said  to  the  Fairy,  Arise  and  place  thyself  beneath 
the  youth,  and  let  us  convey  him  back,  lest  the  morning  overtake  us  ;  for  the  time 
is  near.  So  she  advanced  towards  him,  and,  placing  herself  beneath  his  skirt,  as 
he  lay  asleep,  took  him  up,  and  flew  away  with  him  in  the  state  in  which  she 
found  him,  clad  only  in  his  shirt,  and  pursued  her  flight  with  the  Afrite  by  her  side. 
But  God  gave  permission  to  some  angels  to  cast  at  the  Afrite  a  shooting-star  of  fire, 
and  he  was  burnt.  The  Fairy,  however,  escaped  unhurt,  and  deposited  Bedreddin 
in  the  place  over  which  the  shooting-star  had  burnt  the  Afrite.  She  would  not  pass 
beyond  it,  fearing  for  his  safety  ;  and  as  destiny  had  appointed,  this  place  was 
Damascus:  so  she  placed  him  by  one  of  the  gates  of  this  city,  and  Qew  away. 

When  daylight  therefore  came,  and  the  gates  were  opened,  the  people,  coming 
forth,  beheld  a  beautiful  youth  clad  in  his  shirt,  and  with  a  cotton  skull-cap  without 
a  turban.  In  consequence  of  his  having  been  so  long  wakeful,  he  was  now  im- 
mersed in  sleep ;  and  when  the  people  saw  him,  some  said,  Would  that  he  had 
waited  till  he  had  put  on  his  clothes! — another  said.  Objects  of  pity  are  the  children 
of  men  of  condition  !     Probably,  this  youth  hath  just  come  forth  from  his  drinking 


108  NOUREDDIN    AND    IIIS    SON, 

place,  on  account  of  some  business,  and  intoxication  hath  overcome  him,  and  he 
hath  wandered  from  the  phxce  to  which  he  would  go  until  he  arrived  at  the  gate  of 
the  city,  and,  finding  it  locked,  hath  slept  here.  —  They  had  expressed  various 
opinions  respecting  him,  and  were  wondering  at  his  case,  when  Bedreddin  awoke. 
Perceiving  that  he  was  at  the  gate  of  a  city,  and  surrounded  by  men,  he  was  as- 
tonished, and  said.  Where  am  I,  0  good  people;  and  what  is  the  cause  of  your  as- 
sembling around  me,  and  what  hath  befallen  me  among  you  ?  They  answered,  We 
saw  thee  at  the  call  to  morning  prayer  lying  at  this  gate  asleep ;  and  we  know 
nothing  more  of  thy  case.     Where  wast  thou  sleeping  this  last  night? — By  Allah, 

0  people,  he  replied,  I  was  sleeping  this  last  night  in  Cairo.  On  hearing  this,  one 
of  them  said.  Dost  thou  eat  hashish?'  another  said.  Thou  art  mad.  How  couldst 
thou  be  passing  the  night  in  Cairo,  and  be  sleeping  in  the  morning  at  the  city  of 
Damascus? — He  said  to  them.  By  Allah,  0  good  people,  I  will  tell  you  no  falsehood: 

1  was  last  night  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  day  before  I  was  at  Balsora.  One 
of  them  said,  This  is  a  wonderful  thing!  Another  said,  This  youth  is  mad.  And 
they  clapped  their  hands  at  him,  and,  conversing  together,  said,  Alas!  for  his 
youth  !  By  Allah,  there  is  no  denying  his  madness. — They  then  said  to  him.  Re- 
turn to  thy  reason.  But  he  replied,  I  was  yesterday  a  bridegroom  in  the  land  of 
Egypt. — Probably  thou  hast  dreamt,  said  they,  and  hast  seen  this  of  which  thou 
speakest  in  thy  sleep.  And  Hassan  was  confounded,  and  said.  By  Allah,  this  was 
not  a  dream :  and  'where  is  the  humpbacked  groom  who  was  sitting  with  us,  and 
the  purse  of  gold  that  I  had?  And  where  are  my  clothes  and  my  drawers? — He 
then  arose  and  entered  the  city,  and  proceeded  through  its  great  thoroughfare- 
streets  and  market-streets  ;  and  the  people  crowded  round  hin*  and  paraded  him  :  so 
he  entered  the  shop  of  a  cook.  Now  this  cook  was  a  robber,  whom  God  had  caused 
to  repent  of  his  unlawful  actions,  and  he  had  opened  a  cook's  shop ;  and  all  the 
people  of  Damascus  feared  him  on  account  of  his  boldness ;  therefore,  when  they 
saw  that  the  youth  had  entered  this  shop,  they  left  him,  being  afraid. 

When  tlie  cook  beheld  Bedreddin  Hassan,  and  observed  his  beauty  and  comeliness, 
love  for  him  entered  his  heart,  and  he  said  to  him.  Whence  art  thou,  0  young  man? 
Relate  to  me  thy  story ;  for  thou  art  become  dearer  to  me  than  my  soul.  — So  he  re- 
lated to  him  all  that  had  happened,  from  beginning  to  end;  and  the  cook  said  to 
him,  0  my  master  Bedreddin,  know  that  this  is  a  wonderful  event  and  an  extraor- 
dinary story  ;  but,  0  my  son,  conceal  thy  case  until  God  dispel  thy  trouble,  and 
remain  with  me  in  this  place:  and  as  I  have  not  a  son,  I  will  adopt  thee  as  such. 
Bedreddin  replied.  Let  it  be  as  thou  desirest,  0  uncle.  And  immediately  the  cook 
went  out  to  the  mart,  and  bought  for  Bedreddin  costly  clothes,  and  put  them  on  him: 
he  then  went  to  the  Cadi  and  made  a  declaration  that  he  was  his  adopted  son:  so 
Bedreddin  Hassan  became  known  throughout  the  city  of  Damascus  as  the  son  of  the 
cook  ;  and  he  sat  with  him  in  the  shop  to  receive  the  money,  and  in  this  situation 
he  remained. 

Now  to  return  to  the  Lady  of  Beauty. — When  daybreak  came  and  she  awoke,  she 
found  not  Bedreddin  Hassan  remaining  with  her,  and,  imagining  that  he  would  soon 
return,  she  sat  a  while  expecting  him  ;  and  lu,  her  father  came  in  to  her,  troubled 
at  that  which  had  befallen  him  from  the  Sultan,  and  at  his  having  married  his 
daughter  by  force  to  one  of  his  servants,  the  humpbacked  groom  ;  and  he  said  within 
himself,  I  will  kill  this  girl  if  she  have  suffered  the  wretch  to  caress  her.  So  he 
advanced  to  the  bride-chamber,  and,  stopping  at  the  door,  said,  0  Lady  of  Beauty! 
She  answered,  Well,  0  my  master,  —  and  came  forth  to  him,  walking  with  a  vacil- 
lating gait,  through  joy,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  her  countenance 
beamed  with  increased  splendour  in  consequence  of  her  union  with  that  gazelle. 
When  her  father,  therefore,  saw  her  in  this  state,  he  exclaimed  to  her,  0  thou  base 
creature;  art  thou  delighted  with  this  groom?  On  hearing  these  words  of  her 
father,  the  Laily  of  Beauty  smiled,  and  replied.  By  Allah,  it  is  enough  that  thou 

'  Bhang,  the  into.\icating  drug  mentioned  before. 


AND    SHEMSEDDIN   AND    HIS    DAUGHTER.  109 

hast  done,  and  that  the  people  laugh  at  me,  and  put  me  on  an  equality  with  thia 
groom,  who  is  not,  in  my  estimation,  of  the  value  of  a  paring  of  one  of  my  finger- 
nails ;  but  as  to  my  husband  —  by  Allah,  I  never  in  the  course  of  my  life  passed  a 
night  more  delightful  than  that  which  I  have  just  passed  in  his  company  ;  therefore 
jest  not  with  me  by  mentioning  that  humpback.  When  her  father  heard  what  she 
said  he  was  filled  with  rage  ;  his  eyes  glared  so  that  little  appeared  of  them  but  the 
white,  and  he  said  to  her,  Wo  to  thee!  What  are  these  words  that  thou  sayest? 
Verily  the  humpbacked  groom  hath  passed  the  night  with  thee  ! — I  conjure  thee  by 
Allah,  she  rejoined,  that  thou  mention  him  not.  May  Allah  reject  him,  and  reject 
his  father!  Continue  not  then  to  mock  me  by  mentioning  him  ;  for  the  groom  was 
only  hired  for  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and  he  took  his  hire  and  departed  ;  and  I  came 
and  entered  the  bride-chamber,  and  beheld  my  husband  seated,  after  the  singing- 
women  had  displayed  me  before  him  ;  and  he  threw  them  red  gold  until  he  had 
enriched  the  poor  who  were  present.  I  have  reclined  upon  the  bosom  of  my  gentle- 
hearted  husband,  with  the  black  eyes  and  the  joined  eyebrows.  —  When  her  father 
heard  this,  the  light  became  darkness  before  his  face,  and  he  exclaimed  to  her,  0 
thou  abandoned  one!  What  is  this  that  thou  sayest?  Where  is  thy  reason  ?  —  0 
my  father,  she  replied,  thou  hast  broken  my  heart  to  pieces  !  Wherefore  dost  thou 
pay  no  attention  ?  This  of  whom  I  spake  is  my  husband,  and  he  hath  retired  to  his 
private  closet. 

So  her  father  went  thither,  in  a  state  of  astonishment,  and,  entering  the  closet, 
found  the  humpbacked  groom  with  his  head  upon  the  slabs  and  his  feet  turned  up- 
wards: and  the  Vizier  was  confounded  at  the  sight,  and  said.  Is  not  this  the  hump- 
backed?—  and  he  spoke  to  him;  but  the  humpback  returned  no  answer,  thinking 
that  it  was  the  Afrite  who  addressed  him.  The  Vizier,  therefore,  cried  out  at  him 
with  a  loud  voice,  and  said  to  him.  Speak,  or  I  will  cut  oif  thy  head  with  this  sword! 
Upon  which  the  humpback  exclaimed.  By  Allah,  0  Sheikh  of  the  Afrites,  from  the 
time  that  thou  placedst  me  here  I  have  not  raised  my  head :  I  conjure  thee  there- 
fore that  thou  show  favour  to  me  !  The  Vizier,  on  hearing  the  humpback  thus 
address  him,  said  to  him.  What  sayest  thou  ?  I  am  the  father  of  the  bride,  and  I 
am  not  an  Afrite.  Then  said  the  humpback.  My  life  is  not  in  thy  hand,  nor  art 
thou  able  to  take  my  soul ;  so  go  thy  way  before  he  come  to  thee  who  hath  treated 
me  in  this  manner.  Ye  would  not  marry  me  to  any  but  the  mistress  of  bufi^aloes 
and  the  mistress  of  Afrites !  May  Allah,  then,  confound  him  who  married  me  to 
her,  and  confound  him  who  was  the  cause  of  it! — Then  did  the  humpbacked  groom 
address  the  Vizier,  the  father  of  the  bride,  again,  saying,  Allah  confound  him  who 
was  the  cause  of  this!  —  Arise,  said  the  Vizier,  and  depart  from  this  place.  —  Am  I 
mad,  he  replied,  that  I  should  go  with  thee  without  the  permission  of  the  Afrite? 
For  he  said  to  me.  When  the  sun  shall  have  risen  go  thy  way.  —  Hath  the  sun  then 
risen  or  not?  For  I  cannot  depart  from  my  place  until  the  sun  hath  risen.  —  Upon 
this  the  Vizier  said  to  him.  Who  brought  thee  to  this  place?  He  answered,  I  came 
hither  yesterday,  and  a  dust  arose  from  the  midst  of  the  water,  and  cried  out,  and 
increased  in  bulk  until  it  became  .of  the  size  of  a  buffalo,  and  said  to  me  words  that 
entered  my  ear.  Leave  me,  therefore,  and  go.  Allah  confound  the  bride  and  him 
who  married  me  to  her! — The  Vizier  then  approached  him,  and  dragged  him  forth, 
and  he  went  out  running,  doubting  whether  the  sun  had  risen,  and  went  up  to  the 
Sultan,  and  informed  him  of  that  which  had  happened  to  him  with  the  Afrite. 

But  as  to  the  Vizier,  the  father  of  the  bride,  he  returned  with  his  reason  perplexed 
respecting  the  case  of  his  daughter,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  reveal  to  me 
thy  story.  She  replied.  The  elegant  person  before  whom  I  was  displayed  remained 
with  me;  and  if  thou  believe  me  not,  see,  this  is  his  turban,  twisted  just  as  it  was, 
upon  the  chair,  ahd  his  drawers  are  under  the  bed,  and  in  them  is  something  wrapped 
up:  I  know  not  what  it  is.  So,  when  her  father  heard  this,  he  entered  the  bride- 
chamber,  and  found  the  turban  of  Bedreddin  Hassan,  the  son  of  his  brother;  and 
taking  it  up,  he  turned  it  over,  and  said,  This  is  such  a  turban  as  is  worn  by  Viziers, 


no 


NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS   SON, 


excepting  that  it  is  of  the  fashion  of  Mosul.  lie  then  observed  an  amulet,  sewed  in 
his  red  cloth  cap;  and  he  unsewed  it;  and  he  took  the  drawers,  and  found  the  purse 
containing  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and,  opening  this,  he  discovered  in  it  a  paper, 
which  when  he  had  read  it,  he  saw  to  be  a  copy  of  the  Jew's  contract,  with  the  name 
of  Bedreddin  Hassan,  the  son  of  Nonreddin  of  Cairo  ;  and  he  found  also  the  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold.  But  when  he  read  the  paper,  he  cried  aloud  and  fell  down  in 
a  swoon  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  had  recovered  and  understood  the  case  he  was  astonisheU, 


The  Vizier  Shemseddin  recovering:  from  a  Swoon 


and  exclaimed,  There  is  no  deity  but  God,  who  is  able  to  do  whatsoever  He  will ! 
Then  said  he,  0  my  daughter,  knowest  thou  who  hath  become  thy  husband  ?  She 
answered,  No. — He  is  the  son  of  my  brother,  said  he,  and  the  son  of  thine  unnle  ; 
and  these  thousand  pieces  of  gold  are  thy  dowry.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God  ! 
Would  that  I  knew  how  this  event  had  happened ! — Then  he  opened  the  amulet  that 
was  sewed  up,  and  found  in  it  a  paper  written  by  the  hand  of  his  brother  Noureddin 
of  Cairo,  the  father  of  Bedreddin  Hassan  ;  and  when  he  beheld  the  hand  writing  of 
his  brother  he  repeated  this  couplet : — 

I  behold  their  footsteps,  and  melt  with  desire,  and  pour  forth  iny  tears  upon  the  places  they 

have  trodden, 
Begging  of  Him  who  hath  afflicted  me  by  their  separation,  that  he  will  bless  me  some  day  by 

a  reunion. 

So  saying,  he  read  the  paper,  and  found  in  it  the  date  of  his  marriage  to  the  daughter 
of  the  Vizier  of  Balsora,  and  that  of  his  first  introduction  to  her,  and  a  record  of 
his  age  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  the  date  of  the  birth  of  his  son  Bedreddin 
Hassan  ;  and  he  wondered,  and  shook  with  delight:  and  comparing  what  had  hap- 
pened to  his  brother  with  the  events  that  had  happened  to  himself,  he  found  that  they 
corresponded  exactly :  his  marriage  and  the  marriage  of  his  brother  agreed  in  date, 
and  their  first  visits  to  their  respective  wives  in  like  manner;  as  also  the  birth  of 
Bedreddin,  the  son  of  his  brother,  and  the  birth  of  his  daughter  the  Lady  of  Beauty. 
He  took  the  two  papers,  and  going  up  with  them  to  the  Sultan,  he  acquaintonl  him 
with  all  that  had  happened  from  the  first  of  the  case  to  the  last;  and  the  King  was 
astonished,  and  ordered  that  the  case  should  be  immediately  recorded.  The 
Vizier  then  remained  in  expectation  of  the  son  of  his  brother  ;  but  he  met  with  no 
tidings  of  him  :  so  he  said.  By  Allah,  I  will  do  a  deed  that  none  hath  done  before 


AND    SHEMSEDDIN    AND    HIS    DAUGHTER.  HI 

mc  : — and  he  took  an  ink-case  and  a  pen,  and  wrote  an  inventory  of  the  furniture  of 
the  house,  describing  the  money-chest  as  having  been  in  such  a  place,  and  a  certain 
curtain  in  such  Another  place,  and  everything  in  the  house  in  like  manner  ;  and  he 
folded  up  the  paper,  and  ordered  that  the  furniture  should  be  stored  up  ;  and  he 
took  the  turban  with  its  tarboosh,  and  also  the  farajiah  and  the  purse,  and  kept. them 
himself. 

After  this,  in  due  time,  the  daughter  of  the  Vizier  gave  birth  to  a  son  like  the 
moon,  resembling  his  father  in  beauty  and  symmetry  and  splendour  and  loveliness. 
They  received  him  from  his  mother,  and  blackened  the  edges  of  his  eyes  with  kohl, 
and  delivered  him  to  the  nurses,  and  named  him  Agib.  His  day  was  as  a  month  : 
and  his  month  as  a  year;  and  when  seven  years  had  passed  over  him,  his  grand- 
father committed  him  to  a  schoolmaster,  whom  he  charged  to  educate  him  with  great 
care.  He  continued  at  the  school  four  years,  and  used  to  fight  with  his  schoolfellows, 
and  abuse  them,  saying  to  them,  Who  among  you  is  like  me  ?  J  am  the  son  of  the 
Vizier  of  Cairo. — So  the  boys  went  together  to  complain  to  the  monitor  of  that  which 
they  suffered  from  Agib ;  and  the  monitor  said  to  them,  I  will  teach  you  something 
to  say  to  him  when  he  cometh,  and  he  shall  repent  of  his  coming  to  the  school ;  and  it 
is  this :  to-morrow,  when  he  is  come,  seat  yourselves  around  him,  and  say  one  to 
another.  By  Allah,  none  shall  play  with  us  at  this  game  excepting  him  who  shall  tell 
us  the  name  of  his  mother  and  that  of  his  father:  and  he  who  knoweth  not  the  name 
of  his  mother  and  that  of  his  father  is  illegitimate ;  therefore  he  shall  not  play  with 
us.  Accordingly,  on  the  following  morning  they  came  to  the  school,  and  Agib  was 
there ;  and  the  boys  surrounded  him,  and  said  as  the  monitor  had  directed  them,  and 
they  all  agreed  to  the  proposal :  and  one  said,  My  name  is  Majid,  and  my  mother  is 
Alawi ;  and  my  father  is  Ezzeddin  : — then  another  said  after  the  same  manner,  and 
another,  and  so  on,  until  the  turn  came  to  Agib,  and  he  said  to  them,  My  name 
is  Agib,  and  my  mother  is  the  Lady  of  Beauty,  and  my  father  is  Sheinseddin  the 
Vizier  of  Cairo:  —  and  they  said  to  him,  By  Allah,  the  Vizier  is  not  thy  father. — 
Agib  replied,  the  Vizier  is  my  father  indeed  : — and  upon  this  the  boys  laughed  at 
him,  and  clapped  their  hands  at  him,  saying,  Thou  knowest  not  who  is  thy  father : 
get  away  from  us,  therefore  ;  for  none  shall  play  with  us  excepting  him  who  knoweth 
the  name  of  his  father; — and  immediately  the  boys  dispersed  from  around  him,  and 
made  a  jest  of  him.  In  consequence  of  this  treatment  his  heart  became  contracted, 
and  he  was  almost  choked  with  crying:  and  the  monitor  said  to  him.  Dost  thou 
really  consider  as  thy  father  him  who  is  thy  grandfather  the  Vizier,  the  father  of 
ihy  mother  the  Lady  of  Beauty?  Thy  father  thou  knowest  not,  nor  do  we  know 
him  ;  for  the  Sultan  married  her  to  the  humpbacked  groom,  and  the  Genie  came 
and  prevented  him :  so,  if  thou  know  not  thy  father,  they  will  regard  thee  among 
them  as  illegitimate.  Dost  thou  not  see  that  the  son  of  the  woman  who  is  coveted 
as  a  wife  knoweth  his  father?  The  Vizier  of  Cairo  is  thy  grandfather;  and  as  to 
thy  father,  we  know  him  not,  nor  dost  thou :  return  therefore  to  thy  reason. 

Upon  this,  Agib  went  immediately  to  his  mother,  the  Lady  of  Beauty,  and  com- 
plained to  her,  and  wept ;  and  his  weeping  prevented  his  speaking:  and  when  his 
mother  heard  his  complaint  and  his  crying,  her  heart  was  inflamed  for  him,  and  she 
said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  maketh  thee  weep?  Tell  me  thy  story.— So  he  told 
her  what  he  had  heard  from  the  boys  and  from  the  monitor,  and  said  to  her,  0  my 
mother,  who  is  my  father?  She  answered  him.  Thy  father  is  the  Vizier  of  Cairo. 
But  he  said,  He  is  not  my  father :  tell  me  not,  therefore,  what  is  false  ;  for  the  Vizier 
is  thy  father,  not  mine :  who  then  is  my  father  ?  If  thou  do  not  tell  me  truly,  I  will 
kill  myself  with  this  dagger.  —  And  when  his  mother  heard  the  mention  of 
his  father,  she  wept  at  the  allusion  to  the  son  of  her  uncle,  and  remembering  the 
amiable  qualities  of  Bedreddin  Hassan  of  Balsora,  and  what  had  happened  to  her- 
self and  him,  she  recited  an  ode  commencing  thus: — 

They  excited  love  in  my  heart,  and  departed  ;  and  far  distant  hath  their  abode  becomel 
Reason  forsook  me  when  they  withdrew,  and  sleep  and  patience  abandoned  me. 


112  NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS    SON, 

And  she  wept  and  cried  out,  and  her  son  did  the  same  ;  and  lo,  the  Vizier  entered. 
His  heart  burned  within  him  when  he  beheld  their  state,  and  he  said  to  them.  What 
causeth  you  to  weep  ?  She  acquainted  him  therefore  with  the  treatment  that  her  son 
had  experienced  from  the  other  boys  of  the  school :  and  he,  also,  wept,  and  called 
to  mind  what  had  happened  to  his  brother  and  himself  and  his  daughter,  and  he 
knew  not  the  mystery  of  the  case.  Then  suddenly  he  arose,  and,  going  up  to  the 
council-chamber,  presented  himself  before  the  King,  and  related  to  him  the  story, 
begging  his  permission  to  travel  eastward  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  that  he  might 
make  inquiries  respecting  the  son  of  his  brother;  and  requesting  also  of  the  Sultan 
that  he  would  write  letters  for  him  to  all  the  countries  through  which  he  might  pass, 
that,  if  he  found  the  son  of  his  brother  in  any  place,  he  might  take  him  away.  And 
he  wept  before  the  Sultan,  and  the  heart  of  the  King  was  moved  with  compassion 
for  him,  and  he  wrote  for  him  letters  to  all  the  regions  and  countries ;  upon  which 
the  Vizier  rejoiced,  and,  having  offered  up  a  prayer  for  the  Sultan,  took  leave  of 
him. 

He  descended  immediately  and  prepared  for  the  journey,  and,  taking  with  him  all 
that  he  required,  together  with  his  daughter  and  her  son  Agib,  travelled  the  first 
day  and  the  second  and  the  third,  and  proceeded  until  he  arrived  at  the  city  of 
Damascus,  and  beheld  it  with  its  trees  and  streams,  celebrated  by  the  poets.  He 
alighted  in  the  open  space  called  Meidan  el-Hasba,  and  when  he  had  pitched  his 
tents,  said  to  his  servants.  We  will  take  rest  here  two  days.  So  the  servants  entered 
the  city  to  gratify  their  various  desires ;  one  to  sell,  another  to  buy,  a  third  to  enter 
the  bath,  and  a  fourth  to  visit  the  mosque  of  the  Benie  Umiah,  which  hath  not  in 
the  world  its  equal.  Agib  also  entered  the  city,  accompanied  by  his  eunuch,  in 
order  to  amuse  themselves;  and  the  eunuch  walked  behind  Agib,  having  in  his  hand 
a  whip  that  would  strike  down  a  camel.  And  when  the  people  of  Damascus  beheld' 
Agib,  and  his  elegance  of  form  and  perfect  beauty,  and  observed  him  to  be  endowed 
with  admirable  loveliness,  and  with  kindness  of  manner,  more  bland  than  the 
northern  zephyr,  sweeter  than  limpid  water  to  the  thirsty,  and  more  pleasant  than 
health  to  the  diseased,  they  followed  him,  running  after  him  in  crowds ;  and  some 
sat  waiting  in  the  streets  to  see  him  pass.  Thus  did  they  until  the  slave,  as  destiny 
had  ordained,  stopped  before  the  shop  of  Agib's  father,  Bedreddin  Hassan,  in  which 
the  cook,  who  had  acknowledged  him  as  his  adopted  son  in  the  presence  of  the  Cadies 
and  witnesses,  had  established  him  ;  and  this  cook  had  died,  and  left  him  all  his 
property,  together  with  his  shop. 

When  the  slave  stopped  there  on  this  day,  the  servants  also  stopped  with  him : 
and  Bedreddin  Hassan  beheld  his  son,  and  was  charmed  with  him,  observing  his 
extreme  beauty ;  his  soul  yearned  towards  him  with  natural  sympathy,  and  his 
heart  clung  to  him.  He  had  just  prepared  a  conserve  of  pomegranate-grains,  sweet- 
ened with  sugar ;  and  the  affection  divinely  inspired  increased  in  him  ;  so  he  called 
out  in  ecstacy,  and  said,  0  my  master,  0  thou  who  hast  captivated  my  heart  and 
soul,  and  to  whom  my  affections  are  drawn  by  sympathy  !  wilt  thou  come  in  to  me 
and  refresh  my  heart  and  eat  of  my  food  ?  and  when  he  had  said  this,  his  eyes  over- 
flowed with  involuntary  tears,  and  he  reflected  upon  his  past  experience  and  his 
condition  at  the  present  time.  When  Agib  heard  the  address  of  his  father,  his 
heart  was  in  like  manner  drawn  towards  hira  by  sympathy,  and  he  looked  towards 
the  eunuch,  and  said  to  him,  Verily  my  heart  is  moved  with  sympathy  for  this  cook: 
he  seemeth  to  have  parted  with  a  son :  come  in  with  us,  therefore,  that  we  may 
refresh  his  heart  and  eat  his  offering  of  hospitality:  perhaps  God,  through  our  so 
doing,  may  accomplish  our  union  with  our  father.  But  the  eunuch  replied.  By 
Allah,  0  my  master,  it  is  not  proper.  How  should  we,  who  are  of  the  family  of  the 
Vizier,  eat  in  the  shop  of  a  cook  ?  I  will,  however,  drive  away  the  people  from  thee, 
lest  they  see  thee;  otherwise  it  will  be  impossible  for  thee  to  enter  the  shop. — On 
hearing  the  reply  of  the  eunuch,  Bedreddin  was  surprised,  and,  looking  towards  him, 
while  his  tears  flowed  down  his  cheeks,  said  to   him.  Verily  my  heart  loveth   him 


AND    SHEMSEDDIN    AND    HIS    DAUGHTER.  113 

Let  us  hear  no  more  of  these  words,  said  the  eunuch:  —  and  he  desired  the  youth 
not  to  enter:  but  the  father  of  Agib  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  eunuch,  and  said.  Great 
sir,  wherefore  wilt  thou  not  refresh  my  heart  and  come  in  to  me  ?  0  thou  who 
resemblest  black  dust,  but  whose  heart  is  white !  0  thou  who  hast  been  described 
in  such  and  such  terms  of  praise! — so  that  the  eunuch  laughed,  and  said,  What 
wouldst  thou  say?     Speak,  and  be  brief.     And  Bedreddin  recited  this  couplet: 

Were  it  not  for  his  accomplishments  and  admirable  faithfulness,  he  had  not  been  invested  with 

authority  in  the  abode  of  Kings. 
What  an  excellent  guardian  for  the  harem  is  he !     On  account  of  his  beauty  the  angels  of 

heaven  wait  upon  him  ! 

This  address  pleased  the  eunuch  so  much  that  he  took  the  hand  of  Agib  and  entered 
the  cook's  shop  ;  and  Bedreddin  ladled  out  a  saucerful  of  conserve  of  pomegranate- 
grains,  prepared  with  almonds  and  sugar,  and  the  slave  and  the  youth  ate  together ; 
Bedreddin  saying  to  them,  Ye  have  delighted  me  by  your  company  :  eat,  and  may 
it  benefit  you  !  Agib  then  said  to  his  father.  Sit  down  and  eat  with  us  ;  and  perhaps 
God  will  unite  us  to  him  whom  we  desire.  And  Bedreddin  said,  0  my  son,  hast 
thou  been  afflicted  in  thy  tender  years  by  the  separation  of  those  whom  thou  lovest? 
— Yes,  0  uncle,  answered  Agib  ;  my  heart  is  inflamed  by  the  absence  of  one  of 
those  who  are  dear  to  me :  the  friend  who  hath  withdrawn  himself  from  me  is  my 
father,  and  I  and  my  grandfather  have  come  abroad  to  search  for  him  through  the 
world ;  and  how  do  I  sigh  for  my  union  with  him  ! — And  he  wept  bitterly;  and  his 
father,  moved  by  his  tears,  wept  with  him,  reflecting  upon  his  own  desolate  state, 
separated  from  those  he  loved,  deprived  of  his  father,  and  far  removed  from  his 
mother;  and  the  eunuch  was  moved  with  compassion  for  him. 

They  all  ate  together  until  they  were  satisfied  ;  after  which,  the  youth  and  the 
slave  arose,  and  quitted  the  shop  of  Bedreddin,  who  felt  as  if  his  soul  had  departed 
from  his  body  and  gone  with  them.  He  could  not  endure  their  absence  for  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye ;  so  he  shut  up  his  shop  and  followed  them,  though  ignorant 
that  the  youth  was  his  son,  and  walked  quickly  until  he  came  up  to  them  before 
they  had  gone  out  from  the  great  gate ;  whereupon  the  eunuch,  looking  back  at 
him,  said,  What  dost  thou  want,  0  cook  ?  Bedreddin  answered.  When  ye  departed 
from  me  I  felt  as  if  my  soul  had  quitted  my  body,  and,  having  some  business  in  the 
suburb,  I  was  desirous  of  accompanying  you  to  transact  my  business,  and,  after 
that,  to  return.  But  the  eunuch  was  angry,  and  said  to  Agib,  Verily  this  repast 
was  unlucky:  respectful  treatment  hath  become  incumbent  on  us;  and  see,  he  is 
following  us  from  place  to  place.  Agib  therefore  looked  round,  and,  seeing  the 
cook,  was  enraged,  and  his  face  became  red;  but  he  said  to  the  eunuch,  Sufi'er  him 
to  walk  in  the  public  road  of  the  Mahometans ;  but  when  we  shall  have  turned  from 
it  to  our  tents,  if  he  do  the  same,  and  we  know  that  he  is  following  us,  we  will  drive 
him  back.  And  he  hung  down  his  bead  and  went  on,  with  the  eunuch  behind  him. 
Bedreddin,  however,  followed  them  to  the  Meidan  el-Hasba,  and  when  they  had 
drawn  near  to  the  tents  they  looked  back  and  saw  him  behind  them  ;  and  Agib  was 
angry,  fearing  that  the  eunuch  might  inform  his  grandfather,  and  lest  it  should  be 
said  that  he  had  entered  the  cook's  shop,  and  that  the  cook  had  followed  him.  He 
looked  at  him  till  his  eyes  met  the  eye  of  his  father,  who  had  become  as  a  body 
without  a  soul;  and  he  fancied  that  his  eye  bore  an  expression  of  deceit,  and  that 
he  was  perhaps  a  knave  ;  so  his  anger  increased,  and  he  took  up  a  stone  and  threw 
it  at  his  father,  and  the  stone  struck  him  on  the  forehead,  and  wounded  him,  and  he 
fell  down  in  a  swoon,  the  blood  flowing  over  his  face.  Agib  went  on  with  the 
eunuch  to  the  tents ;  and  Bedreddin  Hassan,  when  he  recovered  his  senses,  wiped 
ofi"  the  blood,  and  having  cut  ofi"  a  piece  of  linen  from  his  turban,  bound  up  his 
head  with  it,  blaming  himself,  and  saying,  I  wronged  the  youth  when  I  shut  up  my 
shop  and  followed  him,  so  he  thought  I  was  a  deceiver.     He  then  returned  to  his 


114  NOUREDDIN    AND   HIS    SON, 

shop,  and  occupied  himself  with  the  sale  of  his  meats;  and  he  yearned  with  desire 
for  his  mother,  who  was  at  Balsora. 

The  Vizier,  his  uncle,  remained  at  Damascus  three  days,  and  then  departed  to 
Emaus,  and,  having  entered  this  town,  proceeded  thence,  inquiring  at  every  place 
where  he  halted  in  his  journey,  until  he  had  arrived  at  Mardin  and  Mosul  and  Diar- 
beker.  He  continued  his  journey  until  he  arrived  at  the  city  of  Balsora,  and  when 
he  had  entered  it,  and  taken  up  his  quarters,  he  went  and  presented  himself  before 
the  Sultan,  who  received  him  with  respect  and  honour,  and  inquired  the  reason  of 
his  coming:  so  he  acquainted  him  with  his  story,  and  informed  him  that  the  Vizier 
Noureddin  Ali  was  his  brother.  The  Sultan  ejaculated,  God  have  mercy  upon  him  ! 
— and  said,  0  my  Lord,  he  was  my  Vizier,  and  I  loved  him  much :  he  died  twelve 
years  ago,  and  left  a  son ;  but  we  have  lost  him,  and  have  heard  no  tidings  of  him : 
his  mother,  however,  is  with  us,  for  she  is  the  daughter  of  my  old  Vizier.  On  hear- 
ing from  the  King  that  the  mother  of  his  nephew  was  alive,  the  Vizier  Shemseddin 
rejoiced  and  said,  I  am  desirous  of  having  an  interview  with  her.  And  the  King 
gave  him  immediate  permission  to  visit  her  at  his  brother's  house:  so  he  went 
thither,  and  kissed  the  threshold,  and  entering  an  open  court,  found  a  door  over- 
arched with  hard  stone,  inlaid  with  various  kinds  of  marble  of  every  colour;  and  he 
walked  along  by  the  walls  of  the  house,  and  as  he  cast  his  eyes  around  upon  them 
he  observed  the  name  of  his  brother  Noureddin  inscribed  on  them  in  characters  of 
gold  ;  and  he  went  to  the  name,  and  kissed  it,  and  wept.  He  then  advanced  to  the 
saloon  of  his  brother's  wife,  the  mother  of  Bedreddin  Hassan  of  Balsora.  During 
the  absence  of  her  son  she  had  given  herself  up  to  weeping  and  wailing  night  and 
day  ;  and  after  she  had  long  suffered  from  his  separation  she  made  for  her  son  a 
tomb  of  marble  in  the  midst  of  the  saloon,  where  she  wept  for  him  night  and  day; 
sleeping  nowhere  but  by  this  tomb.  And  when  Shemseddin  arrived  at  her  apart- 
ment he  heard  her  voice  apostrophizing  the  tomb ;  and  while  she  was  thus  occupied 
he  entered  and  saluted  her,  and  informed  her  that  he  was  her  husband's  brother, 
acquainting  her  with  what  had  passed,  and  revealing  to  her  the  particulars  of  the 
etory.  He  told  her  that  her  son  Bedreddin  Hassan  had  passed  a  whole  night  with 
his  daughter,  and  disappeared  in  the  morning,  and  that  his  daughter  had  borne  him 
a  son,  whom  he  had  brought  with  him  ;  and  when  she  heard  this  news 'of  her  son, 
and  that  he  was  perhaps  still  living,  and  beheld  her  husband's  brother,  she  fell  at 
his  feet  and  kissed  them,  addressing  him  with  this  couplet: — 

Divinely  is  he  inspired  who  acquainteth  me  with  their  approach ;  for  he  hath  brought  infor- 
mation most  delightful  to  be  heard. 

If  he  would  be  satisfied  with  that  which  is  cast  off,  I  would  give  him  a  heart  rent  in  pieces  at 
the  hour  of  valediction. 

The  Vizier  then  sent  to  bring  Agib  ;  and  when  he  came,  his  grandmother  rose  to 
him,  and  embraced  him,  and  wept;  but  Shemseddin  said  to  her,  This  is  not  a  time 
for  weeping,  but  rather  a  time  for  preparing  thyself  to  accompany  us  on  our  return 
to  the  land  of  Egypt:  and  perhaps  God  may  unite  us  with  thy  son,  my  nephew. 
She  replied,  I  hear  and  obey : — and,  arising  immediately,  collected  all  her  property 
and  treasures,  and  her  female  slaves,  and  forthwith  prepared  herself;  after  which 
the  Vizier  Shemseddin  went  up  again  to  the  Sultan  of  Balsora,  and  took  leave  of 
him  ;  and  the  King  sent  with  him  presents  and  rarities  for  the  Sultan  of  Egypt. 

The  Vizier  departed  without  delay,  accompanied  by  his  brother's  wife,  and  con- 
tinued his  journey  until  he  arrived  at  the  city  of  Damascus,  where  he  alighted 
again,  and  encamped,  and  said  to  his  attendants.  We  will  remain  at  Damascus  a 
week,  to  buy  for  the  Sultan  presents  and  rarities.  Agib  then  said  to  the  eunuch, 
Boy,  I  long  for  a  little  diversion  ;  arise,  therefore,  and  let  us  go  to  the  market  of 
Damascus,  and  see  what  is  going  on  there,  and  what  hath  happened  to  that  cook 
whose  confection  we  ate  and  whoso  head  we  broke,  notwithstanding  he  had  treated 
v(,  with  kindness :  we  acted  ill  towards  him.     The  eunuch  replied,  I  hear  and  obey 


AND  SHEMSEDDIN  AND  HIS  DAUGHTER. 


115 


— and  Agib  went  forth  with  him  from  the  tents,  the  tie  of  blood  exciting  him  to  vis?* 
his  father  ;  and  they  entered  the  city,  and  proceeded  to  the  shop  of  the  cook,  whom 
they  found  standing  there.  It  was  then  near  the  time  of  afternoon-prayer  ;  and  it 
happened  that  he  had  again  just  prepared  a  confection  of  pomegranate-grains  ;  and 
when  they  drew  near  to  him,  the  heart  of  Agib  yearned  towards  him  when  he  saw 
him,  and  he  perceived  the  scar  occasioned  by  the  stone  that  he  had  thrown.  He 
said  to  him.  Peace  be  on  thee !  Know  that  my  heart  is  with  thee. — And  when  Bed- 
reddin  beheld  him,  his  affections  were  engrossed  by  him,  and  his  heart  throbbed 
with  emotion  towards  him,  and  he  hung  down  his  head,  desiring  to  adapt  his  tongue 
to  speech,  and  unable  to  do  so  ;  but  presently  he  raised  his  head,  and,  looking  towards 
the  youth  in  an  humble  and  abject  manner,  recited  these  verses  :— 

I  wished  for  my  beloved ;  but  when  I  beheld  him  I  was  confounded,  and  possessed  neither 

tongue  nor  eye. 
I  hung  down  my  head  in  honour  and  reverence,  and  would  have  hidden  what  I  felt ;  but  U 

would  not  be  concealed. 
I  had  prepared  a  volume  of  expostulation  ;  but  when  we  met  I  remembered  not  a  word. 

He  then  said  to  them.  Refresh  ye  my  heart,  and  eat  of  my  food  ;  for,  by  Allah,  as 
soon  as  I  beheld  thee,  my  heart  yearned  towards  thee,  and  I  had  not  followed  thee 
unless  I  had  been  deprived  of  my  reason. — By  Allah,  replied  Agib,  tho-u  dost  indeed 
love  us,  and  we  ate  a  morsel  with  thee  ;  but  after  it  thou  keptest  close  behind  us  and 
wouldst  have  disgraced  us :  we  will  not  eat  again  with  thee,  therefore,  but  on  the 
condition  of  thy  swearing  that  thou  wilt  not  follow  us ;  and  otherwise  we  will  not 
come  to  thee  again  henceforth ;  for  we  are  staying  at  this  city  a  week,  in  order  that 
my  grandfather  may  procure  presents  for  the  king. — I  bind  myself,  said  Bedreddin, 
to  do  as  ye  desire.  So  Agib  entered  the  shop  with  the  eunuch,  and  Bedreddin  placed 
before  them  a  saucer  filled  with  the  confection  of  pomegranate-grains ;  upon  which 
Agib  said  to  him.  Eat  with  us  ;  and  may  God  dispel  our  affliction  ; — and  Bedreddin 
was  delighted,  and  he  ate  with  them  ;  but  he  turned  not  his  eyes  from  the  youth ; 
for  his  heart  and  all  his  faculties  were  captivated  by  him.  Agib,  observing  this, 
said  to  him,  Knowest  thou  not  that  I  told  thee  thou  wast  a  rude  doter?  Enough  of 
this:  continue  not  to  gaze  at  my  face.  Bedreddin,  therefore,  apologised  to  him,  and 
began  to  put  morsels  into  the  mouth  of  Agib,  and  then  did  the  same  to  the  eunuch. 


Bedreddin  waiting  upon  his  Son  and  the  Eunueh. 


Afterwards  he  poured  the  water  upon  their  hands,  and  when  they  had  washed  he 
loosed  a  napkin  of  silk  from  his  waist  and  wiped  them  with  it.  lie  next  sprinkled 
rose  water  upon  them  from  a  bottle  that  was  in  his  shop,  and  went  out,  and  returned 


116  NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS   SON, 

with  two  cups  of  sherbet  prepared  with  rose-water  infused  with  musk,  and,  pKoing 
these  before  them,  he  said.  Complete  your  kindness.  So  Agib  took  a  cup  and  drank; 
and  Bedreddin  handed  the  other  to  the  eunuch  ;  and  both  drank  until  their  stomachs 
were  full,  and  gratified  their  appetites  to  a  degree  beyond  their  usual  habit. 

They  then  departed,  and  hastened  back  to  the  tents,  and  Agib  went  in  to  his  grand- 
mother, the  mother  of  his  father  Bedreddin  Hassan  ;  and  she  kissed  him,  and  said, 
Where  hast  thou  been?  He  answered.  In  the  city.  And  she  arose,  and  brought  him 
a  saucer  of  confection  of  pomegranate-grains,  which  happened  to  be  somewhat  de- 
ficient in  sweetness ;  and  she  said  to  the  eunuch.  Sit  down  with  thy  master.  The 
eunuch  said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  we  have  no  appetite.  He,  however,  seated 
himself,  and  Agib  did  the  same,  though  satiated  with  what  he  had  eaten  and  drunk, 
and  dipped  a  morsel  of  bread  in  the  confection,  and  ate  it ;  but  it  seemed  to  him  in- 
sipid, on  account  of  his  being  thus  cloyed,  and  he  loathed  it,  and  said.  What  is  this 
nasty  dish? — 0  my  child,  said  his  grandmother,  dost  thou  find  fault  with  my 
cookery?  It  was  I  who  prepared  it;  and  excepting  thy  father,  Bedreddin  Hassan, 
there  is  none  who  can  cook  it  as  well  as  myself. — By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  replied 
Agib,  this  thy  dish  is  not  well  prepared:  we  have  just  now  seen  in  the  city  a  cook 
who  had  prepared  a  confection  of  pomegranate-grains,  but  its  odour  was  such  as  to 
dilate  the  heart,  and  the  confection  itself  such  as  to  excite  appetite  in  one  already 
satiated  ;  as  to  thine,  in  comparison  with  his,;itis  good  for  nothing. 

His  grandmother,  on  hearing  this,  fell  into  a  violent  rage,  and  turning  towards 
the  eunuch,  said  to  him.  Wo  to  thee  !  Hast  thou  corrupted  my  child  ?  Thou  hast 
taken  him  into  the  shops  of  the  cooks  ! — The  eunuch  feared,  and  denied,  saying.  We 
did  not  enter  the  shop,  but  only  passed  by  it : — but  Agib  said,  By  Allah,  we  entered 
and  ate,  and  what  we  ate  was  better  than  this  mess  of  thine.  And  upon  this  hia 
grandmother  arose,  and  informed  her  husband's  brother,  and  incensed  him  against 
the  eunuch.  The  slave  was  therefore  brought  before  the  Vizier,  and  he  said  to  him, 
Wherefore  didst  thou  take  my  child  into  the  cook's  shop?  The  eunuch,  fearing, 
said  again.  We  did  not  enter. — Nay,  said  Agib,  we  did  enter,  and  ate  of  a  confection 
of  pomegranate-grains,  until  we  were  satiated,  and  the  cook  gave  us  to  drink  sherbet 
with  ice  and  sugar.  The  Vizier's  anger  with  the  eunuch  now  increased,  and  he 
asked  him  again  ;  but  still  he  denied.  Then  said  the  Vizier,  If  thine  assertion  be 
true,  sit  down  and  eat  before  us.  The  eunuch  therefore  advanced  and  would  have 
eaten;  but  he  could  not;  and  he  threw  down  the  morsel  that  was  in  his  hand,  and 
said,  0  my  master,  I  am  satiated  since  yesterday.  And  by  this  the  Vizier  knew  that 
he  had  eaten  in  the  shop  of  the  cook:  so  he  ordered  the  female  slaves  to  throw  him 
down  upon  the  ground,  and  they  did  so,  and  he  gave  him  a  severe  beating,  while  the 
slave  cried  for  mercy,  but  still  saying,  I  am  satiated  since  yesterday!  The  Vizier 
then  interrupted  the  beating,  and  said  to  him.  Declare  the  truth.  And  at  length 
the  eunuch  said.  Know  that  we  did  enter  the  shop  of  the  cook  while  he  was  cook- 
ing pomegranate-grains,  and  he  ladled  out  for  us  some  of  the  confection,  and,  by 
Allah,  I  never  in  my  life  ate  any  like  it,  or  any  more  detestable  than  this  which  is 
before  us. 

The  mother  of  Bedreddin,  enraged  at  this,  said.  Thou  shalt  go  to  this  cook  and 
bring  us  a  saucerful  of  his  confection,  and  show  it  to  thy  master,  that  he  may  say 
which  of  the  two  is  the  better  and  the  more  delicious. — Very  well,  replied  the 
eunuch;  and  immediately  she  gave  him  a  saucer,  and  half  a  piece  of  gold;  and  he 
went  to  the  shop,  and  said  to  the  cook.  We  have  laid  a  wager  respecting  thy  confec- 
tion at  the  tent  of  our  master;  for  there  is' a  mess  of  pomegranate-grains  cooked  by 
the  family;  give  us,  therefore  for  this  half  piece  of  gold,  and  apply  thyself  to  pre- 
pare it  perfectly;  for  we  have  received  an  excruciating  beating  on  account  of  thy 
cookery.  Laughing  at  these  words.  Bedridden  replied.  By  Allah,  none  excelleth  in 
the  preparation  of  this  confection  excepting  myself  and  my  mother,  and  she  is  now 
in  a  distant  country.  And  he  ladled  out  as  much  as  filled  the  saucer,  and  perfected 
it  by  the  addition  of  some  musk  and  rose-water.     The  eunuch  then  hastened  back 


AND   SHEMSEDDIN   AND   HIS   DAUGHTER.  117 

with  it  to  the  family;  and  the  mother  of  Hassan  took  it,  and  tasting  its  delicioua 
savour,  immediately  knew  who  had  prepared  it,  and  shrieked,  and  fell  down  in  a 
swoon.  The  Vizier  was  amazed  at  the  event ;  and  they  sprinkled  some  rose-water 
upon  her,  and  when  she  recovered  she  said.  If  my  son  be  yet  in  the  world,  no  one 
but  he  cooked  this  confection  :  he  is  my  son  Bedreddin  Hassan  without  doubt:  for 
none  but  he  can  prepare  this,  excepting  myself,  and  it  was  I  who  taught  him  to 
do  it. 

When  the  Vizier  heard  these  words,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  exclaimed,  0 
how  I  long  to  behold  my  brother's  son  !  Will  fortune,  indeed,  unite  us  with  him  ? 
But  I  look  not  for  our  union  from  any  but  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  — And  he 
instantly  arose,  and  called  out  to  his  male  attendants,  saying,  Let  twenty  men  of 
you  go  to  the  shop  of  the  cook,  and  demolish  it,  and  bind  his  hands  behind  him  with 
his  turban,  and  drag  him  hither  by  force,  but  without  any  injury  to  his  person. 
They  replied.  Well.  The  Vizier  then  rode  immediately  to  the  palace,  and,  present- 
ing himself  before  the  Viceroy  of  Damascus,  showed  him  the  contents  of  the  letters 
which  he  had  brought  from  the  Sultan  ;  and  the  Viceroy,  after  kissing  them,  put 
them  to  his  head,  and  said,  Who  is  thine  offender?  He  answered,  A  man  who  is  by 
trade  a  cook.  And  instantly  the  Viceroy  ordered  his  chamberlains  to  repair  to  his 
shop  ;  and  they  went  thither ;  but  found  it  demolished,  and  everything  that  had  beeu 
in  it  broken  ;  for  when  the  Vizier  went  to  the  palace,  his  servants  did  as  he  had 
commanded  them.  They  were  then  waiting  his  return  from  the  palace:  and  Be 
dreddin  was  saying  within  himself.  What  can  they  have  discovered  in  the  confection, 
that  such  an  event  as  this  should  have  befallen  me?  And  when  the  Vizier  returned 
from  the  Viceroy,  and  had  received  his  permission  to  take  his  offender  and  to  depart 
with  him,  he  entered  the  encampment,  and  called  for  the  cook.  They  brought  him, 
therefore,  with  his  hands  bound  behind  him  with  his  turban  ;  and  when  he  saw  his 
uncle  he  wept  bitterly,  and  said,  O  my  master,  what  crime  have  ye  found  in 
me  ?  The  Vizier  said  to  him.  Art  thou  he  who  cooked  the  confection  of  pomegranate- 
grains?  He  answered.  Yes:  and  have  ye  found  in  it  anything  that  requires  one's 
head  to  be  struck  off?  This,  replied  the  Vizier,  is  the  smallest  part  of  thy  recom- 
pense.— Wilt  thou  not,  said  Bedreddin,  acquaint  me  with  my  crime?  The  Vizier 
answered.  Yea,  immediately.  And  forthwith  he  called  out  to  the  young  men,  saying, 
Bring  the  camels ! 

They  then  took  Bedreddin,  and  put  him  in  a  chest,  and  having  locked  him  up  in 
it,  commenced  their  journey,  and  continued  on  their  way  till  the  approach  of  night, 
when  they  halted,  and  ate,  and,  taking  out  Bedreddin,  fed  him  ;  after  which  they 
put  him  again  into  the  chest,  and  in  like  manner  proceeded  to  another  station.  Here 
also  they  took  him  out ;  and  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  Art  thou  he  who  cooked  the 
confection  of  pomegranate-grains?  He  answered.  Yes,  0  my  master.  And  the 
Vizier  said.  Shackle  his  feet.  And  they  did  so,  and  restored  him  to  the  chest.  They 
then  continued  their  journey  to  Cairo ;  and  when  they  arrived  at  the  quarter  called 
Redaniah,  the  Vizier  commanded  them  to  take  out  Bedreddin  again  from  the  chest, 
and  to  bring  a  carpenter,  to  whom  he  said,  Make  for  this  man  a  cross. — What,  said 
Bedreddin,  dost  thou  mean  to  do  with  it?  The  Vizier  answered,  I  will  crucify  thee 
upon  it,  and  nail  thee  to  it,  and  then  parade  thee  about  the  city. — Wherefore,  de- 
manded Bedreddin,  wilt  thou  treat  me  thus?  The  Vizier  replied.  For  thy  faulty 
preparation  of  the  confection  of  pomegranate-grains,  because  thou  madest  it  deficient 
in  pepper.  Because  of  its  deficiency  in  pepper,  exclaimed  Bedreddin,  wilt  thou  do 
all  this  to  me?  Art  thou  not  satisfied  with  having  thus  imprisoned  me,  and  fed  me 
every  day  with  only  one  meal? — The  Vizier  answered.  For  its  deficiency  in  pepper, 
thy  recompense  shall  be  nothing  less  than  death.  And  Bedreddin  was  amazed,  and 
bewailed  his  lot,  and  remained  a  while  absorbed  in  reflection.  The  Vizier,  therefore, 
said  to  him,  Of  what  art  thou  thinking?  He  answered.  Of  imbecile  minds,  such  as 
thine:  for  if  thou  wert  a  man  of  sense  thou  wouldst  not  have  treated  me  in  this 
manner  on  account  of  the  deficiency  of  pepper.  —  It  is  incumbent  on  us,  replied  the 


118 


NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS   SON, 


Vizier,  to  punish  thee,  that  thou  mayest  not  do  the  like  again : — to  which  Bedreddic 
rejoined,  The  least  of  the  things  thou  hast  done  to  me  were  a  sufficient  punishment. 
The  Vizier,  however,  said,  Thy  death  is  unavoidable.  —  All  this  conversation  took 
place  while  the  carpenter  was  preparing  the  cross  ;  and  Bedreddin  was  looking  on. 

Thus  they  both  continued  until  the  approach  of  night,  when  Bedreddin's  uncle 
took  him  and  put  him  again  into  the  chest,  saying,  To-morrow  shall  be  thy  cruci- 
fixion. He  then  waited  until  he  perceived  that  he  was  asleep ;  upon  which  he 
remounted,  and  with  the  chest  borne  before  him,  entered  the  city,  and  repaired  to 
his  house :  and  when  he  had  arrived  there  he  said  to  his  daughter,  the  Lady  of  _ 
Bea,uty,  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  restored  to  thee  the  son  of  thine  uncle  !  Arise, 
and  furnish  the  house  aa  it  was  on  the  night  of  the  bridal  display.  She  therefore 
ordered  her  female  slaves  to  do  so;  and  they  arose,  and  lighted  the  candles;  and  the 
Vizier  brought  out  the  paper  upon  which  he  had  written  his  inventory  of  the  furni- 
ture of  the  house,  and  read  it,  and  ordered  them  to  put  everything  in  its  place,  so 
that  the  beholder  would  not  doubt  that  this  was  the  very  night  of  the  bridal  display. 
He  directed  them  to  put  Bedreddin's  turban  in  the  place  where  its  owner  had  de- 
posited it,  and  in  like  manner  the  trousers,  and  the  purse  which  was  beneath  the 
mattrass,  and  ordered  his  daughter  to  adorn  herself  as  she  was  on  the  bridal  night, 
and  to  enter  the  bride-chamber;  saying  to  her.  When  the  son  of  thine  uncle  comes 
into  thy  chamber,  say  to  him.  Thou  hast  loitered  since  thou  withdrewest  from  me 
this  night;  —  and  request  him  to  return  and  converse  with  thee  till  day.  — Having 
thus  arranged  everything,  the  Vizier  took  out  Bedreddin  from  the  chest,  removed  the 
shackles  from  his  feet,  and  stripped  him  of  his  outer  clothes,  leaving  him  in  hia 
shirt 

All  this  was  done  while  he  was 
asleep,  unconscious  of  what  was 
passing  ;  and  when  he  awoke,  and 
found  himself  in  an  illuminated 
vestibule,  he  said  within  himself, 
Am  I  bewildered  by  dreams,  or  am 
I  awake?  Then  arising,  he  ad- 
vanced a  little  way  to  an  inner 
door,  and  looked,  and  lo,  ho  was  in 
the  house  in  which  the  bride  had 
been  displayed,  and  he  beheld  the 
bride-chamber  and  the  couch,  and 
his  turban  and  clothes.  Con- 
founded at  the  sight  of  these 
things,  he  took  one  step  forwards 
and  another  backwards,  thinking» 
,Am  I  asleep  or  awake  ?  And  he  be- 
gan to  wipe  his  forehead,  and  ex- 
claimed in  his  astonishment.  By 
Allah,  this  is  the  dwelling  of  the 
bride  who  was  here  displayed  be- 
fore me:  and  yet  I  was  just  now 
in  a  chest.  And  while  he  was  ad- 
dressing himself,  behold,  the  Lady  of  Beauty  lifted  up  the  corner  of  the  musquito- 
curtain,  and  said,  0  my  master,  wilt  thou  not  come  in?  for  thou  hast  loitered  since 
thou  withdrewest  from  me  this  night.  When  he  heard  these  words  he  looked  at 
her  face  and  laughed,  and  said,  Veriry,  these  appearances  are  bewildering  illusions 
of  a  dream  !  Then  entering,  he  sighed :  and  as  he  reflected  upon  what  had  hap- 
pened to  him,  he  was  perplexed  at  his  situation,  and  his  case  seemed  involved  in 
obscurity.     Looking  at  his  turban  and  trousers,  and  the  purse  containing  th'  thou- 


Bedreddin's  perplexity. 


NOUREDDIN   AND   HIS   SON,  ETC.  119 

sand  pieces  of  gold,  he  exclaimed,  Allah  is  all-knowing! — but  it  seemeth  to  me  that 
I  am  bewildered  by  dreams  !  And  he  was  confounded  in  the  excess  of  his  astonish- 
ment. Upon  this,  therefore,  the  Lady  of  Beauty  said  to  him.  Wherefore  do  I  behold 
thee  thus  astonished  and  perplexed  ?  Thou  wast  not  so  in  the  commencement  of 
the  night.  And  he  laughed,  and  asked  her.  How  many  years  have  I  been  absent 
from  thee?  —  Allah  preserve  thee !  she  exclaimed.  The  name  of  Allah  encompass 
thee !  Thou  hast  only  withdrawn  to  yonder  apartment.  What  hath  passed  in  thj 
mind? — On  hearing  this  he  smiled,  and  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth  ;  but  when 
I  withdrew  from  thee,  sleep  overcame  me :  and  I  dreamt  that  I  was  a  cook  in  Da- 
mascus, and  that  I  lived  there  twelve  years  ;  and  I  thought  that  a  youth  of  the  sons 
of  the  great  came  to  me,  accompanied  by  a  eunuch.  —  And  he  proceeded  to  relate 
what  had  happened  to  him  in  consequence  of  this  youth's  visit;  then  drawing  his 
hand  over  his  forehead,  he  felt  the  scar  occasioned  by  the  blow,  and  exclaimed.  By 
Allah,  0  my  mistress,  it  seemeth  as  though  it  were  true ;  for  he  struck  me  with  a 
stone  upon  my  forehead,  and  cut  it  open  ;  it  seemeth,  therefore,  as  though  this  had 
really  happened  when  I  was  awake:  but  probably  this  dream  occurred  when  we 
were  both  asleep.  I  imagined  in  my  dream  that  I  was  transported  to  Damascus, 
without  tarboosh  or  turban  or  trousers,  and  that  I  followed  the  occupation  of  a  cook. 
— And  again,  for  a  while,  he  remained  utterly  confounded.  He  then  said,  By  Allah, 
I  imagined  that  I  made  a  confection  of  pomegranate-grains  containing  but  little 
pepper.  Verily  I  must  have  been  asleep,  and  in  my  sleep  have  seen  all  this.  —  I 
conjure  thee  by  Allah,  said  the  Lady  of  Beauty,  tell  me  what  more  thou  sawest? 
And  he  related  to  her  the  whole ;  and  added.  If  I  had  not  awaked,  they  would  have 
crucified  me  upon  a  wooden  cross.  —  On  account  of  what?  said  she.  He  answered. 
On  account  of  the  deficiency  of  pepper  in  the  confection  of  pomegranate-grains ; 
and  I  imagined  that  they  demolished  my  shop,  and  broke  all  my  vessels,  and  put 
me  in  a  chest,  and  brought  the  carpenter  to  make  a  cross  of  wood  ;  for  they  intended 
to  crucify  me  upon  it.  Praise  be  to  God,  therefore,  who  caused  all  this  to  occur  to 
me  in  sleep,  and  caused  it  not  to  happen  to  me  when  I  was  awake !  —  The  Lady  of 
Beauty,  laughing  at  his  words,  pressed  him  to  her  bosom,  and  he  in  like  manner 
embraced  her.  Then  reflecting  again,  he  said,  By  Allah,  it  seems  as  if  it  had  hap- 
pened when  I  was  awake  ;  and  I  knew  not  the  reason,  nor  the  truth  of  the  case. — 
And  he  composed  himself  to  sleep,  perplexed  with  his  case,  and  sometimes  saying, 
I  saw  it  in  my  sleep: — and  at  other  times,  I  experienced  it  awake. 

Thus  he  continued  until  the  morning,  when  his  uncle,  the  Vizier  Shemseddin, 
catme  in  to  him  and  saluted  him  ;  and  Bedreddin,  as  soon  as  he  beheld  him,  ex- 
claimed, I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  tell  me  art  not  thou  he  who  gave  orders  to  bind 
my  hands  behind  me,  and  to  nail  up  my  shop,  on  account  of  the  confection  of  pome- 
granate-grains, because  it  was  deficient  in  pepper?  The  Vizier  answered.  Know,  0 
my  son,  that  the  truth  hath  appeared,  and  what  was  hidden  hath  been  manifested. 
Thou  art  the  son  of  my  brother ;  and  I  did  not  this  but  to  know  if  thou  wert  he  who 
visited  my  daughter  on  that  night.  I  was  not  convinced  of  this  until  I  saw  that 
thou  knewest  the  house,  and  thy  turban  and  trousers  and  gold,  and  the  two  papers  ; 
namely,  the  one  which  thou  wrotest,  and  that  which  thy  father,  my  brother,  wrote; 
for  I  had  never  seen  thee  before,  and  therefore  knew  thee  not;  and  as  to  thy  mother, 
I  have  brought  her  with  me  from  Balsora.  —  Having  thus  said,  he  threw  himself 
upon  him,  and  wept;  and  Bedreddin,  full  of  astonishment  at  his  uncle's  words, 
embraced  him,  and  in  like  manner  wept  from  excess  of  joy.  The  Vizier  then  said 
to  him,  0  my  son,  the  cause  of  all  this  was  what  passed  between  me  and  thy  father. 
And  he  related  to  him  the  circumstances  of  their  case,  and  the  cause  of  his  father's 
departure  to  Balsora;  after  which  he  sent  for  Agib:  and  when  the  father  of  the 
youth  saw  him,  he  exclaimed.  This  is  he  who  threw  the  stone  at  me. — This,  said  the 
Vizier,  is  thy  son.     And  Bedreddin  cast  himself  upon  him,  and  recited  the  following 


120  THE   STORY   OF  THE   HUMPBACK. 

Long  have  I  wept  on  account  of  our  disunion ;  the  tears  overflowing  from  my  eyelids ; 

And  I  rowed  that  if  Providence  should  bring  us  together,  I  would  never  again  mention  our 

separation. 
Joy  hath  overcome  me  to  such  a  degree,  that  by  its  excess  it  hath  made  me  weep. 
0  eye,  thou  hast  become  so  accustomed  to  tears,  that  thou  weepest  from  happiness  as  from 

grief. 

And  when  he  had  uttered  these  words,  his  mother,  beholding  him,  threw  herself 
upon  him,  and  repeated  this  couplet: — 

Fortune  made  a  vow  to  torment  me  incessantly ;  but  thine  oath  hath  proved  false,  0  Fortune ! 

therefore  expiate  it. 
Happiness  hath  arrived,  and  the  beloved  is  come  to  my  relief;  repair  then  to  the  messenger 

of  festivity,  and  hasten. 

She  afterwards  related  to  him  everything  that  had  happened  to  her ;  and  he  also 
acquainted  her  with  all  that  he  had  suffered ;  and  they  offered  up  thanks  to  God  for 
their  union.  The  Vizier  then  went  up  to  the  Sultan,  and  informed  him  of  these 
occurrences;  and  the  King  was  astonished,  and  ordered  that  a  statement  of  them 
should  be  inserted  in  the  records,  to  be  preserved  to  future  ages.  And  the  Vizier 
resided  with  his  brother's  son,  and  his  own  daughter  and  her  son,  and  Avith  the  wife 
of  his  brother ;  and  all  of  them  passed  their  lives  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  utmost 
happiness  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights,  and  the  separator 
of  companions. 

Such,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  said  Giafar,  were  the  events  that  happened  to  the 
Vizier  Shemseddin  and  his  brother  Noureddin.  —  By  Allah,  exclaimed  the  Caliph 
Haroun  Alrashid,  this  story  is  wonderful !  And  he  gave  one  of  his  own  concubines 
to  the  young  man  who  had  killed  his  wife,  and  appointed  him  a  regular  maintenance  ; 
and  the  young  man  became  one  of  his  companions  at  the  table. 


CHAPTER   V. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Twenty-fourth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Thirty-second. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  HUMPBACK. 

There  was  in  ancient  times,  in  the  city  of  Balsora,  a  tailor  who  enjoyed  an  ample 
income,  and  was  fond  of  sport  and  merriment.  He  was  in  the  habit  of  going  out 
occasionally  with  his  wife,  that  they  might  amuse  themselves  with  strange  and 
diverting  scenes  ;  and  one  day  they  went  forth  in  the  afternoon,  and,  returning  home 
in  the  evening,  met  a  humpbacked  man,  whose  aspect  was  such  as  to  excite  laughter 
in  the  angry,  and  to  dispel  anxiety  and  grief:  so  they  approached  him  to  enjoy  the 
pleasure  of  gazing  at  him,  and  invited  him  to  return  with  them  to  their  house,  and 
to  join  with  them  in  a  carousal  that  night. 

He  assented  to  their  proposal ;  and  after  he  had  gone  with  them  to  the  house,  the 
tailor  went  out  to  the  market;  night  having  then  approached.  He  bought  some 
fried  fish,  and  bread  and  limes  and  sweetmeat,  and,  returning  with  them,  placed  the 
fish  before  the  humpback,  and  they  sat  down  to  eat ;  and  the  tailor's  wife  took  a 
large  piece  of  fish,  and  crammed  the  humpback  with  it,  and  closing  his  mouth  with 
her  hand,  said.  By  Allah,  thou  shalt  not  swallow  it  but  by  gulping  it  at  once,  and  I 
will  not  give  thee  time  to  chew  it.     He  therefore  swallowed  it ;  but  it  contained  a 


THE    STORY    OF   THE    HUMPBACK.  121 

large  and  sharp  bone,  which  stuck  across  in  his  throat,  his  destiny  having  so  de- 
termined, and  he  expired.  The  tailor  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power 
but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  Alas,  that  this  poor  creature  should  not  have  died 
but  in  this  manner  by  our  hands! — Wherefore  this  idling?  exclaimed  the  woman 
— And  what  can  I  do  ?  asked  her  husband. — Arise,  she  answered,  and  take  him  ii. 
thy  bosom,  and  cover  him  with  a  silk  napkin:  I  will  go  out  first,  and  do  thou  follow 
me,  this  very  night,  and  say,  This  is  my  son,  and  this  is  his  mother;  and  we  are 
going  to  convey  him  to  the  physician,  that  he  may  give  him  some  medicine. 

No  sooner  had  the  tailor  heard  these  words  than  he  arose,  and  took  the  hump- 
back in  his  bosom.  His  wife  accompanying  him,  exclaimed,  0  my  child !  may 
Allah  preserve  thee !  Where  is  the  part  in  which  thou  feelest  pain  ;  and  where 
hath  this  small-pox  attacked  thee  ? — So  every  one  who  saw  them  said,  they  are  con- 
veying a  child  smitten  with  the  small-pox.  Thus  they  proceeded,  inquiring  as  they 
went,  for  the  abode  of  the  physician  ;  and  the  people  directed  them  to  the  house  of 
a  physician  who  was  a  Jew,  and  they  knocked  at  the  door,  and  there  came  down  to 
them  a  black  slave  girl,  who  opened  the  door,  and  beheld  a  man  carrying  (as  she 
imagined)  a  child,  and  attended  by  its  mother;  and  she  said.  What  is  your  busi- 
ness?— We  have  a  child  here,  answered  the  tailor's  wife,  and  we  want  the  physician 
to  see  him;  take,  then,  this  quarter  of  a  piece  of  gold,  and  give  it  to  thy  master, 
and  let  him  come  down  and  see  my  son  ;  for  he  is  ill.  The  girl,  therefore,  went  up  ; 
and  the  tailor's  wife,  entering  the  vestibule,  said  to  her  husband.  Leave  the  hump- 
back here,  and  let  us  take  ourselves  away.  And  the  tailor,  accordingly,  set  him  up 
against  the  wall,  and  went  out  with  his  wife. 

The  slave  girl,  meanwhile,  went  in  to  the  Jew,  and  said  to  him.  Below  in  the 
house  is  a  sick  person,  with  a  woman  and  a  man ;  and  they  have  given  me  a  quarter 
of  a  piece  of  gold  for  thee,  that  thou  mayest  prescribe  for  them  what  may  suit  his 
case.  And  when  the  Jew  saw  the  quarter  of  a  piece  of  gold,  he  rejoiced,  and, 
arising  in  haste,  went  down  in  the  dark;  and,  in  doing  so,  his  foot  struck  against 
the  lifeless  humpback.  0  Ezra  I  he  exclaimed  —  0  heavens  and  the  ten  command- 
ments !  0  Aaron,  and  Joshua  son  of  Nun  !  it  seemeth  that  I  have  stumbled  against 
this  sick  person,  and  he  hath  fallen  down  the  stairs  and  died !  And  how  shall  I  go 
forth  with  one  killed  from  my  house?  0  Ezra's  ass !— He  then  raised  him,  and  took 
him  up  from  the  court  of  the  house  to  his  wife,  and  acquainted  her  with  the  accident. 
— And  why  sittest  thou  here  idle  ?  said  she  ;  for  if  thou  remain  thus  until  daybreak 
our  lives  will  be  lost:  let  me  and  thee,  then,  take  him  up  to  the  terrace,  and  throw 
him  into  the  house  of  our  neighbour  the  Mahometan;  for  he  is  the  steward  of  the 
Sultan's  kitchen,  and  often  do  the  cats  come  to  his  house,  and  eat  of  the  food  which 
they  find  there ;  as  do  the  mice  too :  and  if  he  remain  there  for  a  night,  the  dogs 
will  come  down  to  him  from  the  terraces  and  eat  him  up  entirely.  So  the  Jew 
and  his  wife  went  up,  carrying  the  humpback,  and  let  him  down  by  his  hands  and 
feet  to  the  pavement ;  placing  him  against  the  wall ;  which  having  done  they  de- 
scended. 

Not  long  had  the  humpback  been  thus  deposited  when  the  steward  returned  to  his 
house,  and  opened  the  door,  and,  going  up  with  a  lighted  candle  in  his  hand,  found 
a  son  of  Adam  standing  in  the  corner  next  the  kitchen  ;  upon  which  he  exclaimed, 
What  is  this?  By  Allah,  the  thief  that  hath  stolen  our  goods  is  none  other  than  a 
son  of  Adam,  who  taketh  what  he  findeth  of  flesh  or  grease,  even  though  I  keep  it 
concealed  from  the  cats  and  the  dogs  ;  and  if  I  killed  all  the  cats  and  the  dogs  of  the 
quarter  it  would  be  of  no  use!  for  he  cometh  down  from  the  terraces! — And  so 
saying  he  took  up  a  great  mallet  and  struck  him  with  it,  and  then,  drawing  close  to 
him,  gave  him  a  second  blow  with  it  upon  the  chest,  when  the  humpback  fell  down, 
and  he  f^^und  that  he  was  dead  ;  whereupon  he  grieved,  and  said.  There  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God  !  And  he  feared  for  himself,  and  exclaimed,  Curse  upon  the 
grease  and  the  flesh,  and  upon  this  night,  in  which  the  destiny  of  this  man  hath 
been  accomplished  by  my  hand !     Then  looking  upon  him,  and  perceiving  that  he 


T  he  Humpback  Dead. 


122  THE   STORY   OF   THE   HUMPBACK. 

was  a  humpback,  he  said,  Is  it  not  enough  that  thou  art  humpbacked,  but  must  thou 
also  be  a  robber,  and  steal  the  flesh  and  the  grease  ?  0  Protector,  cover  me  with 
thj  gracious  shelter! — And  he  lifted  him  upon  his  shoulders,  and  descended,  J.nd 
went  forth  from  his  house,  towards  the  close  of  the  night,  and  stopped  not  until  he 
had  conveyed  him  to  the  commencement  of  the  market-street,  where  he  placed  him 
upon  his  feet  by  the  side  of  a  shop  at  the  entrance  of  a  lane,  and  there  left  him  and 
retired. 

Soon  after,  there  came  a  Christian,  the  Sultan's  broker,  who,  in  a  state  of  intoxi- 
cation, had  come  forth  to  visit  the  bath ;  and  he  advanced,  staggering,  until  he  drew 
near  to  the  humpback,  when  he  turned  his  eyes,  and  beheld  one  standing  by  him. 
Now  some  persons  had  snatched  off  his  turban  early  in  the  night,  and  when  he  saV 
the  humpback  standing  there,  he  concluded  that  he  intended  to  do  the  same  :  so  he 
clenched  his  fist,  and  struck  him  on  the  neck.  Down  fell  the  humpback  upon  the 
ground,  and  the  Christian  called  out  to  the  watchman  of  the  market,  while,  still  in 
the  excess  of  his  intoxication,  he  continued  beating  the  humpback,  and  attempting 
to  throttle   him.     As  he  was  thus  employed,  the  watchman  came,  and  finding  the 

Christian  kneeling  upon  the 

Mahometan  and  beating  him, 

said.    Arise,  and   quit   him ! 

He  arose,  therefore,  and  the 

watchman,  approaching    the 

humpback,  saw  that  he  was 

dead,  and  exclaimed.  How  is 

it  that  the  Christian  dareth 

to  kill  the  Mahometan  ?  Then 

seizing     the     Christian,    he 

bound  his  hands  behind  him, 

and  took  him  to  the  house  of  the  Judge ;  the  Christian  saying  within  himself,  0 

heavens,  0  Virgin  !  how  have  I  killed  this  man  ?     And  how  quickly  did  he  die  from 

a  blow  of  the  hand  ! — Intoxication  had  departed,  and  reflection  had  come. 

The  humpback  and  the  Christian  passed  the  remainder  of  the  night  in  the  house 
of  the  Judge,  and  the  Judge  ordered  the  executioner  to  proclaim  the  Christian's 
crime,  and  set  up  a  gallows,  and  stationed  him  beneath  it.  The  executioner  then 
came,  and  threw  the  rope  round  his  neck,  and  was  about  to  hang  him,  when  the 
Sultan's  steward  pushed  through  the  crowd,  seeing  the  Christian  standing  beneath 
the  gallows,  and  the  people  made  way  for  him,  and  he  said  to  the  executioner.  Do  it 
not;  for  it  was  I  who  killed  him. — Wherefore  didst  thou  kill  him?  said  the  Judge. 
He  answered,  I  went  into  my  house  last  night,  and  saw  that  he  had  descended  from 
the  terrace  and  stolen  my  goods  ;  so  I  struck  him  with  a  mallet  upon  his  chest,  and 
he  died,  and  I  carried  him  out,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  market-street,  where  I  set 
him  up  in  such  a  place,  at  the  entrance  of  such  a  lane.  Is  it  not  enough  for  me  to 
have  killed  a  Mahometan,  that  a  Christian  should  be  killed  on  my  account?  Hang, 
then,  none  but  me. — The  Judge,  therefore,  when  he  heard  these  words,  liberated  the 
Christian  broker,  and  said  to  the  executioner.  Hang  this  man,  on  the  ground  of  his 
confession.  And  he  took  off  the  rope  from  the  neck  of  the  Christian  and  put  it 
round  the  neck  of  the  steward,  and  having  stationed  him  beneath  the  gallows,  was 
about  to  hang  him,  when  the  Jewish  physician  pushed  through  the  crowd,  and 
called  out  to  the  executioner,  saying  to  him.  Do  it  not;  for  none  killed  him  but  I; 
and  the  case  was  this :  he  came  to  my  house  to  be  cured  of  a  disease,  and  as  I  de- 
scended to  him  I  struck  against  him  with  my  foot,  and  he  died :  kill  not  the  steward, 
therefore:  but  kill  me.  So  the  Judge  gave  orders  to  hang  the  Jewish  physician; 
and  the  executioner  took  off  the  rope  from  the  steward's  neck,  and  put  it  round  the 
neck  of  the  Jew.  But,  lo,  the  tailor  came,  and,  forcing  his  way  among  the  people, 
said  to  the  executioner.  Do  it  not;  for  none  killed  him  but  I;  and  it  h?p].ened 
thus:  I  was  out  amu.sing  myself  during  the  day,  and  as  I  was  returning  at  t.hc  com- 


THE   STORY   TOLD   BY  THE   CHRISTIAN   BROKER.  123 

mencement  of  the  night  I  met  this  humpback  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  with  a  tam- 
bourine, and  singing  merrily  ;  and  I  stopped  to  divert  myself  by  looking  at  him, 
and  took  him  to  my  house.  I  then  bought  some  fish,  and  we  sat  down  to  eat,  and 
my  wife  took  a  piece  of  fish  and  a  morsel  of  bread,  and  crammed  them  into  his 
mouth,  and  he  was  choked,  and  instantly  died.  Then  I  and  my  wife  took  him  to 
the  house  of  the  Jew,  and  the  girl  came  down  and  opened  the  door,  and  while  she 
went  up  to  her  master,  I  set  up  the  humpback  by  the  stairs,  and  went  away  with 
my  wife :  so,  when  the  Jew  came  down  and  stumbled  against  him,  he  thought  that 
he  had  killed  him. — And  he  said  to  the  Jew,  Is  this  true?  He  answered.  Yes.  The 
tailor,  then,  looking  towards  the  Judge,  said  to  him.  Liberate  the  Jew,  and  hang 
me.  And  when  the  Judge  heard  this,  he  was  astonished  at  the  case  of  the  hump- 
back, and  said.  Verily  this  is  an  event  that  should  be  recorded  in  books !  And  he 
said  to  the  executioner.  Liberate  the  Jew,  and  hang  the  tailor  on  account  of  his  own 
confession.  So  the  executioner  led  him  forward,  saying.  Dost  thou  put  forward  this 
and  take  back  that ;  and  shall  we  not  hang  one?  And  he  put  the  rope  around  the 
neck  of  the  tailor. 

Now,  the  humpback  was  the  Sultan's  buffoon,  and  the  Sultan  could  not  bear  him 
to  be  out  of  his  sight ;  and  when  the  humpback  had  got  drunk,  and  been  absent  that 
night  and  the  next  day  until  noon,  the  King  inquired  respecting  him  of  some  of  his 
attendants :  and  they  answered  him,  0  our  Lord,  the  Judge  hath  taken  him  forth 
dead,  and  gave  orders  to  hang  the  person  who  killed  him,  and  there  came  a  second 
and  a  third  person,  each  saying.  None  killed  him  but  I — and  describing  to  the  Judge 
the  cause  of  his  killing  him.  When  the  King,  therefore,  heard  this,  he  called 
out  to  the  chamberlain,  and  said  to  him.  Go  down  to  the  Judge,  and  bring  them  all 
hither  before  me.  So  the  chamberlain  went  down,  and  found  that  the  executioner 
had  almost  put  to  death  the  tailor,  and  he  called  out  to  him,  saying.  Do  it  not — 
and  informed  the  Judge  that  the  case  had  been  reported  to  the  King.  And  he 
took  him,  and  the  humpback  borne  with  him,  and  the  tailor  and  the  Jew  and 
the  Christian  and  the  steward,  and  went  up  with  them  all  to  the  King ;  and  when 
the  Judge  came  into  the  presence  of  the  King,  he  kissed  the  ground,  and  related 
to  him  all  that  had  happened.  And  the  King  was  astonished,  and  was  moved  with 
merriment,  at  hearing  this  tale  ;  and  he  commanded  that  it  should  be  written  in 
letters  of  gold.  He  then  said  to  those  who  were  present,  have  ye  ever  heard  any- 
thing like  the  story  of  this  humpback?  And  upon  this  the  Christian  advanced,  and, 
said,  0  King  of  the  age,  if  thou  permit  me,  I  will  relate  to  thee  an  event  that  hath 
occurred  to  me  more  wonderful  and  strange  and  exciting  than  the  story  of  theJiump- 
back.  —  Tell  us  then  thy  story,  said  the  King.  And  the  Christian  related  as 
follows : — 


THE  STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  CHRISTIAN  BROKER. 

Know,  0  King  of  the  age,  that  I  came  to  this  country  with  merchandise,  and 
destiny  stayed  me  among  your  people.  I  was  born  in  Cairo,  and  am  one  of  ita 
Copts,  and  there  I  was  brought  up.  My  father  was  a  broker ;  and  when  I  had  at- 
tained to  manhood,  he  died,  and  I  succeeded  to  his  business ;  and  as  I  was  sitting 
one  day,  lo,  a  young  man  of  most  handsome  aspect,  and  clad  in  a  dress  of  the  richest 
description,  came  to  me,  riding  upon  an  ass,  and  when  he  saw  me,  saluted  me ; 
whereupon  I  rose  to  him,  to  pay  him  honour,  and  he  produced  a  handkerchief  con- 
taining some  sesame,  and  said,  What  is  the  value  of  an  ardebb  '  of  this?  I  an- 
swered him,  A  hundred  pieces  of  silver.*  And  he  said  to  me  Take  the  carriers 
and  the  measures,  and  repair  to  the  Khan  of  Jawali,  near  the  Victory-gate  :  there 
wilt  thou  find  me.     And  he  left  me  and  went  his  way,  after  having  given  me  the 

'  A  measure  of  about  five  bushels. 

'Those  are  dirhems,  or  drachms,  equal  to  about  sixpence. 


124  THE   STORY   TOLD   BT  THE   CHRISTIAN   BROKER. 

handkerchief  with  the  sample  of  the  sesame.  So  I  went  about  to  the  purchasers  ; 
and  the  price  of  each  ardebb  amounted  to  a  hundred  and  twenty  pieces  of  silver ; 
and  I  took  with  me  four  carriers,  and  went  to  him.  I  found  him  waiting  my 
arrival ;  and  when  he  saw  me  he  rose  and  opened  a  magazine,  and  we  measured  its 
contents,  and  the  whole  amounted  to  fifty  ardebbs.  The  young  man  then  said.  Thou 
shalt  have,  for  every  ardebb,  ten  pieces  of  silver  as  brokerage ;  and  do  thou  receive 
the  price  and  keep  it  in  thy  care  ;  the  whole  sum  will  be  five  thousand  ;  and  thy 
share  of  it,  five  hundred  ;  so  there  will  remain  for  me  four  thousand  and  five  hun- 
dred ;  and  when  I  shall  have  finished  the  sale  of  the  goods  contained  in  my  store- 
rooms, I  will  come  to  thee  and  receive  it.  I  replied,  It  shall  be  as  thou  desirest. 
And  I  kissed  his  hand,  and  left  him.  Thus  there  accrued  to  me,  on  that  day,  a 
thousand  pieces  of  silver,  besides  my  brokerage. 

He  was  absent  from  me  a  month,  at  the  expiration  of  which  he  came  and  said  to 
me.  Where  is  the  money?  I  answered.  Here  it  is,  ready.  And  he  said,  Keep  it 
until  I  come  to  thee  to  receive  it.  And  I  remained  expecting  him  :  but  he  was 
absent  from  me  another  month  ;  after  which  he  came  again,  and  said  Where  is  the 
money  ?  Whereupon  I  arose  and  saluted  him,  and  said  to  him,  AVilt  thou  eat  some- 
thing with  us  ?  He,  however,  declined,  and  said.  Keep  the  money  until  I  shall  have 
gone  and  returned  to  receive  it  from  thee.  He  then  departed  ;  and  I  arose>  and 
prepared  for  him  the  money,  and  sat  expecting  him ;  but  again  he  absented  himself 
from  me  for  a  month,  and  then  came  and  said.  After  this  day  I  will  receive  it  from 
thee.  And  he  departed,  and  I  made  ready  the  money  for  him  as  before,  and  sat 
waiting  his  return.  Again,  however,  he  remained  a  month  absent  from  me,  and  I 
said  within  myself,  Verily  this  young  man  is  endowed  with  consummate  liberality! 
After  the  month  he  came,  attired  in  rich  clothing,  and  resembling  the  full  moon, 
appearing  as  if  he  had  just  come  out  of  the  bath,  with  red  cheeks  and  fair  forehead, 
and  a  mole  like  a  globule  of  ambergris.  When  I  beheld  him  I  kissed  his  hand,  and 
invoked  a  blessing  upon  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  wilt  thou  not  take  thy 
money  ? — Have  patience  with  me,  he  answered,  until  I  shall  have  transacted  all  my 
affairs,  after  which  I  will  receive  it  from  thee.  And  so  saying,  he  departed  ;  and  I 
said  within  myself,  By  Allah,  when  he  cometh  I  will  entertain  him  as  a  guest,  on 
account  of  the  profit  which  I  have  derived  from  his  money ;  for  great  wealth  hath 
accrued  to  me  from  it. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  he  returned,  clad  in  a  dress  richer  than  the  former:  and 
I  swore  to  him  that  he  should  alight  to  be  my  guest. — On  the  condition,  he  replied, 
that  ttou  expend  nothing  of  my  money  that  is  in  thy  possession.  I  said.  Well: — 
and,  having  seated  him,  prepared  what  was  requisite  of  meats  and  drinks  and  other 
provisions,  and  placed  them  before  him,  saying.  In  the  name  of  Allah  !  And  he 
drew  near  to  the  table,  and  put  forth  his  left  hand,  and  thus  ate  with  me:  so  I  was 
surprised  at  him  ;  and  when  we  had  finished  he  washed  his  hand,  and  I  gave  him  a 
napkin  with  which  to  wipe  it.  We  then  sat  down  to  converse,  and  I  said,  0  my 
master,  dispel  a  trouble  from  my  mind.  Wherefore  didst  thou  eat  with  thy  left 
hand?  Probably  something  paineth  thee  in  thy  right  hand?  —  On  hearing  these 
words,  he  stretched  forth  his  arm  from  his  sleeve,  and  behold,  it  was  maimed — an 
arm  without  a  hand  !  And  I  wondered  at  this  ;  but  he  said  to  me,  Wonder  not: 
nor  say  in  thy  heart  that  I  ate  with  thee  with  my  left  hand  from  a  motive  of  self- 
conceit  ;  for  rather  to  be  wondered  at  is  the  cause  of  the  cutting  off  of  my  right  hand. 
And  what,  said  I,  was  the  cause  of  it  ?     He  answered  thus : — 

Know  that  I  am  from  Bagdad  :  my  father  was  one  of  the  chief  people  of  that  city: 
and  when  I  had  attained  the  age  of  manhood,  I  heard  the  wanderers  and  travellers 
and  merchants  conversing  respecting  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  their  words  remained 
in  my  heart  until  my  fiither  died,  when  I  took  large  sums  of  money,  and  prepared 
merchandise  consisting  of  the  stufis  of  Bagdad  and  of  Mosul,  and  similar  precious 
goods,  and,  having  packed  them  up,  journeyed  from  Bagdad  ;  and  God  decreed  me 


THE    STORY    TOLD    BY   THE    CHRISTIAN    BROKER.  125 

safety  until  I  entered  this  your  city.     And  so  saying,  he  wept,  and  repeated  these 
verses : — 

The  blear-eyed  escapeth  a  pit  into  which  the  clear-sighted  falleth  : 
And  the  ignorant,  an  expression  by  which  the  shrewd  sage  is  ruined. 
The  believer  can  scarce  earn  his  food,  while  the  impious  infidel  is  favoured. 
What  art  or  act  can  a  man  devise  ?     It  is  what  the  Almighty  appointeth  ! 

I  entered  Cairo,  continued  the  young  man,  and  deposited  the  stuffs  in  the  Khan 
of  Mesrour,  and,  having  unbound  my  packages,  and  put  them  in  the  magazines,  gave 
to  the  servant  some  money  to  buy  for  us  something  to  eat,  after  which  I  slept  a  little; 
and  when  I  arose,  I  went  to  the  street  between  the  palaces.  I  then  returned,  and 
passed  the  night ;  and  in  the  morning  following,  I  opened  a  bale  of  stuff,  and  said 
within  myself,  I  will  arise  and  go  through  some  of  the  mai-ket-streets,  and  see  the 
state  of  the  mart.  So  I  took  some  stuff,  and  made  some  of  my  servants  carry  it,  and 
proceeded  until  I  arrived  at  the  Bezestein  of  Chaharkass,  where  the  brokers  came  to 
me,  having  heard  of  my  arrival,  and  took  from  me  the  stuff,  and  cried  it  about  for  sale ; 
but  the  price  bidden  amounted  not  to  the  prime  cost.  And  upon  this  the  sheikh  of 
th6  brokers  said  to  me,  O  my  master,  I  know  a  plan  by  which  thou  mayest  profit ; 
and  it  is  this  :  that  thou  do  as  other  merchants,  and  sell  thy  merchandise  uoon  credit 


Money-Changer  and  Scrivener,  &c. 

for  a  certain  period,  employing  a  scrivener  and  a  witness  and  a  money-changer,  and 
receive  a  portion  of  the  profits  every  Thursday  and  Monday;  so  shalt  thou  make  of 
every  piece  of  silver  two  ;  and  besides  that,  thou  wilt  be  able  to  enjoy  the  amuse- 
ments afforded  by  Egypt  and  its  Nile.  —  The  advice  is  judicious,  I  replied;  and 
accordingly  I  took  the  brokers  with  me  to  the  Khan,  and  they  conveyed  the  stuffs  to 
the  Bezestein,  where  I  sold  it  to  the  merchants,  writing  a  bond  in  their  names,  which 
I  committed  to  the  money-changer,  and  taking  from  him  a  corresponding  bond.  I 
then  returned  to  the  Khan,  and  remained  there  some  days ;  and  every  day  I  took  for 
my  breakfast  a  cup  of  wine,  and  had  mutton  and  sweetmeats  prepared  for  me,  untif 
the  month  in  which  I  became  entitled  to  the  receipt  of  the  profits,  when  I  seated 
myself  every  Thursday  and  Monday  at  the  shops  of  the  merchants,  and  the  money- 
changer went  with  the  scrivener  and  brought  me  the  money. 

Thus  did  I  until  one  day  I  went  to  the  bath  and  returned  to  the  Khan,  and  enter- 
ing my  lodging,  took  for  my  breakfast  a  cup  of  wine,  and  then  slept ;  and  when  I 
awoke  I  ate  a  fowl,  and  perfumed  myself  with  essence,  and  repaired  to  the  shop  of  a 
merchant  named  Bedreddin  the  Gardener,  who,  when  he  saw  me,  welcomed  me, 
and  conversed  with  me  a  while  in  his  shop ;  and  as  we  were  thus  engaged,  lo,  a 
female  came  and  seated  herself  by  my  side  ?     She  wore  a  head-kerchief  inclined  on 


126  THE    STORY   TOLD    BY    THE    CHRISTIAN    BROKER. 

one  side,  and  the  odours  of  sweet  perfumes  were  diffused  from  her,  and  she  captivated 
my  reason  by  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  as  she  raised  her  izar  and  I  beheld  her  lilack 
eyes.  She  saluted  Bedreddin,  and  he  returned  her  salutation,  and  stood  conversing 
with  her;  and  when  I  heard  her  speech,  love  for  her  took  entire  possession  of  my 
heart.  She  then  said  to  Bedreddin,  Hast  thou  a  piece  of  stuff  woven  with  pure  gold 
thread  ?  And  he  produced  to  her  a  piece  ;  and  she  said.  May  I  take  it  and  go,  and 
then  send  thee  the  price?  But  he  answered.  It  is  impossible,  0  my  mistress:  for 
this  is  the  owner  of  the  stuff,  and  I  owe  him  a  portion  of  the  profit.  Wo  to  thee  ! 
said  she ;  it  is  my  custom  to  take  of  thee  each  piece  of  stuff  for  a  considerable  sum 
of  money,  giving  thee  a  gain  beyond  thy  wish,  and  then  to  send  thee  the  price. — 
Yes,  he  rejoined,  but  I  am  in  absolute  want  of  the  price  this  day.  And  upon  this 
she  took  the  piece  and  threw  it  back  to  him  upon  his  breast,  saying.  Verily  your 
class  knows  not  how  to  respect  any  person's  rank  !  And  she  arose,  and  turned 
away.  I  felt  then  as  if  my  soul  went  with  her,  and,  rising  upon  my  feet,  I  said  to 
her,  0  my  mistress  kindly  bestow  a  look  upon  me,  and  retrace  thine  honored  steps. 
And  she  returned,  and  smiled  and  said,  For  thy  sake  I  return.  And  she  sat  opposite 
me  upon  the  seat  of  the  shop  ;  and  I  said  to  Bedreddin,  what  is  the  price  that  thou 
hast  agreed  to  give  for  this  piece.  He  answered.  Eleven  hundred  pieces  of  silver. 
And  I  said  to  him.  Thy  profit  shall  be  a  hundred  pieces  of  silver :  give  me  then  a 
paper,  and  I  will  write  for  thee  the  price  upon  it.  I  then  took  the  piece  of  stuff 
from  him,  and  wrote  him  the  paper  with  my  own  hand,  and  gave  the  piece  of  stuff 
to  the  lady,  saying  to  her.  Take  it  and  go ;  and  if  thou  wilt,  bring  the  price  to  me  in 
the  market;  or,  if  thou  wilt,  it  shall  be  my  present  to  thee.  She  replied,  God 
recompense  thee,  and  bless  thee  with  my  property,  and  make  thee  my  husband  ;  and 
may  God  accept  this  prayer! — 0  my  mistress,  said  I,  let  this  piece  of  stuff  be  thine, 
and  another  like  it,  and  permit  me  to  see  thy  face.  And  upon  this  she  raised  her 
veil ;  and  when  I  beheld  her  face,  the  sight  drew  from  me  a  thousand  sighs,  and  my 
heart  was  entangled  by  her  love,  so  that  I  no  longer  remained  master  of  my  reason. 
She  then  lowered  the  veil  again,  and  took  the  piece  of  stuff,  saying,  0  my  master, 
leave  me  not  desolate  !  So*  she  departed,  while  I  continued  sitting  in  the  market- 
street,  until  past  the  hour  of  afternoon  prayer,  with  wandering  mind  overpowered 
by  love.  In  the  excess  of  my  passion,  before  I  rose  I  asked  the  merchant  respecting 
her;  and  he  answered  me,  She  is  a  rich  lady,  the  daughter  of  a  deceased  Emir,  who 
left  her  great  property.  r 

I  then  took  leave  of  him,  and  returned  to  the  Khan,  and  the  supper  was  placed 
before  me ;  but,  reflecting  upon  her,  I  could  eat  nothing.  I  laid  myself  down  to 
rest;  but  sleep  came  not  to  me,  and  I  remained  awake  until  the  morning,  when  I 
arose  and  put  on  a  suit  of  clothing  different  from  that  which  I  had  worn  the  day 
before;  and,  having  drunk  a  cup  of  wine,  and  eaten  a  few  morsels  as  my  breakfast, 
repaired  again  to  the  shop  of  the  merchant,  and  saluted  him,  and  sat  down 
with  him.  The  lady  soon  came,  wearing  a  dress  more  rich  than  the  former, 
and  attended  by  a  slave-girl ;  and  she  seated  herself,  and  saluted  me  instead  of  Bed- 
reddin, and  said,  with  an  eloquent  tongue  which  I  had  never  heard  surpassed  in  softness 
or  sweetness.  Send  with  me  some  one  to  receive  the  twelve  hundred  pieces  of 
silver,  the  price  of  the  piece  of  stuff. — Wherefore,  said  I,  this  haste?  She  replied, 
May  we  never  lose  thee !  And  she  handed  to  me  the  price ;  and  I  sat  conversing 
with  her,  and  made  a  sign  to  her,  which  she  understood,  intimating  my  wish  to  visit 
her:  whereupon  she  arose  in  haste,  expressing  displeasure  at  my  hint.  My  heart 
clung  to  her,  and  I  followed  in  the  direction  of  her  steps  through  the  market-street 
and  lo,  a  slave-girl  came  to  me,  and  said,  0  my  master,  answer  the  summons  of  my 
mistress.  Wondering  at  this,  I  said.  No  one  here  knoweth  me. — How  soon,  she  re- 
joined, hast  thou  forgotten  her!  My  mistress  is  she  who  was  to-day  at  the  shop  of 
the  merchant  Bedreddin. — So  I  went  with  her  until  we  arrived  at  the  money-chang- 
ers;  and  when  her  mistress,  who  was  there,  beheld  me,  she  drew  me  to  her  side, 
and  said,  0  my  beloved,  thou  hast  wounded  my  heart,  and  love  of  thee  hath  taken 


THE    STORY    TOLD    BY    THE    CHRISTIAN    BROKER.  127 

possession  of  it;  and  from  the  time  that  I  first  saw  thee,  neither  sleep  nor  food  no 
drink  hath  been  pleasant  to  me.  I  replied,  And  more  than  that  do  I  feel ;  and  the  state 
in  which  I  am  needs  no  complaint  to  testify  it.  Then  shall  I  visit  thee,  0  my  be- 
loved, she  asked,  or  wilt  thou  come  to  me  ?  For  our  marriage  must  be  a  secret. — I 
am  a  strano-er,  I  answered,  and  have  no  place  of  reception  but  the  Khan  ;  therefore, 
if  thou  wilt  kindly  permit  me  to  go  to  thine  abode  the  pleasure  will  be  perfect. — 
Well,  she  replied  ;  but  to-night  is  the  eve  of  Friday,  and  let  nothing  be  done  till  to- 
morrow, when,  after  thou  hast  joined  in  the  prayers,  do  thou  mount  thine  ass,  and 
inquire  for  the  Habbaniah :'  and  when  thou  hast  arrived  there,  ask  for  the  house 
called  the  mansion  of  Barakat  the  chief,  known  by  the  surname  of  Abou-Sharaan; 
for  there  do  I  reside  ;  and  delay  not ;  for  I  shall  be  anxiously  expecting  thee. 

On  hearing  this  I  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  we  parted  ;  and  I  returned  to  the 
Khan  in  which  I  lodged.  I  passed  the  whole  night  sleepless,  and  was  scarcely  sure 
that  the  day-break  had  appeared  when  I  arose  and  changed  my  clothes,  and  having 
perfumed  myself  with  essences  and  sweet  scents,  took  with  me  fifty  pieces  of  gold 
in  a  handkerchief,  and  walked  from  the  Khan  of  Mesrour  to  the  Gate  of  Zawili, 
where  I  mounted  an  ass,  and  said  to  its  owner.  Go  with  me  to  the  Habbaniah.  And 
in  less  than  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  he  set  ofi",  and  soon  he  stopped  at  a  by-street 
called  Darb  El-Munakiri,  when  I  said  to  him.  Enter  the  street  and  inquire  for  the 
Mansion  of  the  Chief.  He  was  absent  but  a  little  while,  and,  returning,  said,  Alight. 
— Walk  on  before  me,  said  I,  to  the  house.  And  he  went  on  until  he  had  led  me  to 
the  house;  whereupon  I  said  to  him,  To-morrow  come  to  me  hither  to  convey  me 
back. — In  the  name  of  Allah,  he  replied  ;  and  I  handed  him  a  quarter  of  a  piece  of 
gold,  and  he  took  it  and  departed.  I  then  knocked  at  the  door,  and  there  came 
forth  to  me  two  young  virgins  in  whom  the  forms  of  womanhood  had  just  developed 
themselves,  resembling  two  moons,  and  they  said.  Enter;  for  our  mistress  is  expect- 
ing thee,  and  she  hath  not  slept  last  night  from  her  excessive  love  for  thee.  I  entered 
an  upper  saloon  with  seven  doors  ;  around  it  were  latticed  windows  looking  upon  a 
garden  in  which  were  fruits  of  every  kind,  and  running  streams  and  singing  birds; 
it  was  plastered  with  royal  gypsum,  in  which  a  man  might  see  his  face  reflected  :  its 
roof  was  ornamented  with  gilding,  and  surrounded  by  inscriptions  in  letters  of  gold 
upon  a  ground  of  ultramarine :  it  comprised  a  variety  of  beauties,  and  shone  in  the 
eyes  of  beholders:  the  pavement  was  of  coloured  marbles,  having  in  the  midst  of  it 
a  fountain,  with  four  snakes  of  red  gold  casting  forth  water  from  their  mouths  like 
pearls  and  jewels  at  the  corners  of  the  pool  ;  and  it  was  furnished  with  carpets  of 
coloured  silk,  and  mattrasses. 

Having  entered  I  seated  myself:  and  scarcely  had  I  done  so  when  the  lady  ap- 
proached me.  She  wore  a  crown  set  with  pearls  and  jewels  ;  and  her  hands  and 
feet  were  stained  with  henna ;  and  her  bosom  ornamented  with  gold.  As  soon  as 
she  beheld  me  she  smiled  in  my  face  and  embraced  me,  saying.  Is  it  true  that  thou 
hast  come  to  me,  or  is  this  a  dream? — I  am  thy  slave,  I  answered;  and  she  said, 
Thou  art  welcome.  Verily,  from  the  time  when  I  first  saw  thee,  neither  sleep  hath 
been  sweet  to  me  nor  hath  food  been  pleasant! — In  such  case  have  /been,  I  replied; 
— and  we  sat  down  to  converse  ;  but  I  hung  down  my  head  towards  the  ground,  in 
bashfulness  ;  and  not  long  had  I  thus  remained  when  a  repast  was  placed  before 
me,  consisting  of  the  most  exquisite  dishes,  as  fricandoes  and  hashes  and  stuffed 
fowls.  I  ate  with  her  until  we  were  satisfied  :  when  they  brought  the  basin  and 
ewer,  and  I  washed  my  hands  :  after  which  we  perfumed  ourselves  with  rosewater 
infused  with  musk,  and  sat  down  again  to  converse ;  expressing  to  each  other  our 
mutual  passion :  and  her  love  took  such  possession  of  me  that  all  the  wealth  I  pos- 
sessed seemed  worthless  in  comparison.  In  this  manner  we  continued  to  enjoy 
ourselves  until,  night  approaching,  the  female  slaves  brought  supper  and  wine,  a 
complete  service,  and  we  drank  until  midnight.     Never  in  my  life  had  I  passed  such 

'  A  name  of  a  street  in  Cairo. 


128  THE   STORY  TOLD   BY   THE   CHRISTIAN   BROKER. 

a  night.  And  when  morning  came,  I  arose,  and,  having  thrown  to  her  the  handker- 
chief containing  the  pieces  of  gold,  I  took  leave  of  her  and  went  out;  but  as  I  did 
dO  she  wept,  and  said,  0  my  master,  when  shall  I  see  again  this  lovely  face?  I 
answered  her,  I  will  be  with  thee  at  the  commencement  of  the  night.  And  when  I 
went  forth,  I  found  the  owner  of  the  ass,  who  had  brought  me  the  day  before,  wait- 
ing for  me  at  the  door ;  and  I  mounted,  and  returned  with  him  to  the  Khan  of  Mes- 
rour,  where  I  alighted  and  gave  to  him  half  a  piece  of  gold,  saying  to  him.  Come 
hither  at  sunset.     He  replied.  On  the  head  by  thy  command. 

I  entered  the  Khan,  and  ate  my  breakfast,  and  then  went  forth  to  collect  the  price 
of  my  stuffs  ;  after  which  I  returned.  I  had  prepared  for  my  wife  a  roasted  lamb, 
and  purchased  some  sweetmeat;  and  I  now  called  the  porter,  described  to  him 
the  house,  and  gave  him  his  hire.  Having  done  this,  I  occupied  myself  again  with 
my  business  until  sunset,  when  the  owner  of  the  ass  came,  and  I  took  fifty  pieces  of 
gold,  and  put  them  into  a  handkerchief.  Entering  the  house  I  found  that  they  had 
wiped  the  marble  and  polished  the  vessels  of  copper  and  brass,  and  filled  the 
lamps,  and  lighted  the  candles,  and  dished  the  supper,  and  strained  the  wine :  and 
when  my  wife  saw  me,  she  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck,  and  said,  Thou  hast 
made  me  desolate  by  thine  absence !  The  tables  were  then  placed  before  us,  and 
we  ate  until  we  were  satisfied,  and  the  slave-girls  took  away  the  first  table,  and 
placed  before  us  the  wine  ;  and  we  sat  drinking,  and  eating  of  the  dried  fruits,  and 
making  merry,  until  midnight.  We  then  slept  until  morning,  when  I  arose  and 
handed  her  the  fifty  pieces  of  gold  as  before,  and  left  her. 

Thus  I  continued  to  do  for  a  long  time,  until  I  passed  the  night  and  awoke  pos- 
sessing not  a  piece  of  silver  nor  one  of  gold  ;  and  I  said  within  myself,  this  is  of 
the  work  of  the  Devil !     And  I  repeated  these  verses : — 

Poverty  causeth  the  lustre  of  a  man  to  grow  dim,  like  the  yellowness  of  the  setting  sun. 
When  absent,  he  is  not  remembered  among  mankind  :  and  when  present,  he  shareth  not  their 

pleasures. 
In   the   market-street   he  shunneth   notice;    and  in  the  desert  places  he  poureth  forth  his 

tears. 
By  Allah  !  a  man,  among  his  own  relations,  when  afflicted  with  poverty,  is  as  a  stranger ! 

With  these  reflections  I  walked  forth  into  the  street,  and  proceeded  thence  to  the 
Gate  of  Zawili,  where  I  found  the  people  crowding  together,  so  that  the  gate  was 
stopped  up  by  their  number  ;  and,  as  destiny  willed,  I  saw  there  a  trooper,  and  un- 
intentionally pressing  against  him,  my  hand  came  in  contact  with  his  pocket,  and  I 
felt  it,  and  found  that  it  contained  a  purse:  and  I  caught  hold  of  the  purse,  and 
took  it  from  his  pocket.  But  the  trooper  felt  that  his  pocket  was  lightened,  and 
putting  his  hand  into  it,  found  nothing;  upon  which  he  looked  aside  at  me,  and 
raised  his  hand  with  the  mace,  and  struck  me  upon  my  head.  I  fell  to  the  ground, 
and  the  people  surrounded  us  and  seized  the  bridle  of  the  trooper's  horse,  saying. 
On  account  of  the  crowd  dost  thou  strike  this  young  man  such  a  blow?  But  he 
called  out  to  them,  and  said.  This  is  a  robber !  On  hearing  this  I  feared.  The  people 
around  me  said,  This  is  a  comely  young  man,  and  hath  take'n  nothing.  While  some, 
however,  believed  this,  others  disbelieved  ;  and  after  many  words,  the  people  dragged 
me  along,  desiring  to  liberate  me ;  but,  as  it  was  predestined,  thei*e  came  at  this 
moment  the  Judge  and  other  magistrates  entering  the  gate,  and  seeing  the  people 
surrounding  me  and  the  trooper,  the  Judge  said.  What  is  the  news?  The  trooper 
answered.  By  Allah,  0  Emir,  this  is  a  robber:  I  had  in  my  pocket  a  blue  purse 
containing  twenty  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  he  took  it  while  I  was  pressed  by  the  crowd. 
Was  any  one  with  thee  ?  asked  the  Judge.  The  trooper,  answered,  No.  And  the 
Judge  called  out  to  the  chief  of  his  servants,  saying.  Seize  him  and  search  him.  So 
he  seized  me  ;  and  protection  was  withdrawn  from  me ;  and  the  Judge  said  to  him. 
Strip  him  of  all  that  is  upon  him.  And  when  he  did  so,  they  found  the  purse  in 
my  clothes,  and  the  Judge,  taking  it,  counted  the  money,  and  found  it  to  be  twenty 


The  Trooper  Striking  the  Christian  Broker.     (Page  128.) 


129 


THE    STORY   TOLD    BY   THE    CHRISTIAN    BROKER.  131 

pieces  of  gold  as  the  trooper  had  said  ;  whereupon  he  was  enraged,  and  called  out 
to  his  attendants,  saying,  Bring  him  forward.  They,  therefore,  brought  me  before 
him,  and  he  said  to  me,  0  young  man,  tell  the  truth.  Didst  thou  steal  this  purse? 
■ — And  I  hung  down  my  head  towards  the  ground,  saying  within  myself.  If  I  answer 
that  I  did  not  steal  it,  it  will  be  useless,  for  he  hath  produced  it  from  my  clothes  ;  and 
if  I  say  I  stole  it,  I  fall  into  trouble.  I  then  raised  my  head,  and  said.  Yes,  I  took  it. 
And  when  the  Judge  heard  these  words,  he  wondered,  and  called  witnesses,  who  pre- 
sented themselves,  and  gave  their  testimony  to  my  confession. — All  this  took  place  at 
the  Gate  of  Zawili. — The  Judge  then  ordered  the  executioner  to  cut  oS  my  hand  :  and 
he  cut  off  my  right  hand  ;  but  the  heart  of  the  trooper  was  moved  with  compassion  for 
me,  and  he  interceded  for  me  that  I  should  not  be  killed  :  so  the  Judge  left  me  and  de- 
parted. The  people,  however,  continued  around  me,  and  gave  me  to  drink  a  cup  of 
wine ;  and  the  trooper  gave  me  the  purse,  saying,  Thou  art  a  comely  youth,  and  it  is 
not  fit  that  thou  shouldst  be  a  thief;  so  I  took  it  from  him. 

The  trooper  then  left  me  and  departed,  after  having  given  me  the  purse,  and  I  went 
my  way  ;  but  first  I  wrapped  my  hand  in  a  piece  of  rag,  and  put  it  in  my  bosom.  My 
condition  thus  altered,  and  my  countenance  pallid  in  consequence  of  my  sufferings,  I 
walked  to  the  mansion,  and,  in  a  disordered  state  of  mind,  threw  myself  upon  the 
bed.  My  wife,  seeing  my  complexion  thus  changed,  said  to  me.  What  hath  pained 
thee,  and  wherefore  do  I  see  thee  thus  altered?  I  answered  her.  My  head  acheth, 
and  I  am  not  well.  And  on  hearing  this  she  was  vexed,  and  became  ill  on  my 
account,  and  said.  Burn  not  my  heart,  0  my  master !  sit  up  and  raise  thy  head,  and 
tell  me  what  hath  happened  to  thee  this  day;  for  I  read  a  tale  in  thy  face. — Abstain 
from  speaking  to  me,  I  replied.  And  she  wept,  and  said.  It  seemeth  that  thou  art 
tired  of  us ;  for  I  see  thee  to  be  conducting  thyself  in  a  manner  contrary  to  thy 
usual  habit.  Then  she  wept  again,  and  continued  addressing  me,  though  I  made 
her  no  reply,  until  the  approach  of  night,  when  she  placed  some  food  before  me ; 
but  I  abstained  from  it,  fearing  that  she  should  see  me  eat  with  my  left  hand,  and 
said,  I  have  no  desire  to  eat  at  present.  She  then  said  again,  Tell  me  what  hath 
happened  to  thee  this  day,  and  wherefore  I  see  thee  anxious  and  broken-hearted.  I 
answered,  I  will  presently  tell  thee  at  my  leisure.  And  she  put  the  wine  towards 
me,  saying.  Take  it ;  for  it  will  dispel  ftiine  anxiety  ;  and  thou  must  drink,  and  tell 
me  thy  story.  I  replied,  therefore.  If  it  must  be  so,  give  me  to  drink  with  thy 
Hand.  And  she  filled  a  cup  and  drank  it ;  and  then  filled  it  again  and  handed  it  to 
me,  and  I  took  it  from  her  with  my  left  hand,  and  while  tears  ran  from  my  eyes,  I 
repeated  these  verses : — 

When  God  willeth  an  event  to  befall  a  man  who  is  endowed  with  reason  and  hearing  and 

sight, 
He  deafeneth  his  ears,  and  blindeth  his  heart,  and  draweth  his  reason  from  him  as  a  hair. 
Till,  having  fulfilled  His  purpose  against  him,  He  restoreth  him  his  reason  that  he  may  bo 

admonished. 

Having  thus  said,  I  wept  again ;  and  when  she  saw  me  do  so,  she  uttered  a  loud 
cry,  and  said.  What  is  the  reason  of  thy  weeping?  Thou  hast  burned  my  heart! 
And  wherefore  didst  thou  take  the  cup  with  thy  left  hand  ? — I  answered  her,  I  have 
a  boil  upon  my  right  hand. — Then  put  it  forth,  said  she,  that  I  may  open  it  for  thee. 
—  It  is  not  yet,  I  replied,  the  proper  time  for  opening  it ;  and  continue  not  to  ask 
me ;  for  I  will  not  put  it  forth  at  present.  I  then  drank  the  contents  of  the  cup, 
and  she  continued  to  hand  me  the  wine  until  intoxication  overcame  me,  and  I  fell 
asleep  in  the  place  where  I  was  sitting  ;  upon  which  she  discovered  that  my  right 
arm  was  without  a  hand,  and,  searching  me,  saw  the  purse  containing  the  gold. 

Grief,  such  as  none  else  experienceth,  overcame  her  at  the  sight;  and  she  suffered 
incessant  torment  on  my  account  until  the  morning,  when  I  awoke,  and  found  that 
she  had  prepared  for  me  a  dish  composed  of  four  boiled  fowls,  which  she  had  placed 
before  me.     She  then  gave  me  to  drink  a  cup  of  wine ;  and  I  ate  and  drank,  and 


132  THE    STORY    TOLD    BY    THE    CHRISTIAN    BROKER. 

put  down  the  purse  and  was  about  to  depart:  but  she  said,  Whither  wouldst  thou 
go?  I  answered,  To  such  a  place,  to  dispel  somewhat  of  the  anxiety  which  op- 
presseth  my  heart.  Go  not,  said  she  ;  but  rather  sit  down  again.  So  I  sat  down, 
and  she  said  to  me.  Hath  thy  love  of  me  become  so  excessive  that  thou  hast  expended 
all  thy  wealth  upon  me,  and  lost  thy  hand  ?  I  take  thee,  then,  as  witness  against 
me,  and  God  also  is  witness,  that  I  will  never  desert  thee  ;  and  thou  shalt  see  the 
truth  of  my  words. — Immediately,  therefore,  she  sent  for  witnesses,  who  came  ;  and 
she  said  to  them,  Write  my  contract  of  marriage  to  this  young  man,  and  bear  wit- 
ness that  I  have  received  the  dowry.  And  they  did  as  she  desired  them  ;  after  vrhich 
she  said.  Bear  witness  that  all  my  property  which  is  in  this  chest,  and  all  mv  mem- 
looks  and  female  slaves,  belong  to  this  young  man.  Accordingly,  they  declared 
themselves  witnesses  of  her  declaration,  and  I  accepted  the  property,  and  they  de- 
parted after  they  had  received  their  fees.  She  then  took  me  by  my  hand,  and, 
having  led  me  to  a  closet,  opened  a  large  chest,  and  said  to  me.  See  what  is  con- 
tained in  this  chest.  I  looked,  therefore  ;  and  lo,  it  was  full  of  handkerchiefs  ;  and 
she  said,  This  is  thy  property,  which  I  have  received  from  thee:  for  every  time  that 
thou  gavest  me  a  handkerchief  containing  fifty  pieces  of  gold,  I  wrapped  it  up,  and 
threw  it  into  this  chest:  take,  then,  thy  property ;  for  God  hath  restored  it  to  thee, 
and  thou  art  now  of  high  estate.  Fate  hath  afflicted  thee  on  my  account,  so  that 
thou  hast  lost  thy  right  hand,  and  I  am  unable  to  compensate  thee:  if  I  should  sa- 
crifice my  life,  it  would  be  but  a  small  thing,  and  thy  generosity  would  still  have 
surpassed  mine.  —  She  then  added,  Now  take  possession  of  thy  property.  So  I  re- 
ceived it:  and  she  transferred  the  contents  of  her  chest  to  mine,  adding  her  property 
to  mine  which  I  had  given  her.  My  heart  rejoiced,  my  anxiety  ceased,  and  I  ap- 
proached and  kissed  her,  and  made  myself  merry  by  drinking  with  her;  after  which 
she  said  again,  Thou  hast  sacrificed  all  thy  wealth  and  thy  hand  through  love  of  me, 
and  how  ca,n  1  compensate  thee  ? — By  Allah,  if  I  gave  my  life  for  love  of  thee,  it  were 
but  a  small  thing,  and  I  should  not  do  justice  to  thy  claims  upon  rae.  She  then 
wrote  a  deed  of  gift  transferring  to  me  all  her  apparel,  and  her  ornaments  of  gold 
and  jewels,  and  her  houses  and  other  possessions :  and  she  passed  that  night  in 
grief  on  my  account,  having  heard  my  relation  of  the  accident  that  had  befallen  me. 

Thus  we  remained  less  than  a  month,  during  which  time  she  became  more  and 
more  infirm  and  disordered  ;  and  she  endured  no  more  than  fifty  days  before  she 
was  numbered  among  the  people  of  the  other  world.  So  I  prepared  her  funeral, 
and  deposited  her  body  in  the  earth,  and  having  caused  recitations  of  the  Koran  to 
be  performed  for  her,  and  given  a  considerable  sum  of  money  in  alms  for  her  sake, 
returned  from  the  tomb.  I  found  that  she  had  possessed  abundant  wealth,  and 
houses  and  lands,  and  among  her  property  were  the  store-rooms  of  sesame  of  which 
I  sold  to  thee  the  contents  of  one ;  and  I  was  not  prevented  from  settling  with  thee 
during  this  period  but  by  my  being  busied  in  selling  the  remainder,  the  price  of 
which  I  have  not  yet  entirely  received.  Now  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  wilt  not 
oppose  me  in  that  which  I  am  about  to  say  to  thee  ;  since  I  have  eaten  of  thy  food: 
I  give  the  price  of  the  sesame,  which  is  in  thy  hands. — This  which  I  have  told  thee 
was  the  cause  of  my  eating  with  my  left  hand. 

I  replied.  Thou  hast  treated  me  with  kindness  .and  generosity :  and  he  then  said. 
Thou  must  travel  with  me  to  my  country  ;  for  I  have  bought  merchandise  of  Cairo 
and  Alexandria.  Wilt  thou  accompany  me? — I  answered.  Yes: — and  promised  him 
that  I  would  be  ready  by  the  first  day  of  the  following  month.  So  I  sold  all  that  I 
possessed,  and  having  bought  merchandise  with  the  produce,  travelled  with  the 
roung  man  to  this  thy  country,  where  he  sold  his  merchandise  and  bought  other  in 
its  stead,  after  which  he  returned  to  the  land  of  I^gypt;  but  it  was  my  lot  to  remain 
here,  and  to  experience  that  which  hath  befallen  me  this  night  during  my  absence 
from  my  native  country.  Now  is  not  this,  0  King  of  the  age,  more  wonderful  than 
the  story  of  the  humpback  ? 

The  King  replied.  Ye  must  be  hanged,  all  of  you  !  —  And  upon  this,  the  Sultan's 


THE    STORY    TOLD    BY    THE    SULTAN'S    STEWARD.  133 

stevviinl  advanced  towards  the  King,  and  said,  If  thou  permit  me,  I  will  relate  to 
thee  a  storj  that  I  happened  to  hear  just  before  I  found  this  humpback:  and  if  it 
be  more  wonderful  than  the  events  relating  to  him,  wilt  thou  grant  us  our  lives?  — 
The  King  answered,  Tell  thy  story:  —  and  he  began  thus:  — 


THE  STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  SULTAN'S  STEWARD. 

I  WAS  last  night  with  a  party  who  celebrated  a  recitation  of  the  Koran,  for  which 
purpose  they  had  assemWed  the  professors  of  religion  and  law ;  and  when  these  re- 
citers had  accomplished  their  task,  the  servants  spread  a  repast  comprising  among 
other  dishes  a  zirbaja.'  We  approached,  therefore,  to  eat  of  the  zirbaja;  but  one 
of  the  company  drew  back,  and  refused  to  partake  of  it:  we  conjured  him;  yet  he 
swore  that  he  would  not  eat  of  it:  and  we  pressed  him  again  ;  but  he  said,  Press 
me  not;  for  I  have  suffered  enough  from  eating  of  this  dish.  And  when  we  had 
finished,  we  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  tell  us  the  reason  of  thine  abstaining  from  eating 
of  the  zirbaja.  He  replied.  Because  I  cannot  eat  of  it  unless  I  wash  my  hands  forty 
times  with  kali,  and  forty  times  with  cyperus,  and  forty  times  with  soap:  altogether, 
a  hundred  and  twenty  times.  'And  upon  this,  the  giver  of  the  entertainment  ordered 
his  servants,  and  they  brought  water  and  the  other  things  which  this  man  required  : 
80  he  washed  his  hands  as  he  had  described,  and  advanced,  though  with  disgust, 
and,  having  seated  himself,  stretched  forth  his  hand  as  one  in  fear,  and  put  it  into 
the  zirbaja,  and  began  to  eat,  while  we  regarded  him  with  the  utmost  wonder.  His 
hand  trembled,  and  when  he  put  it  forth,  we  saw  that  his  thumb  was  cut  off,  and  he 
ate  with  his  four  fingers:  we  therefore  said  to  him.  We  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  tell 
us  how  was  thy  thumb  maimed:  was  it  thus  created  by  God,  or  hath  some  accident 
happened  to  it? — 0  my  brothers,  he  answered,  not  only  have  I  lost  this  thumb,  but 
also  the  thumb  of  the  other  hand ;  and  each  of  my  feet  is  in  like  manner  deprived 
of  the  great  toe:  but  see  ye: — and,  so  saying,  he  uncovered  the  stump  of  the  thumb 
of  his  other  hand,  and  we  found  it  like  the  right ;  and  so  also  his  feet,  destitute  of 
the  great  toes.  At  the  sight  of  this  our  wonder  increased,  and  we  said  to  him.  We 
are  impatient  to  hear  thy  story,  and  thine  account  of  the  cause  of  the  amputation 
of  thy  thumbs  and  great  toes,  and  the  reason  of  thy  washing  thy  hands  a  hundred 
and  twenty  times.     So  he  said: — 

Know  that  my  father  was  a  great  merchant,  the  chief  of  the  merchants  of  the 
city  of  Bagdad  in  the  time  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  ;  but  he  was  ardently 
addicted  to  the  drinking  of  wine,  and  hearing  the  lute ;  and  when  he  died,  he  left 
nothing.  I  buried  him,  and  caused  recitations  of  the  Koran  to  be  performed  for 
him,  and,  after  I  had  mourned  for  him  days  and  nights,  I  opened  his  shop,  and 
found  that  he  had  left  in  it  but  few  goods,  and  that  his  debts  were  many :  however, 
I  induced  his  creditors  to  wait,  and  calmed  their  minds,  and  betook  myself  to  selling 
and  buying  from  week  to  week,  and  so  paying  the  creditors. 

Thus  I  continued  to  do  for  a  considerable  period,  until  I  had  discharged  all  the 
debts  and  increased  my  capital ;  and  as  I  was  sitting  one  day,  I  beheld  a  young  lady, 
than  whom  my  eye  had  never  beheld  any  more  beautiful,  decked  with  magnificent 
ornaments  and  apparel,  riding  on  a  mule,  with  a  slave  before  her  and  a  slave  behind 
her,  and  she  stopped  the  mule  at  the  entrance  of  the  market-street,  and  entered, 
followed  by  a  eunuch,  who  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  enter,  but  inform  no  one  who 
thou  art,  lest  thou  open  the  fire  of  indignation  upon  us.  The  eunuch  then  further 
cautioned  her;  and  when  she  looked  at  the  shops  of  the  merchants,  she  found  none 
more  handsome  than  mine  ;  so,  when  she  arrived  before  me,  with  the  eunuch  follow- 
ing her,  she  sat  down  upon  the  seat  of  my  shop,  and  saluted  me  ;  and  I  never  heard 
speech  more  charming  than  hers,  or  words  more  sweet.  She  then  drew  aside  the 
veil  from  her  face,  and  I  directed  at  her  a  glance  which  drew  from  me  a  sigh  ;  my 

'  A  kind  of  spoon-meat. 


134  THE   STORY   TOLD    BY   THE   SULTAN'S   STEWARD. 

heart  was  captivated  by  her  love,  and  I  continued  repeatedly  gazing  at  her  face. 
She  said  to  me,  O  youth,  hast  thou  any  handsome  stuffs  ? — O  my  mistress,  I  answered, 
thy  slave  is  a  poor  man  ;  but  wait  until  the  other  merchants  open  their  shops,  and 
then  I  will  bring  thee  what  thou  desirest.  So  I  conversed  with  her,  drowned  in  the 
sea  of  her  love,  and  bewildered  by  my  passion  for  her,  until  the  merchants  had 
opened  their  shops,  when  I  arose,  and  procured  all  that  she  wanted,  and  the  price 
of  these  stuffs  was  five  thousand  pieces  of  silver:  and  she  handed  them  all  to  the 
eunuch,  who  took  them  ;  after  which,  they  both  went  out  from  the  market-street, 
and  the  slaves  brought  to  her  the  mule,  and  she  mounted,  without  telling  me  whence 
she  was,  and  I  was  ashamed  to  mention  the  subject  to  her :  consequently,  I  became 
answerable  for  the  price  to  the  merchants,  incurring  a  debt  of  five  thousand  pieces 
of  silver. 

I  went  home  intoxicated  with  her  love,  and  they  placed  before  me  the  supper,  and 
I  ate  a  morsel ;  but  reflections  upon  her  beauty  and  loveliness  prevented  my  eating 
more.  I  desired  to  sleep,  but  sleep  came  not  to  me  ;  and  in  this  condition  I  remained 
for  a  week.  The  merchants  demanded  of  me  their  money  ;  but  I  prevailed  upon 
them  to  wait  another  week  ;  and  after  this  week,  the  lady  came  again  riding  upon 
a  mule,  and  attended  by  a  eunuch  and  two  other  slaves ;  and,  having  saluted  me, 
said,  0  my  master,  we  have  been  tardy  in  bringing  to  thee  the  price  of  the  stuffs: 
bring  now  the  money-changer,  and  receive  it."  So  the  money-changer  came,  and 
the  eunuch  gave  him  the  money,  and  I  took  it,  and  sat  conversing  with  her  until  the 
market  was  replenished,  and  the  merchants  opened  their  shops,  when  she  said  to 
me,  Procure  for  me  such  and  such  things.  Accordingly,  I  procured  for  her  what 
she  desired  of  the  merchants,  and  she  took  the  goods  and  departed  without  saying 
anything  to  me  respecting  the  price.  When  she  had  gone,  therefore,  I  repented  of 
what  I  had  done  ;  for  I  had  procured  for  her  what  she  demanded  for  the  price  of  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  as  soon  as  she  had  disappeared  from  my  sight,  I  said 
within  myself,  What  kind  of  love  is  this  ?  She  hath  brought  me  five  thousand  pieces 
of  silver,  and  taken  goods  for  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  !  —  I  feared  that  the  result 
would  be  my  bankruptcy  and  the  loss  of  the  property  of  others,  and  said.  The  mer- 
chants know  none  but  me,  and  this  woman  is  no  other  than  a  cheat,  who  hath  im- 
posed upon  me  by  her  beauty  and  loveliness:  seeing  me  to  be  young,  she  hath 
laughed  at  me,  and  I  asked  her  not  where  was  her  residence. 

I  remained  in  a  state  of  perplexity,  and  her  absence  was  prolonged  more  than  a 
month.  Meanwhile  the  merchants  demanded  of  me  their  money ;  and  so  pressed 
me  that  I  offered  my  possessions  for  sale,  and  was  on  the  brink  of  ruin;  but  as  I 
was  sitting  absorbed  in  reflection,  suddenly  she  alighted  at  the  gate  of  the  market- 
street,  and  came  in  to  me.  As  soon  as  I  beheld  her,  my  solicitude  ceased,  and  I 
forgot  the  trouble  which  I  had  suffered.  She  approached,  and  addressed  me  with 
her  agreeable  conversation,  and  said,  Produce  the  scales,  and  weigh  thy  money: — 
and  she  gave  me  the  price  of  the  goods  which  she  had  taken,  with  a  surplus  ;  after 
which,  she  amused  herself  by  talking  with  me,  and  I  almost  died  with  joy  and 
happiness.  She  then  said  to  me.  Hast  thou  a  wife?  I  answered.  No:  for  I  am  not 
acquainted  with  any  woman : — and  wept.  So  she  asked  me.  What  causeth  thee  to 
weep?  And  I  answered,  A  thought  that  hath  come  into  my  mind:  —  and,  taking 
some  pieces  of  gold,  gave  them  to  the  eunuch,  requesting  him  to  grant  me  his  media- 
tion in  the  affair ;  upon  which  he  laughed,  and  said,  She  is  in  love  Avith  thee  more 
than  thou  art  with  her,  and  hath  no  want  of  the  stuffs,  but  hath  done  this  only 
■  from  her  love  of  thee:  propose  to  her,  therefore,  what  thou  wilt;  for  she  will  not 
oppose  thee  in  that  which  thou  wilt  say.  Now  she  observed  me  giving  the  pieces 
of  gold  to  the  eunuch,  and  returned,  and  resumed  her  seat;  and  I  said  to  her.  Show 
favour  to  thy  slave,  and  pardon  me  for  that  which  I  am  about  to  say.     I  then 

'  A  money-changer  is  very  frequently  employed  to  examine  the  money  which  a  purchaser 
offers ;  and  if  it  be  old  to  weigh  it.     The  money-changers  are  mostly  Jews  and  Christians. 


THE   STORY   TOLD    BY   THE   SULTAN's   STEWARD.  135 

acquainted  her  with  the  feelings  of  my  heart,  and  my  declaration  pleased  her,  and 
she  consented  to  my  proposal,  saying,  This  eunuch  will  come  with  my  letter;  and 
do  thou  what  he  shall  tell  thee ; — and  she  arose,  and  departed. 

I  went  to  the  merchants,  and  delivered  to  them-  their  money,  and  .all  profited  ex- 
cepting myself;  for  when  she  left  me  I  mourned  for  the  interruption  of  our  in- 
tercourse, and  I  slept  not  during  the  whole  of  the  next  night:  but  a  few  days  after, 
her  eunuch  came  to  me,  and  I  received  him  with  honour,  and  asked  him  respecting 
his  mistress.  He  answered.  She  is  sick  : — and  I  said  to  him,  Disclose  to  me  her 
history.  He  replied.  The  Lady  Zobeide,  the  wife  of  Haroun  Alrashid,  brought  up 
this  damsel,  and  she  is  one  of  our  slaves  :  she  had  desired  of  her  mistress  to  be  allowed 
the  liberty  of  going  and  returning  at  pleasure,  and  the  latter  gave  her  permission: 
she  continued,  therefore,  to  do  so  until  she  became  a  chief  confidant :  after  which  she 
spoke  of  thee  to  her  mistress,  and  begged  that  she  would  marry  her  to  thee:  but  her 
mistress  said,  I  will  not  do  it  until  I  see  this  young  man,  and  if  he  have  a  desire  for 
thee,  I  will  marry  thee  to  him.  We  therefore  wish  to  introduce  thee  immediately 
into  the  palace  :  and  if  thou  enter  without  any  one's  having  knowledge  of  thy  pre- 
sence, thou  wilt  succeed  in  accomplishing  thy  marriage  with  her :  but  if  thy  plot  be 
discovered,  thy  head  will  be  struck  off.  What,  then,  sayest  thou?  —  I  answered, 
Good:  1  will  go  with  thee,  and  await  the  event  that  shall  befall  me  there. — As  soon, 
then,  as  this  next  night  shall  have  closed  in,  said  the  eunuch,  repair  to  the  mosque 
which  the  lady  Zobeide  hath  built  on  the  bank  of  the  Tigris,  and  there  say  thy  prayers, 
and  pass  the  night. — Most  willingly,  I  replied. 

Accordingly,  when  the  time  of  nightfall  arrived,  I  went  to  the  mosque,  and  said  my 
prayers  there,  and  passed  the  night;  and  as  soon  as  the  morning  began  to  dawn  I 
saw  two  eunuchs  approaching  in  a  small  boat,  conveying  some  empty  chests,  which 
they  brought  into  the  mosque.  One  of  them  then  departed,  and  the  other  remained  ; 
and  I  looked  attentively  at  him,  and  lo,  it  was  he  who  had  been  our  intermediary  : 
and  soon  after,  the  damsel,  my  companion,  came  up  to  us.  I  rose  to  her  when  she 
approached,  and  embraced  her ;  and  she  kissed  me,  and  wept :  and  after  we  had 
conversed  together  for  a  little  while,  she  took  me  and  placed  me  in  a  chest,  and  locked 
it  upon  me.  The  slaves  then  brought  a  quantity  of  stuffs,  and  filled  with  them  the 
other  chests,  which  they  locked  and  conveyed,  together  with  the  chest  in  which  I  was 
enclosed,  to  the  boat,  accompanied  by  the  damsel ;  and  having  embarked  them,  they 
plied  the  oars,  and  proceeded  to  the  palace  of  the  honoured  lady  Zobeide.  The  in- 
toxication of  love  now  ceased  in  me,  and  reflection  came  in  its  place  ;  I  repented 
of  what  I  had  done,  and  prayed  God  to  deliver  me  from  my  dangerous  predicament. 

Meanwhile,  they  arrived  at  the  gate  of  the  Caliph,  where  they  landed  and  took  out 
all  the  chests,  and  conveyed  them  into  the  palace:  but  the  chief  of  the  doorkeepers, 
who  had  been  asleep  when  they  arrived,  was  awoke  by  the  sounds  of  their  voices, 
and  cried  out  to  the  damsel,  saying,  The  chests  must  be  opened  that  I  may  see  what 
is  in  them: — and  he  arose,  and  placed  his  hand  upon  the  chest  in  which  I  was 
hidden.  My  reason  abandoned  me,  my  heart  almost  burst  from  my  body,  and  my 
limbs  trembled ;  but  the  damsel  said,  These  are  the  chests  of  Ihe  lady  Zobeide,  and 
if  thou  open  them  and  turn  them  over,  she  will  be  incensed  against  thee,  and  we 
shall  all  perish.  They  contain  nothing  but  clothes  dyed  of  various  colours,  excepting 
this  chest  upon  which  thou  hast  put  thy  hand,  in  which  there  are  also  some  bottles 
filled  with  the  water  of  Zemzem,'  and  if  any  of  the  water  run  out  upon  the  clothes  it 
will  spoil  their  colours.  Now  I  have  advised  thee,  and  it  is  for  thee  to  decide :  so  do 
what  thou  wilt. — When  he  heard  therefore  these  words,  he  said  to  her.  Take  the 
chests,  and  pass  on;  and  the  eunuchs  immediately  took  them  up,  and,  with  the  damsel, 
conveyed  them  to  the  palace :  but,  in  an  instant,  I  heard  a  person  crying  out,  and 
saying,  The  Caliph  !  the  Caliph  ! 

I  was  bereft  of  my  reason,  and  seized  with  a  colic  from  excessive  fear;  I  almost 
died,  and  my  limbs  were  affected  with  a  violent  shaking.     The  Caliph  cried  out  to 

'  The  holy  well  of  Mecca. 


136  THE   STORY  TOLD   BY   THE   SULTAN'S   STEWARD. 

the  damsel,  saying  to  her.  What  are  these  chests?  She  answered,  0  my  Lord  (may 
God  exalt  thy  dominion  !)  these  chests  contain  clothes  of  my  mistress  Zobeide. — 
Open  them,  said  the  Caliph,  that  I  may  see  the  clothes. — When  I  heard  this  I  felt 
sure  of  my  destruction.  The  damsel  could  not  disobey  his  command;  but  she  re- 
plied, 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  there  is  nothing  in  these  chests  but  clothes  of  the  lady 
Zobeide,  and  she  hath  commanded  me  not  to  open  them  to  any  one.  The  Caliph, 
however,  said.  The  chests  must  be  opened,  all  of  them,  that  I  may  see  their  contents  : 
— immediately  he  called  out  to  the  eunuchs  to  bring  them  before  him.  I  therefore  felt 
certain  that  I  was  on  the  point  of  destruction.  They  then  brought  before  him  chest 
after  chest,  and  opened  each  to  him,  and  he  examined  the  contents  ;  and  when  they 
brought  forward  the  chest  in  which  I  was  enclosed,  I  bade  adieu  to  life,  and  prepared 
myself  for  death  ;  but  as  the  eunuchs  were  about  to  open  it,  the  damsel  said,  0  Prince 
of  the  Faithful,  verily  this  chest  containeth  things  especially  appertaining  to  women  ; 
and  it  is  proper,  therefore,  that  it  should  be  opened  before  the  lady  Zobeide: — and 
when  the  Caliph  heard  her  words,  he  ordered  the  eunuchs  to  convey  all  the  chests 
into  the  interior  of  the  palace.  The  damsel  then  hastened  and  ordered  two  eunuchs 
to  carry  away  the  chest  in  which  I  was  hidden,  and  they  took  it  to  an  inner  cham- 
ber, and  went  their  way:  whereupon  she  quickly  opened  it,  and  made  a  sign  to  me 
to  come  out :  so  I  did  as  she  desired,  and  entered  a  closet  that  was  before  me,  and  she 
locked  the  door  upon  me  and  closed  the  chest:  and  when  the  eunuchs  had  brought 
in  all  the  chests,  and  had  gone  back,  she  opened  the  door  of  the  closet,  and  said, 
Thou  hast  nothing  to  fear!  May  God  refresh  thine  eye!  Come  forth  now,  and  go  up 
with  me,  that  thou  mayest  have  the  happiness  of  kissing  the  ground  before  the  lady 
Zobeide. 

I  therefore  went  with  her,  and  beheld  twenty  other  female  slaves,  high-bosoraed 
virgins,  and  among  them  was  the  lady  Zobeide,  who  was  scarcely  able  to  walk  from 
the  weight  of  the  robes  and  ornaments  with  which  she  was  decked.  As  she  ap- 
proached, the  female  slaves  dispersed  from  around  her,  and  I  advanced  to  her,  and 
kissed  the  ground  before  her.  She  made. a  sign  to  me  to  sit  down,  so  I  seated  myself 
before  her  ;  and  she  began  to  ask  me  questions  respecting  my  condition  and  lineage  ; 
to  all  of  which  I  gave  such  answers  that  she  was  pleased,  and  said.  By  Allah,  the 
care  which  we  have  bestowed  on  the  education  of  this  damsel  hath  not  been  in  vain. 
She  then  said  to  me.  Know  that  this  damsel  is  esteemed  by  us  as  though  she  were 
really  our  child,  and  she  is  a  trust  committed  to  thy  care  by  God.  Upon  this,  there- 
fore, I  again  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  well  pleased  to  marry  the  damsel  ;  after 
which  she  commanded  me  to  remain  with  them  ten  days.  Accordingly,  I  continued 
with  them  during  this  period:  but  I  knew  nothing  meanwhile  of  the  damsel ;  certain 
of  the  maids  only  bringing  me  my  dinner  and  supper,  as  my  servants.  After  this, 
however,  the  lady  Zobeide  asked  permission  of  her  husband,  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, to  marry  her  maid,  and  he  granted  her  request,  and  ordered  that  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  should  be  given  to  her. 

The  lady  Zobeide,  therefore,  sent  for  the  Cadi  and  witnesses,  and  they  wrote  my 
contract  of  marriage  to  the  damsel ;  and  the  maids  then  prepared  sweetmeats  and 
exquisite  dishes,  and  distributed  them  in  all  the  apartments.  Thus  they  continued 
to  do  for  a  period  of  ten  more  days ;  and  after  the  twenty  days  had  passed,  they 
conducted  the  damsel  into  the  bath,  preparatively  to  my  being  introduced  to  her  as 
her  husband.  They  then  brought  to  me  a  repast  comprising  a  basin  of  zirbaja 
sweetened  with  sugar,  perfumed  with  rose-water  infused  with  musk,  and  containing 
different  kinds  of  fricandoed  fowls  and  a  variety  of  other  ingredients,  such  as  aston- 
ished the  mind  ;  and,  by  Allah,  when  this  repast  was  brought,  I  instantly  com- 
menced upon  the  zirbaja,  and  ate  of  it  as  much  as  satisfied  me.  and  wiped  my  hand, 
but  forgot  to  wash  it.  I  remained  sitting  until  it  became  dark  ;  when  the  maids 
lighted  the  candles,  and  the  singing  girls  approached  with  the  tambourines,  and 
they  continued  to  display  the  bride,  and  to  give  presents  of  gold,  until  she  had  per- 
ambulated the  whole  of  the  palace ;  after  which,  they  brought  her  to  me,  and  din- 


THE    STORY   TOLD    BY   THE    SULTAN'S    STEWARD.  137 

robed  her:  and  as  soon  as  I  was  left  alone  with  her,  I  threw  my  arms  around  her 
neck,  scarcely  believing  in  our  union :  but  as  I  did  so,  she  perceived  the  smell  of 
the  zirbaja  from  my  hand,  and  immediately  uttered  a  loud  cry:  whereupon  the 
female  slaves  ran  in  to  her  from  every  quarter. 

I  was  violently  agitated,  not  knowing  what  was  the  matter ;  and  the  slaves  who 
had  come  in  said  to  her.  What  hath  happened  to  thee,  0  our  sister? — Take  away 
from  me,  she  exclaimed  to  them,  this  madman,  whom  I  imagined  to  be  a  man  of 
sense! — What  indication  of  my  insanity  hath  appeared  to  thee?  I  asked.  Thou 
madman,  said  she,  wherefore  hast  thou  eaten  of  the  zirbaja,  and  not  washed  thy 
hand?  By  Allah,  I  will  not  accept  thee  for  thy  want  of  sense,  and  thy  disgusting 
conduct! — And  so  saying,  she  took  from  her  side  a  whip,  and  beat  me  with  it  upon 
my  back  until  I  had  become  insensible  from  the  number  of  the  stripes.  She  then 
said  to  the  other  maids,  Take  him  to  the  magistrate  of  the  city  police,  that  he  may 
cut  off  his  hand  with  which  he  ate  the  zirbaja  without  washing  it  afterwards.  On 
hearing  this,  I  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God !  Wilt  thou 
cut  off  my  hand  on  account  of  my  eating  a  zirbaja  and  neglecting  to  wash  it?  And 
the  maids  who  were  present  entreated  her,  saying  to  her,  0  our  sister,  be  not  angry 
with  him  for  what  he  hath  done  this  time.  But  she  replied,  By  Allah,  I  must  cut 
off  something  from  his  extremities!  And  immediately  she  departed,  and  was  absent 
from  me  ten  days :  after  which  she  came  again,  and  said  to  me,  0  thou  black-faced  I 
am  I  not  worthy  of  thee  ?  How  didst  thou  dare  to  eat  the  zirbaja  and  not  wash  thy 
hand  ?  And  she  called  to  the  maids,  who  bound  my  hands  behind  me,  and  she  took 
a  sharp  razor,  and  cut  off  both  my  thumbs  and  both  my  great  toes,  as  ye  see,  0  com- 
panions ;  and  I  swooned  away.  She  then  sprinkled  upon  my  wounds  some  powder, 
by  means  of  which  the  blood  was  staunched  ;  and  I  said,  I  will  not  eat  of  a  zirbaja 
as  long  as  I  live  unless  I  wash  my  hands  forty  times  with  kali,  and  forty  times  with 
cyperus,  and  forty  times  with  soap  ;  and  she  exacted  of  me  an  oath  that  I  would  not 
eat  of  this  dish  unless  I  washed  my  hands  as  I  have  described  to  you.  Therefore, 
when  this  zirbaja  was  brought,  my  colour  changed,  and  I  said  within  myself,  This 
was  the  cause  of  the  cutting  off  of  my  thumbs  and  great  toes  ;  so,  when  ye  com- 
pelled me,  I  said,  I  must  fulfil  the  oath  which  I  have  sworn. 

I  then  said  to  him  (continued  the  Sultan's  steward).  And  what  happened  to  thee 
after  that?  He  answered.  When  I  had  thus  sworn  to  her,  she  was  appeased,  and  I 
was  admitted  into  her  favour  ;  and  we  lived  happily  together  for  a  considerable  time  ; 
after  which  she  said,  The  people  of  the  Caliph's  palace  know  not  that  thou  hast 
resided  here  with  me,  and  no  strange  man  excepting  thee  hath  entered  it;  nor  didst 
thou  enter  but  through  the  assistance  of  the  lady  Zobeide.  She  then  gave  me  fifty 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  me.  Take  these  pieces  of  gold,  and  go  forth  and 
buy  for  us  a  spacious  house.  So  I  went  forth  and  purchased  a  handsome  and 
spacious  house,  and  removed  thither  all  the  riches  that  she  possessed,  and  all  that 
she  had  treasured  up,  and  her  dresses  and  rarities.  This  was  the  cause  of  the 
amputation  of  my  thumbs  and  great  toes.  So  we  ate  (said  the  Sultan's  steward), 
and  departed  ;  and  after  this,  the  accident  with  the  humpback  happened  to  me ;  this 
is  all  my  story  ;  and  peace  be  on  thee. 

The  King  said.  This  is  not  more  pleasant  than  the  story  of  the  humpback  :  nay, 
the  story  of  the  humpback  is  more  pleasant  than  this ;  and  ye  must  all  of  you  be 
crucified.  The  Jew,  however,  then  came  forward,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground, 
said,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  will  relate  to  thee  a  story  more  wonderful  than  that  of  the 
humpback:  and  the  King  said.  Relate  thy  story.     So  he  commenced  thus  : — 


THE  STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  JEWISH  PHYSICIAN. 

The  most  wonderful  of  the  events  that  happened  to  me  in  my  younger  days  was  this : 
-I  was  residing  in  Damascus,  where  I  learnt  and  practised  my  art ;  and  while  I  was 


138 


THE   STORY  TOLD    BY   THE   JEWISH    PHYSICIAN. 


Portrait  01  the  Je 


thus  occupied,  one  day  there  came  to  me  a  mamlouk  from  the  house  of  the  governor  of 
the  city  ;  so  I  went  forth  with  him,  and  accompanied  him  to  the  abode  of  the  governor. 
I  entered,  and  beheld  at  the  upper  end  of  the  saloon,  a  sofa  of  alabaster  overlaid 
with  plates  of  gold,  upon  which  was  reclining  a  sick  man:  he  was  young;  and  a 
person  more  comely  had  not  been  seen  in  his  age.  Seating  myself  at  his  head,  I 
ejaculated  a  prayer  for  his  restoration  ;  and  he  made  a  sign  to  me  with  his  eye.  I 
then  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  stretch  forth  to  me  thy  hand: — whereupon  he  put 
forth  to  me  his  left  hand  ;  and  I  was  surprised  at  this,  and  said  within  myself,  What 
self-conceit!  I  felt  his  pulse,  however,  and  wrote  a  prescription  for  him,  and  con- 
tinued to  visit  him  for  a  period  of  ten  days,  until  he  recovered  his  strength ;  when 
he  entered  the  bath,  and  washed  himself,  and  came  forth :  and  the  governor  con- 
ferred upon  me  a  handsome  dress  of  honour,  and  appointed  me  superintendant  of  the 
hospital  of  Damascus.  But  when  I  went  with  him  into  the  bath,  which  they  had 
cleared  of  all  other  visitors  for  us  alone,  and  the  servants  had  brought  the  clothes, 
and  taken  away  those  which  he  had  pulled  off  within,  I  perceived  that  his  right 
hand  had  been  cruelly  amputated  ;  at  the  sight  of  which  I  wondered,  and  grieved 
for  him  ;  and  looking  at  his  skin,  I  observed  upon  him  marks  of  beating  with  sticks, 
which  caused  me  to  wonder  more.  The  young  man  then  turned  towards  me,  and 
said,  0  doctor  of  the  age,  wonder  not  at  my  case  ;  for  I  will  relate  to  thee  my  story 
when  we  have  gone  out  from  the  bath : — and  when  we  had  gone  forth,  and  arrived 
at  the  house,  and  had  eaten  some  food,  and  rested,  he  said  to  me,  Ilast  thou  a  desire  to 
divert  thyself  in  the  supper-room?  I  answered.  Yes: — and  immediately  he  ordered 
the  slaves  to  take  up  thither  the  furniture,  and  to  roast  a  Iamb  and  bring  us  some 
fruit.     So  the  slaves  did  as  he  commanded  them :  they  brought  the  fruit,  and  when 


THE   STORY   TOLD   BY   THE   JEWISH    PHYSICIAN.  139 

we  had  eaten,  I  said  to  him,  Relate  to  me  thy  story: — and  he  replied,  0  docter  of 
the  age,  listen  to  the  relation  of  the  events  which  have  befallen  me. 

Know  that  I  am  of  the  children  of  Mosul.  My  paternal  grandfather  died  leaving 
ten  male  children,  one  of  whom  was  my  father ;  he  was  the  eldest  of  them  ;  and 
they  all  grew  up  and  married  ;  and  my  father  was  blest  with  me  ;  but  none  of  his 
nine  brothers  was  blessed  with  children.  So  I  grew  up  among  my  uncles,  who  de- 
lighted in  me  exceedingly ;  and  when  I  had  attained  to  manhood,  I  was  one  day 
with  my  father  in  the  chief  mosque  of  Mosul.  The  day  was  Friday  ;  and  we  per- 
formed the  congregational  prayers  ;  and  all  the  people  went  out,  excepting  my  father 
and  my  uncles,  who  sat  conversing  together  respecting  the  wonders  of  various 
countries,  until  they  mentioned  Egypt ;  when  one  of  my  uncles  said,  The  travellers 
assert  that  there  is  not  on  the  face  of  the  earth  a  more  agreeable  country  than 
Egypt  with  its  Nile : — and  my  father  added,  He  who  hath  not  seen  Cairo,  hath  not 
seen  the  world:  its  soil  is  gold  ;  its  Nile  is  a  wonder;  its  women  are  like  the  black- 
eyed  virgins  of  Paradise;  its  houses  are  palaces  ;  and  its  air  is  temperate ;  its  odour 
surpassing  that  of  aloes-wood,  and  cheering  the  heart:  and  how  can  Cairo  be  other- 
wise when  it  is  the  metropolis  of  the  world  ?  Did  ye  see  its  gardens  in  the  evening 
(he  continued),  with  the  shade  obliquely  extending  over  them,  ye  would  behold  a 
wonder,  and  yield  with  ecstasy  to  their  attractions. 

When  I  heard  these  descriptions  of  Egypt,  my  mind  became  wholly  engaged  by 
reflections  upon  that  country  ;  and  after  they  had  departed  to  their  homes,  I  passed 
the  night  sleepless  from  my  excessive  longing  towards  it,  and  neither  food  nor  drink 
was  pleasant  to  me.  A  few  days  after,  my  uncles  prepared  to  journey  thither,  and 
I  wept  before  my  father  that  I  might  go  with  them,  so  that  he  prepared  a  stock  of 
merchandise  for  me,  and  I  departed  in  their  company  ;  but  he  said  to  them.  Suffer 
him  not  to  enter  Egypt,  but  leave  him  at  Damascus,  that  he  may  there  sell  his 
merchandise. 

I  took  leave  of  my  father,  and  we  set  forth  from  Mosul,  and  continued  our  journey 
until  we  arrived  at  Aleppo,  where  we  remained  some  days  ;  after  which  we  proceeded 
thence  until  we  came  to  Damascus;  and  we  beheld  it  to  be  a  city  with  trees  and 
rivers  and  fruits  and  birds,  as  though  it  were  a  paradise,  containing  fruits  of  every 
kind.  We  took  lodgings  in  one  of  the  Khans,  and  my  uncles  remained  there  until 
they  had  sold  and  bought ;  and  they  also  sold  my  merchandise,  gaining,  for  every 
piece  of  silver,  five,  so  that  I  rejoiced  at  my  profit.  My  uncles  then  left  me,  and  re- 
paired to  Egypt,  and  I  remained,  and  took  up  my  abode  in  a  handsome  mansion, 
euch  as  the  tongue  cannot  describe;  the  monthly  rent  of  which  was  two  pieces  of 
gold. 

Here  I  indulged  myself  with  eating  and  drinking,  squandering  away  the  money 
that  was  in  my  possession ;  and  as  I  was  sitting  one  day  at  the  door  of  the  mansion 
a  damsel  approached  me,  attired  in  clothing  of  the  richest  description,  such  as  I  had 
never  seen  surpassed  in  costliness,  and  I  invited  her  to  come  in ;  whereupon  without 
hesitation  she  entered  ;  and  I  was  delighted  at  her  compliance  and  closed  the  door 
upon  us  both.  She  then  uncovered  her  face,  and  took  off  her  izar,  and  I  found  her 
to  be  so  surprisingly  beautiful  that  love  for  her  took  possession  of  my  heart:  so  I 
went  and  brought  a  repast  consisting  of  the  most  delicious  viands  and  fruit,  and 
everything  else  that  was  requisite  for  her  entertainment,  and  we  ate  and  sported 
together;  after  which  we  drank  till  we  were  intoxicated,  and  fell  asleep,  and  so  we 
remained  until  the  morning,  when  I  handed  her  ten  pieces  of  gold  ;  but  she  swore 
that  she  would  not  accept  them  from  me,  and  said.  Expect  me  again,  0  my  beloved, 
after  three  days :  at  the  hour  of  sunset  I  will  be  with  thee :  and  do  thou  prepare 
for  us,  with  these  pieces  of  gold,  a  repast  similar  to  this  which  we  have  just  enjoyed. 
She  then  gave  me  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and  took  leave  of  me,  and  departed,  taking  my 
reason  with  her.  And  after  the  three  days  had  expired,  she  came  again,  decked 
with  embroidered  stuffs  and  ornaments  and  other  attire,  more  magnificent  tlian  those 
which  she  wore  on  the  former  occasion.     I  had  prepared  for  her  what  was  required 


140  THE    STORY   TOLD   BY  THE   JEWISH   PHYSICIAN. 

previously  to  her  arrival ;  so  we  now  ate  and  drank  and  fell  asleep  as  before ;  and 
in  the  morning  she  gave  me  again  ten  pieces  of  gold,  promising  to  return  to  me  after 
three  more  days.  I  therefore  made  ready  what  was  requisite,  and  after  the  three 
days,  she  came  attired  in  a  dress  still  more  magnificent  than  the  first  and  second, 
and  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  am  I  beautiful  ?— Yea,  verily,  1  answered. — Wilt  thou 
give  me  leave,  she  rejoined,  to  bring  with  me  a  damsel  more  beautiful  than  myself, 
and  younger  than  I,  that  she  may  sport  with  us,  and  we  may  make  merry  with  her? 
For  she  hath  requested  that  she  may  accompany  me,  and  pass  the  night  in  frolicking 
with  us.  And  so  saying,  she  gave  me  twenty  pieces  of  gold,  desiring  me  to  prepare 
a  more  plentiful  repast,  on  account  of  the  lady  who  was  to  come  with  her  ;  after  which 
she  bade  me  adieu,  and  departed. 

Accordingly,  on  the  fourth  day,  T  procured  what  was  requisite,  as  usual,  and  si)on 
after  sunset  she  came,  accompanied  by  a  female  wrapped  in  an  izar,  and  they  entered, 
and  seated  themselves.  I  was  rejoiced,  and  I  lighted  the  candles,  and  welcomed 
them  with  joy  and  exultation.  They  then  took  off  their  outer  garments,  and  when 
the  new  damsel  uncovered  her  face,  I  perceived  that  she  was  like  the  full  moon:  I 
had  never  beheld  a  person  more  beautiful.  I  arose  immediately,  and  placed  before 
them  the  food  and  drink,  and  we  ate  and  drank,  while  I  continued  caressing  the 
new  damsel,  and  filling  the  wine-cup  for  her,  and  drinking  with  her;  but  the  first 
lady  was  afi"ected  with  a  secret  jealousy.  By  Allah,  she  said,  verily  this  girl  is 
beautiful?  Is  she  not  more  charming  than  I? — Yea,  indeed,  I  answered.  —  Soon 
after  this,  I  fell  asleep,  and  when  I  awoke  in  the  morning,  I  found  my  hand  defiled 
with  blood,  and,  opening  my  eyes,  perceived  that  the  sun  had  risen;  so  I  attempted 
to  rouse  the  damsel,  my  new  companion,  whereupon  her  head  rolled  from  her  body. 
The  other  damsel  was  gone,  and  I  concluded,  therefore,  that  she  had  done  this  from 
her  jealousy ;  and  after  reflecting  a  while,  I  arose,  and  took  off  my  clothes,  and  dug 
a  hole  in  the  house,  in  which  I  deposited  the  murdered  damsel,  afterwards  covering 
her  remains  with  earth,  and  replacing  the  marble  pavement  as  it  was  before.  I  then 
dressed  myself  again,  and  taking  the  remainder  of  my  money,  went  forth,  and  re- 
paired to  the  owner  of  the  house,  and  paid  him  a  year's  rent,  saying  to  him,  I  am 
about  to  journey  to  my  uncles,  in  Egypt. 

So  I  departed  to  Egypt,  where  I  met  with  my  uncles,  and  they  were  rejoiced  to  see 
me.  I  found  that  they  had  concluded  the  sale  of  their  merchandise,  and  they  said 
to  me,  What  is  the  cause  of  thy  coming?  I  answered,  I  had  a  longing  desire  to  be 
with  you,  and  feared  that  my  money  would  not  suffice  me.  —  For  a  year  I  remained 
w^ith  them,  enjoying  the  pleasures  of  Egypt  and  its  Nile ;  and  I  dipped  my  hand 
into  the  residue  of  my  money,  and  expended  it  prodigally  in  eating  and  drinking 
until  the  time  approached  of  my  uncles'  departure,  when  I  fled  from  them  :  so  they 
said.  Probably  he  hath  gone  before  us  and  returned  to  Damascus:  —  and  they  de- 
parted. I  then  came  forth  from  my  concealment,  and  remained  in  Cairo  three 
years,  squandering  away  my  money  until  scarcely  any  of  it  remained  ;  bnt  mean- 
while I  sent  every  year  the  rent  of  the  mansion  at  Damascus  to  its  owner:  and  after 
the  three  years  my  heart  became  contracted,  for  nothing  remained  in  my  possession 
but  the  rent  for  the  year. 

I  therefore  journeyed  back  to  Damascus,  and  alighted  at  the  house.  The  owner 
Avas  rejoiced  to  see  me,  and  I  entered  it,  and  cleansed  it  of  the  blood  of  the  murdered 
damsel,  and  removing  a  cushion,  I  found,  beneath  this,  the  necklace  that  she  had 
worn  that  night.  I  took  it  up  and  examined  it,  and  wept  a  while.  After  this  I 
remained  in  the  house  two  days,  and  on  the  third  day  I  entered  the  bath,  and 
changed  my  clothes.  I  now  had  no  money  left ;  and  I  went  one  day  to  the  market, 
where  (the  Devil  suggesting  it  to  me,  in  order  to  accomplish  the  purpose  of  destiny) 
I  handed  the  necklace  of  jewels  to  a  broker  ;  and  he  rose  to  me,  and  seated  me  by 
his  side  :  then  having  waited  until  the  market  was  replenished,  he  took  it  and  an- 
nounced it  for  sale  secretly,  without  my  knowledge.  The  price  bidden  for  it 
amounted  to  two  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  but  he  came  to  me  and  said,  This  neck- 


THE    STORY   TOLD    BY   THE   JEWISH    PHYSICIAN.  141 

lace  is  of  brass,  of  the  counterfeit  manufacture  of  the  Franks,  and  its  price  hath 
amounted  to  a  thousand  pieces  of  silver.  I  answered  him,  Yes:  we  had  made  it  for 
a  woman,  merely  to  laugh  at  her,  and  my  wife  has  inherited  it,  and  we  desire  to  sell 
it:  go,  therefore,  and  receive  the  thousand  pieces  of  silver.  Now  when  the  broker 
heard  this,  he  perceived  that  the  affair  was  suspicious,  and  went  and  gave  the  neck- 
lace to  the  chief  of  the  market,  who  took  it  to  the  judge,  and  said  to  him,  This  neck- 
lace was  stolen  from  me,  and  we  have  found  the  thief,  clad  in  the  dress  of  the  sons 
of  the  merchants.  Ajid  before  I  knew  what  had  happened,  the  officers  had  sur- 
rounded me,  and  they  took  me  to  the  judge,  who  questioned  me  respecting  the  neck- 
lace. I  told  him,  therefore,  the  same  story  that  I  had  told  to  the  broker  ;  but  he 
laughed,  and  said.  This  is  not  the  truth  :  — and  instantly  his  people  stripped  me  of 
my  outer  clothing,  and  beat  me  with  sticks  all  over  my  body,  until  through  the 
torture  that  I  suffered  from  the  blows,  I  said,  I  stole  it ;  reflecting  that  it  was  better 
I  should  say  I  stole  it,  than  confess  that  its  owner  was  murdered  in  my  abode ;  for 
then  they  would  kill  me  to  avenge  her:  and  as  soon  as  I  had  said  so,  they  cut  off 
my  hand,  and  scalded  the  stump  with  boiling  oil,  and  I  swooned  away.  They  then 
gave  me  to  drink  some  wine,  by  swallowing  which  I  recovered  my  senses ;  and  1 
took  my  amputated  hand,  and  returned  to  the  mansion ;  but  its  owner  said  to  me, 
Since  this  hath  happened  to  thee,  leave  the  house,  and  look  for  another  abode ;  for 
thou  art  accused  of  an  unlawful  act. — 0  my  master,  I  replied,  give  me  two  or  three 
days'  delay  that  I  may  seek  for  a  lodging:  —  and  he  assented  to  this,  and  departed 
and  left  me.  So  I  remained  alone,  and  sat  weeping,  and  saying,  How  can  I  return 
to  my  family  with  my  hand  cut  off.  He  who  cut  it  off  knoweth  not  that  I  am  inno- 
cent: perhaps,  then,  God  will  bring  about  some  event  for  my  relief. 

I  sat  weeping  violently  ;  and  when  the  owner  of  the  house  had  departed  from  me, 
excessive  grief  overcame  me,  and  I  was  sick  for  two  days  ;  and  on  the  third  day, 
suddenly  the  owner  of  the  house  came  to  me,  with  some  officers  of  the  police,  and 
the  chief  of  the  market,  and  accused  me  again  of  stealing  the  necklace.  So  I  went 
out  to  them  and  said.  What  is  the  news?  —  whereupon,  without  granting  me  a  mo- 
ment's delay,  they  bound  my  arms  behind  me,  and  put  a  chain  round  my  neck, 
saying  to  me.  The  necklace  which  was  in  thy  possession  hath  proved  to  be  the  pro- 
perty of  the  governor  of  Damascus,  its  Vizier  and  its  Ruler:  it  hath  been  lost  from 
the  governor's  house  for  a  period  of  three  years,  and  with  it  was  his  daughter. 
When  I  heard  these  words  from  them,  my  limbs  trembled,  and  I  said  within  myself. 
They  will  kill  me!  my  death  is  inevitable!  By  Allah,  I  must  relate  my  story  to 
the  governor ;  and  if  he  please  he  will  kill  me,  or  if  he  please  he  will  pardon  me. — 
And  when  we  arrived  at  the  governor's  abode,  and  they  had  placed  me  before  him, 
and  he  beheld  me,  he  said.  Is  this  he  who  stole  the  necklace  and  went  out  to  sell  it? 
Verily  ye  have  cut  off  his  hand  wrongfully.— He  then  ordered  that  the  chief  of  the 
market  should  be  imprisoned,  and  said  to  him.  Give  to  this  person  the  compensatory 
fine  for  his  hand,  or  I  will  hang  thee  and  seize  all  thy  property.  And  he  called  out 
to  his  attendants,  who  took  him  and  dragged  him  away. 

1  was  now  left  with  the  governor  alone,  after  they  had,  by  his  permission,  loosed 
the  chain  from  my  neck,  and  untied  the  cords  which  bound  my  arms  ;  and  the 
governor,  looking  towards  me,  said  to  me,  0  my  son,  tell  me  thy  story  and  speak 
truth.  How  did  this  necklace  come  into  thy  possession  ?  —  So  I  replied,  0  my  lord, 
I  will  tell  thee  the  truth: — and  I  related  to  him  all  that  had  happened  to  me  with 
the  first  damsel,  and  how  she  had  brought  to  me  the  second,  and  murdered  her  from 
jealousy:  on  hearing  which,  he  shook  his  head  and  covered  his  face  with  his  hand- 
kerchief, and  wept.  Then  looking  towards  me,  he  said.  Know,  0  my  son,  that  the 
elder  damsel  was  my  daughter:  I  kept  her  closely:  and  when  she  had  attained  a  fit 
age  for  marriage,  I  sent  her  to  the  son  of  her  uncle  in  Cairo ;  but  he  died,  and  she 
returned  to  me,  having  learnt  habits  of  profligacy  from  the  inhabitants  of  that  city; 
80  she  visited  thee  four  times ;  and  on  the  fourth  oci-asion  she  brought  to  thee  her 
younger  sister.     They  were  sisters  by  the  same  mother,  and  much  attached  tr  oach 


142  ■  THE   STORY   TOLD    BY   THE   TAILOR. 

other  ;  and  when  the  event  which  thou  hast  related  occurred  to  the  eWer,  she  im- 
parted her  secret  to  her  sister,  who  asked  my  permission  to  go  out  with  her  ;  after 
which  the  elder  returned  alone  :  and  when  I  questioned  her  respecting  her  sister,  I 
found  her  weeping  for  her,  and  she  answered,  I  know  no  tidings  of  her;  —  but  she 
afterwards  informed  her  mother  secretly  of  the  murder  which  she  had  committed ; 
and  her  mother  privately  related  the  affair  to  me ;  and  she  continued  to  weep  for  her 
incessantly,  saying.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  cease  to  weep  for  her  until  I  die.  Thy 
account,  0  my  son,  is  true ;  for  I  knew  the  affair  before  thou  toldest  it  me.  See 
then,  0  my  son,  what  hath  happened :  and  now  I  request  of  thee  that  thou  wilt  not 
oppose  me  in  that  which  I  am  about  to  say  ;  and  it  is  this :  —  I  desire  to  marry  thee 
to  my  youngest  daughter:  for  she  is  not  of  the  same  mother  as  they  were:  she  is  a 
virgin,  and  I  will  receive  from  thee  no  dowry,  but  will  assign  to  you  both  an  allow- 
ance;  and  thou  shalt  be  to  me  as  an  own  son. — I  replied,  Let  it  be  as  thou  desirest, 
0  my  master.  How  could  I  expect  to  attain  unto  such  happiness?  —  The  governor 
then  sent  immediately  a  courier  to  bring  the  property  which  my  father  had  left  me 
(for  he  had  died  since  my  departure  from  him),  and  now  I  am  living  in  the  utmost 
affluence. 

I  wondered,  said  the  Jew,  at  his  history ;  and  after  I  had  remained  with  him  three 
days,  he  gave  me  a  large  sum  of  money;  and  I  left  him  to  set  forth  on  a  journey; 
and,  arriving  in  this  your  country,  my  residence  here  pleased  me,  and  I  experienced 
this  which  hath  happened  to  me  with  the  humpback. 

The  King,  when  he  had  heard  this  story,  said,  This  is  not  more  wonderful  than 
the  story  of  the  humpback,  and  ye  must  all  of  you  be  hanged,  and  especially  the 
tailor,  who  is  the  source  of  all  the  mischief.  But  he  afterwards  added,  0  tailor,  if 
thou  tell  me  a  story  more  wonderful  than  that  of  the  humpback,  I  will  forgive  you 
your  offences.     So  the  tailor  advanced,  and  said  : — 


THE  STOKY  TOLD  BY  THE  TAILOR. 

Know,  0  King  of  the  age,  that  what  hath  happened  to  me  is  more  wonderful  than 
the  events  which  have  happened  to  all  the  others.  Before  I  met  the  humpback,  I 
was,  early  in  the  morning,  at  an  entertainment  given  to  certain  tradesmen  of  my 
acquaintance,  consisting  of  tailors  and  linen-drapers  and  carpenters  and  others  ; 
and  when  the  sun  had  risen,  the  repast  was  brought  for  us  to  eat ;  and  lo,  the  master 
of  the  house  came  in  to  us,  accompanied  by  a  strange  and  handsome  young  man,  of 
the  inhabitants  of  Bagdad.  He  was  attired  in  clothes  of  the  handsomest  description, 
and  waa  a  most  comely  person,  excepting  that  he  was  lame ;  and  as  soon  as  he  had 
entered  and  saluted  us,  we  rose  to  him  ;  but  when  he  was  about  to  seat  himself,  he 
observed  among  us  a  man  who  was  a  barber,  whereupon  he  refused  to  sit  down,  and 
desired  to  depart  from  us.  We  and  the  master  of  the  house,  however,  prevented 
him,  and  urged  him  to  seat  himself;  and  the  host  conjured  him,  saying  What  is  the 
reason  of  thy  entering  and  then  immediately  departing?  —  By  Allah,  O  my  master, 
replied  he,  offer  me  no  opposition  ;  for  the  cause  of  my  departure  is  this  barber,  who 
is  sitting  with  you.  And  when  the  host  heard  this,  he  was  exceedingly  surprised, 
and  said,  How  is  it  that  the  heart  of  this  young  man,  who  is  from  Bagdad,  is  troubled 
by  the  presence  of  this  barber?  We  then  looked  towards  him  and  said.  Relate  to  us 
the  cause  of  thy  displeasure  against  this  barber ;  and  the  young  man  replied,  0 
company,  a  surprising  adventure  happened  to  me  with  this  barber  in  Bagdad,  my 
city,  and  he  was  the  cause  of  my  lameness  and  of  the  breaking  of  my  leg ;  and  I 
have  sworn  that  I  will  not  sit  in  any  place  where  he  is  present,  nor  dwell  in  any 
town  where  he  resides:  I  quitted  Bagdad  and  took  up  my  abode  in  this  city,  and  I 
will  not  pass  the  next  night  without  departing  from  it.  —  Upon  this,  we  said  to  him, 
We  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  relate  to  us  thy  adventure  with  him  : — and  the  counte- 
nance of  the  barber  turned  pale  when  he  heard  us  make  this  request.  The  young 
man  then  said  : — 


THE    STORY    TOLD    BY   THE    TAILOR. 


143 


young  Man  sittin?  ( 


Know,  0  good  people,  that  my  father  was  one  of  the  chief  merchants  of  Bagdad; 
and  God,  whose  name  be  exalted,  blessed  him  with  no  son  but  myself;  and  when  I 
grew  up,  and  had  attained  to  manhood,  my  father  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of  God, 
leaving  me  wealth,  and  servants  and  other  dependents  ;  whereupon  I  began  to  attire 
myself  in  clothes  of  the  hand- 
somest description,  and  to  feed 
upon  the  most  delicious  meats. 
Now  God,  whose  perfection  be 
extolled,  made  me  to  be  a  hater 
of  women  ;  and  so  I  continued, 
until,  one  day,  I  was  walking 
through  the  streets  of  Bagdad, 
when  a  party  of  them  stopped 
my  way ;  I  therefore  fled  from 
them,  and,  entering  a  by-street 
which  was  not  a  thoroughfare, 
I  reclined  upon  a  stone  bench  at 
its  further  extremity.  Here  J 
had  been  seated  but  a  short  timo 
when,  lo,  a  window  opposite  the 
place  where  I  sat  was  opened, 
and  there  looked  out  from  it  a 
damsel  like  the  full  moon,  such 
as  I  had  never  in  my  life  beheld. 
She  had  some  flowers  which  she 
was  watering,  beneath  the  win- 
dow ;  and  she  looked  to  the  right 

and  left  and  then  shut  the  window,  and  disappeared  from  before  me.  Fire  had  been 
shot  into  my  heart,  and  my  mind  was  absorbed  by  her  ;  my  hatred  of  women  was 
turned  into  love,  and  I  continued  sitting  in  the  same  place,  until  sunset,  in  a  state 
of  distraction  from  the  violence  of  my  passion,  when  lo,  the  Cadi  of  the  city  came 
riding  along,  with  slaves  before  him  and  servants  behind  him,  and  alighted,  and 
entered  the  house  from  which  the  damsel  had  looked  out:  so  I  knew  that  he  must 
be  her  father. 

I  then  returned  to  my  house,  sorrowful ;  and  fell  upon  my  bed,  full  of  anxious 
thoughts ;  and  my  female  slaves  came  in  to  me,  and  seated  themselves  around  me, 
not  knowing  what  was  the  matter  with  me:  and  I  acquainted  them  not  with  my 
case,  nor  returned  any  answers  to  their  questions:  and  my  disorder  increased.  The 
neighbours,  therefore,  came  to  cheer  me  with  their  visits ;  and  among  those  who 
visited  me  was  an  old  woman,  who,  as  soon  as  she  saw  me,  discovered  my  state ; 
whereupon  she  seated  herself  at  my  head,  and  addressing  me  in  a  kind  manner, 
said,  0  my  son,  tell  me  what  hath  happened  to  thee?  So  I  related  to  her  my  story, 
and  she  said,  O  my  son,  this  is  the  daughter  of  the  Cadi  of  Bagdad,  and  she  is  kept 
in  close  confinement:  the  place  where  thou  sawest  her  is  her  apartment,  and  her 
father  occupies  a  large  saloon  below,  leaving  her  alone  ;  and  often  do  I  visit  her; 
thou  canst  obtain  an  interview  with  her  only  through  me :  so  brace  up  thy  nerves. 
When  I  heard,  therefore,  what  she  said,  I  took  courage,  and  fortified  my  heart ;  and 
my  family  rejoiced  that  day.  I  rose  up  firm  in  limb,  and  hoping  for  complete  restora- 
tion ;  and  the  old  woman  departed ;  but  she  returned  with  her  countenance  changed, 
and  said,  0  my  son,  ask  not  what  she  did  when  I  told  her  of  thy  case ;  for  she  said, 
If  thou  abstain  not,  0  ill-omened  old  woman,  from  this  discourse,  I  will  treat  thee 
as  thou  deservest: — but  I  must  go  to  her  a  second  time. 

On  hearing  this,  my  disorder  increased :  after  some  days,  however,  the  old  woman 
came  again,  and  said,  0  my  son,  I  desire  of  thee  a  reward  for  good  tidings.   My  soul 


144  THE    STORY    TOLD    BY   THE    TAILOR. 

returned  to  my  body  at  these  words,  and  I  replied,  Thou  shalt  receive  from  me 
everything  that  thou  canst  wish.  She  then  said,  I  went  yesterday  to  the  damsel, 
and  when  she  beheld  me  with  broken  heart  and  weeping  eye,  she  said  to  me,  0  my 
aunt,  wherefore  do  I  see  thee  with  contracted  heart? — and  when  she  had  thus  said 
I  wept  and  answered,  0  my  daughter  and  mistress,  I  came  to  thee  yesterday  from 
visiting  a  youth  who  loveth  thee,  and  he  is  at  the  point  of  death  on  thy  account: — 
and,  her  heart  being  moved  with  compassion,  she  asked,  Who  is  this  youth  of  whom 
thou  speakest?  I  answered.  He  is  my  son,  and  the  child  that  is  dear  to  my  soul: 
he  saw  thee  at  the  window  some  days  ago,  while  thou  wast  watering  thy  flowers ; 
and  when  he  beheld  thy  face,  he  became  distracted  with  love  for  thee  :  I  informed 
him  of  the  conversation  that  I  had  with  thee  the  first  time ;  upon  which  his  disorder 
increased,  and  he  took  to  his  pillow  :  he  is  now  dying,  and  there  is  no  doubt  of  his 
fate. — And  upon  this,  her  countenance  became  pale,  and  she  said.  Is  this  all  on  my 
account? — Yea,  by  Allah,  I  answered  ;  and  what  dost  thou  order  me  to  do? — Go  to 
him,  said  she  ;  convey  to  him  my  salutation,  and  tell  him  that  my  love  is  greater 
than  his ;  and  on  Friday  next,  before  the  congregational  prayers,  let  him  come 
hither:  I  will  give  orders  to  open  the  door  to  him,  and  to  bring  him  up  to  me,  and 
I  will  have  a  short  interview  with  him,  and  he  shall  return  before  my  father  comes 
back  from  the  prayers. 

When  I  hA.rd  these  M'ords  of  the  old  woman  the  anguish  which  I  had  suflPered 
ceased  ;  my  heart  was  set  at  rest,  and  I  gave  her  the  suit  of  clothes  which  I 
was  then  wearing,  and  she  departed,  saying  to  me.  Cheer  up  thy  heart.  I  re- 
plied, I  have  no  longer  any  pain.  The  people  of  my  house,  and  my  friends, 
communicated  one  to  another  the  good  news  of  my  restoration  to  health,  and  I 
remained  thus  until  the  Friday,  when  the  old  woman  came  in  to  me,  and  asked 
me  respecting  my  state:  so  I  informed  her  that  I  was  happy  and  well.  I  then 
dressed  and  perfumed  myself,  and  sat  waiting  for  the  people  to  go  to  prayers,  that 
I  might  repair  to  the  damsel  ;  hut  the  old  woman  said  to  me,  Thou  hast  yet  more 
than  ample  time,  and  if  thou  go  to  the  bath  and  shave,  especially  for  the  sake  of  ob- 
literating the  traces  of  thy  disorder,  it  will  be  more  becoming.  It  is  a  judicious 
piece  of  advice,  replied  I  ;  but  I  will  shave  my  head  first,  and  then  go  into  the 
bath. 

So  I  sent  for  a  barber  to  shave  my  head,  saying  to  the  boy.  Go  to  the  market,  and 
bring  me  a  barber,  one  who  is  a  man  of  sense,  little  inclined  to  impertinence,  that 
he  may  not  make  my  head  ache  by  his  chattering.  And  the  boy  went,  and  brought 
this  sheikh,  who,  on  entering,  saluted  me:  and  when  I  had  returned  his  salutation, 
he  said  to  me.  May  God  dispel  thy  grief  and  thine  anxiety,  and  misfortunes  and 
sorrows!  I  responded.  May  God  accept  thy  prayer!  lie  then  said.  Be  cheerful,  0 
my  master;  for  health  hath  returned  to  thee.  Dost  thou  desire  to  be  shaved  or  to 
be  bled? — for  it  hath  been  handed  down,  on  the  authority  of  Ibn  Abl)as,  that  the 
Prophet  said.  Whoso  shorteneth  his  hair  on  Friday,  God  will  avert  from  him  seventy 
diseases  ; — and  it  hath  been  handed  down  also,  on  the  same  authority,  that  the 
Prophet  said.  Whoso  is  cupped  on  Friday  will  not  be  secure  from  the  loss  of  sight 
and  from  frequent  disease.  Abstain,  said  I,  from  this  useless  discourse,  and  come 
immediately,  shave  my  head,  for  I  am  weak.  And  he  arose  and,  stretching  forth 
his  hand,  took  out  a  handkerchief  and  opened  it ;  and  lo,  there  was  in  it  an  astrolabe, 
consisting  of  seven  plates:  and  he  took  it,  and  went  into  the  middle  of  the  court, 
where  he  raised  his  head  towards  the  sun,  and  looked  for  a  considerable  time ;  after 
which  he  said  to  me,  Know  that  there  have  passed,  of  this  our  day, — which  is 
Friday,  and  which  is  the  tenth  of  the  month  Saffar  of  the  year  263'  of  the  flight  of 
the  Prophet. — upon  whom  be  the  most  excellent  of  blessings  and  peace ! — and  the 
ascendant  star  of  which,  according  to  the  required  rules  of  the  science  of  computa- 
tion, is  the  planet  Mars, — seven  degrees  and  six  minutes;  and  it  happeneth  that 


November  2ncl, 


THE    STORY    TOLD    BY    THE    TAILOR.  145 

Mercury  hath  come  in  conjunction  with  that  planet;  and  this  indicateth  that  the 
shaving  of  hair  is  now  a  most  excellent  operation  ;  and  it  hath  indicated  to  me,  also, 
that  thou  desirest  to  confer  a  benefit  upon  a  person :  and  fortunate  is  he ! — but  after 
that,  there  is  an  announcement  that  presenteth  itself  to  me  respecting  a  matter 
which  I  will  not  mention  to  thee. 

By  Allah,  I  exclaimed,  thou  hast  wearied  me,  and  dissipated  my  mind,  and 
augured  against  me,  when  I  required  thee  only  to  shave  my  head  :  arise,  then,  and 
shave  it;  and  prolong  not  thy  discourse  to  me.  But,  he  replied,  By  Allah,  if  thou 
knewest  the  truth  of  the  case,  thou  wouldst  demand  of  me  a  further  explication  ; 
and  I  counsel  thee  to  do  this  day  as  I  direct  thee,  according  to  the  calculations  de- 
duced from  the  stars:  it  is  thy  duty  to  praise  God  and  not  to  oppose  me  ;  for  I  am 
one  who  giveth  thee  good  advice,  and  who  regardeth  thee  with  compassion  :  I  would 
that  I  were  in  thy  service  for  a  whole  year,  that  thou  mightest  do  me  justice  ;  and  I 
desire  not  any  pay  from  thee  for  so  doing. — When  I  heard  this,  I  said  to  him,  Verily 
thou  art  killing  me  this  day,  and  there  is  no  escape  for  me. — 0  my  master,  he  re- 
plied, I  am  he  whom  the  people  call  The  Silent,  on  account  of  the  paucity  of  my 
speech,  by  which  I  am  distinguished  above  my  brothers:  for  my  eldest  brother  is 
named  Bacbouc  ;  and  the  second  Heddar ;  and  the  third,  Bacbac ;  and  the  fourth  is 
named  Alcouz  ;  and  the  fifth,  Anaschar  ;  and  the  sixth  is  named  Shacabac  ;  and  the 
seventh  brother  is  named  The  Silent,  and  he  is  myself. 

Now  when  this  barber  thus  overwhelmed  me  with  his  talk,  I  felt  as  if  my  gall- 
bladder had  burst,  and  said  to  the  boy,  Give  him  a  quarter  of  a  piece  of  gold,  and 
let  him  depart  from  me  for  the  sake  of  Allah  ;  for  I  have  no  need  to  shave  my  head. 
But  the  barber,  on  hearing  what  I  said  to  the  boy,  exclaimed,  What  is  this  that  thou 
hast  said,  0  my  lord?  By  Allah,  T  will  accept  from  thee  no  pay  unless  I  serve  thee; 
and  serve  thee  I  must:  for  to  do  so  is  incumbent  on  me,  and  to  perform  what  thou 
requirest;  and  I  care  not  if  I  receive  from  thee  no  money.  If  thou  knowest  not 
my  worth,  I  know  thine :  and  thy  father — may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him  ! — treated 
us  with  beneficence  ;  for  he  was  a  man  of  generosity.  By  Allah,  thy  father  sent 
for  me  one  day,  like  this  blessed  day,  and  when  I  went  to  him  he  had  a  number  of 
his  friends  with  him,  and  he  said  to  me,  Take  some  blood  from  me.  So  I  took  the 
astrolabe,  and  observed  the  altitude  for  him,  and  found  the  ascendant  of  the  hour 
to  be  of  evil  omen,  and  that  the  letting  of  blood  would  be  attended  with  trouble :  I 
therefore  acquainted  him  with  this,  and  he  conformed  to  my  wish,  and  waited  until 
the  arrival  of  the  approved  hour,  when  I  took  the  blood  from  him.  He  did  not  op- 
pose me ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  thanked  me ;  and  in  like  manner  all  the  company 
present  thanked  me  ;  and  thy  father  gave  me  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  for  services 
similar  to  the  letting  of  blood.  —  May  God,  said  I,  show  no  mercy  to  my  father  for 
knowing  such  a  man  as  thou  ! — and  the  barber  laughed,  and  exclaimed.  There  is  no 
Deity  but  God  !  Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle  !  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  him  who 
changeth  others,  but  is  not  changed  I  I  did  not  imagine  thee  to  be  otherwise  than 
a  man  of  sense;  but  thou  hast  talked  nonsense  in  consequence  of  thine  illness.  God 
hath  mentioned,  in  his  Excellent  Book,  those  who  restrain  their  anger,  and  who  for- 
give men : — but  thou  art  excused  in  every  case.  I  am  unacquainted,  however,  with 
the  cause  of  thy  haste  ;  and  thou  knowest  that  thy  father  used  to  do  nothino-  without 
consulting  me:  and  it  hath  been  said,  that  the  person  to  whom  one  applies  for  ad- 
vice should  be  trusted  ;  now  thou  wilt  find  no  one  better  acquainted  with  the  alfaira 
of  the  world  than  myself,  and  I  am  standing  on  my  feet  to  serve  thee.  I  am  not 
displeased  with  thee,  and  how  then  art  thou  displeased  with  me  ?  But  I  will  have 
patience  with  thee  on  account  of  the  fixvours  which  I  have  received  from  thy  father. 
— By  Allah,  said  I,  thou  hast  wearied  me  with  thy  discourse,  and  overcome  me  with 
thy  speech  !     I  desire  that  thou  shave  my  head  and  depart  from  me. 

I  gave  vent  to  my  rage ;  and  would  have  arisen,  even  if  he  had  wetted  my  head, 
•when  he  said,  I  knew  that  displeasure  with  me  had  overcome  thee;  but  I  will  not 
be  angry  with  thee,  for  thy  sense  is  weak,  and  thou  art  a  youth :  a  short  time  a^o  I 
10 


146  THE    STORY   TOLD    BY   THE   TAILOR. 

used  to  carry  thee  on  my  shoulder,  and  take  thee  to  the  school.  —  Upon  this,  I  said 
to  him,  0  my  brother,  I  conjure  thee  by  the  requisitions  of  Allah,  depart  from  me 
that  I  may  perform  my  business,  and  go  thou  thy  way.  Then  I  rent  my  clothes, 
and  when  he  saw  me  do  this,  he  took  the  razor,  and  sharpened  it,  and  continued  to 
do  so  until  my  soul  almost  parted  from  my  body ;  then  advancing  to  my  head,  he 
shaved  a  small  portion  of  it;  after  which  he  raised  his  hand,  and  said,  0  my  lord, 
haste  is  from  the  Devil ;  I  do  not  imagine  that  thou  knowest  my  condition  in  society; 
for  my  hand  lighteth  upon  the  heads  of  kings  and  emirs  and  viziers  and  sages  and 
learned  men.  —  Leave,  said  I,  that  which  doth  not  concern  thee!  Thou  hast  con- 
tracted my  heart,  and  troubled  my  mind. — I  fancy  that  thou  art  in  haste,  he  rejoined. 
— I  replied,  Yes  !  Yes  !  Yes ! — Proceed  slowly,  said  he :  for  verily  haste  is  from  the 
Devil,  and  it  giveth  occasion  to  repentance  and  disappointment ;  and  he  upon  whom 
be  blessing  and  peace  hath  said.  The  best  of  affairs  is  that  which  is  commenced  with 
deliberation: — and,  by  Allah,  I  am  in  doubt  as  to  thine  affair:  I  wish,  therefore, 
that  thou  wouldst  make  known  to  me  what  thou  art  hasting  to  do:  and  may  it  be 
good  ;  for  I  fear  it  is  otherwise  ! 

There  now  remained  to  the  appointed  time  three  hours :  and  he  threw  the  razor 
from  his  hand  in  anger,  and  taking  the  astrolabe,  went  again  to  observe  the  sun  ; 
then  after  he  had  waited  a  long  time,  he  returned,  saying.  There  remain,  to  the  hour 
of  prayer,  three  hours,  neither  more  nor  less.  —  For  the  sake  of  Allah,  said  I,  be 
silent;  for  thou  hast  crumbled  my  liver!  —  and,  thereupon,  he  took  the  razor,  and 
sharpened  it  as  he  had  done  the  first  time,  and  shaved  another  portion  of  my  head. 
Then  stopping  again,  he  said,  I  am  in  anxiety  on  account  of  thy  hurry:  if  thou 
wouldst  acquaint  me  with  the  cause  of  it,  it  would  be  better  for  thee ;  for  thou 
knowest  that  thy  father  used  to  do  nothing  without  consulting  me. 

I  perceived  now  that  I  could  not  avoid  his  importunity,  and  said  within  myself. 
The  time  of  prayer  is  almost  come,  and  I  desire  to  go  before  the  people  come  out 
from  the  service ;  if  I  delay  a  little  longer,  I  know  not  how  to  gain  admission  to 
her.  I  therefore  said  to  him.  Be  quick,  and  cease  from  this  chattering  and  imperti- 
nence: for  I  desire  to  repair  to  an  entertainment  with  my  friends.  But  when  he 
heard  the  mention  of  the  entertainment,  he  exclaimed,  The  day  is  a  blessed  day  for 
me  I  I  yesterday  conjured  a  party  of  my  intimate  friends  to  come  and  feast  with 
me,  and  forgot  to  prepare  for  them  anything  to  eat;  and  now  I  have  remembered  it. 
Alas  for  the  disgrace  that  I  shall  experience  from  them  !  —  So  I  said  to  him.  Be  in 
no  anxiety  on  this  account,  since  thou  hast  been  told  that  I  am  going  to-day  to  an 
entertainment;  for  all  the  food  and  drink  that  is  in  my  house  shall  be  thine  if  thou 
use  expedition  in  my  affair,  and  quickly  finish  shaving  my  head.  May  God  recom- 
pense thee  with  every  blessing !  he  replied :  describe  to  me  what  thou  hast  for  my 
guests,  that  I  may  know  it. — I  have,  said  I,  five  dishes  of  meat,  and  ten  fowls  frican- 
doed,  and  a  roasted  lamb. — Cause  them  to  be  brought  before  me,  he  said,  that  I  may 
see  them.  So  I  had  them  brought  to  him,  and  he  exclaimed.  Divinely  art  thou 
gifted  !  How  generous  is  thy  soul !  But  the  incense  and  perfumes  are  wanting. — 
I  brought  him,  therefore,  a  box  containing  perfumes  and  aloes-wood  and  ambergris 
and  musk,  worth  fifty  pieces  of  gold.  The  time  had  now  become  contracted,  like 
my  own  heart;  so  I  said  to  him.  Receive  this,  and  shave  the  whole  of  my  head,  by 
the  existence  of  Mahomet,  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !  But  he  replied.  By  Allah, 
I  will  not  take  it  until  I  see  all  that  it  contains.  I  therefore  ordered  the  boy,  and 
he  opened  the  box  to  him  ;  whereupon  the  barber  threw  down  the  astrolabe  from 
his  hand,  and,  seating  himself  upon  the  ground,  turned  over  the  perfumes  and  in- 
cense and  aloes-wood  in  the  box  until  my  soul  almost  quitted  my  body. 

He  then  advanced,  and  took  the  razor,  and  shaved  another  small  portion  of  my 
head,  after  which  he  said.  By  Allah,  0  my  son,  I  know  not  whether  I  should  <hank 
thee  or  thank  thy  father;  for  my  entertainment  to-day  is  entirely  derived  from  thy 
bounty  and  kindness,  and  I  have  no  one  among  my  visitors  deserving  of  it;  for  my 
guests  are  Zeitoun  the  bath-keeper,  and  Salia  tlic  wheat-seller,  and  Oukal  the  bean 


The  Tailor  and  the  Barber.    (Page  146.) 


147 


THE   STORY   TOLD   BY   THE   TAILOR.  149 

seller,  and  Akrasha  the  grocer,  and  Homeid  the  dustman,  and  Akarish  the  milk- 
seller,  and  each  of  these  has  a  peculiar  dance  which  he  performeth,  and  peculiar 
verses  which  he  reciteth  ;  and  the  best  of  their  qualities  is,  that  they  are  like  thy 
servant  the  mamlouk  who  is  before  thee  ;  and  I,  thy  slave,  know  neither  loquacity 
nor  impertinence.  As  to  the  bath-keeper,  he  saith.  If  I  go  not  to  the  feast,  it  cometh 
to  my  house!  —  and  as  to  the  dustman,  he  is  witty  and  full  of  frolic:  often  doth  he 
dance,  and  say.  News  with  my  wife  is  not  kept  in  a  chest ! — and  each  of  my  friends 
hath  jests  that  another  hath  not:  but  the  description  is  not  like  the  actual  observa- 
tion. If  thou  choose,  therefore,  to  come  to  us,  it  will  be  moi-e  pleasant  both  to  thee 
and  to  us :  relinquish,  then,  thy  visit  to  thy  friends  of  whom  thou  hast  told  us  that 
thou  desirest  to  go  to  them :  for  the  traces  of  disease  are  yet  upon  thee,  and  probably 
thou  art  going  to  a  people  of  many  words,  who  will  talk  of  that  which  coneerneth 
them  not ;  or  probably  there  will  be  among  them  one  impertinent  person  ;  and  thy 
soul  is  already  disquieted  by  disease. — I  replied,  If  it  be  the  will  of  God,  that  shall 
be  on  some  other  day :  —  but  he  said.  It  will  be  more  proper  that  thou  first  join  my 
party  of  friends,  that  thou  mayest  enjoy  their  conviviality,  and  delight  thyself  with 
their  salt. 

Upon  this  I  laughed  from  a  heart  laden  with  anger,  and  said  to  him.  Do  what  I 
require,  that  I  may  go  in  the  care  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted,  and  do  thou  go 
to  thy  friends,  for  they  are  waiting  thine  arrival.  He  replied,  I  desire  nothing  but 
to  introduce  thee  into  the  society  of  these  people ;  for  verily  they  are  of  the  sons  of 
that  class  among  which  is  no  impertinent  person  ;  and  if  thou  didst  but  behold  them 
once,  thou  wouldst  leave  all  thine  own  companions.  —  May  God,  said  I,  give  thee 
abundant  joy  with  them,  and  I  must  bring  them  together  here  some  day.  If  that 
be  thy  wish,  he  rejoined,  and  thou  wilt  first  attend  the  entertainment  of  thy  friends 
this  day,  wait  until  I  take  this  present  with  which  thou  hast  honoured  me  and  place 
it  before  my  friends,  that  they  may  eat  and  drink  without  waiting  for  me,  and  then 
I  will  return  to  thee,  and  go  with  thee  to  thy  companions ;  for  there  is  no  false  deli- 
cacy between  me  and  my  companions  that  should  prevent  my  leaving  them  :  so  I 
will  return  to  thee  quickly,  and  repair  with  thee  whithersoever  thou  goest.  —  Upon 
this  I  exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great ! 
Go  thou  to  thy  companions,  and  delight  thy  heart  with  them,  and  leave  me  to  repair 
to  mine,  and  to  remain  with  them  this  day,  for  they  are  waiting  my  arrival.  —  But 
he  said,  I  will  not  leave  thee  to  go  alone.  —  The  place  to  which  I  am  going,  said  I, 
none  can  enter  except  myself.  —  I  suppose  then,  he  rejoined,  that  thou  hast  an  ap- 
pointment to-day  with  some  female :  otherwise,  thou  wouldst  take  me  with  thee  ; 
for  I  am  more  deserving  than  all  other  men,  and  will  assist  thee  to  attain  what  thou 
desirest.  I  fear  that  thou  art  going  to  visit  some  strange  woman,  and  that  thy  life 
will  be  lost ;  for  in  this  city  of  Bagdad  no  one  can  do  anything  of  this  kind,  espe- 
cially on  such  a  day  as  this :  seeing  that  the  Judge  of  Bagdad  is  a  terrible,  sharp 
sword.  —  Wo  to  thee,  0  wicked  old  man!  I  exclaimed,  what  are  these  words  with 
which  thou  addressest  me? — And  upon  this,  he  kept  a  long  silence. 

The  time  of  the  prayer  was  near,  when  he  had  finished  shaving  my  head  ;  so  I 
said  to  him.  Go  with  this  food  and  drink  to  thy  friends,  and  I  will  wait  for  thee  until 
thou  return,  and  thou  shalt  accompany  me: — and  I  continued  my  endeavours  to  de- 
ceive him,  that  he  might  go  away ;  but  he  said  to  me,  Verily,  thou  art  deceiving  me, 
and  wilt  thou  go  alone,  and  precipitate  thyself  into  a  calamity  from  which  there 
will  be  no  escape  for  thee:  by  Allah  !  by  Allah  !  then,  quit  not  this  spot  until  I 
return  to  thee  and  accompany  thee,  that  I  may  know  what  will  be  the  result  of  thine 
afi'air. — I  replied.  Well:  prolong  not  thine  absence  from  me.  And  he  took  the  food 
and  drink  and  other  things  which  I  had  given  him,  but  intrusted  them  to  a  porter 
to  convey  them  to  his  abode,  and  concealed  himself  in  one  of  the  by-streets.  I  then 
immediately  arose.  The  mueddins  on  the  minarets  had  chanted  the  Selam  of  Friday ; 
und  1  put,  on  my  clothes,  and  went  forth  alone,  and,  arriving  at  the  by-street,  stopped 
at  the  door  of  the  house  where  I  had  seen  the  damsel :  and  lo,  the  barber  was  behind 


150 


THE   STORY  TOLD    BY   THE   TAILOR. 


me,  and  I  knew  it  not.  I  found  the  door  open,  and  entered ;  and  immediately  the 
master  of  the  house  returned  from  the  prayers,  and  entered  the  saloon  and  closed 
the  door ;  and  I  said^vithin  myself,  How  did  this  devil  discover  me? 

Now  it  happened  just  at  this  time,  for  the  fulfilment  of  God's  purpose  to  rend  the 
veil  of  protection  before  me,  that  a  female  slave  belonging  to  the  master  of  the 
house  committed  some  offence,  in  consequence  of  which  he  beat  her,  and  she  cried 
out;  whereupon  a  male  slave  came  in  to  him  to  liberate  her;  but  he  beat  him  also, 

and  he  likewise  cried  out;  and  the 
barber  concluded  that  he  was  beat- 
ing me  ;  so  he  cried,  and  rent  his 
clothes,  and  sprinkled  dust  upon  his 
head,  shrieking,  and  calling  for  as- 
sistance. He  was  surrounded  by 
people,  and  said  to  them,  My  master 
hath  been  killed  in  the  house  of  the 
Cadi !  Then  running  to  my  house, 
crying  out  all  the  while,  and  with  a 
crowd  behind  him,  he  gave  the  news 
to  my  family  ;  and  I  knew  not  what 
he  had  done  when  they  approached, 
crying,  Alas  for  our  master!  —  The 
barber  all  the  while  being  before 
them,  with  his  clothes  rent,  and  a 
number  of  the  people  of  the  city  with 
them.  They  continued  shrieking, 
the  barber  shrieking  at  their  head, 
and  all  of  them  exclaiming,  Alas 
for  our  slain  ! — Thus  they  advanced 
to  the  house  in  which  I  was  con- 
fined ;  and  when  the  Cadi  heard  of 
this  occurrence,  the  event  troubled 
him,  and  he  arose,  and  opened  the 
door,  and  seeing  a  great  crowd,  he  was  confounded,  and  said,  0  people,  what  is  the 
news?  The  servants  replied.  Thou  hast  killed  our  master. — 0  people,  rejoined  he, 
what  hath  your  master  done  unto  me  that  I  should  kill  him  ;  and  wherefoie  do  I  see 
this  barber  before  you  ? — Thou  hast  just  now  beaten  him  with  sticks,  said  the  barber ; 
and  I  heard  his  cries.  —  What  hath  he  done  that  I  should  kill  him?  repeated  the 
Cadi.  And  whence,  he  added,  came  he  ;  and  whither  would  he  go  ? — Be  not  an  old 
man  of  malevolence,  exclaimed  the  barber :  for  I  know  the  story,  and  the  reason  of 
his  entering  thy  house,  and  the  truth  of  the  whole  affair :  thy  daughter  is  in  love 
with  him,  and  he  is  in  love  with  her;  and  thou  hast  discovered  that  he  had  entered 
thy  house,  and  hast  ordered  thy  young  men,  and  they  have  beaten  him.  By  Allah, 
none  shall  decide  between  us  and  thee  excepting  the  Caliph  ;  or  thou  shalt  bring 
forth  to  us  our  master,  that  his  family  may  take  him  ;  and  oblige  me  not  to  enter 
and  take  him  forth  from  you :  haste  then  thyself  to  produce  him. 

Upon  this,  the  Cadi  was  withheld  from  speaking,  and  became  utterly  abashed 
before  the  people ;  but  presently  he  said  to  the  barber.  If  thou  speak  truth,  enter 
thyself,  and  bring  him  forth.  So  the  barber  advanced,  and  entered  the  house ;  and 
when  I  saw  him  do  so,  I  sought  for  a  way  to  escape  ;  but  I  found  no  place  of  refuge 
excepting  a  large  chest  which  I  observed  in  the  same  apartment  in  which  I  then 
was :  I  therefore  entered  this,  and  shut  down  the  lid,  and  held  in  my  breath.  Imme- 
diately after,  the  barber  ran  into  the  saloon,  and,  without  looking  in  any  other 
direction  than  that  in  which  I  had  concealed  myself,  came  thither ;  then  turning 
his  eyes  to  the  right  and  the  left,  and  seeing  nothing  but  the  chest,  he  raised  it  upon 
his  head;  whereupon  my  reason  forsook  me.     He  quickly  descended  with  it;  and 


The  Barber  rending  his  Clothes. 


THE   STORY   TOLD   BY   THE   TAILOR. 


151 


I,  being  now  certain  that  he  would  not  quit  me,  opened  the  chest,  and  threw  myself 
upon  the  ground.  My  leg  was  hurt  by  the  fall;  and  when  I  came  to  the  door  of 
the  house,  1  found  a  multitude  of  people.  I  had  never  seen  such  a  crowd  as  was 
there  collected  on  that  day ;  so  I  began  to  scatter  gold  among  them,  to  divert  them ; 
and  while  they  were  busied  in  picking  it  up,  I  ran  through  the  by-streets  of  Bagdad, 
followed  by  this  barber ;  and  wherever  I  entered,  he  entered  after  me  crying,  They 
would  have  plunged  me  into  affliction  on  account  of  my  master !  Praise  be  to  God 
who  aided  me  against  them,  and  delivered  my  master  from  their  hands  !  Thou  con- 
tinuedst,  0  my  master,  to  be  excited  by  haste  for  the  accomplishment  of  thine  evil 
design  until  thou  broughtest  upon  thyself  this  event ;  and  if  God  had  not  blessed 
thee  with  me,  thou  hadst  not  escaped  from  this  calamity  into  which  thou  hast  fallen  ; 
and  they  might  have  involved  thee  in  a  calamity  from  which  thou  wouldst  never 
have  escaped.  Beg,  therefore  of  God,  that  I  may  live  for  thy  sake,  to  liberate  thee 
in  future.  By  Allah,  thou  hast  almost  destroyed  me  by  thine  evil  design,  desiring 
to  go  alone ;  but  we  will  not  be  angry  with  thee  for  thine  ignorance,  for .  thou  art 
endowed  with  little  sense,  and  of  a  hasty  disposition.  —  Art  thou  not  satisfied,  re- 
plied I,  with  that  which  thou  hast  done,  but  wilt  thou  run  after  me  through  the 
market-streets  ?  And  I  desired  for  death  to  liberate  me  from  him  ;  but  found  it  not ; 
and  in  the  excess  of  my  rage  I  ran  from  him,  and,  entering  a  shop  in  the  midst  of 
the  market,  implored  the  protection  of  its  owner:  and  he  drove  away  the  barber 
from  me. 

I  then  seated  myself  in  a  magazine  belonging  to  him,  and  said  within  myself,  I 
cannot  now  rid  myself  of  this 
barber ;  but  he  will  be  with 
me  night  and  day,  and  I  can- 
not endure  the  sight  of  his 
face.  So  I  immediately  sum- 
moned witnesses,  and  wrote  a 
document  dividing  my  pro- 
perty among  my  family,  and 
appointing  a  guardian  over 
them,  and  ordered  him  to  sell 
the  house  and  all  the  immov- 
able possessions,  charging  him 
with  the  care  of  the  old  and 
young,  and  set  forth  at  once 
on  a  journey  in  order  to  escape 
from  this  rascal.  I  then  ar- 
rived in  your  country,  where 
I  took  up  my  abode,  and  have 
remained  a  considerable  time  ; 
and  when  ye  invited  me,  and 
I  came  unto  you,  I  saw  this 
vile  rascal  among  you,  seated 
at  the  upper  end  of  the  room. 
How,  then,  can  my  heart  be 
at  ease,  or  my  sitting  in  your 
company  be  pleasant  to  me, 
with  this  fellow,  who  hath 
brought  these  events  upon  me, 
and  been  the  cause  of  the 
hurting  of  my  leg? 

The  young  man  still  per- 
severed in  his  refusal  to  remain 
with  us  ;  and  when  we  had  heard  the  story,  we  said  to  the  barber.  Is  this  true  which 


■^^ 


Portrait  of  the  Barber. 


152  THE  barber's  story  of  himself. 

this  young  man  hath  said  of  thee?— By  Allah,  he  answered,  it  was  through  my  in- 
telligence that  I  acted  thus  towards  him ;  and  had  I  not  done  so,  he  had  perished ; 
mys-elf  only  was  the  cause  of  his  escape  ;  and  it  was  through  the  goodness  of  God, 
by  .-ny  means  that  he  was  afflicted  by  the  hurting  of  his  leg  instead  of  being  pun- 
ished" by  the  loss  of  his  life.  Were  I  a  person  of  many  words  I  had  not  done  him 
this  kindness ;  and  now  I  will  relate  to  you  an  event  that  happened  to  me,  that  ye 
may  believe  me  ts  be  a  man  of  few  words,  and  less  of  an  impertinent  than  my 
brothers  ;  and  it  was  this : — 


THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIMSELF. 

I  WAS  living  in  Bagdad,  in  the  reign  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  Mountasir 
Billah.  who  loved  the  poor  and  indigent,  and  associated  with  the  learned  and  virtu- 
ous; and  it  happened,  one  day,  that  he  was  incensed  against  ten  persons,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  he  ordered  the  chief  magistrate  of  Bagdad  to  bring  them  to  him  In 
a  boat.  I  saw  them,  and  I  said  within  myself,  these  persons  have  assembled  for 
nothing  but  an  entertainment,  and,  I  suppose,  will  pass  their  day  in  this  boat  eating 
and  drinking;  and  none  shall  be  their  companion  but  myself: — so  I  embarked,  and 
mixed  myself  among  them  ;  and  when  they  had  landed  on  the  opposite  bank,  the 
guards  of  the  Judge  came  with  chains,  and  put  them  upon  their  necks,  and  put  a 
chain  upon  my  neck  also.  —  Now  this,  0  people,  is  it  not  a  proof  of  my  generosity, 
and  of  my  paucity  of  speech  ?  For  I  determined  not  to  speak. — They  took  us,  there- 
fore, altogether,  in  chains,  and  placed  us  before  Mountasir  Billah,  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful :  whereupon  he  gave  orders  to  strike  off  the  heads  of  the  ten  :  and  the 
executioner  struck  off  the  heads  of  the  ten,  and  I  remained.  The  Caliph  then  turn- 
inc  his  eyes,  and  beholding  me,  said  to  the  executioner,  Wherefore  dost  thou  not 
strike  off' the  heads  of  all  the  ten?  He  answered,  I  have  beheaded  every  one  of  the 
ten. — I  do  not  think,  rejoined  the  Caliph,  that  thou  hast  beheaded  more  than  nine  : 
and  this  who  is  before  me  is  the  tenth.  But  the  executioner  replied,  By  thy  benefi- 
cence, they  are  ten. — Count  them,  said  the  Caliph.  And  they  counted  them  ;  and 
lo,  they  were  ten.  The  Caliph  then  looked  towards  me,  and  said.  What  hath  induced 
thee  to  be  silent  on  this  occasion;  and  how  hast  thou  become  included  among  the 
men  of  blood?  And  when  I  heard  the  address  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  said 
to  him.  Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  I  am  the  sheikh  El  Samit,  or  the 
Silent ;  I  possess,  of  science,  a  large  stock  ;  and  as  to  the  gravity  of  my  understand- 
ing, and  the  quickness  of  my  apprehension,  and  the  paucity  of  my  speech,  they  are 
unbounded:  my  trade  is  that  of  a  barber;  and  yesterday,  early  in  the  morning,  I 
saw  these  ten  men  proceeding  to  the  boat;  whereupon  I  mixed  myself  with  them, 
and  embarked  with  them,  thinking  that  they  had  met  together  for  an  entertainment; 
but  soon  it  appeared  that  they  were  criminals  ;  and  the  guards  came  to  them,  and 
put  chains  upon  their  necks,  and  upon  my  neck  also  they  put  a  chain  ;  and  from  the 
excess  of  my  generosity  I  was  silent,  and  spoke  not:  my  speech  was  not  heard  on 
that  occasion,  on  account  of  the  excess  of  my  generosity;  and  they  proceeded  with 
us  until  they  stationed  us  before  thee,  and  thou  gavest  the  order  to  strike  off  the 
heads  of  the  ten,  and  I  remained  before  the  executioner,  and  acquainted  you  not 
with  my  case.  Was  not  this  great  generosity  which  compelled  me  to  accompany 
them  to  slaughter?  But  throughout  my  life  I  have  acted  in  this  excellent  manner. 
When  the  Caliph  heard  my  words,  and  knew  that  I  was  of  a  very  generous  char- 
acter, and  of  few  words,  and  not  inclined  to  impertinence,  as  this  young  man,  whom 
I  delivered  from  horrors,  asserteth,  he  said.  Hast  thou  brothers  ?  I  answered,  Yes : 
six.  —  And  are  thy  six  brothers,  said  he,  like  thyself,  distinguished  by  science  and 
knowledge,  and  paucity  of  speech  ?  I  answered,  they  lived  not  so  as  to  be  like  me: 
thou  hast  disparaged  me  by  thy  supposition,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  it  is  not 
proper  that  thou  shouldst  compare  my  brothers  to  me  ;  for  through  the  abundanccr 
of  their  speech,  and  the  smallness  of  their  generous  qualities,  each  of  them  expe- 


THE   BARBER  S    STORY   OF   HIS   FIRST   BROTHER.  153 

rienced  a  defect:  the  first  was  lame  ;  the  second  deprived  of  many  of  his  teeth  ;  the 
third  blind ;  the  fourth  one-eyed  ;  the  fifth  cropped  of  his  ears  ;  and  the  sixth  had 
both  his  lips  cut  off;  and  think  not,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  I  am  a  man  of 
many  words :  nay,  I  must  prove  to  thee  that  I  am  of  a  more  generous  character  than 
they ;  and  each  of  them  met  with  a  particular  adventure,  in  consequence  of  whic*L 
he  experienced  a  defect:  if  thou  please,  I  will  relate  their  stories  to  thee 


THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIS  FIRST  BROTHER. 

Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  the  first  (who  was  named  Bacbouc)  was  the 
lame  one.  He  practised  the  art  of  a  tailor  in  Bagdad,  and  used  to  sew  in  a  shop 
which  he  hired  of  a  man  possessing  great  wealth,  who  lived  over  the  shop,  and  who 
had,  in  the  lower  part  of  his  house,  a  mill.  And  as  my  lame  brother  was  sitting  in 
his  shop  one  day,  sewing,  he  raised  his  head,  and  saw  a  woman  like  the  rising  full 
moon,  at  a  projecting  window  of  the  house,  looking  at  the  people  passing  by  ;  and 
as  soon  as  he  beheld  her,  his  heart  was  entangled  by  her  love.  He  passed  that  day 
gazing  at  her,  and  neglecting  his  occupation,  until  the  evening;  and  on  the  follow- 
ing morning  he  opened  his  shop,  and  sat  down  to  sew ;  but  every  time  that  he  sewed 
a  stitch,  he  looked  towards  the  window ;  and  in  this  state  he  continued,  sewing 
nothing  sufficient  to  earn  a  piece  of  silver. 

On  the  third  day  he  seated  himself  again  in  his  place,  looking  towards  the  woman; 
and  she  saw  him,  and,  perceiving  that  he  had  become  enslaved  by  her  love,  laughed 
in  his  face,  and  he,  in  like  manner,  laughed  in  her  face.  She  then  disappeared  from 
before  him,  and  sent  to  him  her  slave-girl,  with  a  wrapper  containing  a  piece  of  red 
flowered  silk;  and  the  girl  coming  to  him,  said  to  him.  My  mistress  saluteth  thee, 
and  desireth  thee  to  cut  out  for  her,  with  the  hand  of  skill,  a  shirt  of  this  piece,  and 
to  sew  it  beautifully.  So  he  answered,  I  hear  and  obey :  and  he  cut  out  for  her  the 
Bhirt,  and  finished  the  sewing  of  it  on  that  day;  and  on  the  following  day  the  slave 
girl  came  to  him  again,  and  said  to  him.  My  mistress  saluteth  thee,  and  saith  to 
thee.  How  didst  thou  pass  last  night? — for  she  tasted  not  sleep  from  her  passion  for 
thee.  —  She  then  placed  before  him  a  piece  of  yellow  satin,  and  said  to  him.  My 
mistress  desireth  thee  to  cut  out  for  her,  of  this  piece,  two  pairs  of  trousers,  and  to 
make  them  this  day.  He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  Salute  her  with  abundant  salu- 
tations, and  say  to  her.  Thy  slave  is  submissive  to  thine  order,  and  command  him 
whatsoever  thou  wilt.  —  He  then  busied  himself  with  the  cutting  out,  and  used  all 
diligence  in  sewing  the  two  pairs  of  trousers ;  and  presently  the  woman  looked  out 
at  him  from  the  window,  and  saluted  him  by  a  sign,  now  casting  down  her  eyes,  and 
now  smiling  in  his  face,  so  that  he  imagined  he  should  soon  obtain  possession  of  her. 
After  this,  she  disappeared  from  before  him,  and  the  slave-girl  came  to  him:  so  he 
delivered  to  her  the  two  pairs  of  trousers,  and  she  took  them  and  departed :  and 
when  the  night  came  he  threw  himself  upon  his  bed,  and  remained  turning  himself 
over  in  restlessness  until  the  morning. 

On  the  following  day,  the  master  of  the  house  came  to  my  brother,  bringing  some 
linen,  and  said  to  him,  Cut  out  and  make  this  into  shirts  for  me.  He  replied,  I  hear 
and  obey: — and  ceased  not  from  his  work  until  he  had  cut  out  twenty  shirts  by  the 
time  of  nightfall,  without  having  tasted  food.  The  man  then  said  to  him,  How 
much  is  thy  hire  for  this  ? — but  my  brother  answered  not :  and  the  damsel  made  a 
sign  to  him  that  he  should  receive  nothing,  though  he  was  absolutely  in  want  of  a 
single  copper  coin.  For  three  days  he  continued  scarcely  eating  or  drinking  any- 
thing, in  his  diligence  to  accomplish  his  work,  and  when  he  had  finished  it,  he  went 
to  deliver  the  shirts. 

Now  the  young  woman  had  acquainted  her  husband  with  the  state  of  my 
brother's  mind,  but  ray  brother  knew  not  this ;  and  she  planned  with  her  husband 
to  employ  him  in  sewing  without  remuneration,  and  moreover  to  amuse  themselves 


154  THE  barber's   story  OF  HIS    FIRST  BROTHER. 

by  laughing  at  him  ;  so,  when  he  had  finished  all  the  work  that  they  gave  him,  they 
contrived  a  plot  against  him,  and  married  him  to  their  slave-girl ;  and  on  the  night 
when  he  desired  to  introduce  himself  to  her,  they  said  to  him,  Pass  this  night  in  the 
mill,  and  to-morrow  thou  shalt  enjoy  happiness.  My  brother,  therefore,  thinking 
that  their  intention  was  good,  passed  the  night  in  the  mill  alone.  Meanwhile,  the 
husband  of  the  young  woman  went  to  the  miller,  and  instigated  him  by  signs  to 
make  my  brother  turn  the  mill.  The  miller  accordingly  went  in  to  him  at  midnight, 
and  began  to  exclaim,  Verily  this  bull  is  lazy,  while  there  is  a  great  quantity  of 
wheat,  and  the  owners  of  the  flour  are  demanding  it;  I  will  therefore  yoke  him  in 
the  mill,  that  he  may  finish  the  grinding  of  the  flour: — and  so  saying,  he  yoked  my 
brother,  and  thus  he  kept  him  until  near  morning,  when  the  owner  of  the  house 
came,  and  saw  him  yoked  in  the  mill,  and  the  miller  flogging  him  with  the  whip ; 
and  he  left  him,  and  retired.  After  this,  the  slave-girl  to  whom  he  had  been  con- 
tracted in  marriage  came  to  him  early  in  the  morning,  and,  having  unbound  him 
from  the  mill,  said  to  him,  Both  I  and  my  mistress  have  been  distressed  by  thia 
which  hath  befallen  thee,  and  we  have  participated  in  the  burden  of  thy  sor- 
row. But  he  had  no  tongue  wherewith  to  answer  her,  by  reason  of  the  severity  of 
the  flogging.  He  then  returned  to  his  house;  and  lo,  the  sheikh  who  had  performed 
the  marriage-contract  came  and  saluted  him,  saying  May  Allah  prolong  thy  life  ! 
May  thy  marriage  be  blessed  ! — May  God  not  preserve  thee  liar !  returned  my  brother : 
thou  thousandfold  villain  !  By  Allah  I  went  only  to  turn  the  mill  in  the  place  of 
the  bull  until  the  morning. — Tell  me  thy  story,  said  the  sheikh: — and  my  brother 
told  him  what  had  happened  to  him :  upon  which  the  sheikh  said.  Thy  star  agreeth 
not  with  hers :  but  if  thou  desire  that  I  should  change  for  thee  the  mode  of  the  con- 
tract, I  will  change  it  for  another  better  than  it,  that  thy  star  may  agree  with  hers. 
— See  then,  replied  my  brother,  if  thou  hast  any  other  contrivance  to  employ. 

M}'  brother  then  left  him,  and  repaired  again  to  his  shop,  hoping  that  somebody 
might  give  him  some  work,  with  the  profit  of  which  he  might  obtain  his  food  ;  and 
lo,  the  slave-girl  came  to  him.  She  had  conspired  with  her  mistress  to  play  him  this 
trick,  and  said  to  him.  Verily,  my  mistress  is  longing  for  thee,  and  she  hath  gone 
up  to  look  at  thy  face  from  the  window.  And  my  brother  had  scarcely  heard  these 
words  when  she  looked  out  at  him  from  the  window,  and,  weeping,  said.  Wherefore 
hast  thou  cut  short  the  intercourse  between  us  and  thee?  But  he  returned  her  no 
answer ;  so  she  swore  to  him  that  all  that  had  happened  to  him  in  the  mill  was  not 
with  her  consent:  and  when  my  brother  beheld  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  the 
troubles  that  had  befallen  him  became  efi\xced  from  his  memory,  and  he  accepted 
her  excuse,  and  rejoiced  at  the  sight  of  her.  He  saluted  her,  therefore,  and  con- 
versed with  her,  and  then  sat  a  while  at  his  work:  after  which  the  slave-girl  came 
to  him,  and  said,  My  mistress  saluteth  thee,  and  informeth  thee  that  her  husband 
hath  determined  to  pass  this  next  night  in  the  house  of  one  of  his  intimate  friends  ; 
wherefore,  when  he  hath  gone  thither,  do  thou  come  to  her. — Now  the  husband  of 
the  young  woman  had  said  to  her.  How  shall  we  contrive  when  he  cometh  to  thee 
that  I  may  take  him  and  drag  him  before  the  judge?  She  replied.  Let  him  then 
play  him  a  trick,  and  involve  him  in  a  disgrace  for  which  he  shall  be  paraded 
throughout  this  city  as  an  example  to  others: — and  my  brother  knew  nothing  of  the 
craftiness  of  women.  Accordingly,  at  the  approach  of  evening,  the  slave-girl  came 
to  him,  and  taking  him  by  the  hand  returned  with  him  to  her  mistress,  who  said  to 
him.  Verily,  0  my  master,  I  have  been  longing  for  thee. — Hasten  thee,  said  he,  to 
give  me  a  kiss,  first  of  all.  And  his  words  were  not  finished  when  the  young  woman's 
husband  came  in  from  his  neighbour's  house,  and,  seizing  my  brother,  exclaimed  to 
him.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  loose  thee  but  in  the  presence  of  the  chief  magistrate  of 
the  police.  My  brother  humbled  himself  before  him  ;  but  without  listening  to  him, 
he  took  him  to  the  house  of  the  judge,  who  flogged  him  with  whips,  and  mounted 
him  upon  a  camel,  and  conveyed  him  through  the  streets  of  the  city,  the  people  cry- 
ing out.  This  is  the  recompense  of  him  who  breaketh  into  the  harem  oi  others — an<l 


THE   BARBER  S   STORY   OF   HIS   SECOND   BROTHER.  155 

he  fell  from  the  camel,  and  his  leg  broke:  so  he  became  lame.  The  judge  then 
banished  him  from  the  city ;  and  he  went  forth,  not  knowing  whither  to  turn  his 
steps:  but  I,  though  enraged,  overtook  him,  and  brought  him  back:  and  I  have 
taken  upon  myself  to  provide  him  with  meat  and  drink  unto  the  present  day. 

The  Caliph  laughed  at  my  story,  and  exclaimed.  Thou  hast  spoken  well: — but  I 
replied,  I  will  not  accept  this  honour  until  thou  hast  listened  to  me  while  I  relate  to 
thee  what  happened  to  the  rest  of  my  brothers  ;  and  think  me  not  a  man  of  many 
words. — Tell  me,  said  the  Caliph,  what  happened  to  all  thy  brothers  ;  and  grace  my 
ears  with  these  nice  particulars  ;  I  beg  thee  to  employ  exuberance  of  diction  in  thy 
relation  of  these  pleasant  tales. 


THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIS  SECOND  BROTHER. 

So  I  said.  Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  my  second  brother,  whose  name 
was  Heddar,  was  going  one  day  to  transact  some  business,  when  an  old  woman  met 
him,  and  said  to  him,  0  man,  stop  a  little,  that  I  may  propose  to  thee  a  thing  which, 
if  it  please  thee,  thou  shalt  do  for  me.  My  brother,  therefore,  stopped :  and  she 
said  to  him,  I  will  guide  thee  to  a  thing,  and  rightly  direct  thee  to  it,  on  the  con- 
dition that  thy  words  be  not  many.  So  he  said,  Communicate  what  thou  hast  to 
tell  me: — and  she  proceeded  thus: — What  sayest  thou  of  a  handsome  house,  with 
running  water,  and  fruit  and  wine,  and  a  beautiful  face  to  behold  and  a  smooth 
cheek  to  kiss,  and  an  elegant  form  to  embrace :  and  to  enjoy  all  these  pleasures 
without  interruption  ?  Now  if  thou  wilt  act  agreeably  with  the  condition  that  I 
have  imposed  upon  thee,  thou  wilt  see  prosperity. — When  my  brother  had  heard 
her  words,  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  how  is  that  thou  hast  sought  me  out  in 
preference  to  all  the  rest  of  the  creation  for  this  affair ;  and  what  is  there  in  me 
that  hath  pleased  thee?  She  replied.  Did  I  not  say  to  thee  that  thou  must  not  be 
a  person  of  many  words?     Be  silent  then,  and  come  with  me. 

The  old  woman  then  went  her  way,  my  brother  following  her,  eager  to  enjoy  the 
pleasures  which  she  had  described  to  him,  until  they  had  entered  a  spacious  house, 
when  she  went  up  with  him  to  an  upper  story,  and  my  brother  perceived  that  he 
was  in  a  beautiful  palace  in  which  he  beheld  four  damsels,  than  whom  none  more 
lovely  had  ever  been  seen,  singing  with  voices  that  would  charm  a  heart  as  insensible 
as  stone.  One  of  these  damsels  drank  a  cup  of  wine  ;  and  my  brother  said  to  her, 
May  it  be  attended  with  health  and  vigour  ! — and  advanced  to  wait  upon  her ;  but 
she  prevented  his  doing  so,  giving  him  to  drink  a  cup  of  wine:  and  as  soon  as  he 
had  drunk  it,  she  slapped  him  on  his  neck.  When  he  found  that  she  treated  him 
thus,  he  went  out  from  the  chamber  in  anger,  and  with  many  words ;  but  the  old 
woman,  following  him,  made  a  sign  to  him  with  her  eye  that  he  should  return :  so 
he  returned,  and  seated  himself,  without  speaking;  and  upon  this,  the  damsel 
slapped  him  again  upon  the  back  of  his  neck  until  he  became  senseless  ;  after  which, 
recovering,  he  withdrew.  The  old  woman,  however,  overtook  him,  and  said  to  him. 
Wait  a  little,  and  thou  shalt  attain  thy  wish. — How  many  times,  said  he,  shall  I 
wait  a  little  before  I  attain  it?  The  old  woman  answered,  When  she  hath  become 
exhilarated  with  wine  thou  shalt  obtain  her  favour.  He  therefore  returned  to  his 
place,  and  resumed  his  seat.  All  the  four  damsels  then  arose,  and  the  old  woman 
directed  them  to  divest  my  brother  of  his  outer  clothes,  and  to  sprinkle  some  rose- 
water  upon  his  face ;  and  when  they  had  done  so,  the  most  beautiful  one  among 
them  said  to  him,  May  Allah  exalt  thee  to  honour !  Thou  hast  entered  my  abode, 
and  if  thou  have  patience  to  submit  to  my  requisitions,  thou  wilt  attain  thy  wish. 
— 0  my  mistress,  he  replied,  I  am  thy  slave,  and  under  thy  authority. — Know  then, 
said  she,  that  I  am  devotedly  fond  of  frolic,  and  he  who  complieth  with  my  demands 
will  obtain  my  favour.  Then  she  ordered  the  other  damsels  to  sing ;  and  they  sang 
so  that  their  hearers  were  in  an  ecstacy:  after  which  the  chief  lady  said  to  one  of 


156  THE  barber's  story  of  his  third  brother. 

the  other  damsels,  Take  thy  master  and  do  what  is  required,  and  bring  him  back 
to  me  immediately. 

Accordingly,  she  took  him  away,  ignorant  of  that  which  she  was  about  to  do;  and 
the  old  woman  came  to  him,  and  said,  Be  patient;  for  there  remaineth  but  little  to 
do.  He  then  turned  towards  the  damsel,  and  the  old  woman  said  to  him,  Be  patient: 
thou  hast  almost  succeeded,  and  there  remaineth  but  one  thing,  which  is,  to  shave 
thy  beard. — How,  said  he,  shall  I  do  that  which  will  disgrace  me  among  the  public? 
The  old  woman  answered,  she  desireth  this  only  to  make  thee  like  a  beardless  youth, 
that  there  may  be  nothing  on  thy  fiice  to  prick  her;  for  her  heart  is  affected  with  a 
violent  love  for  thee.  Be  patient,  therefore,  and  thou  shalt  attain  thy  desire. — So 
my  brother  patiently  submitted  to  the  damsel's  directions ;  his  beard  was  shaven, 
and  he  was  shorn  also  of  his  eyebrows  and  mustaches,  and  his  face  was  painted  red, 
before  the  damsel  took  him  back  to  the  chief  lady,  who,  when  she  saw  him,  was  at 
first  frightened  at  him,  and  then  laughed  until  she  fell  backwards,  and  exclaimed, 
0  my  master,  thou  hast  gained  me  by  these  proofs  of  thine  amiable  manners  !  She 
then  conjured  him  by  her  life  to  arise  and  dance  ;  and  he  did  so;  and  there  was  not 
a  single  cushion  in  the  chamber  that  she  did  not  throw  at  him.  In  like  manner 
also  the  other  damsels  threw  at  him  various  things,  such  as  oranges,  and  limes,  and 
citrons,  until  he  fell  down  senseless  from  the  pelting,  while  they  slapped  him  in- 
cessantly upon  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  cast  things  in  his  face.  But  at  length  the 
old  woman  said  to  him.  Now  thou  hast  attained  thy  wish.  Know  that  there  re- 
maineth to  thee  no  more  beating,  nor  doth  there  remain  for  thee  to  do  more  than  one 
thing,  namely,  this:  it  is  her  custom,  when  she  is  under  the  influence  of  wine,  to 
suffer  no  one  to  come  near  her  until  she  hath  taken  off  her  outer  clothes  :  thou, 
being  prepared  in  the  like  manner,  must  run  after  her,  and  she  will  run  before  thee 
as  though  she  were  flying  from  thee:  but  cease  not  to  follow  her  from  place  to  place 
until  thou  overtake  her.  He  arose,  therefore,  and  did  so;  the  lady  ran  before,  and 
as  he  followed  her,  she  passed  from  chamber  to  chamber,  and  he  still  ran  after  her. 
At  last  he  heard  her  utter  a  slight  sound  as  she  ran  before  him,  and,  continuing  his 
pursuit,  he  suddenly  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  the  street. 

This  street  was  in  the  market  of  the  leathersellers,  who  were  then  crying  skins 
for  sale  ;  and  when  the  people  there  collected  saw  him  in  this  condition,  almost 
naked,  with  shaven  beard  and  eyebrows  and  mustaches,  and  with  his  face  painted 
red,  they  shouted  at  him,  and  raised  a  loud  laugh,  and  some  of  them  beat  him  with 
the  skins  until  he  became  insensible.  They  then  placed  him  upon  an  ass,  and  con- 
ducted him  to  the  judge,  who  exclaimed.  What  is  this? — They  answered,  This  de- 
scended upon  us  from  the  house  of  the  Vizier,  in  this  condition.  And  the  judge  in- 
flicted upon  him  a  hundred  lashes,  and  banished  him  from  the  city:  but  I  went  out 
after  him,  and  brought  him  back  privately  into  the  city,  and  allotted  him  a  mainte- 
nance. Had  it  not  been  for  my  generous  disposition,  I  had  not  borne  with  such  a 
person, 

THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIS  THIRD  BROTHER. 

As  to  my  third  brother  (the  blind  man,  Bacbac),  who  was  also  surnamed  Kuffeh, 
or  empty-head,  fate  and  destiny  impelled  him  one  day  to  a  large  house,  and  he 
knocked  at  the  door,  hoping  that  its  master  would  answer  him,  and  that  he  might 
beg  of  him  a  trifle.  The  owner  called  out.  Who  is  at  the  door  ? — but  my  brother 
answered  not ;  and  then  heard  him  call  with  a  loud  voice.  Who  is  this?  Still,  how- 
ever he  returned  him  no  answer;  and  he  heard  the  sounds  of  his  footsteps  approaching 
until  he  came  to  the  door  and  opened  it,  when  he  said  to  him.  What  dost  thou  desire? 
My  brother  answered.  Something  for  the  sake  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! — 
Art  thou  blind  ?  said  the  man;  and  my  brother  answered.  Yes. — Then  give  me  thy 
band,  rejoined  the  master  of  the  house; — so  my  brother  stretched  forth  to  him  his 


THE    BARBER  S    STORY    OF    HIS    THIRD    BROTHER. 


157 


hand,  and  the  man  took  him  into  the  house,  and  led  him  up  from  staircase  to  stair- 
case until  he  had  ascended  to  the  highest  platform  of  the  roof;  my  brother  thinking 
that  he  was  going  to  give  him  some  food  or  money:  and  when  he  had  arrived  at  this 
highest  terrace  of  his  house,  the  owner  said.  What  dost  thou  desire,  0  blind  man?  - 
I  desire  something,  he  answered  again,  for  the  sake  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted! 
— May  God,  replied  the  man,  open  to  thee  some  other  way! — What  is  this,  exclaimed 
my  brother:  couldst  thou  not  tell  me  so  when  I  was  below? — Thou  vilest  of  the  vile  I 
retorted  the  other:  why  didst  thou  not  ask  of  me  something  for  the  sake  of  God  when 
thou  heardst  my  voice  the  first  time,  when  thou  wast  knocking  at  the  door? — What 
then,  said  my  brother,  dost  thou  mean  to  do  to  me? — The  man  of  the  house  answered, 
I  have  nothing  to  give  thee. — Then  take  me  down  stairs,  said  my  brother.  The  man 
replied,  the  way  is  before  thee.  So  my  brother  made  his  way  to  the  stairs,  and  con- 
tinued descending  until  there  remained  between  him  and  the  door  twenty  steps, 
when  his  foot  slipped  and  he  fell,  and  rolling  down,  broke  his  head. 

He  went  forth,  not  knowing  whither  to  direct  his  steps,  and  presently  there  met 
him  two  blind  men,  his  companions,  who  said  to  him,  What  hath  happened  to  thee 
this  day?  My  brother,  therefore,  related  to  them  the  event  that  had  just  befallen 
him ;  and  then  said  to  them,  0  my  brothers,  I  desire  to  take  a  portion  of  the  money 
now  in  our  possession,  to  expend  it  upon  myself — Now  the  owner  of  the  house 
which  he  had  just  before  entered  had  followed  him  to  acquaint  himself  with  his 
proceedings,  and  without  my  brother's  knowledge  he  walked  behind  him  until  the 
latter  entered  his  abode  ;  when  he  went  in  after  him,  still  unknown.  My  brother 
then  sat  waiting  for  his  companions  ;  and  when  they  came  in  to  him,  he  said  to 
them.  Shut  the  door,  and  search  the  room,  lest  any  stranger  have  followed  us.  When 
the  intruder,  therefore,  heard  what  he  said,  he  arose,  and  clung  to  a  rope  that  waa 
attached  to  the  ceiling;  and  the  blind  men  went  feeling  about  the  whole  of  the 


The  Blind  Men  explormg  the  Apartment. 


chamber,  and,  finding  no  one,  returned  and  seated  themselves  by  my  brother,  and 
brought  forth  their  money,  and  counted  it ;  and  lo,  it  was  more  than  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  silver.  Having  done  this,  they  laid  it  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  each 
of  them  took  of  the  surplus  of  that  sum  as  much  as  he  wanted,  and  they  buried  the 
ten  thousand  pieces  of  silver  in  the  earth  ;  after  which  they  placed  before  themselves 
some  food,  and  sat  eating  ;  but  my  brother  heard  the  sound  of  a  stranger  by  his 
side,  and  said  to  his  friends.  Is  there  a  stranger  among  us?  Then  stretching  forth 
his  hand,  it  grasped  the  hand  of  the  intruder  ;  whereupon  he  cried  out  to  his  com 
panions,  saying.  Here  is  a  stranger! — and  they  fell  upon  him  with  blows  until  they 
were  tired,  when  they  shouted  out,  0  Believers !  a  thief  hath  come  in  upon  us,  and 


158  THE  barber's  story  of  his  third  brother. 

desireth  to  take  our  property!  —  and  immediately  a  number  of  persons  collected 
around  them. 

Upon  this,  the  stranger  ■whon.  they  accused  of  being  a  thief  shut  his  eyes,  feigning 
to  be  blind  like  themselves,  so  that  no  one  who  saw  him  doubted  him  to  be  so:  and 
shouted,  0  Believers !  I  demand  protection  of  Allah  and  the  Sultan  !  I  demand  pro- 
tection of  Allah  and  the  Judge  !  I  demand  protection  of  Allah  and  the  Emir !  for  I 
have  important  information  to  give  to  the  Emir ! — and  before  they  could  collect  their 
thoughts,  the  oflBcers  of  the  Judge  surrounded  them  and  took  them  all,  including 
my  brother,  and  conducted  them  before  their  master.  The  Judge  said,  What  is  your 
story  ?  —  and  the  stranger  replied,  Hear  my  words,  0  Judge ;  the  truth  of  our  case 
will  not  become  known  to  thee  but  by  means  of  beating ;  and  if  thou  wilt,  begin  by 
beating  me  before  my  companions.  The  Judge  therefore  said.  Throw  down  this 
man,  and  flog  him  with  whips: — and  accordingly  they  threw  him  down  and  flogged 
him  ;  and  when  the  stripes  tortured  him,  he  opened  one  of  his  eyes  ;  and  after  they 
had  continued  the  flogging  a  little  longer,  he  opened  his  other  eye ;  upon  which  the 
Judge  exclaimed.  What  meaneth  this  conduct,  0  thou  villain  ? — Grant  me  indemnity, 
replied  the  man,  and  I  will  acquaint  thee:  —  and  the  Judge  having  granted  his  re- 
quest, he  said,  We  four  pretend  that  we  are  blind,  and,  intruding  among  other 
people,  enter  their  houses,  and  see  their  women,  and  employ  stratagems  to  corrupt 
them,  and  to  obtain  money  from  them.  We  have  acquired,  by  this  means,  vast  gain, 
amounting  to  ten  thousand  pieces  of  silver ;  and  I  said  to  my  companions.  Give  me 
my  due,  two  thousand  and  five  hundred,  and  they  arose  against  me  and  beat  me, 
and  took  my  property.  I  beg  protection,  therefore,  of  Allah  and  of  thee ;  and  thou 
art  more  deserving  of  my  share  than  they.  If  thou  desire  to  know  the  truth  of  that 
which  I  have  said,  flog  each  of  them  more  than  thou  hast  flogged  me,  and  he  will 
open  his  eyes. 

So  the  Judge  immediately  gave  orders  to  flog  them  ;  and  the  first  of  them  who 
sufiered  was  my  brother.  They  continued  beating  him  until  he  almost  died;  when 
the  Judge  said  to  them,  0  ye  scoundrels !  do  ye  deny  the  gracious  gift  of  God, 
feigning  yourselves  to  be  blind?  My  brother  exclaimed,  Allah!  Allah!  Allah! 
there  is  none  among  us  who  seeth  !  —  They  then  threw  him  down  again,  and  ceased 
not  to  beat  him  until  he  became  insensible,  when  the  Judge  said,  Leave  him  until 
he  shall  have  recovered,  and  then  give  him  a  third  flogging: — and  in  the  meantime, 
he  gave  orders  to  flog  his  companions,  to  give  each  of  them  more  than  three  hundred 
stripes  ;  while  the  seeing  man  said  to  them.  Open  your  eyes,  or  they  will  flog  you 
again  after  this  time.  Then  addressing  himself  to  the  Judge,  he  said.  Send  with 
me  some  person  to  bring  thee  the  property ;  for  these  men  will  not  open  their  eyes, 
fearing  to  be  disgraced  before  the  spectators.  And  the  Judge  sent  with  him  a  man, 
who  brought  him  the  money ;  and  he  took  it,  and  gave  to  the  informer  out  of  it,  two 
thousand  and  five  hundred  pieces  of  silver,  according  to  the  share  which  he  claimed, 
in  spite  of  the  others  (retaining  the  rest),  and  banished  from  the  city  my  brother 
and  the  two  other  men  ;  but  I  went  forth,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and,  having 
overtaken  my  brother,  asked  him  respecting  his  sufi'erings ;  and  he  acquainted  me 
with  that  which  I  have  related  unto  thee.  I  then  brought  him  back  secretly  into 
the  city,  and  allotted  him  a  supply  of  food  and  drink  as  long  as  he  lived. 

The  Caliph  laughed  at  ray  story,  and  said.  Give  him  a  present,  and  let  him  go: — 
but  I  replied,  I  will  receive  nothing  until  I  have  declared  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful 
what  happened  to  the  rest  of  my  brothers,  and  made  it  manifest  to  him  that  I  am  a 
man  of  few  words:  —  whereupon  the  Caliph  said,  Crack  our  ears,  then,  with  thy 
ridiculous  stories,  and  continue  to  us  thy  disclosure  of  vices  and  misdeeds.  So  J 
■proceeded  thus : — 


THE   barber's   story   OF    HIS   FOURTH   BROTHER.  159 


THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIS  FOURTH  BROTHER. 

My  fourth  brother,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  was  the  one-eyed  (named  Alcous) : 
he  was  a  butcher  in  Bagdad,  and  both  sold  meat  and  reared  lambs ;  and  the  great 
and  the  rich  had  recourse  to  him  to  purchase  of  him  their  meat,  so  that  he  amassed 
great  wealth,  and  became  possessor  of  cattle  and  houses.  Thus  he  continued  to 
prosper  for  a  long  time ;  and  as  he  was  in  his  shop  one  day,  there  accosted  him  an 
old  man  with  a  long  beard,  who  handed  to  him  some  money,  saying,  Give  me  some 
meat  for  it.  So  he  took  the  money,  and  gave  him  the  meat ;  and  when  the  old  man 
had  gone  away,  my  brother  looked  at  the  money  which  he  had  paid  him,  and  seeing 
that  it  was  of  a  brilliant  whiteness,  put  it  aside  by  itself.  This  old  man  continued 
to  repair  to  him  during  a  period  of  five  months,  and  my  brother  always  threw  his 
money  into  a  chest  by  itself;  after  which  period  he  desired  to  take  it  out  for  the 
purpose  of  buying  some  sheep ;  but,  on  opening  the  chest,  he  found  all  the  contents 
converted  into  white  paper,  clipped  round;  and  he  slapped  his  face,  and  cried  out; 
whereupon  a  number  of  people  collected  around  him,  and  he  related  to  them  his 
story,  at  which  they  were  astonished. 

He  then  went  again,  as  usual,  into  his  shop,  and,  having  killed  a  ram,  and  hung 
it  up  within  the  shop,  he  cut  off  some  of  the  meat  and  suspended  it  outside,  saying 
within  himself,  Perhaps  now  this  old  man  will  come  again,  and  if  so,  I  will  seize 
him:  —  and  very  soon  after,  the  old  man  approached  with  his  money,  upon  which 
my  brother  arose,  and,  laying  hold  upon  him  began  to  cry  out,  0  Believers !  come  to 
my  aid,  and  hear  what  this  scoundrel  hath  done  unto  me !  But  when  the  old  man 
heard  his  words,  he  said  to  him.  Which  will  be  more  agreeable  to  thee  —  that  thou 
abstain  from  disgracing  me,  or  that  I  disgrace  thee  before  the  public?  —  For  what 
wilt  thou  disgrace  me  ?  said  my  brother.  The  old  man  answered,  For  thy  selling 
human  flesh  for  mutton.  Thou  liest,  thou  accursed  !  exclaimed  my  brother.  None 
is  accursed,  rejoined  the  old  man,  but  he  who  hath  a  man  suspended  in  his  shop. 
My  brother  said.  If  it  be  as  thou  hast  asserted,  my  property  and  blood  shall  be 
lawful  to  thee:  —  and  immediately  the  old  man  exclaimed,  0  ye  people  here  assem- 
bled! verily  this  butcher  slaughtereth  human  beings,  and  selleth  their  flesh  for 
mutton  ;  and  if  ye  desire  to  know  the  truth  of  my  assertion,  enter  his  shop  !  So  the 
people  rushed  upon  his  shop,  and  beheld  the  ram  converted  into  a  man,  hung  up; 
and  they  laid  hold  upon  my  brother,  crying  out  against  him.  Thou  infidel !  Thou 
scoundrel !  —  and  those  who  had  been  his  dearest  friends  turned  upon  him  and  beat 
him ;  and  the  old  man  gave  him  a  blow  upon  his  eye,  and  knocked  it  out.  The 
people  then  carried  the  carcase,  and  took  with  them  my  brother,  to  the  chief  magis- 
trate of  the  police ;  and  the  old  man  said  to  him,  0  Emir,  this  man  slaughtereth 
human  beings,  and  selleth  their  flesh  for  mutton  ;  and  we  have  therefore  brought 
him  to  thee :  arise,  then,  and  perform  the  requisition  of  God,  whose  might  and  glory 
be  extolled !  Upon  this,  the  magistrate  thrust  back  my  brother  from  him,  and  re- 
fusing to  listen  to  what  he  would  have  said,  ordered  that  five  hundred  blows  of  a 
staff  should  be  inflicted  upon  him,  and  took  all  his  property.  Had  it  not  been  for 
the  great  amount  of  his  wealth,  he  had  put  him  to  death.  He  then  banished  him 
from  the  city. 

My  brother,  therefore,  went  forth  in  a  state  of  distraction,  not  knowing  what 
course  to  pursue;  but  he  journeyed  onwards  until  he  arrived  at  a  great  city,  where 
he  thought  fit  to  settle  as  a  shoemaker ;  so  he  opened  a  shop  and  sat  there  working 
for  his  subsistence.  And  one  day,  he  went  forth  on  some  business,  and,  hearing  the 
neighing  of  horses,  he  inquired  respecting  the  cause,  and  was  told  that  the  King 
was  going  forth  to  hunt;  whereupon  he  went  to  amuse  himself  with  the  sight  of  the 
procession  ;  but  the  King  happening  to  look  on  one  side,  his  eye  met  that  of  my 
brother,  and  immediately  he  hung  down  his  head,  and  exclaimed,  I  seek  refuge  with 
God  from  the  evil  of  this  day !     He  then  turned  aside  the  bridle  of  his  horse,  and 


160  THE  barber's  story  of  his  fifth  brother. 

rode  bacTc,  and  all  his  troops  returned  with  him  ;  after  which  he  ordered  his  pages 
to  run  after  my  brother,  and  to  beat  him  ;  and  they  did  so ;  giving  him  so  severe  a 
beating  that  he  almost  died  ;  and  he  knew  not  the  cause.  He  returned  to  his  abode 
in  a  miserable  plight,  and  afterwards  went  and  related  his  misfortunes  to  one  of  the 
King's  attendants,  who  laughed  at  the  recital  until  he  fell  backwards,  and  said  to 
him,  0  my  brother,  the  King  cannot  endure  the  sight  of  a  one-eyed  person,  and 
especially  Avhen  the  defect  is  that  of  the  left  eye :  for  in  this  case,  he  faileth  not  to 
put  the  person  to  death. 

When  my  brother  heard  these  words,  he  determined  to  fly  from  that  city ;  and 
forthwith  departed  from  it  and  repaired  to  another  city,  where  there  was  no  King. 
Here  he  remained  a  long  time;  and  after  this,  as  he  was  meditating  upon  his  ad- 
venture in  the  former  city,  he  went  out  one  day  to  amuse  himself,  and  heard  again 
the  neighing  of  horses  behind  him  ;  upon  which  he  exclaimed.  The  decree  of  God 
hath  come  to  pass! — and  rau  away,  seeking  for  a  place  in  which  to  conceal  himself; 
but  he  found  none,  until  continuing  his  search,  he  saw  a  door  set  up  as  a  barricade : 
so  he  pushed  this,  and  it  fell  down  ;  and,  entering  the  doorway,  he  beheld  a  long 
passage,  into  which  he  advanced.  Suddenly,  however,  two  men  laid  hold  upon  him, 
and  exclaimed.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  enabled  us  to  take  thee,  0  thou  enemy  of 
God  !  For  these  three  nights  thou  hast  suffered  us  to  enjoy  neither  quiet  nor  sleep, 
and  we  have  found  no  repose:  nay,  thou  hast  given  us  a  foretaste  of  death!  ^0 
men !  said  my  brother,  what  hath  happened  unto  you  ?  They  answered.  Thou 
keepest  a  watch  upon  us,  and  desirest  to  disgrace  us  and  to  disgrace  the  master  of 
the  house !  Is  it  not  enough  for  thee  that  thou  hast  reduced  him  to  poverty,  thoa 
and  thy  companions?  Produce  now  the  knife  wherewith  thou  threatenest  us  every 
night. — And  so  saying,  they  searched  him,  and  found  upon  his  waist  the  knife  with 
which  he  cut  the  shoe-leather. — O  men,  he  exclaimed,  fear  God  in  your  treatment  of 
me,  and  know  that  my  story  is  wonderful.  They  said.  What  then  is  thy  story  ?  So 
he  related  it  to  them,  in  the  hope  that  they  would  liberate  him  ;  but  they  believed  not 
what  he  said  :  and,  instead  of  showing  him  any  regard,  they  beat  him,  and  tore  hia 
clothes ;  whereupon,  his  body  becoming  exposed  to  their  view,  they  discovered  upon 
his  sides  the  marks  of  beating  with  sticks,  and  exclaimed,  O  wretch  !  these  scars 
bear  testimony  to  thy  guilt.  They  then  conducted  him  before  the  Judge,  while  he 
said  within  himself,  I  am  undone  for  my  transgressions,  and  none  can  deliver  me 
but  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  And  when  he  was  brought  before  the  Judge,  the 
magistrate  said  to  him,  0  thou  scoundrel !  nothing  but  a  heinous  crime  hath  occa- 
sioned thy  having  been  beaten  with  sticks  :  —  and  he  caused  a  hundred  lashes  to  be 
inflicted  upon  him:  after  which  they  mounted  him  upon  a  camel,  and  proclaimed 
before  him.  This  is  the  recompense  of  him  who  breaketh  into  men's  houses  ! — But  I 
had  already  heard  of  his  misfortunes,  and  gone  forth,  and  found  him  ;  and  I  accom- 
panied him  about  the  city  while  they  were  making  this  proclamation,  until  they  left 
him  ;  when  I  took  him,  and  brought  him  back  secretly  into  Bagdad,  and  apportioned 
him  a  daily  allowance  of  food  and  drink. 


THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIS  FIFTH  BROTHER. 

My  fifth  brother,  Alraschar,  was  cropped  of  his  ears,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 
He  was  a  pauper,  who  begged  alms  by  night,  and  subsisted  upon  what  he  thus 
acquired  by  day ;  and  our  father  was  a  very  old  man,  and  he  fell  sick  and  died, 
leaving  to  us  seven  hundred  pieces  of  silver,  of  which  each  of  us  took  his  portion  ; 
namely,  a  hundred  pieces.  Now,  my  fifth  brother,  when  he  had  received  his  share, 
was  perplexed,  not  knowing  what  to  do  with  it;  but  while  he  was  in  this  state,  it 
occurred  to  his  mind  to  buy  with  it  all  kinds  of  articles  of  glass,  and  to  sell  them 
and  make  profit:  so  he  bought  glass  with  his  hundred  pieces  of  silver,  ind  put  it  in 
a  large  tray,  and  sat  upon  an  elevated  place,  to  sell  it,  leaning  his  back  against  a 


THE   BARBER  S    STORY   OP   HIS    FIFTH   BROTHER.  161 

wall.  And  as  he  sat,  he  meditated  and  said  within  himself,  Verily,  my  whole  stock 
consisteth  of  this  glass:  I  will  sell  it  for  two  hundred  pieces  of  silver  ;  and  with  the 
two  hundred  1  will  buy  other  glass,  which  I  will  sell  for  four  hundred  ;  and  thus  I 
will  continue  buying  and  selling  until  I  have  acquired  great  wealth.  Then  with  this 
I  will  purchase  all  kinds  of  merchandise  and  essences  and  jewels,  and  so  obtain  vast 
gain.  After  that,  I  will  buy  a  handsome  house,  and  mamlouks,  and  horses,  and 
gilded  saddles ;  and  I  will  eat  and  drink ;  and  I  will  not  leave  in  the  city  a  single 
female  singer  but  I  will  have  her  brought  to  my  house  that  I  may  hear  her  songs. — 
All  this  he  calculated  with  the  tray  of  glass  lying  before  him. — Then,  said  he,  I  will 
send  all  the  female  betrothers  to  seek  in  marriage  for  me  the  daughters  of  Kings 
and  Viziers,  and  I  Avill  demand  as  my  wife  the  daughter  of  the  chief  Vizier;  for  I 
have  heard  that  she  is  endowed  with  perfect  beauty  and  surprising  loveliness ;  and 
I  will  give  as  her  dowry  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  If  her  father  consent,  my  wish 
is  attained  ;  and  if  he  consent  not,  I  will  take  her  by  force,  in  spite  of  him  ;  and- 
when  I  have  come  back  to  my  house,  I  will  buy  ten  young  eunuchs,  and  I  will  pur- 
chase the  apparel  of  Kings  and  Sultans,  and  cause  to  be  made  for  me  a  saddle  of 
gold  set  with  jewels  ;  after  which  I  will  ride  every  day  upon  a  horse,  with  slaves 
behind  me  and  before  me,  and  go  about  through  the  streets  and  markets  to  amuse 
myself,  while  the  people  will  salute  me  and  pray  for  me.  Then  I  will  pay  a  visit  to 
the  Vizier,  who  is  the  father  of  the  maiden,  with  mamlouks  behind  me  and  before 
me,  and  on  my  right  hand  and  on  my  left ;  and  when  he  seeth  me,  he  will  rise  to  me 
in  humility,  and  seat  me  in  his  own  place  ;  and  he  himself  will  sit  down  below  me, 
because  I  am  his  son-in-law.  I  will  then  order  one  of  the  servants  to  bring  a  purse 
containing  the  pieces  of  gold  which  compose  the  dowry;  and  he  will  place  it  before 
the  Vizier ;  and  I  will  add  to  it  another  purse,  that  he  may  know  my  manly  spirit 
and  excessive  generosity,  and  that  the  world  is  contemptible  in  my  eye :  and  when 
he  addresseth  me  with  ten  words,  I  will  answer  him  with  two.  And  I  will  return 
to  my  house ;  and  when  any  person  cometh  to  me  from  the  house  of  the  Vizier,  I 
will  clothe  him  with  a  rich  dress:  but  if  any  come  with  a  present,  I  will  return  it: 
I  will  certainly  not  accept  it.  Then,  on  the  night  of  the  bridal  display,  I  will  attire 
myself  in  the  most  magnificent  of  my  dresses,  and  sit  upon  a  mattress  covered  with 
silk  ;  and  when  my  wife  cometh  to  me  like  the  full  moon,  decked  with  her  ornaments 
and  apparel,  I  will  command  her  to  stand  before  me  as  stand  the  timid  and  the 
abject ;  and  I  will  not  look  at  her,  on  account  of  the  haughtiness  of  my  spirit  and 
the  gravity  of  my  wisdom  ;  so  that  the  maids  will  say,  0  our  master  and  our  lord, 
may  we  be  thy  sacrifice !  This  thy  wife,  or  rather  thy  handmaid,  awaiteth  thy  kind 
regard,  and  is  standing  before  thee:  then  graciously  bestow  on  her  one  glance;  for 
the  posture  hath  become  painful  to  her. — Upon  this,  I  will  raise  my  head,  and  look 
at  her  with  one  glance,  and  again  incline  my  head  downwards  ;  and  thus  I  will  do 
until  the  ceremony  of  displaying  her  is  finished:  whereupon  they  will  conduct  her 
to  the  sleeping-chamber ;  and  I  will  rise  from  my  place,  and  go  to  another  apart- 
ment, and  put  on  my  night-dress,  and  go  to  the  chamber  in  which  she  is  sitting, 
where  I  will  seat  myself  upon  the  divan  ;  but  I  will  not  look  towards  her.  The  tire- 
women will  urge  me  to  approach  her  ;  but  I  will  not  hear  their  words,  and  will 
order  some  of  the  attendants  to  bring  a  purse  containing  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold 
for  them,  and  command  them  to  retire  from  the  chamber.  And  when  they  have 
gone,  I  will  seat  myself  by  the  side  of  the  bride  ;  but  with  averted  countenance,  that 
she  may  say.  Verily  this  is  a  man  of  a  haughty  spirit.  Then  her  mother  will  come 
to  me,  and  will  kiss  my  hands,  and  say  to  me,  0  my  master,  look  upon  thy  hand- 
maid with  the  eye  of  mercy;  for  she  is  submissively  standing  before  thee.  But  I 
will  return  her  no  answer.  And  she  will  kiss  my  feet,  again  and  again,  and  will 
say,  0  my  master,  my  daughter  is  young,  and  hath  seen  no  man  but  thee ;  and  if 
she  experience  from  thee  repugnance,  her  heart  wiU  break  :  incline  to  her  therefore, 
and  speak  to  her,  and  calm  her  mind.  And  upon  this  I  wmU  look  at  her  through 
the  corner  of  my  eye,  and  command  her  to  remain  standing  before  me,  that  she  may 
11 


162  THE  barber's  story  of  his  fifth  brother. 

taste  the  savour  of  humiliation,  and  know  that  I  am  the  Sultan  of  the  age.  —  Then 
her  mother  will  say  to  me,  0  my  master,  this  is  thy  handmaid  :  have  compassion 
upon  her,  and  be  gracious  to  her:  —  and  she  will  order  her  to  fill  a  cup  with  wine, 
and  to  put  it  to  my  mouth.  So  her  daughter  will  say,  0  my  lord,  I  conjure  thee  by 
the  requisitions  of  God,  that  thou  reject  not  the  cup  from  thy  slave  ;  for  verily  I  am 
thy  slave.  But  I  will  make  her  no  reply :  and  she  will  urge  me  to  take  it,  and  will 
say.  It  must  be  drunk:  —  and  will  put  it  to  my  mouth  :  and  upon  this,  I  will  shake 
my  hand  in  her  face,  and  spurn  her  with  my  foot,  and  do  thus. — So  saying,  he  kicked 
the  tray  of  glass,  which,  being  upon  a  place  elevated  above  the  ground,  fell,  and  all 
that  was  in  it  broke:  there  escaped  nothing:  and  he  cried  out  and  said.  All  this  is 
the  result  of  my  pride  !  And  he  slapped  his  face,  and  tore  his  clothes  ;  the  passen- 
gers gazing  at  him,  while  he  wept,  and  exclaimed.  Ah  !  0  my  grief! 

The  people  were  now  repairing  to  perform  the  Friday-prayera  ;  and  some  merely 
cast  their  eyes  at  him,  while  others  noticed  him  not :  but  while  he  was  in  this  state, 
deprived  of  his  whole  property,  and  weeping  without  intermission,  a  female  ap- 
proached him,  on  her  way  to  attend  the  Friday-prayers :  she  was  of  admirable  love- 
liness ;  the  odour  of  musk  was  diffused  from  her ;  under  her  was  a  mule  with  a 
stuffed  saddle  covered  with  gold-embroidered  silk ;  and  with  her  was  a  number  of 
servants ;  and  when  she  saw  the  broken  glass,  and  my  brother's  state  and  his  tears, 
she  was  moved  with  pity  for  him,  and  asked  respecting  his  case.  She  was  answered, 
He  had  a  tray  of  glass,  by  the  sale  of  which  to  obtain  his  subsistence,  and  it  is 
broken,  and  he  is  afflicted  as  thou  seest: — and  upon  this,  she  called  to  one  of  the 
servants,  saying,  Give  what  thou  hast  with  thee  to  this  poor  man.  So  he  gave  him 
a  purse,  and  he  took  it,  and  when  he  had  opened  it,  he  found  in  it  five  hundred 
pieces  of  gold,  whereupon  he  almost  died  from  excessive  joy,  and  offered  up  prayers 
for  his  benefactress. 

He  returned  to  his  house  a  rich  man,  and  sat  reflecting,  and  lo,  a  person  knocked 
at  the  door ;  he  arose,  therefore,  and  opened  it :  and  beheld  an  old  woman  whom  he 
knew  not,  and  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  know  that  the  time  of  prayer  hath  almost 
expired,  and  I  am  not  prepared  by  ablution  ;  wherefore  I  beg  that  thou  wilt  admit 
me  into  thy  house,  that  I  may  perform  it.  He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey ; — and,  re- 
tiring within,  gave  her  permission  to  enter ;  his  mind  still  wandering  from  joy  on 
account  of  the  gold  ;  and  when  she  had  finished  the  ablution,  she  approached  the 
spot  where  he  was  sitting,  and  there  performed  the  prayers  of  two  rekahs.  She 
then  offered  up  a  supplication  for  my  brother ;  and  he  thanked  her,  and  offered  her 
two  pieces  of  gold  ;  but  when  she  saw  this,  she  exclaimed,  Extolled  be  God's  per- 
fection !  A^'erily  I  wonder  at  the  person  who  fell  in  love  with  thee  in  thy  beggarly 
condition  !  Take  back  thy  money  from  me,  and  if  thou  want  it  not,  return  it  to 
her  who  gave  it  thee  when  thy  glass  broke. — 0  my  mother,  said  he,  how  can  I  con- 
trive to  obtain  access  to  her?  She  answered,  0  my  son,  she  hath  an  affection  for 
thee ;  but  she  is  the  wife  of  an  affluent  man :  take  then  with  thee  all  thy  money, 
and  when  thou  art  with  her  be  not  deficient  in  courteousness  and  agreeable  words ; 
so  shalt  thou  obtain  of  her  favours  and  her  wealth  whatever  thou  shalt  desire.  My 
brother,  therefore,  took  all  the  gold,  and  arose  and  went  with  the  old  woman,  hardly 
believing  what  she  had  told  him  ;  and  she  proceeded,  and  my  brother  behind  her, 
until  they  arrived  at  a  great  door,  at  which  she  knocked  ;  whereupon  a  Greek  damsel 
came  and  opened  the  door,  and  the  old  woman  entered,  ordering  ray  brother  to  do 
the  same.  He  did  so,  and  found  himself  in  a  large  house,  where  he  beheld  a  great 
furnished  chamber,  with  curtains  hung  in  it;  and,  seating  himself  there,  he  put 
down  the  gold  before  him,  and  placed  his  turban  on  his  knees ;  and  scarcely  had  he 
done  so,  when  there  came  to  him  a  damsel,  the  like  of  whom  had  never  been 
seen,  attired  in  most  magnificent  apparel.  My  brother  stood  up  at  her  approach  ; 
and  when  she  beheld  him,  she  laughed  in  his  face,  and  rejoiced  at  his  visit :  then 
going  to  the  door,  she  locked  it ;  after  which  she  returned  to  my  brother,  and  took 
h's  hand,  and  both  of  them  went  together  into  a  private  chamber,  carpeted  with 


THE   BARBER  S   STORY   OF   HIS   FIFTH   BROTHER. 


1G3 


various  kinds  of  silk,  where  my  brother  sat  down,  and  she  seated  herself  by  his  side, 
and  toyed  with  him  for  a  considerable  time.  She  then  arose,  saying,  to  him.  Move 
not  from  this  place  until  I  return  to  thee: — and  was  absent  from  him  for  a  short 
period ;  and  as  my  brother  was  waiting  for  her,  there  came  in  to  him  a  black  slave, 
of  gigantic  stature,  with  a  drawn  sword,  the  brightness  of  which  dazzled  the  sight ; 
and  he  exclaimed  to  my  brother,  "Wo  to  thee  !  Who  brought  thee  to  this  place  ? 
Thou  vilest  of  men!  Thou  misbegotten  wretch,  and  nursling  of  impurity !— My 
brother  was  unable  to  make  any  reply ;  his  tongue  was  instantly  tied ;  and  the  slave 
laid  hold  upon  him,  and  stripped  him,  and  struck  him  more  than  eighty  blows  with 
the  flat  of  his  sword,  until  he  fell  sprawling  upon  the  floor,  when  he  retired  from 


The  Second  Misfortune  of  the  Barber's  Fifth  Brotlier. 


him,  concluding  that  he  was  dead,  and  uttered  a  great  cry,  so  that  the  earth  trembled, 
and  the  place  resounded  at  his  voice,  saying.  Where  is  Meliha  ? — upon  which  a  girl 
came  to  him,  holding  a  handsome  tray  containing  salt ;  and  with  this  she  forthwith 
stuffed  the  flesh  wounds  with  which  my  brother's  skin  was  gashed  until  they  gaped 
open  ;  but  he  moved  not,  fearing  the  slave  would  discover  that  he  was  alive,  and  kill 
him.  The  girl  then  went  away,  and  the  slave  uttered  another  cry,  like  the  first, 
whereupon  the  old  woman  came  to  my  brother,  and,  dragging  him  by  the  feet  to  a 
deep  and  dark  vault,  threw  him  into  it  upon  a  heap  of  slain.  In  this  place  he  re- 
mained for  two  whole  days;  and  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled  !)  made  the  salt 
to  be  the  means  of  preserving  his  life,  by  stanching  the  flow  of  blood  from  his  veins  ; 
so  when  he  found  that  he  had  strength  suflBcient  to  move,  he  arose,  and,  opening  a 
shutter  in  the  wall,  emerged  from  the  place  of  the  slain :  and  God  (to  whom  be  as- 
cribed all  might  and  glory!)  granted  him  his  protection  :  he  therefore  proceeded  in 
the  darkness,  and  concealed  himself  in  the  passage  until  the  morning,  when  the  old 
woman  went  forth  to  seek  another  victim,  and  my  brother,  going  out  after  her,  with- 
out her  knowledge,  returned  to  his  house. 

He  now  occupied  himself  with  the  treatment  of  his  wounds  until  he  was  restored  ; 
and  continued  to  watch  for  the  old  woman,  and  constantly  saw  her  taking  men,  one 


164  THE  barber's  story  of  his  fifth  brother. 

after  another,  and  conducting  them  to  the  same  house.  But  he  uttered  not  a  word 
on  the  subject ;  and  when  his  health  returned,  and  his  strength  was  completely  re- 
newed, he  took  a  piece  of  rag,  and  made  of  it  a  purse,  which  he  filled  with  pieces 
of  glass  ;  he  then  tied  it  to  his  waist,  and  disguised  himself  so  that  no  one  would 
know  him,  in  the  dress  of  a  foreigner;  and,  taking  a  sword,  placed  it  within  his 
clothes  ;  and  ".s  soon  as  he  saw  the  old  woman,  he  said  to  her,  in  the  dialect  of  a 
foreigner,  Old  woman  hast  thou  a  pair  of  scales  fit  for  weighing  nine  hundred  pieces 
of  gold  ?  The  old  woman  answered,  I  have  a  young  son,  a  money-changer,  and  he 
hath  all  kinds  of  scales :  therefore  accompany  me  to  him  before  he  go  forth  from 
his  abode,  that  he  may  weigh  for  thee  thy  gold.  'So  my  brother  said.  Walk  on 
before  me : — and  she  went,  and  my  brother  followed  her  until  she  arrived  at  the 
door,  and  knocked?  upon  which  the  girl  came  out,  and  laughed  in  his  face ;  and  the 
old  woman  said  to  her,  I  have  brought  you  to-day  some  fat  meat.  The  girl  then 
took  my  brother's  hand,  and  conducted  him  into  the  house  (the  same  which  he  had 
entered  before),  and  after  she  had  sat  with  him  a  short  time,  she  arose,  saying  to 
him.  Quit  not  this  place  until  I  return  to  thee: — and  she  retired  ;  and  my  brother 
had  remained  not  long  after  when  the  slave  came  to  him  with  the  drawn  sword,  and 
said  to  him.  Rise,  thou  unlucky  !  So  my  brother  arose,  and,  as  the  slave  walked 
before  him,  he  put  his  hand  to  the  sword  which  was  concealed  beneath  his  clothes, 
and  struck  the  slave  with  it,  and  cut  off  his  headj  after  which  he  dragged  him  by 
his  feet  to  the  vault,  and,  called  out.  Where  is  Meliha  ?  The  slave-girl,  therefore, 
came,  having  in  her  hand  the  tray  containing  the  salt ;  but  when  she  saw  my  brother 
with  the  sword  in  his  hand,  she  turned  back  and  fled :  my  brother,  however,  over- 
took her,  and  struck  off  her  head.  He  next  called  out.  Where  is  the  old  woman? — 
and  she  came;  and  he  said  to  her.  Dost  thou  know  me,  0  malevolent  hag?  She 
answered.  No,  0  ray  lord. — I  am,  said  he,  the  man  who  had  the  pieces  of  gold,  and 
in  whose  house  thou  performedst  the  ablution,  and  prayedst ;  after  which,  devising 
a  stratagem  against  me,  thou  betrayedst  me  into  this  place. — The  old  woman,  ex- 
claimed, Fear  God  in  thy  treatment  of  me! — but  my  brother  turning  towards  her, 
struck  her  with  the  sword,  and  clave  her  in  twain.  He  then  went  to  search  for  the 
chief  damsel,  and  when  she  saw  him,  her  reason  fled,  and  she  implored  his  pardon, 
whereupon  he  granted  her  his  pardon,  and  said  to  her.  What  occasioned  thy  falling 
into  the  hands  of  this  black?  She  answered,  I  was  a  slave  to  one  of  the  merchants; 
and  this  old  woman  used  to  visit  me ;  and  one  day  she  said  to  me.  We  are  celebrating 
a  festivity,  the  like  of  which  no  one  hath  seen,  and  I  have  a  desire  that  thou  shouldst 
witness  it.  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey  : — and  arose,  and  clad  myself  in  the  best  of 
my  attire,  and  taking  with  me  a  purse  containing  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  proceeded 
with  her  until  she  entered  this  house,  when  suddenly  this  black  took  me,  and  I  have 
continued  with  him  in  this  state  three  years,  through  the  stratagem  of  the  old  witch. 
— My  brother  then  said  to  her.  Is  there  any  property  of  his  in  the  house  ? — Abund- 
ance, she  answered;  and  if  thou  canst  remove  it,  do  so: — and  upon  this  he  arose 
and  went  with  her,  when  she  opened  to  him  chests  filled  with  purses :  at  the  sight 
of  which  he  was  confounded ;  and  she  said  to  him,  Go  now  and  leave  me  here,  and 
bring  some  person  to  remove  the  property.  So  he  went  out,  and,  having  hired  ten 
men,  returned:  but  on  his  arrival  at  the  door,  he  found  it  open,  and  saw  neither  the 
damsel  nor  the  purses ;  he  found,  however,  some  little  money  remaining,  and  the 
Btuffs.  He  discovered,  therefore,  that  she  had  eluded  him :  and  he  took  the  money 
that  remained,  and,  opening  the  closets,  took  all  the  stuffs  which  they  contained, 
leaving  nothing  in  the  house. 

He  passed  the  next  night  full  of  happiness;  but  when  the  morning  came,  he  found 
at  the  door  twenty  soldiers,  and  on  his  going  forth  to  them,  they  laid  hold  upon  him, 
saying,  The  Judge  summoneth  thee.  So  they  took  him,  and  conducted  him  to  the 
Judge,  who,  when  he  saw  him,  said  to  him.  Whence  obtainedst  thou  these  stuffs  ? — 
Grant  me  indemnity,  said  my  brother:  and  the  Judge  gave  him  the  handkerchief 
of  indemnity:  and  my  brother  related  to  him  all  that  had  befallen  him  with  the  old 


THE    BARBER  S    STORY    OF    HIS    SIXTH    BROTHER.  165 

woman  from  first  to  last,  and  the  .flight  of  the  damsel ;  adding, — and  of  that  which 
I  have  taken,  take  thou  what  thou  wilt;  but  leave  me  wherewith  to  procure  my 
food.  The  judge  thereupon  demanded  the  whole  of  the  money  and  the  stuffs:  but 
fearing  the  Sultan  might  become  acquainted  with  the  matter,  he  retained  a  portion 
only,  and  gave  the  rest  to  my  brother,  saying  to  him.  Quit  this  city,  or  I  will  hang 
thee.  My  brother  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: — and  went  forth  to  one  of  the  surround- 
ing cities.  Some  robbers,  however,  came  upon  him,  and  stripped  and  beat  him,  and 
cut  off  his  ears :  and  I,  having  heard  of  his  situation,  went  forth  to  him,  taking  to 
him  some  clothes;  and  brought  him  back  privily  into  the  city,  and  supplied  him  with 
daily  food  and  drink. 

THE  BARBER'S  STORY  OF  HIS  SIXTH  BROTHER. 

My  sixth  brother  (Shacabac),  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  had  his  lips  cut  off.  He 
was  in  a  state  of  extreme  poverty,  possessing  nothing  of  the  goods  of  this  perishable 
world ;  and  he  went  forth  one  day  to  seek  for  something  with  which  to  stay  his  de- 
parting spirit,  and  on  his  way  he  beheld  a  handsome  house,  with  a  wide  and  lofty 
vestibule,  at  the  door  of  which  were  servants,  commanding  and  forbidding;  where- 
upon he  inquired  of  one  of  the  persons  standing  there,  who  answered.  This  house 
belongeth  to  a  man  of  the  sons  of  the  Barmecides.  My  brother,  therefore,  advanced 
to  the  doorkeepers,  and  begged  them  to  give  him  something ;  and  they  said.  Enter 
the  door  of  the  house,  and  thou  wilt  obtain  what  thou  desircst  of  its  master.  So  he 
entered  the  vestibule,  and  proceeded  through  it  a  while  until  he  arrived  at  a  mansion 
of  the  utmost  beauty  and  elegance,  having  a  garden  in  the  midst  of  it,  unsurpassed 
in  beauty  by  anything  that  had  ever  been  seen  :  its  floors  were  paved  with  marble, 
and  its  curtains  were  hanging  around.  He  knew  not  jn  which  direction  to  go ;  but 
advanced  to  the  upper  extremity;  and  there  he  beheld  a  man  of  handsome  counte- 
nance and  beard,  who,  on  seeing  my  brother,  rose  to  him,  and  welcomed  him,  in- 
quiring respecting  his  circumstances.  He  accordingly  informed  him  that  he  was  in 
want ;  and  when  the  master  of  the  house  heard  his  words,  he  manifested  excessive 
grief,  and,  taking  hold  of  his  own  clothes,  rent  them,  and  exclaimed.  Am  I  in  the 
city,  and  thou  in  it  hungry?  It  is  a  thing  I  cannot  endure  ! — Then  promising  him 
every  kind  of  happiness,  he  said,  Thou  must  stay  and  partake  of  my  salt.  But  my 
brother  replied,  0  my  master,  I  have  not  patience  to  wait;  for  I  am  in  a  state  of 
extreme  hunger. 

Upon  this,  the  master  of  the  house  called  out.  Boy,  bring  the  basin  and  ewer! — 
and  he  said,  0  my  guest,  advance,  and  wash  thy  hands.  He  then  performed  the 
same  motions  as  if  he  were  washing  his  hands;  and  called  to  his  attendants  to  brin» 
the  table;  whereupon  they  began  to  come  and  go  as  though  they  were  preparing  it; 
after  which  the  master  of  the  house  took  my  brother,  and  sat  down  with  him  at  this 
imaginary  table,  and  proceeded  to  move  his  hands  and  lips  as  if  he  were  eatin"-; 
saying  to  my  brother.  Eat,  and  be  not  ashamed,  for  thou  art  hungry,  and  I  know 
how  thou  art  suffering  from  the  violence  of  thy  hunger.  My  brother,  therefore, 
made  the  same  motions,  as  if  he  also  were  eating,  while  his  host  said  to  him.  Eat, 
and  observe  this  bread  and  its  whiteness.  To  this,  my  brother  at  first  made  no 
reply;  but  observed  in  his  own  mind.  Verily  this  is  a  man  who  loveth  to  jest  with 
others : — so  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  in  my  life  I  have  never  seen  bread  more 
beautifully  white  than  this,  or  any  of  sweeter  taste.  On  which  the  host  rejoined, 
This  was  made  by  a  female  slave  of  mine  whom  I  purchased  for  five  hundred  pieces 
of  gold.  He  then  called  out.  Boy,  bring  to  us  the  dish  the  like  of  which  is  not  found 
among  the  viands  of  Kings  I — and,  addressing  my  brother,  he  said.  Eat,  0  my  guest, 
for  thou  art  hungry,  vehemently  so,  and  in  absolute  want  of  food.  So  my  brother 
began  to  twist  about  his  mouth,  and  to  chew,  as  in  eating.  The  master  of  the  house 
uow  proceeded  to  demand  different  kinds  of  viands,  one  after  another;  and,  though 
tjothing  was  brought,  he  continued  ordering  my  brother  to  eat.     Next  he  called  out, 


166  THE  barber's  story  of  his  sixth  brother. 

Boy,  place  before  us  the  chickens  stuffed  with  pistachio-nuts: — and  said  to  his  guest, 
Eat  that  of  which  thou  hast  never  tasted  the  like.  0  ray  master,  replied  my  brother, 
verily  this  dish  hath  not  its  equal  in  sweetness  of  flavour: — and  the  host,  thereupon 
began  to  put  his  hand  to  my  brother's  mouth  as  though  he  were  feeding  him  with 
morsels ;  and  proceeded  to  enumerate  to  him  the  various  kinds  of  viands,  and  to  de- 
scribe their  several  excellences;  while  his  hunger  so  increased  that  he  longed  for  a 
cake  of  barley-bread.  The  master  of  the  house  then  said  to  him,  Hast  thou  tasted 
anything  more  delicious  than  the  spices  in  these  dishes?  No,  0  my  master,  answered 
my  brother.  Eat  more  then,  resumed  the  host;  and  be  not  ashamed. — I  have  eaten 
enough  of  the  meats,  replied  the  guest.  So  the  man  of  the  house  called  to  his  at- 
tendants to  bring  the  sweets ;  and  they  moved  their  hands  about  in  the  air  as  if  they 
were  bringing  them ;  whereupon  the  host  said  to  my  brother.  Eat  of  this  dish,  for  it 
is  excellent :  and  of  these  cakes,  by  my  life !  and  take  this  one  before  the  syrup  runs 
from  it. — May  I  never  be  deprived  of  thee,  0  my  master !  exclaimed  my  brother, 
proceeding  to  inquire  of  him  respecting  the  abundance  of  musk  in  the  cake. — This, 
answered  the  host,  is  my  usual  custom  in  my  house:  they  always  put  for  me,  in  each 
of  the  cakes,  a  mithkal'  of  musk,  and  half  a  mithkal  of  ambergris. — All  this  time 
my  brother  was  moving  his  head  and  mouth,  and  rolling  about  his  tongue  between 
his  cheeks  as  if  he  were  enjoying  the  sweets.  After  this,  the  master  of  the  house 
called  out  to  his  attendants.  Bring  the  dried  fruits  ? — and  again  they  moved  about 
their  hands  in  the  air  as  though  they  were  doing  what  he  ordered  ;  when  he  said  to 
my  brother,  Eat  of  these  almonds,  and  of  these  walnuts,  and  of  these  raisins ; — and 
so  on,  enumerating  the  various  kinds  of  dried  fruits  ;  and  added  again.  Eat,  and  be 
not  ashamed. — 0  my  master,  replied  my  brother,  I  have  had  enough,  and  have  not 
power  to  eat  anything  more  ; — but  the  host  rejoined,  If  thou  desire,  0  my  guest,  to 
eat  more,  and  to  delight  thyself  with  extraordinary  dainties,  by  Allah!  by  Allah! 
remain  not  hungry. 

My  brother  now  reflected  upon  his  situation,  and  upon  the  manner  in  which  this 
man  was  jesting  with  him,  and  said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  I  will  do  to  him  a 
deed  that  shall  make  him  repent  before  God  of  these  actions  !  The  man  of  the  house 
next  said  to  his  attendants.  Bring  us  the  wine: — and,  as  before,  they  made  the  same 
motions  with  their  hands  in  the  air  as  if  they  were  doing  what  he  commanded  ;  after 
which  he  pretended  to  hand  to  my  brother  a  cup,  saying.  Take  this  cup,  for  it  will 
delight  thee  : — and  his  guest  replied,  0  my  master,  this  is  of  thy  bounty  :  —  and  he 
acted  with  his  hand  as  though  he  were  drinking  it. — Hath  it  pleased  thee  ?  said  the 
host. — 0  my  master,  answered  my  brother,  I  have  never  seen  anything  more  delicious 
than  this  wine. — Drink,  then,  rejoined  the  master  of  the  house,  and  may  it  be  atten- 
ded with  benefit  and  health:  —  and  he  himself  pretended  to  drink,  and  to  hand  a 
second  cup  to  my  brother,  who,  after  he  had  affected  to  drink  it,  feigned  himself 
intoxicated,  and,  taking  his  host  unawares,  raised  his  hand  until  the  whiteness  of 
his  arm-pit  appeared,  and  struck  him  such  a  slap  upon  his  neck  that  the  chamber 
rang  at  the  blow ;  and  this  he  followed  by  a  second  blow ;  whereupon  the  man 
exclaimed.  What  is  this,  thou  vilest  of  the  creation?  —  0  my  master,  answered  my 
brother,  I  am  thy  slave  whom  thou  hast  graciously  admitted  into  thine  abode,  and 
thou  hast  fed  him  with  thy  provisions,  and  treated  him  with  old  wine,  and  he  hath 
become  intoxicated,  and  committed  an  outrage  upon  thee  ;  but  thou  art  of  too  exalted 
dignity  to  be  angry  with  him  for  his  ignorance. 

When  the  master  of  the  house  heard  these  words  of  my  brother,  he  uttered  a  loud 
laugh,  and  said  to  him,  Verily  for  a  long  time  have  I  made  game  of  men,  and  jested 
with  all  persons  accustomed  to  joking  and  rudeness,  but  I  have  not  seen  among  them 
any  Avho  could  endure  this  trick,  nor  any  who  had  sagacity  to  conform  to  all  my 
actions,  excepting  thee :  now,  therefore,  I  pardon  thee  ;  and  be  thou  mj*  companion 
in  reality,  and  never  relinquish  me.     He  then  gave  orders  to  bring  a  number  of  the 

'About  seventy-two  grains. 


CONTINUATION    OF    THE    STORY   TOLD    BY    THE    TAILOR.  169 

dishes  above  mentioned,  and  he  and  my  brother  ate  together  to  satisfaction  ;  after 
which  they  removed  to  the  drinking-chamber,  where  female  slaves  like  so  many 
moons  sang  all  kinds  of  melodies,  and  played  on  all  kinds  of  musical  instruments. 
There  they  drank  until  intoxication  overcame  them  :  the  master  of  the  house  treated 
my  brother  as  a  familiar  friend,  became  greatly  attached  to  him,  and  clad  him  with 
a  costly  dress ;  and  on  the  following  morning  they  resumed  their  feasting  and  drink- 
ing. Thus  they  continued  to  live  for  a  period  of  twenty  years:  the  man  then  died, 
and  the  Sultan  seized  upon  his  property,  and  took  possession  of  it. 

My  brother,  upon  this,  went  forth  from  the  city,  a  fugitive  ;  and  upon  his  way,  a 
party  of  Arabs  came  upon  him.  They  made  him  a  captive  ;  and  the  man  who  cap- 
tured him  tortured  him  with  beating,  and  said  to  him,  By  Allah,  purchase  thyself 
of  me  by  wealth,  or  I  will  kill  thee: — but  my  brother,  weeping,  replied,  By  Allah,  I 
possess  nothing,  0  sheikh  of  the  Arabs ;  nor  do  I  know  the  means  of  obtaining  any 
property :  I  am  thy  captive ;  I  have  fallen  into  thy  hands,  and  do  with  me  what  thou 
wilt.  And  immediately  the  tyrannical  Bedouin  drew  forth  from  his  girdle  a  broad- 
bladed  knife  (such  as,  if  plunged  into  the  neck  of  a  camel,  would  cut  it  across  from 
one  jugular  vein  to  the  other),  and,  taking  it  in  his  right  hand,  approached  my  poor 
brother,  and  cutoff  with  it  his  lips;  still  urging  his  demand.  —  Now  this  Bedouin 
had  a  handsome  wife,  who,  when  he  was  absent,  used  to  manifest  a  strong  affection 
for  my  brother;  though  he  observed  a  proper  decorum  towards  her,  fearing  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted !) ;  and  it  happened,  one  day,  that  she  had  called  him,  and 
seated  him  with  her ;  but  while  they  were  together,  lo,  her  husband  came  in  upon 
them  ;  and  when  he  beheld  my  brother,  he  exclaimed,  Wo  to  thee,  thou  base  wretch! 
Dost  thou  desire  now  to  corrupt  my  wife?  —  Then  drawing  his  knife,  he  inflicted 
upon  him  another  cruel  wound ;  after  which  he  mounted  him  upon  a  camel,  and, 
having  cast  him  upon  a  mountain,  left  him  there,  and  went  his  way.  Some  travel- 
lers, however,  passed  by  him,  and  when  they  discovered  him,  they  gave  him  food 
and  drink,  and  acquainted  me  with  his  case  :  so  I  went  forth  to  him,  and  conveyed 
him  back  into  the  city,  and  allotted  him  a  suflBcient  maintenance. 

Now  I  have  come  unto  thee,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  continued  the  barber,  and 
feared  to  return  to  my  house  without  relating  to  thee  these  facts;  for  to  neglect 
doing  so  had  been  an  error.  Thus  thou  hast  seen  that,  although  having  six  brothers, 
I  am  of  a  more  upright  character  than  they.  —  But  when  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful 
had  heard  my  story,  and  all  that  I  had  related  to  him  respecting  my  brothers,  he 
laughed,  and  said.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  Samit  (0  silent  man)  ;  thou  art  a  per- 
son of  few  words,  and  devoid  of  impertinence  ;  now,  however,  depart  from  this  city, 
and  take  up  thine  abode  in  another.  So  he  banished  me  from  Bagdad  ;  and  I 
journeyed  through  various  countries,  and  traversed  many  regions,  until  I  heard  of 
his  death,  and  of  the  succession  of  another  Caliph,  when,  returning  to  my  city,  I  met 
with  this  young  man,  unto  whom  I  did  the  best  of  deeds,  and  who,  had  it  not  been 
for  me,  had  been  slain  :  yet  he  hath  accused  me  of  that  which  is  not  in  my  character; 
for  all  that  he  hath  related  of  me,  with  respect  to  impertinence,  and  loquacity,  and 
dulness,  and  want  of  taste,  is  false,  0  people. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  TOLD  BY  THE  TAILOR. 

The  tailor  then  proceeded  thus: — When  we  heard  the  story  of  the  barber,  and 
were  bonvinced  of  his  impertinence  and  loquacity,  and  that  the  young  man  had  been 
treated  unjustly  by  him,  we  seizru  hold  upon  him,  and  put  him  in  confinement,  and, 
seating  ourselves  to  keep  watch  over  him,  ate  and  drank  ;  and  the  feast  was  finished 
In  the  most  agreeable  Mvanner.  We  remained  sitting  together  until  the  call  to  after- 
noon-prayers, when  I  went  forth,  and  returned  to  my  house  ;  but  my  wife  looked 
angrily  at  me,  and  said,  Thou  hast  been  all  the  day  enjoying  thy  pleasure  while  I 
have  been  sitting  at  home  sorrowful ;  now  if  thou  go  not  forth  with  me,  and  amuse 


170  CONTINUATION    OF    THE    STORY    OF   THE    HUMPBACK. 

me  for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  thy  refusal  will  be  the  cause  of  my  separation  from 
thee.  So  I  took  her,  and  went  out  with  her,  and  we  amused  ourselves  until  nightfall, 
when,  returning  home,  we  met  this  humpback,  full  of  drink,  and  repeating  verses; 
upon  which  I  invited  him  to  come  home  with  us,  and  he  consented.  I  then  went 
forth  to  buy  some  fried  fish,  and  having  bought  it  and  returned,  we  sat  down  to  eat; 
and  my  wife  took  a  morsel  of  bread  and  a  piece  of  fish,  and  put  them  into  his  mouth, 
and  choked  him,  so  that  he  died ;  whereupon  I  took  him  up,  and  contrived  to  throw 
him  into  the  house  of  this  physician,  and  he  contrived  to  throw  him  into  the  house 
of  the  steward,  and  the  steward  contrived  to  throw  him  in  the  way  of  the  broker.— 
This  is  the  story  of  what  happened  to  me  yesterday.  Is  it  not  more  wonderful  than 
that  of  the  humpback  ? 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  THE  HUMPBACK. 

When  the  King  had  heard  this  story,  he  ordered  certain  of  his  chamberlains  to 
go  with  the  tailor,  and  to  bring  the  barber ;  saying  to  them.  His  presence  is  indis- 
pensable, that  I  may  hear  his  talk,  and  it  may  be  the  cause  of  the  deliverance  of  you 
all ;  then  we  will  bury  this  humpback  decently  in  the  earth,  for  he  hath  been  dead 
since  yesterday  ;  and  we  will  make  him  a  monument  round  his  grave,  since  he  hath 
been  the  occasion  of  our  acquaintance  with  these  wonderful  stories. 

The  chamberlains  and  the  tailor  soon  came  back,  after  having  gone  to  the  place 
of  confinement  and  brought  the  barber,  whom  they  placed  before  the  King;  and 
when  the  King  beheld  him,  he  saw  him  to  be  an  old  man,  past  his  ninetieth  year, 
of  dark  countenance,  and  white  beard  and  eyebrows,  with  small  ears,  and  long  nose, 
and  a  haughty  aspect.  The  King  laughed  at  the  sight  of  him,  and  said  to  him,  O 
silent  man,  I  desire  that  thou  relate  to  me  somewhat  of  thy  stories. — 0  King  of  the 
age,  replied  the  barber,  what  is  the  occasion  of  the  presence  of  this  Christian  and 
this  Jew  and  this  Mahometan,  and  this  humpback  lying  dead  among  you  ;  and  what 
is  the  reason  of  this  assembly? — Wherefore  dost  thou  ask  this?  said  the  King.  The 
barber  answered,  I  ask  it  in  order  that  the  King  may  know  me  to  be  no  impertinent 
person  nor  one  who  meddleth  with  that  which  doth  not  concern  him,  and  that  I  am 
free  from  the  loquacity  of  which  they  accuse  me:  for  I  am  fortunate  in  my  charac- 
teristic appellation,  since  they  have  surnamed  me  the  Silent.  The  King  therefore 
said.  Explain  to  the  barber  the  case  of  this  humpback,  and  what  happened  to  him 
yesterday  evening,  and  explain  to  him  also  what  the  Christian  hath  related,  and  the 
Jew,  and  the  steward,  and  the  tailor.  So  they  repeated  to  him  the  stories  of  all 
these  persons. 

The  barber,  thereupon,  shook  his  head,  saying.  By  Allah,  this  is  a  wonderful 
thing!  Uncover  this  humpback,  that  I  may  examine  him.  —  And  they  did  so.  He 
then  seated  himself  at  his  head,  and  taking  it  up,  placed  it  upon  his  lap,  and  looked 
at  his  face,  and  laughed  so  violently  that  he  fell  backwards,  exclaiming,  For  every 
death  there  is  a  cause:  and  the  death  of  this  humpback  is  most  wonderful :  it  is 
worthy  of  being  registered  in  the  records,  that  posterity  may  be  instructed  by  this 
event !  —  The  King,  astonished  at  his  words,  said,  0  Samit,  explain  to  us  the  reason 
of  thy  saying  this. — 0  King,  replied  the  barber,  by  thy  beneficence,  life  is  yet  in  the 
humpback!  He  then  drew  forth  from  his  bosom  a  pot  containing  some  ointment, 
and  with  this  he  anointed  the  neck  of  the  humpback  ;  after  which  he  covered  it  up 
until  it  perspired  ;  when  he  took  forth  an  iron  forceps,  and  put  it  down  his  throat, 
and  extracted  the  piece  of  fish  with  its  bone,  and  ail  the  people  saw  them.  The 
humpback  now  sprang  upon  his  feet,  and  sneezed,  and,  recovering  his  consciousness, 
drew  his  hands  over  his  face,  and  exclaimed.  There  is  no  deity  but  God  !  Mahomet 
is  God's  Apostle  !  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !  —  and  all  who  were  present  were 
astonished  at  the  sight,  and  the  King  laughed  until  he  became  insensible  ;  as  did 
also  the  other  spectators.    The  King  exclaimed,  By  Allah,  this  accident  is  wonderful ! 


CONTINUATION   OF   THE   STORY   OP   THE   HUMPBACK. 


171 


The  Barber  extracting  the  bone  from  the  throat  of  the  Humpback. 

I  have  never  vritnessed  anything  more  strange  !  and  added,  0  Believers !  0  assembly 
of  soldiers !  have  ye  ever  in  the  course  of  your  lives  seen  any  one  die  and  after  that 
come  to  life  ?  But  had  not  God  blessed  him  -with  this  barber,  the  humpback  had 
been  to-day  numbered  among  the  people  of  the  other  world :  for  the  barber  hath 
been  the  means  of  restoring  him  to  life.  They  replied,  This  is  indeed  a  wonderful 
thing ! 

The  Ring  then  gave  orders  to  record  this  event ;  and  -when  they  had  done  so,  he 
placed  the  record  in  the  royal  library  ;  after  which,  he  bestowed  dresses  of  honour 
upon  the  Jew  and  the  Christian  and  the  steward;  upon  each  of  them  a  costly  dress; 
the  tailor  he  appointed  to  be  his  own  tailor,  granting  him  regular  allowances,  and 
reconciling  him  and  the  humpback  with  each  other:  the  humpback  he  honoured 
with  a  rich  and  beautiful  dress,  and  with  similar  allowances,  and  appointed  him  his 
cup-companion  :  and  upon  the  barber  also  he  conferred  the  like  favours,  rewarding 
him  with  a  costly  dress  of  honour,  regular  allowances,  and  a  fixed  salary,  and  ap- 
pointing him  state-barber,  and  his  own  cup-companion;  so  they  all  lived  in  the 
n«most  happiness  and  comfort  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights 
and  the  separator  of  friends. 


172  NOUREDDIN   AND    ENIS    ELJELIS. 


CHAPTER   VI. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Thirty-second  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Thirty-sixth. 


THE  STORY  OF  NOUREDDIN  AND  ENIS  ELJELIS. 

There  was,  in  Balsora,  a  certain  king  who  loved  the  poor  and  indigent,  and  re- 
garded his  subjects  with  benerolence  f  be  bestowed  of  his  wealth  upon  him  who  be- 
lieved in  Mahomet. 

The  name  of  this  King  was  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini ;  and  he 
had  two  Viziers,  one  of  whom  was  named  Movrein  the  son  of  Saouy  ;  and  the 
other  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan.  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan  was  the 
most  generous  of  the  people  of  his  age,  uprighu  in  conduct,  so  that  all  hearts  agreed 
in  loving  him,  and  the  wise  complied  with  his  counsel,  and  all  the  people  supplicated 
for  him  length  of  life  :  for  he  was  a  person  of  auspicious  aspect,  a  preventer  of  evil 
and  mischief:  but  the  Vizier  Mowein  the  Son  of  Saouy  hated  others,  and  loved  not 
good:  he  was  a  man  of  inauspicious  aspect;  and  in  the  same  degree  that  the  people 
loved  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan,  so  did  they  abhor  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy,  in 
accordance  with  the  decree  of  the  Almighty. 

Now  the  King  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini  was  sitting  one  day  upon 
his  throne,  surrounded  by  the  officers  of  his  court,  and  he  called  to  his  Vizier  Fad- 
laddin the  son  of  Khacan,  and  said  to  him,  I  desire  a  female  slave  unsurpassed  in 
beauty  by  any  in  her  age,  of  perfect  loveliness,  and  exquisite  symmetry,  and  en- 
dowed with  all  praiseworthy  qualities. — Such  as  this,  replied  his  courtiers,  is  not  to 
be  found  for  less  than  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  And  the  Sultan  thereupon  called 
out  to  the  treasurer,  saying,  Carry  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  to  the  house  of  Fad- 
laddin the  son  of  Khacan.  So  the  treasurer  did  as  he  commanded,  and  the  Vizier 
departed,  after  the  Sultan  had  ordered  him  to  repair  every  day  to  the  market,  and 
to  commission  the  brokers  to  procure  what  he  had  described,  and  had  commanded 
also  that  no  female  slave  of  a  greater  price  than  one  thousand  pieces  of  gold  should 
be  sold  without  having  been  shown  to  the  Vizier. 

The  brokers,  therefore,  sold  no  female  slave,  without  showing  her  to  him,  and  he 
complied  with  the  King's  command,  and  thus  he  continued  to  do  for  a  considerable 
time,  no  slave  pleasing  him  ;  but  on  a  certain  day  one  of  the  brokers  came  to  the 
mansion  of  the  Vizier  Fadladdin,  and  found  that  he  had  mounted  to  repair  to  the 
palace  of  the  King.  He  said,  0  my  master,  the  female  slave  for  the  procuring  of 
whom  the  noble  mandate  was  issued  hath  arrived.  The  Vizier  replied.  Bring  her 
hither  to  me.  So  the  man  returned,  and,  after  a  short  absence,  came  again,  accom- 
panied by  a  damsel  of  elegant  stature,  high-bosomed,  with  black  eyelashes,  and 
smooth  check,  and  slender  waist,  and  large  hips,  clad  in  the  handsomest  apparel; 
the  moisture  of  her  lips  was  sweeter  than  sirop  ;  her  figure  put  to  shame  the  branches 
of  the  Oriental  willow ;  and  her  speech  was  more  soft  than  the  zephyr  passing 
over  the  flowers  of  the  garden. 

When  the  Vizier  beheld  her,  she  pleased  him  extremely,  and  he  looked  towards 
thn  broker,  and  said  to  him,  What  is  the  price  of  this  damsel?  The  broker  an- 
swered. The  price  bidden  for  her  hath  amounted  to  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and 


NOUREDDIN   AND   ENIS   ELJELIS.  173 

her  owner  hath  sworn  that  this  sum  doth  not  equal  the  cost  of  the  chickens  which 
ehe  hath  eaten,  nor  the  cost  of  the  dresses  which  she  hath  bestowed  upon  her 
teachers  ;  for  she  hath  learnt  writing  and  grammar  and  lexicography,  and  the  in- 
terpretation of  the  Koran,  and  the  fundamentals  of  law  and  religion,  and  medicine, 
and  the  computation  of  the  calendar,  and  the  art  of  playing  upon  musical  instru- 
ments. The  Vizier  then  said.  Bring  to  me  her  master ; — and  the  broker  immedia- 
tely brought  him  ;  and  lo,  he  was  a  foreigner,  who  had  lived  so  long  that  time  had 
reduced  him  to  bones  and  skin. 

And  the  Vizier  said  to  him.  Art  thou  content  to  receive  for  this  damsel  ten  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold  from  the  Sultan  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini  ?  The 
foreigner  answered.  As  she  is  for  the  Sultan,  it  is  incumbent  on  me  to  give  her  as 
a  present  to  him,  without  price.  So  the  Vizier,  upon  this,  ordered  that  the  money 
should  be  brought,  and  then  weighed  the  pieces  of  gold  for  the  foreigner  ;  after 
which,  the  slave-broker  addressed  the  Vizier,  and  said.  With  the  permission  of  our 
lord  the  Vizier,  I  will  speak. — Impart  what  thou  hast  to  say,  replied  the  Vizier.  It 
is  my  opinion  then,  said  the  broker,  that  thou  shouldst  not  take  up  this  damsel  to 
the  Sultan  to-day:  for  she  hath  just  arrived  from  her  journey,  and  the  change  of  air 
bath  affected  her,  and  the  journey  hath  fatigued  her;  but  rather  let  her  remain  with 
thee  in  thy  palace  ten  days,  that  she  may  take  rest,  and  her  beauty  will  improve ; 
then  cause  her  to  be  taken  into  the  bath,  and  attire  her  in  clothes  of  the  handsomest 
description,  and  go  up  with  her  to  the  sultan :  so  shalt  thou  experience  more  abun- 
dant good  fortune.  The  Vizier  considered  the  advice  of  the  slave-broker,  and  ap- 
proved of  it.  He  therefore  took  her  into  his  palace,  and  gave  her  a  private  apart- 
ment to  herself,  allotting  her  every  day  what  she  required  of  food  and  drink  and 
other  supplies,  and  she  continued  a  while  in  this  state  of  enjoyment. 

Now  the  Vizier  Fadladdin  had  a  son  like  the  shining  full  moon,  with  brilliant 
countenance,  and  red  check,  marked  with  a  mole  like  a  globule  of  ambergris,  and 
with  grey  down.  The  youth  knew  not  of  this  damsel,  and  his  father  had  charged 
her,  saying,  Know  that  I  have  purchased  thee  for  the  King  Mohammed  the  son  of 
Suleiman  Zeini,  and  that  I  have  a  son  who  hath  not  left  a  girl  in  the  quarter  without 
making  love  to  her ;  therefore  keep  thyself  concealed  from  him,  and  beware  of 
showing  him  thy  face,  or  suffering  him  to  hear  thy  voice.  The  damsel  replied,  I 
hear  and  obey : — and  he  left  her  and  departed.  And  it  happened  as  fate  had  or- 
dained, that  she  went  one  day  into  the  bath  which  was  in  the  house,  and,  after  cer- 
tain of  the  female  slaves  hath  bathed  her,  she  attired  herself  in  rich  apparel,  and 
her  beauty  and  loveliness  increased  in  consequence.  She  then  went  in  to  the  Vizier's 
wife,  and  kissed  her  hand,  and  she  said  to  her.  May  it  be  favourable,  0  Enis  Eljelis! 
How  didst  thou  find  this  bath  ? — 0  my  mistress,  she  answered,  I  wanted  nothing 
but  thy  presence  there.  And  upon  this,  the  mistress  of  the  house  said  to  the  female 
slaves,  Arise,  and  let  us  go  into  the  bath.  And  they  complied  with  her  command, 
and  went  accompanied  by  their  mistress,  who  first  charged  two  young  slave-girls  to 
keep  the  door  of  the  private  apartment  in  which  was  the  fair  Eljelis,  saying  to 
them,  Suffer  no  one  to  go  in  to  the  damsel: — and  they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey. 
But  while  Enis  was  sitting  in  her  chamber,  lo,  the  Vizier's  son,  whose  name  was 
Noureddin  Ali,  came  in,  and  asked  after  his  mother  and  the  family.  The  two  girls 
answered,  They  are  gone  into  the  bath.  Now  the  fair  Enis  heard  the  speech  of 
Noureddin  Ali  as  she  sat  in  her  chamber,  and  she  said  within  herself,  I  wonder 
what  this  youth  is  like,  of  whom  the  Vizier  hath  told  me  that  he  hath  not  left  a  girl 
in  the  quarter  without  making  love  to  her;  by  Allah,  I  have  a  desire  to  see  him  ! 
She  then  rose  upon  her  feet,  fresh  as  she  was  from  the  bath,  and  approaching  the 
ioor  of  the  chamber,  looked  at  Noureddin  Ali,  and  beheld  him  to  be  a  youth  like 
the  full  moon.  The  sight  of  him  occasioned  her  a  thousand  sighs  ;  and  a  look  from 
the  youth,  at  her,  affected  him  also  in  the  same  manner.  Each  was  caught  in  the 
snare  of  the  other's  love,  and  the  youth  approached  the  two  slave-girls,  and  cried 
out  at  them  ;  whereupon  they  fled  from  before  him,  and  stopped  at  a  distance,  look- 


174 


NOUREDDIN   AND   ENIS    ELJELIS. 


ing  to  see  what  he  would  do.  He  then  advanced  to  the  door  of  the  chamber,  and, 
opening  it,  went  in,  and  said  to  the  damsel,  Art  thou  she  whom  my  father  hath  pur- 
chased for  me?  She  an- 
swered, Yes.  And  upon  this, 
the  youth,  who  was  in  a  state 
of  intoxication,  went  up  to 
her,  and  embraced  her,  while 
she  in  like  manner,  threw  her 
arms  around  his  neck,  and 
kissed  him.  But  the  two 
slave-girls,  having  seen  their 
young  master  enter  the  cham- 
ber of  the  damsel,  cried  out. 
The  youth,  therefore,  soon 
ran  forth,  and  fled  for  safety, 
fearing  the  consequence  of 
his  intrusion  ;  and  when  the 
mistress  of  the  house  heard 
the  cry  of  the  two  slave-girls, 
she  came  out  dripping  from 
the  bath,  saying,  What  is  the 
cause  of  this  cry  in  the  house? 
And  when  she  drew  near  to 
the  slave-girls  whom  she  had 
placed  at  the  door  of  the 
private  chamber,  she  said  to 
them,  Wo  to  you  !  What  is 
the  matter? — They  answered, 
as  soon  as  they  beheld  her. 
Our  master  Noureddin  Ali 
came  to  us  and  beat  us,  and  we  fled  from  him,  and  he  went  into  the  chamber  of 
Enis  Eljelis,  and  when  we  cried  out  to  thee  he  fled.  The  mistress  of  the  house  then 
went  to  the  fair  Eljelis,  and  said  to  her.  What  is  the  news  ? — 0  my  mistress,  she 
answered,  as  I  was  sitting  here,  a  youth  of  handsome  person  came  in  to  me,  and 
said  to  me.  Art  thou  she  whom  my  father  hath  purchased  for  me  ? — and  I  answered, 
Yes. — By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  I  believed  that  what  he  said  was  true ;  and  he 
came  up  to  me  and  embraced  me,  and  kissed  me  three  times,  and  left  me  overcome 
by  his  love. 

Upon  this  the  mistress  of  the  house  wept  and  slapped  her  face,  and  her  female 
slaves  did  the  like,  fearing  for  Noureddin  Ali,  lest  his  father  should  slay  him  ;  and 
while  they  were  in  this  state,  lo,  the  Vizier  came  in,  and  inquired  what  had  hap- 
pened. His  wife  said  to  him.  Swear  that  thou  wilt  listen  to  that  which  I  shall  say. 
He  replied.  Well.  So  she  told  him  what  his  son  had  done ;  and  he  mourned,  and 
rent  his  clothes,  and  slapped  his  face,  and  plucked  his  beard.  His  wife  then  said  to 
him.  Kill  not  thyself,  I  will  give  thee,  of  my  own  property,  ten  thousand  pieces  of 
gold,  her  price. — But  upon  this,  he  raised  his  head  towards  her,  and  said  to  her,  Wo 
to  thee !  I  want  not  her  price  ;  but  I  fear  the  loss  of  my  life  and  property.  Where- 
fore, 0  my  master  ?  she  asked, — Knowest  thou  not,  said  he,  that  we  have  this  enemy 
Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy  ?  When  he  heareth  of  this  event,  he  will  repair  to  the 
Sultan,  and  say  to  him.  Thy  Vizier,  whom  thou  imaginest  that  he  loveth  thee,  hath 
received  from  thee  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  purchased  therewith  a  female 
slave  such  as  no  one  hath  seen  equalled,  and  when  she  pleased  him,  he  said  to  his 
son.  Take  her;  for  thou  art  more  worthy  of  her  than  the  Sultan  :  and  he  took  her; 
and  the  damsel  is  now  with  him. — Then  the  King  will  say.  Thou  liest.  And  he  will 
Bay  to  the  King,  With  thy  permission,  I  will  break  in  upon  him  suddenly,  and  bring 


Noureddin  embracing  the  Slave. 


NOUREDDIN   AND    ENIS   ELJELIS.  175 

her  to  thee.  And  he  will  give  him  permission  to  do  so;  he  will  therefore  make  a 
Budden  attack  upon  the  house,  and  take  the  damsel,  and  conduct  her  into  the  presence 
of  the  Sultan,  and  he  will  question  her,  and  she  will  not  be  able  to  deny :  he  will 
then  say,  0  ray  lord,  I  give  thee  good  counsel,  but  I  am  not  in  favour  with  you : — 
and  the  Sultan  will  make  an  example  of  me,  and  all  the  people  will  make  me  a 
gazing-stock,  and  my  life  will  be  lost.  His  wife,  however,  replied.  Acquaint  no  one- 
for  this  thing  hath  happened  privily :  commit,  therefore,  thine  affair  unto  God,  in 
this  extremity.  And  upon  this,  the  heart  of  the  Vizier  was  quieted,  and  his  mind 
was  relieved. 

Such  was  the  case  of  the  Vizier.  —  Now,  as  to  Noureddin,  he  feared  the  result  of 
his  conduct,  and  so  passed  each  day  in  the  gardens,  not  returning  to  his  mother 
until  towards  the  close  of  the  night :  he  then  slept  in  her  apartment,  and  arose  before 
morning  without  being  seen  by  any  one  else.  Thus  he  continued  to  do  for  the  space 
of  a  month,  not  seeing  the  face  of  his  father ;  and  at  length  his  mother  said  to  his 
father,  0  my  master,  wilt  thou  lose  the  damsel  and  lose  the  child  ?  For  if  it  long 
continue  thus  with  the  youth,  he  will  flee  his  country.  —  And  what  is  to  be  done? 
said  he.  She  answered.  Sit  up  this  night,  and  when  he  cometh,  lay  hold  upon  him, 
and  be  reconciled  to  him,  and  give  him  the  damsel ;  for  she  loveth  him,  and  he 
loveth  her  ;  and  I  will  give  thee  her  price.  So  the  Vizier  sat  up  the  whole  night, 
and  when  his  son  came,  he  laid  hold  upon  him,  and  would  have  cut  his  throat ;  but 
his  mother  came  to  his  succour,  and  said  to  her  husband,  What  dost  thou  desire  to 
do  unto  him?  He  answered  her,  I  desire  to  slay  him.  The  youth  then  said  to  his 
father,  Am  I  of  so  small  account  in  thy  estimation?  And  upon  this,  the  eyes  of  his 
father  filled  with  tears,  and  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  is  the  loss  of  my  property  and 
my  life  of  small  account  with  thee  ?  —  Listen,  0  my  father,  rejoined  the  youth  :  and 
he  implored  his  forgiveness.  So  the  Vizier  arose  from  the  breast  of  his  son,  and 
was  moved  with  compassion  for  him  ;  and  the  youth  arose,  and  kissed  his  father's 
hand ;  and  the  Vizier  said,  0  my  son,  if  I  knew  that  thou  wouldst  att  equitably  to 
Enis  Eljelis,  1  would  give  her  to  thee. — 0  my  father,  replied  the  youth,  wherefore 
should  I  not  act  equitably  towards  her  ?  And  his  father  said,  I  charge  thee,  0  my 
son,  that  thou  take  not  a  wife  to  share  her  place,  and  that  thou  do  her  no  injury,  nor 
sell  her.  He  replied,  0  my  father,  I  swear  to  thee  that  I  will  neither  take  a  wife  to 
share  her  place,  nor  sell  her: — and  he  promised  him  by  oaths  to  act  as  he  had  said, 
and  took  up  his  abode  with  the  damsel,  and  remained  with  her  a  year ;  and  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!)  caused  the  King  to  forget  the  affair  of  the  female  slave; 
but  the  matter  became  known  to  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy ;  yet  he  could  not  speak 
of  it  on  account  of  the  high  estimation  in  which  the  other  Vizier  was  held  by  the 
Sultan. 

After  this  year  had  expired,  the  Vizier  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan  entered  the 
bath,  and  came  out  in  a  state  of  excessive  perspiration,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
external  air  smote  him,  so  that  he  became  confined  to  his  bed,  and  long  remained 
sleepless ;  and  his  malady  continued  unremittingly;  so  he  called,  thereupon,  his  son 
Noureddin  Ali,  and  when  he  came  before  him,  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  verily  the 
means  of  life  are  apportioned,  and  its  period  is  decreed,  and  every  soul  must  drink 
the  cup  of  death.  I  have  nothing  with  which  to  charge  thee  but  the  fear  of  God, 
and  forethought  with  regard  to  the  results  of  thine  actions,  and  that  thou  conduct 
thyself  kindly  to  the  damsel  Enis  Eljelis. — 0  my  father,  said  the  youth,  who  is  like 
unto  thee  ?  Thou  hast  been  celebrated  for  virtuous  actions,  and  the  praying  of  the 
preachers  for  thee  on  the  pulpits. — 0  my  son,  rejoined  the  Vizier,  I  hope  for  the  ap- 
probation of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  And  then  he  pronounced  the  two  pro- 
fessions of  the  faith,  and  uttered  a  sigh,  and  was  recorded  among  the  company  of 
the  blessed.  And  upon  this,  the  palace  was  filled  with  shrieking,  and  the  news 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Sultan,  and  the  people  of  the  city  heard  of  the  death  of 
Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan,  and  even  the  boys  in  the  schools  wept  for  him.  His 
son  Noureddin  Ali  arose  and  prepared  his  funeral,  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and 


176  NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS   ELJELIS. 

other  officers  of  the  state  attended  it,  and  among  them  was  the  Vizier  Mowein  the 
son  of  Saouy. 

Noureddin  Ali  for  a  long  time  remained  in  a  state  of  violent  grief  for  the  loss  of 
his  father ;  but  as  he  -was  sitting  one  day  in  his  father's  house,  a  person  knocked  at 
the  door,  and  he  rose  up  and  opened  it,  and  lo,  there  was  a  man  who  was  one  of  his 
father's  intimate  companions,  and  he  kissed  the  hand  of  Noureddin,  and  said  to 
him,  0  my  master,  he  who  hath  left  a  sun  like  thee  hath  not  died.  This  is  the  des- 
tination of  the  lord  of  the  first  and  the  last  among  mankind.  0  my  master,  cheer 
up  thy  heart,  and  give  over  mourning.  —  And  upon  this,  Noureddin  Ali  arose,  and 
went  to  the  guest-chamber,  and  removed  thither  all  that  he  required,  and  his  com- 
panions came  together  to  him,  and  he  took  again  his  slave.  Ten  of  the  sons  of  the 
merchants  became  his  associates,  and  he  gave  entertainment  after  entertainment, 
and  began  to  be  lavish  with  presents.  His  steward  thereforp,  came  into  him,  and 
said  to  him,  0  my  master  Noureddin,  hast  thou  not  heard  the  saying.  He  who  ex- 
pendeth  and  doth  not  calculate  is  reduced  to  poverty  ?  This  profuse  expenditure, 
and  these  magnificent  presents,  will  annihilate  the  property. — But  when  Noureddin 
Ali  heard  these  words  of  his  steward,  he  looked  at  him,  and  replied.  Of  all  that  thou 
hast  said  to  me,  I  will  not  attend  to  one  word.  Know,  0  steward,  that  if  there  re- 
main in  thy  hands  what  will  suffice  for  my  dinner,  thou  shalt  not  burden  me  with 
anxiety  respecting  my  supper.  So  the  steward  left  him,  and  went  his  way ;  and 
Noureddin  Ali  resumed  his  habits  of  extravagant  generosity :  whenever  any  one  of 
his  companions  said.  Verily  this  thing  is  beautiful  ! — he  would  reply.  It  is  a  present 
to  thee:  And  if  any  said,  0  my  master,  verily  such  a  house  is  delightful ! — he  would 
reply,  It  is  a  present  to  thee. 

He  ceased  not  to  give  entertainments  to  his  companions  from  the  commencement 
of  day,  one  after  another,  until  he  had  passed  in  this  manner  a  whole  year ;  after 
which,  as  he  was  sitting  with  them,  a  person  knocked  at  the  door:  so  Noureddin 
arose,  and  one  of  his  companions  followed  him  without  his  knowledge ;  and  when 
he  opened  the  door,  he  beheld  his  steward,  and  said  to  him.  What  is  the  news  ? — 0 
my  master,  answered  the  steward,  that  which  I  feared  on  thy  account  hath  happened 
to  thee. — How  is  that  ?  asked  Noureddin.  The  steward,  answered.  Know  that  there 
remaineth  not  of  thy  property  in  my  hands  anything  equivalent  to  a  piece  of  silver ; 
or  less  than  a  piece  of  silver;  and  these  are  the  accounts  of  thy  expenses,  and  of 
thy  original  property.  When  Noureddin  Ali  heard  these  words,  he  hung  down  his 
head  towards  the  ground,  and  exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in 
God !  And  the  man  who  had  followed  him  secretly  to  pry  into  his  case,  as  soon  as 
he  heard  what  the  steward  told  him,  returned  to  his  companions,  and  said  to  them, 
See  what  ye  will  do ;  for  Noureddin  Ali  hath  become  a  bankrupt.  So  when  Nou- 
reddin returned  to  them,  grief  appeared  to  them  in  his  countenance,  and  immediately 
one  of  them  rose,  and,  looking  towards  him,  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  I  desire  that 
thou  wouldst  permit  me  to  depart. — Why  thus  depart  to-day?  said  Noureddin.  His 
guest  answered.  My  wife  is  to  give  birth  to  a  child  this  night,  and  it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  be  absent  from  her :  I  desire  theref  )re,  to  go  and  see  her.  And  he  gave 
him  leave.  Then  another  arose,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master  Noureddin,  I  desire 
to-day  to  visit  my  brother ;  fur  he  celebrateth  the  circumcision  of  his  son.  Thus 
each  of  them  asked  leave  of  him  deceitfully,  and  went  his  way,  until  all  had 
departed. 

So  Noureddin  Ali  remained  alone;  and  he  called  his  slave-girl,  and  said  to  her, 
0  Enis  Eljelis,  seest  thou  not  what  hath  befallen  me  ?  And  he  related  to  her  what 
the  steward  had  told  him.  She  replied,  0  my  master,  for  some  nights  past,  I  have 
been  anxious  to  speak  to  thee  of  this  affair ;  but  I  heard  thee  reciting  the  two  verses 
of  poetry. 

When  fortune  is  liberal  to  thee,  be  thou  liberal  to  all  others  before  she  escape  from  thee : 
For  liberality  will  not  annihilate  thy  wealth  when  she  is  favourable :  nor  avarice  preserve  it 
when  she  deserteth  thee. 


NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS.  177 

And  when  I  heard  thee  repeat  them.  I  was  silent,  and  would  not  make  any  .-.'mark 
to  thee.  —  0  Enis  Eljelis,  he  rejoined,  thou  knowest  that  I  have  not  expended  my 
wealth  but  on  mj  companions;  and  I  do  not  think  that  they  will  abandon  me  with- 
out relief. — By  Allah,  said  she,  they  will  be  of  no  use  to  thee.  But  he  said,  I  will 
immediately  arise  and  go  to  them,  and  knock  at  the  doors  of  their  houses:  per- 
haps I  shall  obtain  from  them  something  which  I  will  employ  as  a  capital  where- 
with to  trade,  and  I  will  cease  from  diversion  and  sport.  So  he  arose  instantly,  and 
proceeded  without  stopping  until  he  arrived  at  the  by-street  in  which  his  ten  com- 
panions resided  ;  for  they  all  ftved  in  that  same  street ;  and  he  advanced  to  the  first 
door,  and  knocked  ;  and  there  came  forth  to  him  a  slave-girl,  who  said  to  him,  Who 
art  thou  ?  He  answered.  Say  to  thy  master, — Noureddin  Ali  is  standing  at  the  door, 
and  saith  to  thee.  Thy  slave  kisseth  thy  hands,  looking  for  a  favour  from  thee. — And 
the  girl  entered,  and  acquainted  her  master;  but  he  called  out  to  her,  saying.  Re- 
turn and  tell  him,  He  is  not  here.  —  The  girl,  therelore,  returned  to  Noureddin,  and 
said  to  him,  My  master,  Sir,  is  not  here.  —  And  he  went  on,  saying  within  himself. 
If  this  is  a  knave,  and  hath  denied  himself,  another  is  not.  He  then  advanced  to 
the  next  door,  and  said  as  he  had  before;  and  the  second  also  denied  himself;  and 
Noureddin  exclaimed,  By  Allah,  I  must  try  all  of  them:  perchance  one  of  them 
may  stand  me  in  the  place  of  all  the  others.  And  he  went  round  to  all  the  ten  ; 
but  found  that  not  one  of  them  would  open  the  door,  or  show  himself,  or  even  order 
him  a  cake  of  bread. 

He  then  returned  to  his  slave;  his  anxiety  had  increased,  and  she  said  to  him,  0 
my  master,  said  I  not  unto  thee  that  they  would  not  profit  thee? — By  Allah,  he 
replied,  not  one  of  them  showed  me  his  face.  —  0  my  master,  rejoined  she,  sell  oflF 
the  movables  of  the  house  a  little  at  a  time,  and  expend  the  produce.  And  he  did 
so  until  he  had  sold  all  that  was  in  the  house,  and  there  remained  nothing  in  his 
possession  ;  and  upon  this  he  looked  towards  the  fair  Enis,  and  said  to  her.  What 
shall  we  do  now?  —  It  is  my  advice,  0  my  master,  she  answered,  that  thou  arise  im- 
mediately, and  take  me  to  the  market,  and  sell  me :  for  thou  knowest  that  thy  father 
purchased  me  for  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  perhaps  God  may  open  to  thee  a 
way  to  obtain  a  part  of  this  price:  and  if  God  have  decreed  our  reunion  we  shall 
meet  again.  But  he  replied,  0  Enis  Eljelis,  it  is  not  easy  for  me  to  endure  thy  sepa- 
ration for  one  hour. — Nor  is  the  like  easy  to  me,  said  she  ;  but  necessity  is  imperious. 
And  upon  this,  he  took  the  fair  Eljelis,  his  tears  flowing  down  his  cheeks,  and  went 
and  delivered  her  to  the  broker,  saying  to  him.  Know  the  value  of  that  which  thou 
art  to  cry  for  sale. — 0  my  master  Noureddin,  replied  the  broker,  noble  qualities  are 
held  in  remembrance.  Is  she  not  Enis  Eljelis,  whom  thy  father  purchased  of  me 
for  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold? — He  answered.  Yes.  And  the  broker  thereupon 
went  to  the  merchants ;  but  he  found  that  they  had  not  all  yet  assembled :  so  he 
waited  till  the  rest  had  come,  and  the  market  was  filled  with  all  varieties  of  female 
slaves,  Turkish  and  Greek  and  Circassian  and  Georgian  and  Abyssinian  ;  and  when 
he  beheld  its  crowded  state  he  arose  and  exclaimed,  0  merchants  I  0  possessors  of 
wealth  !  every  thing  that  is  round  is  not  a  nut;  nor  is  every  thing  long  a  banana; 
nor  is  every  thing  that  is  red,  meat ;  nor  is  every  thing  white,  fat ;  nor  is  every  thing 
that  is  ruddy,  wine;  nor  is  every  thing  tawny  a  date!  0  merchants!  this  precious 
pearl,  whose  value  no  money  can  equal,  with  what  sum  will  ye  open  the  bidding  fur 
her?  —  And  one  of  the  merchants  answered,  With  four  thousand  and  five  hundred 
pieces  of  gold. 

But  lo,  the  Vizier  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy  was  in  the  market,  and,  seeing  Nnu- 
reddin  Ali  standing  there,  he  said  within  himself.  What  doth  he  want  here,  having 
nothing  left  wherewith  to  purchase  female  slaves?  Then  casting  his  eyes  around, 
and  hearing  the  broker  as  he  stood  crying  in  the  market  with  the  merchants  around 
him,  he  said  within  himself,  I  do  not  imagine  anything  else  than  that  he  hath  be 
come  a  bankrupt,  and  come  forth  with  the  slave-girl  to  sell  her ;  and  if  this  be  the 
12 


178  NOUREDDIN   AND   ENIS   ELJELIS. 

case,  how  pleasant  to  my  heart!  He  then  called  the  crier,  who  approached  him, 
and  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  I  desire  this  female 
slave  whom  thou  art  crying  for  sale.  The  broker,  therefore,  being  unable  to  oppose 
his  wish,  brought  the  slave  and  placed  her  before  him  ;  and  when  he  beheld  her, 
and  considered  her  charms,  her  elegant  figure  and  her  soft  speech,  he  was  delighted 
with  her,  and  said  to  the  broker,  To  what  has  the  bidding  for  her  amounted  ?  The 
broker  answered,  Four  thousand  and  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  And  as  soon  as 
the  merchants  heard  this,  not  one  of  them  could  bid  another  piece  of  silver  or  of 
gold  ;  but  all  of  them  receded,  knowing  the  tyrannical  conduct  of  that  Vizier. 
Mowein  the  scm  of  Saouy  then,  looked  towards  the  broker,  and  said  to  him,  Why 
standest  thou  still  ?  Take  away  the  slave-girl  for  me  at  the  price  of  four  thousand 
and  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  thou  wilt  have  five  hundred  for  thyself. — So  the 
broker  went  to  Noureddin  Ali,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  the  slave-girl  is  lost 
to  thee  without  price.  How  so?  said  Noureddin.  The  broker  answered.  We  opened 
the  bidding  for  her  at  four  thousand  and  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ;  but  this 
tyrant  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy  came  into  the  market,  and  when  he  beheld  the 
damsel,  she  pleased  him,  and  he  said  to  me,  Ask  her  owner  if  he  will  agree  for  four 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  five  hundred  for  thee  : — and  I  doubt  not  but  he  knoweth 
that  the  slave  belongeth  to  thee ;  and  if  he  give  thee  her  price  immediately,  it  will 
be  through  the  goodness  of  God  ;  but  I  know,  from  his  injustice,  that  he  will  write 
thee  an  order  upon  one  of  his  agents  for  the  money,  and  then  send  to  them  and 
desire  them  to  give  thee  nothing  ;  and  every  time  that  thou  shalt  go  to  demand  it  of 
them,  they  will  say  to  thee,  To-morrow  we  will  pay  thee :  —  and  they  will  not  cease 
to  promise  thee,  and  to  defer  from  day  to  day,  notwithstanding  thy  pride ;  and  Avhen 
they  are  ovei'come  by  thy  importunity  they  will  say,  Give  us  the  written  order:  — 
and  as  soon  as  they  have  received  the  paper  from  thee  they  will  tear  it  in  pieces:  so 
thou  wilt  lose  the  price  of  the  slave. 

When  Noureddin,  therefore,  heard  these  words  of  the  broker,  he  said  to  him, 
What  is  to  be  done  ?  The  broker  answered,  I  will  give  thee  a  piece  of  advice,  and 
if  thou  receive  it  from  me,  thou  wilt  have  better  fortune. — What  is  it?  asked  Nou- 
reddin.— That  thou  come  to  me  immediately,  answered  the  broker,  while  I  am  stand- 
ing in  the  midst  of  the  market,  and  take  the  slave-girl  from  me  and  give  her  a  blow 
with  thy  hand,  and  say  to  her.  Wo  to  thee  !  I  have  expiated  my  oath  that  I  swore, 
and  brought  thee  to  the  market,  because  I  swore  to  thee  that  thou  shouldst  be  ex- 
posed in  the  market,  and  that  the  broker  should  cry  thee  for  sale. — If  thou  do  this, 
perhaps  the  trick  will  deceive  him  and  the  people,  and  they  will  believe  that  thou 
tookest  her  not  to  the  market  but  to  expiate  the  oath. — This,  replied  Noureddin,  is 
the  right  counsel.  So  the  broker  returned  into  the  midst  of  the  market,  and  taking 
hold  of  the  hand  of  the  slave-girl,  made  a  sign  to  the  Vizier  Mowein  the  son  of 
Saouy,  saying,  0  my  lord,  this  is  her  owner  who  hath  just  come.  Then  Noureddin 
Ali  advanced  to  the  broker,  and  tore  the  damsel  from  him,  and  struck  her  with  his 
hand,  saying  to  her.  Wo  to  thee  !  I  have  brought  thee  to  the  market  for  the  sake  of 
expiating  my  oath.  Go  home,  and  disobey  me  not  again.  I  want  not  thy  price,  th.at 
I  should  sell  thee;  and  if  I  sold  the  furniture  of  the  house  and  everything  else  of 
the  kind  over  and  over  again,  their  produce  would  not  amount  to  thy  price.  —  But 
when  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy  beheld  Noureddin,  he  said  to  him,  Wo  to  thoe !  Ha&t 
thou  anything  left  to  be  sold  or  bought?  —  And  he  would  have  laid  violent  hand:* 
upon  him.  The  merchants  then  looked  towards  Noureddin  (and  they  all  loved  him) 
and  he  said  to  them.  Here  am  I  before  you,  and  ye  have  all  known  his  tyranny  !  — 
By  Allah,  exclaimed  the  Vizier,  were  it  not  for  you,  I  had  killed  him  ?  Then  all  of 
them  made  signs,  one  to  another,  with  the  eye,  and  said.  Not  one  of  us  will  interfere 
between  thee  and  him.  And  upon  this,  Noureddin  went  up  to  the  Vizier,  the  son  o( 
Saouy  (and  Noureddin  was  a  man  of  courage)  and  he  dragged  the  Vizier  from  his 
saddle,  and  threw  him  upon  the  ground.     There  was  at  that  spot  a  kneading-place 


NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS.  .179 

for  mud,'  and  the  Vizier  fell  into  the  midst  of  it,  and  Noureddin  beat  him  with  hia 
fist,  and  a  blow  fell  upon  his  teeth,  by  which  his  beard  became  dyed  with  his  blood. 
Now  there  were  with  the  Vizier  ten  mamlouks,  and  when  they  saw  Noureddin  treat 
their  master  in  this  manner,  they  put  their  hands  upon  the  hilts  of  their  swords,  and 
would  have  fallen  upon  him  and  cut  him  in  pieces;  but  the  people  said  to  them, 
This  is  a  Vizier,  and  this  is  the  son  of  a  Vizier,  and  perhaps  they  may  make  peace 
with  each  other,  and  ye  will  incur  the  anger  of  both  of  them :  or  perhaps  a  blow 
may  fall  upon  your  master,  and  ye  will  all  of  you  die  the  most  ignominious  of  deaths  ; 
it  is  advisable,  therefore,  that  ye  interfere  not  between  them.  And  when  Noureddin 
Ali  had  ceased  from  beating  the  Vizier,  he  took  his  slave-girl,  and  returned  to  his 
house. 

The  Vizier,  the  son  of  Saouy,  then  immediately  arose,  and  his  dress,  which  before 
was  white,  was  now  dyed  with  three  colours,  the  colour  of  mud,  and  the  colour  of 
blood,  and  the  colour  of  ashes  ;  and  when  he  beheld  himself  in  this  condition,  he 
took  a  round  mat,  and  hung  it  to  his  neck,  and  took  in  his  hand  two  bundles  of 
coarse  grass,  and  went  and  stood  beneath  the  palace  of  the  Sultan,  and  cried  out,  0 
King  of  the  age  !  I  am  oppressed  !  So  they  brought  him  before  the  King,  who  looked 
at  him  attentively,  and  saw  that  he  was  his  Vizier  Mowein,  the  son  of  Saouy.  He 
said,  therefore,  Who  hath  done  thus  unto  thee? — and  the  Vizier  cried  and  moaned. 

0  my  lord,  he  replied,  thus  is  every  one  who  loveth  thee  and  serveth  thee ; 
these  afflictions  always  befall  him.  And  who,  said  the  King  again,  hath  done  thus 
unto  thee?  —  Know,  answered  the  Vizier,  that  I  went  forth  to-day  to  the  market  of 
the  female  slaves  with  the  idea  of  buying  a  cook-maid,  and  saw  in  the  market  a  slave- 
girl  the  like  of  whom  I  had  never  in  my  life  beheld,  and  the  broker  said  that  she 
belonged  to  Noureddin.  Now  our  lord  the  Sultan  had  given  his  father  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  to  buy  for  him  with  it  a  beautiful  female  slave,  and  he  bought  that 
girl,  and  she  pleased  him  ;  so  he  gave  her  to  his  son ;  and  when  his  father  died,  the 
son  pursued  the  path  of  prodigality,  until  he  sold  all  his  houses  and  gardens  and 
utensils ;  and  when  he  had  become  a  bankrupt,  nothing  else  remaining  in  his  pos- 
session, he  took  the  slave-girl  to  the  market  to  sell  her,  and  delivered  her  to  the 
broker:  so  he  cried  her  for  sale,  and  the  merchants  continued  bidding  for  her  until 
her  price  amounted  to  four  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  whereupon  I  said  to  myself,  I 
will  buy  this  for  our  Lord  the  Sultan  :  for  her  original  price  was  from  him.  I  there- 
fore said,  0  my  son,  receive  her  price,  four  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  But  when  he 
heard  my  words,  he  looked  at  me  and  replied,  0  ill-omened  old  man  !  I  will  sell  her 
to  the  Jews  and  the  Christians  rather  than  to  thee. — I  then  said  to  him,  I  would  not 
buy  her  for  myself,  but  for  our  lord  the  Sultan,  who  is  our  benefactor.  As  soon, 
however,  as  he  had  heard  these  words  from  me,  he  was  filled  with  rage,  and  dragged 
me,  and  threw  me  down  from  the  horse,  notwithstanding  my  advanced  age,  and  beat 
me,  and  ceased  not  to  do  so  until  he  left  me  in  the  state  in  which  thou  seest  me. 
Nothing  exposed  me  to  all  this  ill  treatment  but  my  coming  to  purchase  this  slave- 
girl  for  your  Majesty.  The  Vizier  then  threw  himself  upon  the  ground,  and  lay 
weeping  and  trembling. 

Now  when  the  Sultan  beheld  his  condition,  and  had  heard  his  speech,  the  vein  of 
anger  swelled  between  his  eyes,  and  he  looked  towards  the  members  of  his  court 
who  were  attending  him  ;  whereupon  forty  swordsmen  stood  before  him,  and  he  said 
to  them.  Descend  immediately  to  the  house  of  Ali  the  son  of  Fadladdin  the  son  of 
Khacan,  and  plunder  it,  and  demolish  it,  and  bring  hither  him  and  the  slave-girl 
with  their  hands  bound  beiiind  them :  drag  them  along  upon  their  faces,  and  so 
bring  them  before  me.  They  replied.  We  hear  and  obey: — and  went  forth  to  repair 
to  the  house  of  Noureddin  Ali.  But  there  was  in  the  court  of  the  Sultan,  a  chamber- 
lain named  Alameddin  Sangiar,  who  had  been  one  of  the  mamlouks  of  Fadladdin 
the  son  of  Khacan,  the  fiither  of  Noureddin :  and  when  he  heard  the  order  of  the 

'  In  Arab  towns  mud  is  kneaded  for  making  mortar. 


180  NOUKEDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS 

Sultan,  and  saw  the  enemies  prepared  U>  slay  his  master's  son,  it  was  insupportable 
to  him  ;  so  he  mounted  his  horse,  and  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Noureddin  AH, 
and  knocked  at  the  door.  Noureddin  came  forth  to  him,  and,  when  he  saw  him, 
knew  him,  and  would  have  saluted  him  ;  but  he  s.iid,  O  my  master,  this  is  not  a  time 
for  salutation,  nor  for  talkino;.  Noureddin  said,  0  Alameddin,  what  is  the  news? 
He  replied.  Save  thyself  by  flight,  thou  and  the  slave-girl:  for  Mowein  the  son  of 
Saouy  hath  set  up  a  snare  for  you,  and  if  ye  fall  into  his  hands  he  will  slay  you  : 
the  Sultan  hath  sent  to  you  forty  swordsmen,  and  it  is  my  advice  that  ye  fly  before 
the  evil  fall  upon  you.  Then  Sangiar  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  Noureddin  with 
some  pieces  of  gold,  and  he  counted  them,  and  found  them  to  be  forty  pieces,  and  he 
said,  0  my  master,  receive  these,  and  if  I  had  with  me  more,  I  would  give  it  thee: 
but  this  is  not  a  time  for  expostulating.  And  upon  this,  Noureddin  went  in  to  the 
damsel,  and  acquainted  her  with  the  occurrence,  and  she  was  confounded. 

The  two  then  went  forth  immediately  from  the  city,  and  God  let  down  the  veil  of 
his  protection  upon  them,  and  they  proceeded  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  where  they 
found  a  vessel  ready  to  sail :  the  master  was  standing  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  saying, 
He  who  hath  any  thing  to  do,  whether  leave-taking  or  procuring  provisions,  or  who 
hath  forgotten  aught,  let  him  do  what  he  desireth  and  return;  for  we  are  going. 
And  they  all  replied.  We  have  nothing  remaining  to  do,  0  master.  So  upon  this, 
the  master  said  to  his  crew.  Quick !  Loose  the  rope's  end,  and  pull  up  the  stake. 
And  Noureddin  Ali  exclaimed.  Whither,  0  master?  He  answered.  To  the  Abode 
of  Peace,  Bagdad.  And  Noureddin  embarked,  and  the  damsel  with  him,  and  they 
set  the  vessel  afloat,  and  spread  the  sails,  and  it  shot  along  like  a  bird  with  its  pair 
of  wings,  carrying  them  forward  with  a  favourable  wind. 

Meanwhile,  the  forty  men  whom  the  Sultan  had  sent  came  to  the  house  of  Nou- 
reddin Ali,  and  broke  open  the  doors  and  entered,  and  searched  all  the  chambers, 
but  without  success:  so  they  demolished  the  house,  and  returned,  and  acquainted 
the  Sultan,  who  said.  Search  for  them  in  every  place,  where  they  may  be: — and  they 
replied.  We  hear  and  obey.  The  Vizier  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy  then  descended  to 
his  house,  after  the  Sultan  had  invested  him  with  a  robe  of  honour,  and  had  said  to 
him.  None  shall  take  vengeance  for  thee  but  myself.  And  he  greeted  the  King  with 
a  prayer  for  long  life,  and  his  heart  was  set  at  ease :  and  the  Sultan  gave  orders  to 
proclaim  throughout  the  city,  0  all  ye  people !  our  lord  the  Sultan  hath  commanded 
that  whoever  shall  meet  with  Noureddin,  and  bring  him  to  the  Sultan,  shall  be 
invested  with  a  robe  of  honour,  and  he  will  give  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and 
he  who  shall  conceal  him  or  know  where  he  is,  and  not  give  information  thereof, 
will  merit  the  exemplary  punishment  that  shall  befixU  him !  So  all  the  people 
began  to  search  for  him  :  but  could  not  trace  him.  —  Such  was  the  case  with  these 
people. 

Now  as  to  Noureddin  and  his  slave,  they  arrived  in  safety  at  Bagdad,  and  the 
master  of  the  vessel  said  to  them.  This  is  Bagdad,  and  it  is  a  city  of  security 
winter  with  its  cold  hath  departed  from  it,  and  the  spring-quarter  hath  come  with 
its  roses,  and  its  trees  are  in  blossom,  and  its  waters  are  flowing.  And  upon  this, 
Noureddin  Ali  landed  with  his  slave-girl,  and  gave  the  master  five  pieces  of  gold. 
They  then  walked  a  little  way,  and  destiny  cast  them  among  the  gardens,  and  they 
came  to  a  place  which  they  found  swept  and  sprinkled,  with  long  seats,  and  pota 
suspended  filled  with  water,  and  over  it  was  a  covering  of  trellis-work  of  canes  ex- 
tending along  the  whole  length  of  a  lane,  at  the  upper  end  of  which  was  the  gate 
of  a  garden  ;  but  this  was  shut.  And  Noureddin  said  to  the  damsel.  By  Allah,  this 
is  a  pleasant  place  ! — and  she  replied,  0  my  master,  let  us  sit  down  a  while  upon  one 
of  these  seats.  So  they  mounted  and  seated  themselves  there,  and  they  washed 
their  faces  and  hands,  and  enjoyed  the  current  of  the  zephyr,  and  slept.  —  Glory  be 
to  him  who  sleepeth  not! 

This  garden  was  called  the  Garden  of  Delight,  and  in  it  was  a  palace  called  the 
Palace  of  Diversion,  and  it  belonged  to  the  Caliph  Uaroun  Alrashid,  who,  when  his 


NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS.  183 

heart  was  contracted,  used  to  come  to  this  garden,  and  enter  the  palace  above-men- 
tioned, and  there  sit.  The  Palace  had  eighty  latticed  windows,  and  eighty  lamps 
were  suspended  in  it,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  was  a  great  candlestick  of  gold  ;  and 
when  the  Caliph  entered  it,  he  commanded  the  female  slaves  to  open  the  windows, 
and  ordered  Ishak  the  cup-companion  to  sing  with  them  ;  so  his  heart  became  dilated, 
and  his  anxiety  ceased.  There  was  a  superintendent  to  the  garden,  an  old  man, 
named  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  ;  and  it  happened  that  he  went  forth  once  to  transact 
some  business,  and  found  there  persons  diverting  themselves  with  women  of  suspi- 
cious character,  whereupon  he  was  violently  enraged,  and  having  waited  until  the 
Caliph  came  thither  some  days  after,  he  acquainted  him  with  this  occurrence,  and 
the  Caliph  said.  Whomsoever  thou  shalt  find  at  the  gate  of  the  garden,  do  with  him 
what  thou  wilt.  Now  on  this  day  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  went  out  to  transact  an  affair 
of  business,  and  found  the  two  sleeping  at  the  garden-gate,  covered  with  a  single 
izar;  and  he  said.  Do  not  these  two  persons  know  that  the  Caliph  hath  given  me 
permission  to  kill  every  one  whom  I  find  here  ?  But  I  will  only  give  these  two  a 
slight  beating,  that  no  one  may  again  approach  the  gate  of  the  garden.  He  then 
cut  a  green  palm-stick,  and  went  forth  to  them,  and  raised  his  hand  until  the  white- 
ness of  his  arm-pit  appeared,  and  was  about  to  beat  them  ;  but  he  reflected  in  his 
mind,  and  said,  0  Ibrahim,  how  shouldst  thou  beat  them  when  thou  knowest  not 
their  case  ?  They  may  be  two  strangers,  or  of  the  children  of  the  road,  whom  des- 
tiny hath  cast  here.  I  will  therefore  uncover  their  faces,  and  look  at  them. — So  he 
lifted  up  the  izar  from  their  faces,  and  said,  These  are  two  handsome  persons,  and 
It  is  not  proper  that  I  should  beat  them.  And  he  covered  their  faces  again,  and, 
approaching  the  foot  of  Noureddin  Ali,  began  to  rub  it  gently  ;  whereupon  Nou- 
reddin  opened  his  eyes,  and  saw  that  he  was  an  old  man  ;  and  he  blushed,  and  drew 
in  his  feet,  and,  sitting  up,  took  the  hand  of  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  and  kissed  it;  and 
the  sheikh  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  whence  are  ye?  —  0  my  master,  he  answered,  we 
are  strangers!  —  and  a  tear  gushed  from  his  eye.  The  sheikh  Ibrahim  then  said  to 
him,  0  my  son,  know  that  the  Prophet  (God  favour  and  preserve  him  !)  hath  enjoined 
generosity  to  the  stranger.  Wilt  thou  not  arise,  0  my  son,  and  enter  the  garden 
and  divert  thyself  in  it,  that  thy  heart  may  be  dilated?  —  0  my  master,  said  Nou- 
reddin, to  whom  doth  this  garden  belong?  The  sheikh  answered,  0  my  son,  this 
garden  I  inherited  from  my  family.  And  his  design  in  saying  this  was  only  that 
they  might  feel  themselves  at  ease,  and  enter  the  garden.  And  when  Noureddin 
heard  his  words,  he  thanked  him,  and  arose,  together  with  his  slave,  and  the  sheikh 
Ibrahim  preceding  them,  they  entered  the  garden. 

The  gate  was  arched,  and  over  it  were  vines  with  grapes  of  different  colours  ;  the 
red,  like  rubies;  and  the  black,  like  ebony.  They  entered  a  bower,  and  found  within 
it  fruits  growing  in  clusters  and  singly,  and  the  birds  were  warbling  their  various 
notes  upon  the  branches  ;  the  nightingale  was  pouring  forth  its  melodious  sounds  ; 
and  the  turtle-dove  filled  the  place  with  its  cooing;  and  the  blackbird,  in  its  singing, 
resembled  a  human  being ;  and  the  ring-dove,  a  person  exhilirated  by  wine.  The 
fruits  upon  the  trees,  comprising  every  description  that  was  good  to  eat,  had  ripened  ; 
and  there  were  two  of  each  kind:  there  were  the  camphor  apricot,  and  the  almond- 
apricot,  and  the  apricot  of  Khorasan ;  the  plum  of  a  colour  like  the  complexion  of 
beauties  ;  the  cherry  delighting  the  sense  of  every  man ;  the  red,  the  white,  and  the 
green  fig,  of  the  most  beautiful  colours ;  and  flowers  like  pearls  and  coral ;  the  rose, 
whose  redness  put  to  shame  the  cheeks  of  the  lovely;  the  violet,  like  sulphur  in  con- 
tact with  fire  ;  the  myrtle,  the  gilliflower,  the  lavender,  and  the  anemone  ;  and  their 
leaves  were  bespangled  with  the  tears  of  the  clouds;  the  chamomile  smiled,  display- 
ing its  teeth,  and  the  narcissus  looked  at  the  rose  with  its  negro  eyes ;  the  citrons 
resembled  round  cups  ;  the  limes  were  like  bullets  of  gold  ;  the  ground  was  car- 
peted with  flowers  of  every  colour,  and  the  place  beamed  with  the  charms  of  spring; 
the  river  murmured  by  while  the  birds  sang,  and  the  wind  whistled  among  the  trees; 
the  season  was  temperate,  and  the  zephyr  was  languishing. 


184  NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS. 

The  sheikh  Ibrahim  conducted  them  into  the  elevated  saloon,  and  they  wera 
charmed  with  its  beauty  and  the  extraordinary  elegances  which  it  displayed,  and 
seated  themselves  in  one  of  the  windows  ;  and  Noureddin,  reflecting  upon  his  past 
entertainments,  exclaimed,  By  Allah,  this  place  is  most  delightful !  It  hath  re- 
minded me  of  past  events,  and  quenched  in  me  an  anguish  like  the  fire  of  the  ghada.' 
The  sheikh  Ibrahim  then  brought  to  them  some  food,  and  they  ate  to  satisfaction, 
and  washed  their  hands,  and  Noureddin,  seating  himself  again  in  one  of  the  win- 
dows, called  to  his  slave,  and  she  came  to  him  ;  and  they  sat  gazing  at  the  trees 
laden  with  all  kinds  of  fruits ;  after  which,  Noureddin  looked  towards  the  sheikh, 
and  said  to  him,  O  sheikh  Ibrahim,  hast  thou  not  any  beverage?  For  people  drink 
after  eating.  So  the  sheikh  brought  him  some  sweet  and  cold  water:  but  Noureddin 
said,  This  is  not  the  beverage  I  desire. — Dost  thou  want  wine  ?  asked  the  sheikh. — 
yes,  answered  Noureddin.  The  sheikh  exclaimed,  I  seek  refuge  with  Allah  from  it! 
Verily,  for  thirteen  years  I  have  done  nothing  of  that  kind  ;  for  the  Prophet  (God 
fiivour  and  preserve  him  !)  cursed  its  drinker  and  its  presser  and  its  carrier. — Hear 
from  me  two  words,  said  Noureddin.  The  sheikh  replied.  Say  what  thou  wilt.  So 
he  said,  If  thou  be  neither  the  presser  of  the  wine,  nor  its  drinker,  nor  its  carrier 
will  aught  of  the  curse  fall  upon  thee?  The  sheikh  answered,  No. — Then  take  this 
piece  of  gold,  rejoined  Noureddin,  and  these  two  pieces  of  silver,  and  mount  the  ass, 
and  halt  at  a  distance  from  the  place,  and  whatsoever  man  thou  tindest  to  buy  it, 
call  to  him,  and  say  to  him,  take  these  two  pieces  of  silver,  and  with  this  piece  of 
gold  buy  some  wine,  and  place  it  upon  the  ass; — so,  in  this  case,  thou  wilt  be  neither 
the  carrier  nor  the  presser  nor  the  buyer;  and  nothing  will  befall  thee  of  that  wliich 
l)efalleth  the  rest. 

The  sheikh  Ibrahim,  after  laughing  at  his  words;  replied.  By  Allah,  I  have  never 
seen  one  more  witty  than  thou,  nor  heard  speech  more  sweet.  And  Noureddin  said 
to  him.  We  have  become  dependant  upon  thee,  and  thou  hast  nothing  to  do  but  to 
comply  with  our  wishes:  bring  us,  therefore,  all  that  we  require.  0  my  son,  said 
the  sheikh,  my  buttery  here  is  before  thee  (and  it  was  the  store-room  furnished  for 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful):  enter  it  then,  and  take  from  it  what  thou  wilt;  for  it 
containeth  more  than  thou  desirest.  So  Noureddin  entered  the  store-room,  and  be- 
held in  it  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  and  crystal,  adorned  with  a  variety  of  jewels; 
and  he  took  out  such  of  them  as  he  desired,  and  poured  the  wine  into  the  vessels  of 
earthenware  and  bottles  of  glass ;  and  he  and  the  damsel  began  to  drink,  astonished 
at  the  beauty  of  the  things  which  they  beheld.  The  sheikh  Ibrahim  then  brought 
to  them  sweet-scented  flowers,  and  seated  himself  at  a  distance  from  them  ;  and  they 
continued  drinking,  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  delight,  until  the  v»ine  took  effect  upon 
them,  and  their  cheeks  reddened,  and  their  eyes  wantoned  like  those  of  the  gazelle, 
and  their  hair  hung  down :  whereupon  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  said.  What  ailoth  me 
that  I  am  sitting  at  a  distance  from  them  ?  Why  should  I  not  sit  by  them  ?  And 
when  shall  I  be  in  the  company  of  such  as  these  two,  who  are  like  two  moons? — 
He  then  advanced,  and  seated  himself  at  the  edge  of  the  raised  portion  of  the  floor; 
and  Noureddin  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  by  my  life  I  conjure  thee  to  approach  and 
join  us.  So  he  went  to  them  ;  and  Noureddin  filled  a  cup,  and  looking  at  the 
sheikh,  said  to  him,  Drink,  that  thou  mayest  know  how  delicious  is  its  flavour.  But 
the  sheikh  Ibrahim  exclaimed,  I  seek  refuge  with  Allah  !  Verily  for  thirteen  years 
I  have  done  nothing  of  that  kind. — And  Noureddin,  feigning  to  pay  no  attention 
to  him,  drank  the  cup,  and  threw  himself  upon  the  ground,  pretending  that  intoxi- 
cation had  overcome  him. 

Upon  this,  the  beautiful  Enis  looked  towards  the  sheikh,  and  said  to  him,  0  sheikh 
Ibrahim,  see  how  this  man  hath  treated  me. — 0  my  mistress,  said  he.  what  aileth 
him?  She  rejoined.  Always  doth  he  treat  me  thus:  he  drinketh  a  while,  and  then 
sleepeth,  and  I  remain  alone,  and  find  no  one  to  keep  me  company  over  my  cup.  H 
I  drink,  who  will  serve  me?     And  if  I  sins,  vrho  will  hear  me? — The  sheikh         vcd 

'  A  very  inflaimnalile  wood. 


NOUREDDIN   AND    ENIS   ELJELIS.  185 

with  tenderness  and  affection  for  her  by  her  words,  replied,  It  is  not  proper  that  a 
cup-companion  be  thus.  The  damsel  then  filled  a  cup,  and,  looking  at  the  sheikh 
Ibrahim,  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  my  life  that  thou  take  it  and  drink  it;  reject 
it  not,  but  accept  it,  and  refresh  my  heart.  So  he  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and 
took  the  cup,  and  drank  it;  and  she  filled  for  him  a  second  time,  and  handed  it  to 
him,  sayinor,  0  my  master,  this  remaineth  for  thee.  He  replied.  By  Allah,  I  cannot 
drink  it;  that  which  I  have  drunk  is  enough  for  me.  But  she  said.  By  Allah,  it  is 
indispensable: — and  he  took  the  cup,  and  drank  it.  She  then  gave  him  the  third  ; 
and  he  took  it,  and  was  about  to  drink  it,  when,  lo,  Noureddin  raised  himself,  and 
said  to  him,  0  sheikh  Ibrahim,  what  is  this?  Did  I  not  conjure  thee  a  while  ago, 
and  thou  refusedst,  and  saidst.  Verily,  for  thirteen  years  I  have  not  done  it? — The 
sheikh  Ibrahim,  touched  with  shame,  replied.  By  Allah,  I  am  not  in  fault ;  for  she 
pressed  me.  And  Noureddin  laughed,  and  they  resumed  their  carousal,  and  the 
damsel,  turning  her  eyes  towards  her  master,  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  drink  thou, 
and  do  not  urge  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  :  that  I  may  divert  thee  with  the  sight  of  him. 
So  she  began  to  fill  and  to  hand  to  her  master,  and  her  master  filled  and  gave  to 
her,  and  thus  they  continued  to  do,  time  after  time  ;  till  at  length  the  sheikh  Ibra- 
him looked  towards  them  and  said.  What  meaneth  this  ?  And  what  sort  of  carousal 
is  this  ?  Wherefore  do  ye  not  give  me  to  drink,  since  I  have  become  your  cup-com- 
panion?— At  this  they  both  laughed  until  they  became  almost  senseless:  and  then 
drank,  and  gave  him  to  drink:  and  they  continued  thus  until  the  expiration  of  a 
third  of  the  night,  when  the  damsel  said,  0  sheikh  Ibrahim,  with  thy  permission 
shall  I  arise  and  light  one  of  the  candles  which  are  arranged  here? — Rise,  he 
answered  ;  but  light  not  more  than  one  candle.  But  she  sprang  upon  her  feet,  and 
beginning  with  the  first  candle,  proceeded  until  she  had  lighted  eighty.  She  then 
sat  down  again  ;  and  presently  Noureddin  said,  0  sheikh  Ibrahim,  in  what  favour 
am  I  held  with  thee?  Wilt  thou  not  allow  me  to  light  one  of  these  lamps? — The 
sheikh  answered.  Arise  and  light  one  lamp,  and  be  not  thou  also  troublesome.  So 
he  arose,  and,  beginning  with  the  first  lamp,  lighted  all  the  eighty;  and  the  saloon 
seemed  to  dance.  And  after  this,  the  sheikh  Ibrahim,  overcome  by  intoxication, 
said  to  them,  Ye  are  more  frolicsome  than  I ; — and  he  sprang  upon  his  feet,  and 
opened  all  the  windows,  and  sat  down  again  with  them,  and  they  continued  carous- 
ing and  reciting  verses  ;  and  the  place  rang  with  their  merriment. 

Now  God,  the  all-seeing  and  all-knowing,  who  hath  appointed  a  cause  to  every 
event,  had  decreed  that  the  Caliph  should  be  sitting  that  night  at  one  of  the  windows 
looking  towards  the  Tigris,  by  moonlight;  and  he  looked  in  that  direction,  and  saw 
the  light  of  lamps  and  candles  reflected  in  the  river,  and  turning  his  eyes  up  towards 
the  palace  in  the  garden,  he  beheld  it  beaming  with  those  candles  and  lamps,  and 
exclaimed.  Bring  hither  to  me  Giafar  the  Barmecide  !  In  the  twinkling  of  an  eye 
Giafar  stood  before  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ;  and  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  0  dog 
of  Viziers,  dost  thou  serve  me  and  not  acquaint  me  with  what  happeneth  in  the  city 
of  Bagdad? — What,  asked  Giafar,  is  the  occasion  of  these  words? — The  Caliph  an- 
swered. If  the  city  of  Bagdad  were  not  taken  from  me,  the  Palace  of  Diversion  were 
not  enlivened  with  the  light  of  the  lamps  and  candles,  and  its  windows  were  not 
opened.  Wo  to  thee  !  Who  could  do  these  things  unless  the  office  of  Caliph  were 
taken  from  me? — Who,  said  Giafar  (the  muscles  of  his  side  quivering  from  fear), 
informed  thee  that  the  lamps  and  candles  were  lighted  in  the  Palace  of  Diversion, 
and  that  its  windows  were  opened? — The  Caliph  replied.  Advance  hither  to  me,  and 
look.  So  Giafar  approached  the  Caliph,  and,  looking  towards  the  garden,  beheld 
the  palace  as  it  were  a  flame  of  fire,  its  light  surpassing  that  of  the  mooti.  He  de- 
sired, therefore,  to  make  an  excuse  for  the  sheikh  Ibrahim,  the  superintendent, 
thinking,  from  what  he  beheld,  that  the  event  might  have  occurred  through  his  per- 
mission:  and  accordingly  he  said,  0  prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  last 
week  said  to  me,  0  my  master  Giafar,  I  am  desirous  of  entertaining  my  children 
during  my  life  and  the  life  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. — And  what,  said  I,  is  thy 


186  NOUREDDIX    AND    ENIS    EL.TELIS. 

design  in  saying  this  ?  He  answered,  It  is  my  wish  that  thou  wouldst  obtain  for 
me  permission  from  the  Caliph  that  I  may  celebrate  the  circumuision  of  my  sons  in 
the  palace.  So  I  said,  Do  what  thou  wilt  with  respect  to  the  entertainment  of  thy 
sons,  and,  if  God  will,  I  shall  have  an  interview  with  the  Caliph,  and  will  acquaint 
him  with  it.  And  he  left  me  thus:  and  I  forgot  to  acquaint  thee.^0  Giafar,  said 
the  Caliph,  thou  wast  guilty  of  one  offence  against  me,  and  then  thine  offence  be- 
came two;  for  thou  hast  erred  in  two  points:  the  first,  thy  not  acquainting  me  with 
this  affair:  and  the  second,  thy  not  accomplishing  the  desire  of  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  ; 
for  he  did  not  come  to  thee  and  address  thee  with  these  words  but  to  hint  a  demand 
for  some  money  by  the  aid  of  which  to  effect  his  design,  and  thou  neither  gavest 
him  anything  nor  acquaintedst  me  that  I  might  give  him. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, replied  Giafar,  I  forgot. 

The  Caliph  then  said.  By  my  forefathers,  I  will  not  pass  the  remainder  of  my 
night  but  with  him,  for  he  is  a  just  man,  who  frequenteth  the  sheikhs,  and  attendeth 
to  the  poor,  and  fovoureth  the  indigent:  and  I  imagine  all  his  acquaintances  are 
•with  him  this  night:  so  I  must  repair  to  him  :  perhaps  one  of  them  may  offer  up 
for  us  a  prayer  productive  of  good  to  us  in  this  world  and  the  next ;  and  probably 
some  advantage  may  accrue  to  him  from  my  presence,  and  he  will  receive  pleasure 
from  this  together  with  his  friends. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  replied  Giafar,  the 
greater  part  of  the  night  hath  passed,  and  they  are  now  about  to  disperse.  But  the 
Caliph  said.  We  must  go  to  them.  And  Giafar  was  silent,  and  was  perplexed  in 
his  mind,  not  knowing  what  to  do.  So  the  Caliph  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  Giafar 
arose  and  preceded  him,  and  Mesrour  the  eunuch  went  with  them.  The  three 
walked  on  reflecting,  and,  departing  from  the  palace,  proceeded  through  the  streets, 
in  the  attire  of  merchants,  until  they  arrived  at  the  gate  of  the  garden  above 
mentioned;  and  the  Caliph,  approaching  it,  found  it  open;  and  he  was  surprised, 
and  said.  See,  0  Giafar,  how  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  hath  left  the  gate  open  until  this 
hour,  which  is  not  his  usual  custom.  They  then  entered,  and  came  to  the  end  of 
the  garden,  where  they  stopped  beneath  the  palace;  and  the  Caliph  said,  0  Giafar, 
I  desire  to  take  a  view  of  them  secretly  before  I  go  up  to  them,  that  I  may  see  how 
the  sheikhs  are  occupied  in  the  dispensing  of  their  blessings  and  the  employment  of 
their  miraculous  powers ;  for  they  have  qualities  which  distinguish  them  both  in 
their  private  retirements  and  in  their  public  exercises  ;  and  now  we  hear  not  their 
voices,  nor  discover  any  indication  of  their  presence.  Having  thus  said,  he  looked 
around  and,  seeing  a  tall  walnut-tree,  he  said,  0  Giafar,  I  would  climb  this  tree: 
for  its  branches  are  near  to  the  windows:  and  look  at  them.  And  accordingly  he 
ascended  the  tree,  and  climbed  from  branch  to  branch  until  he  came  to  that  which 
was  opposite  to  one  of  the  windows,  and  there  he  sat,  and,  looking  in  through  this 
■window  of  the  palace,  beheld  a  damsel  and  a  young  man,  like  two  moons  (extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  created  them  !) ;  and  he  saw  the  sheikh  Ibraham  sit- 
ting with  a  cup  in  his  hand,  and  saying,  0  mistress  of  beauties,  drinking  unaccom- 
panied by  merry  sounds  is  not  pleasant. 

When  the  Caliph  witnessed  this  conduct  of  the  sheikh  Ibrahim,  the  vein  of  anger 
swelled  between  his  eyes,  and  he  descended,  and  said,  0  Giafar,  I  have  never  seen 
anything  of  the  miraculous  performances  of  the  just  such  as  I  have  beheld  this 
night;  ascend,  therefore,  thyself  also,  into  this  tree,  and  look,  lest  the  blessings  of 
the  just  escape  thee. — On  hearing  the  words  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Giafar 
was  perplexed  at  his  situation :  and  he  climbed  up  into  the  tree,  and  looked,  and  saw 
Noureddin  and  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  and  the  damsel,  and  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  had  the 
cup  in  his  hand.  As  soon  as  he  beheld  this,  he  made  sure  of  destruction  ;  and  he 
descended,  and  stood  before  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  the  Caliph  said,  0 
Giafiir,  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  made  us  to  be  of  the  number  of  those  who  follow 
the  external  ordinances  of  the  holy  law,  and  averted  from  us  the  sin  of  disguising 
ourselves  by  the  practice  of  hypocrisy  !  But  Giafar  was  unable  to  reply,  from  his 
excessive  confusion.     The  Caliph  then  looked  towards  him,  and  said,  Who  can  have 


NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    EJELIS.  187 

brought  these  persons  hither,  and  admitted  them  into  my  palace?  But  the  like  of 
this  young  man  and  this  damsel,  in  beauty  and  loveliness  and  symmetry  of  form, 
mine  eye  hath  never  beheld. — Giafar,  now  conceiving  a  hope  that  the  Caliph  might 
be  propitiated,  replied,  Thou  hast  spoken  truly,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And  the 
Caliph  said,  0  Giafar,  climb  up  with  us  upon  this  branch  which  is  opposite  them, 
that  we  may  amuse  ourselves  by  observing  them.  So  they  both  climbed  up  into  the 
tree,  and  looking  at  them,  heard  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  say,  O  my  mistress,  I  have  re- 
linquished decorum  by  the  drinking  of  wine;  but  the  pleasure  of  this  is  not  com- 
plete without  the  melodious  sounds  of  stringed  instruments. — 0  sheikh  Ibrahim,  re- 
plied the  fair  Enis,  by  Allah,  if  we  had  any  musical  instrument,  our  happiness 
were  perfect.  And  when  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  heard  her  words,  he  rose  upon  his 
feet. — The  Caliph  said  to  Giafar,  What  can  he  be  going  to  do  ?  Giafar  replied,  I 
know  not. — And  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  went  away,  and  returned  with  a  lute  ;  and  the 
Caliph,  looking  attentively  at  it,  saw  that  it  was  the  lute  of  Ishak  the  cup-companion  ; 
and  said,  By  Allah,  if  this  damsel  sing  not  well,  I  will  crucify  you  all :  but  if  she 
sing  well,  I  will  pardon  them,  and  crucify  thee.  So  Giafar  said,  0  Allah,  let 
her  not  sing  well ! — Why  ?  asked  the  Caliph. — That  thou  mayest  crucify  all  of  us, 
answered  Giafar :  and  then  we  shall  cheer  one  another  by  conversation.  And  the 
Caliph  laughed :  and  the  damsel  took  the  lute,  and  tuned  its  strings,  and  played 
upon  it  in  a  manner  that  would  melt  iron,  and  inspire  an  idiot  with  intellect:  after 
which  she  sang  with  such  sweetness  that  the  Caliph  exclaimed,  0  Giafar,  never  in 
my  life  have  I  heard  so  enchanting  a  voice  as  this. — Perhaps,  said  Giafar,  the  anger 
of  the  Caliph  hath  departed  from  him? — Yea,  he  answered;  it  hath  departed.  He 
then  descended  with  Giaf\ir  from  the  tree,  and,  looking  towards  him,  said,  I  am  de- 
sirous of  going  up  to  them,  to  sit  with  them,  and  to  hear  the  damsel  sing  before  me. 
— 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  replied  Giafar,  if  thou  go  up  to  them,  probably  they  will 
be  troubled  by  thy  presence;  and  as  to  the  sheikh  Ibrahim,  he  will  assuredly  die 
of  fear. — The  Caliph  therefore  said,  0  Giafar,  thou  must  acquaint  me  with  some 
stratagem  by  means  of  which  I  may  learn  the  truth  of  the  affair  without  their 
knowing  that  I  have  discovered  them.  And  he  and  Giafar  walked  towards  the 
Tigris,  reflecting  upon  this  matter :  and  lo,  a  fisherman  stood  beneath  the  windows 
of  the  palace,  and  he  threw  his  net,  hoping  to  catch  something  by  means  of  which 
to  obtain  his  subsistence. — Now  the  Caliph  had,  on  a  former  occasion,  called  to  the 
sheikh  Ibrahim,  and  said  to  him.  What  was  that  noise  that  I  heard  beneath  the 
windows  of  the  palace  ? — and  he  answered.  The  voices  of  the  fishermen,  who  are 
fishing. — So  he  said.  Go  down  and  forbid  them  from  coming  to  this  place.  They 
were  therefore  forbidden  to  come  thither  ;  but  this  night  there  came  a  fisherman 
named  Kerim,  and  seeing  the  garden  gate  open,  he  said  within  himself.  This  is  a  time 
of  inadvertence,  and  perhaps  I  may  catch  some  fish  on  this  occasion  ; — so  he  took  his 
net,  and  threw  it  into  the  river,  and  then  recited  some  verses,  contrasting  the  condi- 
tion of  the  poor  fisherman,  toiling  throughout  the  night,  with  that  of  the  lord  of  the 
palace,  Avho,  awaking  from  a  pleasant  slumber,  findeth  the  fawn  in  his  possession  , 
and  as  soon  as  he  had  finished  his  recitation,  lo,  the  Caliph,  unattended,  stood  at  his 
head.  The  Caliph  knew  him,  and  exclaimed,  0  Kerim  ! — and  the  fisherman,  hear- 
ing him  call  him  by  his  name,  turned  towards  him  ;  and  when  he  beheld  the  Caliph, 
the  muscles  of  his  side  quivered,  and  he  said,  By  Allah,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
I  did  not  this  in  mockery  of  the  mandate  ;  but  poverty  and  the  wants  of  my  family 
impelled  me  to  the  act  of  which  thou  art  witness.  The  Caliph  replied.  Throw  thy 
net  for  my  luck.  And  the  fisherman  advanced,  rejoicing  exceedingly,  and  cast  the 
net,  and  having  waited  until  it  had  attained  its  limit  and  become  steady  at  the 
bottom,  drew  it  in  again,  and  there  came  up  in  it  a  variety  of  fish  that  could  not  be 
numbered. 

The  Caliph  was  delighted  at  this,  and  said,  0  Kerim.  strip  off  thy  clothes:  and  he 
did  so.    He  was  clad  in  a  jubbeh  ■  in  which  were  a  hundred  patches  of  coarse  woollen 

'  A  long  outer  garment. 


188  NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS. 

stuff,  containing  vermin  of  the  most  abominable  kind,  and  among  them  fleas  in 
such  numbers  that  he  might  almost  have  been  transported  by  their  means  over  the 
face  of  the  earth  :  and  he  took  from  his  head  a  turban  which  for  three  years  he  had 
never  unwound:  but  when  he  happened  to  find  a  piece  of  rag  he  twisted  it  around 
it;  and  when  he  had  taken  off  the  jubbeh  and  turban,  the  Caliph  pulled  off  from  his 
own  person  two  vests  of  silk  of  Alexandria  and  Baalbeck,  and  a  melwatah  '  and  a 
farajiah,'  and  said  to  the  fisherman,  Take  these  and  put  them  on.  The  Caliph  then 
put  on  himself  the  fisherman's  jubbeh  and  turban,  and  having  drawn  a  litham  ^  over 
his  face,  said  to  the  fisherman.  Go  about  thy  business  ;  and  he  kissed  the  feet  of  the 
Caliph,  and  thanked  him. 

But  scarcely  had  he  finished  his  thanks,  when  the  vermin  overran  the  person  of 
the  Caliph,  and  he  began  to  seize  them  with  his  right  hand  and  his  left  from  his  neck, 
and  to  throw  them  down  :  and  he  exclaimed,  0  fisherman,  wo  to  thee?  What  are 
these  abundant  vermin  in  this  jubbeh  ?  —  0  my  lord,  he  answered,  at  present  they 
torment  thee:  but  when  a  week  shall  have  passed  over  thee,  thou  wilt  not  feel  them. 
nor  think  of  them.  The  Caliph  laughed,  and  said  to  him,  How  can  I  suffer  this 
jubbeh  to  remain  upon  me?  The  fisherman  replied.  I  wish  to  tell  thee  something; 
but  I  am  ashamed,  through  my  awe  for  the  Caliph.  Impart,  said  the  Caliph,  what 
thou  hast  to  tell  me.  So  he  said  to  him,  It  hath  occurred  to  my  mind,  0  Prince  of 
the  Faithful,  that  thou  desirest  to  learn  the  art  of  fishing,  in  order  that  thou  mayest 
be  master  of  a  trade  that  may  profit  thee:  and  if  such  be  thy  desire,  this  jubbeh  is 
suitable  to  thee.     And  the  Caliph  laughed  at  his  words. 

Tlie  fisherman  then  went  his  way,  and  the  Caliph  took  the  basket  of  fish,  and. 
having  put  upon  it  a  little  grass,  went  with  it  to  Giafsir,  and  stood  before  him;  and 
Giafar,  thinking  that  he  was  Kerim  the  fisherman,  feared  for  him,  and  said,  0  Kerim, 
what  brought  thee  hither?  Save  thyself  by  flight;  for  the  Caliph  is  here  this  night. 
— And  when  the  Caliph  heard  the  words  of  Giafar,  he  laughed  until  he  fell  down 
upon  his  back.  So  Giafar  said.  Perhaps  thou  art  our  lord  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful? 
— Yes,  0  Giafar,  answered  the  Caliph,  and  thou  art  my  Vizier,  and  I  came  with  thee 
hither,  and  thou  knowest  me  not.  How  then  should  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  know  me 
when  he  is  drunk?  Remain  where  thou  art  until  I  return  to  thee. — Giafar  replied, 
I  hear  and  obey.  And  the  Caliph  advanced  to  the  door  of  the  palace,  and  knocked. 
The  sheikh  Ibrahim  arose  therefore,  and  said.  Who  is  at  the  door?  He  answered, 
I,  0  sheikh  Ibrahim.  The  sheikh  said,  Who  art  thou? — and  the  Caliph  answered,  I 
am  Kerim  the  fisherman  ;  I  heard  that  there  were  guests  with  thee,  and  have  there- 
fore brought  thee  some  fish  :  for  it  is  excellent.  Now  Noureddin  and  the  damsel  were 
both  fond  of  fish,  and  when  they  heard  the  mention  of  it  they  rejoiced  exceedingly, 
and  said,  0  my  master,  open  to  him,  and  let  him  come  in  to  us  with  the  fish  which 
he  hath  brought.  So  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  opened  the  door,  and  the  Caliph,  in  his 
fisherman's  disguise,  entered,  and  began  by  salutation  ;  and  the  sheikh  Ibrahim  said 
to  him.  Welcome  to  the  robber,  the  thief,  the  gambler!  Come  hither,  and  show  us 
the  fish  which  thou  hast  brought.  —  He  therefore  showed  it  to  them,  and  lo,  it  was 
alive,  and  moving ;  and  the  damsel  exclaimed.  By  Allah,  0  my  master,  this  fish  is 
excellent!  I  wish  it  were  fried!  —  By  Allah,  said  the  sheikh  Ibrahim,  thou  hast 
spoken  truth.  Then  addressing  the  Caliph,  he  said,  0  fishermnn,  I  wisli  thou  hadst 
brought  this  fish  fried.  Arise,  and  fry  it  for  us,  and  bring  it.  —  On  the  head  be 
thy  commands,  replied  the  Caliph  ;  I  will  fry  it  and  bring  it.  —  Be  quick,  said  they, 
in  doing  it. 

The  Caliph  therefore  arose  and  ran  back  to  Giafar,  and  said,  0  Giafar,  they  want 
the  fish  fried.  —  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  replied  he,  give  it  me,  and  I  will  fry  it. 
But  the  Caliph  said.  By  the  tombs  of  my  ancestors,  none  shall  fry  it  but  myself: 
with  my  own  hand  will  I  do  it!  He  then  repaired  to  the  hut  of  the  su[  erintendent, 
and,  searching  there,  found  in  it  everything  that  he  required,  the  frying-pan,  and 

'  Articles  of  apparel.  '  A  sort  of  half  veil. 


NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS. 


lay 


even  the  salt  and  wild  marjorum,  &c.  So  he  approached  the  fire-place,  and  put  on 
the  frying-pan,  and  fried  it  nicely  ;  and  when  it  was  done  he  put  it  upon  a  banana 
leaf,  and  having  taken  from  the  garden  some  limea,  he  went  up  with  the  fish,  and 
.placed  it  before  them.  The  young  man,  therefore,  and  the  damsel,  and  the  sheikh 
Ibrahim,  advanced  and  ate  ;  and  when  they  had  finished,  they  washed  their  hands, 
and  Nouri'ddin  said.  By  Allah,  0  fisherman,  thou  hast  done  us  a  kindness  this  night. 
Then  putting  his  hand  into  his  pocket,  he  took  forth  for  him  three  pieces  of  gold,  of 
those  which  Sangiar  had  presented  to  him  wlien  he  was  setting  forth  on  his  journey, 
and  said,  O  fislierman,  excuse  me:  for,  by  Allah,  if  I  had  known  thee  before  the 
events  that  have  lately  happened  to  me,  I  would  have  extracted  the  bitterness  of 
poverty  from  thy  heart ;  but  take  this  as  accordant  -with  my  present  circumstances. 
So  saying,  he  threw  the  pieces  of  gold  to  the  Caliph,  who  took  them,  and  kissed 
them,  and  put  tliem  in  his  pocket.  The  object  of  the  Caliph  in  doing  this  was  only 
that  he  might  hear  the  damsel  sing;  so  he  said  to  him,  Thou  liast  treated  me  with 
beneficence,  and  abundantly  recompensed  me  ;  but  I  beg  of  thy  unbounded  indulgence 
that  this  damsel  may  sing  an  air  that  I  may  hear  her.  Noureddin  therefore  said,  0 
Enis  Eijelis!  She  replied.  Yes. — By  my  life,  said  he,  sing  to  us  something  for  the 
gratification  of  this  fisherman  ;  for  he  desireth  to  hear  thee.     And  when  she  had 


Ems  Eljelis 


heard  what  her  master  said,  she  took  the  lute,  and  tried  it  with  her  fingers,  after 
she  had  twisted  its  pegs,  and  sang  to  it  these  two  verses: — 

The  fingers  of  many  a  fawn-like  damsel  have  played  upon  the  lute,  and  the  soul  hath  been 

ravished  by  the  touch. 
She  hath  made  the  deaf  to  hear  her  songs;  and  the  dumb  hath  exclaimed.  Thou  hast  excelled 

in  thy  singing ! 

Then  she  played  again,  in  an  extraordinary  manner,  so  as  to  charm  the  minds  of 
her  hearers,  and  sang  the  following  couplet: — 

We  are  honoured  by  your  visiting  our  abode,  and  your  splendour  hath  dispelled  the  darkness 

of  the  moonless  night: 
It  is  therefore  incumbent  upon  me  to  perfume  my  dwelling  with  musk  and  rose-water  and 

camphor. 


Upon  this,  the  Caliph  was  a'l'octed  with  violent  emotion,  and  overcome  by  ecstasy, 
8  1  that  he  was  no  longer  master  of  himself  from  excessive  delight:  and  he  began  to 
exclaim,  Allah  approve  thee!  Allah  approve  thee!  Allah  approve  thee!  So 
Noureddin  said  to  him,  0  fisherman,  have  the  damsel  and  her  art  in  striking  the 


190  NOUREDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS. 

ehords  pleased  thee?— Yea,  by  Allah  !  exclaimed  the  Caliph.  And  Noureddin  im. 
mediately  said,  She  is  bestowed  upon  thee  as  a  present  from  me,  the  present  of  a 
generous  man  who  will  not  revoke  his  gift.  And  he  arose  upon  his  feet,  and  took  a 
melwatah,  and  threw  it  upon  the  Caliph  in  the  fisherman's  disguise,  ordering  him 
to  depart  with  the  damsel.  But  she  looked  towards  him,  and  said,  0  my  master, 
wilt  thou  part  from  me  without  bidding  me  farewell  ?  If  we  must  be  separated, 
pause  while  I  take  leave  of  thee. 

The  Caliph,  when  he  heard  this,  was  distressed  at  the  idea  of  separating  them, 
and,  looking  towards  the  young  man,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  art  thou  in  fear 
on  account  of  any  crime,  or  art  thou  in  debt  to  any  one?  Noureddin  answered,  By 
Allah,  0  fisherman,  a  wonderful  event,  and  an  extraordinary  adventure  happened  to 
me  and  this  damsel ;  if  it  were  engraven  on  the  understanding,  it  would  be  a  lesson 
to  him  who  would  be  admonished. — Wilt  thou  not,  rejoined  the  Caliph,  relate  to  us 
thy  story,  and  acquaint  us  with  thy  case.  Perhaps  thy  doing  so  may  be  productive 
of  relief;  for  the  relief  of  God  is  near.  —  So  Noureddin  said.  Wilt  thou  hear  our 
story  in  poetry  or  in  prose?  —  Prose,  answered  the  Caliph,  is  mere  talk  ;  and  verse, 
words  put  together  like  pearls.  And  Noureddin  hung  down  his  head  towards  the 
ground,  and  then  related  his  story  in  a  series  of  verses;  but  when  he  had  finished, 
the  Caliph  begged  him  to  explain  his  case  more  fully.  He  therefore  acquainted  him 
with  the  whole  of  his  circumstances  from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  when  the  Caliph 
understood  the  affair,  he  said  to  him,  AVhither  wouldst  thou  now  repair  !  He  an- 
swered, God's  earth  is  wide.  The  Caliph  then  said  to  him,  I  will  write  for  thee  a 
letter  which  thou  shalt  convey  to  the  Sultan  Mohammed,  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini, 
and  when  he  shall  have  read  it,  he  will  do  thee  no  injury.  —  Is  there  in  the  world, 
said  Noureddin,  a  fisherman  who  correspondeth  with  Kings?  Verily  this  is  a  thing 
that  can  never  be. — Thou  hast  spoken  truly,  rejoined  the  Caliph  ;  but  I  will  acquaint 
thee  with  the  cause.  Know  that  I  read  in  the  same  school  with  him,  under  a  master, 
and  I  was  his  monitor:  and  after  that,  prosperity  was  his  lot,  and  he  became  a 
Sultan,  while  God  made  me  to  be  a  fisherman  :  yet  I  have  never  sent  to  request  any- 
thing of  him  but  he  hath  performed  my  wish  ;  and  if  I  sent  to  him  every  day  to 
request  a  thousand  things  of  him,  he  would  do  what  I  asked.  When  Noureddin, 
therefore,  heard  his  words,  he  said  to  him.  Write,  that  I  may  see.  And  he  took  an 
ink-case  and  a  pen,  and  wrote  (after"  the  phrase.  In  the  name  of  God,  the  Com- 
passionate, the  Merciful) — To  proceed. — This  letter  is  from  Haroun  Alrashid  the  son 
of  El  Mahdi,  to  his  highness  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini,  who  hath  been 
encompassed  by  my  beneficence,  and  whom  I  constituted  my  viceroy  of  a  portion  of 
my  dominions.  I  acquaint  thee  that  the  bearer  of  this  letter  is  Noureddin  the  son 
of  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan  the  Vizier,  and  on  his  arrival  in  thy  presence  thou 
shalt  divest  thyself  of  the  regal  authority,  and  seat  him  in  thy  place  ;  for  I  have 
appointed  him  to  the  oflBce  to  which  I  formerly  appointed  thee:  so  disobey  not  my 
commands:  and  peace  be  on  thee. — He  then  gave  the  letter  to  Noureddin,  who  took 
it  and  kissed  it  and  put  it  in  his  turban,  and  immediately  set  forth  on  his  journey. 

The  sheikh  Ibrahim  now  looked  towards  the  Caliph  in  his  fisherman's  disguise, 
and  said  to  him,  0  most  contemptible  of  fishermen,  thou  hast  brought  us  two  fish 
worth  twenty  half-dirhems,  and  received  three  pieces  of  gold,  and  desirest  to  take 
the  slave  also.  But  when  the  Caliph  heard  these  words,  he  cried  out  at  him,  and 
made  a  sign  to  Mesrour,  who  immediately  discovered  himself,  and  rushed  in  upon 
him.  Giafar,  meanwhile,  had  sent  one  of  the  attendants  of  the  garden  to  tlie  porter 
of  the  palace  to  demand  a  suit  of  clothing  of  him  for  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ; 
and  the  man  went,  and  brought  the  dress,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the  Caliph, 
who  took  off  and  gave  to  him  that  with  which  he  was  then  clad,  and  put  on  this 
suit.  The  sheikh  Ibrahim  was  sitting  on  a  chair;  the  Caliph  paused  to  see  the 
result;  and  the  sheikh  was  astounded,  and  began  to  bite  the  ends  of  his  fingers 
through  his  confusion  ;  saying.  Am  I  asleep  or  awake?  The  Caliph  then  looked  at 
him,  and  said,  0  sheikh  Ibrahim,  what  is  this  predicament  in  which  thou  art  placed' 


NOUREDDIN   AND   ENTS   ELJELIS.  191 

And  upon  this,  the  sheikh  recovered  from  his  intoxication,  and,  throwing  himself 
upon  the  ground,  implored  forgiveness  ;  and  the  Caliph  pardoned  him :  after  which 
he  gave  orders  that  the  damsel  should  be  conveyed  to  the  palace  where  he  resided  ; 
and  when  she  had  arrived  there,  he  appropriated  to  her  a  separate  lodging,  and  ap- 
pointed persons  to  wait  upon  her,  and  said  to  her,  Know  that  I  have  sent  thy  master 
as  Sultan  of  Balsora,  and,  if  God  please,  I  will  despatch  to  him  a  dress  of  honour, 
and  send  thee  also  to  hira  with  it. 

As  to  Noureddin,  he  continued  his  journey  until  he  entered  Balsora,  and  went  up 
to  the  palace  of  the  Sultan,  when  he  uttered  a  loud  cry,  whereupon  the  Sultan  de- 
sired him  to  approach  ;  and  when  he  came  into  the  presence  of  the  King,  he  kii-icd 
the  ground  before  him,  and  produced  the  letter,  and  handed  it  to  him.  And  as  soon 
as  the  Sultan  saw  the  superscription  in  the  handwriting  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  and,  having  kissed  it  three  times,  said,  I  hear  and 
pay  obedience  to  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  and  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 
He  then  summoned  before  him  the  four  Cadies,  and  the  Emirs,  and  was  about  to 
divest  himself  of  the  regal  office :  but  lo,  the  Vizier  Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy  was 
before  him,  and  the  Sultan  gave  him  the  letter  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and 
when  he  saw  it,  he  rent  it  in  pieces,  and  put  it  into  his  mouth,  and  chewed  it,  and 
threw  it  down.  The  Sultan,  enraged,  cried.  Wo  to  thee  ;  what  hath  induced  thee 
to  act  thus?  —  He  answered,  This  man  hath  had  no  interview  with  the  Caliph  nor 
with  his  Vizier;  but  is  a  young  wretch,  an  artful  devil,  who,  having  met  with  a 
paper  containing  the  hand-writing  of  the  Caliph,  hath  counterfeited  it,  and  written 
what  he  desired:  wherefore  then  shouldst  thou  abdicate  the  sovereignty,  when  the 
Caliph  hath  not  sent  to  thee  an  envoy  with  a  royal  autographical  mandate ;  for  if 
this  affair  were  true,  he  had  sent  with  him  a  chamberlain  or  Vizier  ;  but  he  came 
alone. — What  then  is  to  be  done?  said  the  Sultan.  The  Vizier  answered,  Send  away 
this  young  man  with  me,  and  I  will  take  charge  of  him,  and  despatch  him  in  com- 
pany with  a  Chamberlain  to  the  city  of  Bagdad  ;  and  if  his  words  be  true,  he  will 
bring  us  a  royal  autographical  mandate  and  diploma  of  investiture  ;  and  if  not  true, 
they  will  send  him  back  to  us  with  the  Chamberlain,  and  I  will  take  my  revenge 
upon  my  offender. 

When  the  Sultan  heard  what  the  Vizier  said,  it  pleased  him :  and  the  Vizier  took 
him  away  and  cried  out  to  the  pages,  who  threw  down  Noureddin,  and  beat  him 
until  he  became  insensible.  lie  then  ordered  to  put  a  chain  upon  his  feet,  and  called 
to  the  jailor ;  and  when  he  came,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  This  jailor  was 
named  Kuteit,  and  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  0  Kuteit,  I  desire  that  thou  take  this 
person,  and  cast  him  into  one  of  the  subterranean  cells  which  are  in  thy  prison,  and 
torture  him  night  and  day.  The  jailor  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: — and  he  put  Nou- 
reddin into  the  prison,  and  locked  the  door  upon  him  ;  but  after  having  done  this, 
he  gave  orders  to  sweep  a  stone  seat  within  the  door,  and  furnished  it  with  a  prayer- 
carpet  and  a  pillow,  and  seated  Noureddin  upon  it,  and  loosed  his  chain,  and  treated 
him  with  kindness.  The  Vizier  every  day  sent  to  him,  commanding  him  to  beat 
him  ;  and  the  jailor  pretended  that  he  tortured  him,  while  on  the  contrary,  he  treated 
him  with  benignity. 

Thus  he  continued  to  do  for  forty  days;  and  on  the  forty-first  day,  there  came  a 
present  from  the  Caliph,  and  when  the  Sultan  saw  it  it  pleased  him,  and  he  conferred 
with  the  Vizier  upon  the  subject:  but  one  said.  Perhaps  this  present  was  designed 
for  the  new  Sultan.  Upon  this,  the  Vizier  Mowein,  the  son  of  Saouy,  remarked,  It 
were  proper  to  have  slain  him  on  his  arrival:  and  the  Sultan  exclaimed.  Now  thou 
hast  reminded  me  of  him,  go  down  and  bring  him,  and  I  will  strike  off  his  head. 
The  Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey:  —  and  arose,  saying,  I  desire  to  proclaim 
throughout  the  city.  He  who  wisheth  to  witness  the  decapitation  of  Noureddin  Ali 
the  son  of  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan,  let  him  come  to  the  palace: — so  that  all  the 
people  may  come  to  behold  it,  and  I  may  gratify  my  heart  and  mortify  my  enviers. 
The  Sultan  said,  Do  what  thou  wilt.     So  the  Vizier  descended,  full  of  joy  and  hap- 


192  NOUREDDIN   AND    ENIS   ELJELIS. 

piness,  and  went  to  the  Judge,  and  ordered  him  to  make  this  proclamation:  and 
when  the  people  heard  the  crier,  they  all  grieved  and  wept,  even  the  bojs  in  the 
schools,  and  the  tradesmen  in  their  shops ;  and  numbers  of  the  people  strove  to- 
gether to  take  for  themselves  places  where  they  might  behold  the  spectacle,  while 
others  repaired  to  the  prison,  to  accompany  him  thence.  The  Vizier  then  went  forth, 
attended  by  ten  mamlouks,  to  the  prison  ;  and  Kuteit  the  jailor  said  to  him,  What 
dost  thou  desire,  0  our  Lord  the  Vizier?  —  Bring  forth  to  me,  said  the  Vizier,  this 
young  wretch.  The  jailor  replied.  He  is  in  a  most  miserable  state  from  the  exces- 
sive beating  which  I  have  inflicted  upon  him.  And  he  entered,  and  found  him  re- 
citing some  verses.  And  the  jailor  pulled  off  from  him  his  clean  clothes,  and, 
having  clad  him  in  two  dirty  garments,  brought  him  out  to  the  Vizier.  Noureddin 
then  looked  at  him,  and  saw  that  he  was  his  enemy  who  had  incessantly  desired  hia 
destruction  ;  and  when  he  beheld  him,  he  wept,  and  said  to  him.  Art  thou  secure 
from  misfortune?  0  Vizier,  know  that  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whoso 
name  be  exalted  !)  is  the  doer  of  whatsoever  He  willeth. — 0  Ali,  replied  the  Vizier, 
wouldst  thou  frighten  me  by  these  words?  I  am  now  going  to  strike  off  thy  head, 
in  spite  of  the  people  of  Balsora ;  and  I  will  pay  no  regard  to  thy  counsel. 

The  Vizier  then  ordered  his  pages  to  convey  him  on  the  back  of  a  mule  ;  where- 
upon they  said  to  him  (being  distressed  to  obey),  Suffer  us  to  stone  him,  and  cut  him 
in  pieces,  though  our  lives  should  be  sacrificed  in  consequence.  But  he  replied. 
Never  do  it.  So  they  proceeded  to  proclaim  before  Noureddin,  This  is  the  smallest 
recompense  of  him  who  forgeth  a  letter  from  the  Caliph  to  the  Sultan.  And  they 
continued  to  parade  him  throughout  Balsora,  until  they  stationed  him  beneath  the 
window  of  the  palace,  and  in  the  place  of  blood,  when  the  executioner  approached 
him,  and  said  to  him,  I  am  a  slave  under  command  ;  and  if  thou  hast  any  want,  ac- 
quaint me  with  it,  that  I  may  perform  it  for  thee ;  for  there  remaineth  not  of  thy 
life  any  more  than  the  period  until  the  Sultan  shall  put  forth  his  face  from  the 
window.  And  the  people  were  excited  to  tears  for  him ;  and  the  executioner  took 
some  water  to  hand  it  to  him  :  but  the  Vizier  arose  from  his  place,  and  struck  the 
bottle  of  wa'ter  with  his  hand,  and  broke  it,  and  called  to  the  executioner,  command- 
ing him  to  strike  off  his  head  ;  whereupon  he  bound  Noureddin's  eyes.  The  people, 
however,  called  out  against  the  Vizier,  and  raised  a  tumultuous  cry  against  him, 
and  many  words  passed  between  them  ;  and  while  they  were  in  this  state,  lo,  a  dust 
arose,  and  filled  the  sky  and  the  open  tracts,,  and  when  the  Sultan  beheld  it,  as  he 
sat  in  the  palace,  he  said  to  his  attendants.  See  what  is  the  news.  Tiie  Vizier  said, 
After  thou  shalt  first  have  beheaded  this  man.  But  the  Sultan  replied,  Wait  thou 
until  we  see  what,  is  the  news. 

Now  this  dust  was  the  dust  of  Giafar,  the  Vizier  of  the  Caliph,  and  of  his  at- 
tendants :  and  the  cause  of  their  coming  was  this.  The  Caliph  had  passed  thirty 
days  without  remembering  the  affair  of  Ali  the  son  of  Fadladdin,  the  son  of  Khacan, 
and  no  one  mentioned  it  to  him,  until  he  came  one  night  to  the  private  apartment 
of  Enis  Eljelis,  and  heard  her  lamenting,  as  she  recited,  with  a  soft  voice,  the  saying 
of  the  poet:  — 

Thine  image  [is  before  me]  whether  distant  or  near,  and  my  tongue  never  ceaseth  to  mention 
thee. 

Her  lamentation  increased,  and  lo,  the  Caliph  opened  the  door,  and  entered  the 
chamber,  and  saw  her  weeping.  On  beholding  the  Caliph,  she  fell  at  his  feet.  The 
Caliph  said  to  her,  Who  art  thou?  She  answered,  I  am  the  present  given  to  thee 
by  Ali  the  son  of  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan  ;  and  I  request  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promise  which  thou  gavest  me,  that  thou  wouldst  send  me  to  him  with  the  honorary 
gift ;  for  I  have  now  been  here  thirty  days,  and  have  not  tasted  sleep.  And  upon 
this,  the  Caliph  summoned  Giafar  the  Barmecide,  and  said  to  him.  For  thirty  days 
-  have  heard  no  news  of  Ali  the  son  of  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan,  and  I  imagine 


NOUEEDDIN    AND    ENIS    ELJELIS.  193 

nothing  less  than  that  the  Sultan  hath  killed  him  :  but,  by  my  head  !  by  the  tombs 
of  my  ancestors !  if  any  evil  event  have  happened  to  him,  1  will  destroy  him  who 
hath  been  the  cause  of  it,  though  he  be  the  dearest  of  men  in  my  estimation!  I 
desire,  therefore,  that  thou  journey  immediately  to  Balsora,  and  bring  me  an  ac- 
count of  the  conduct  of  the  King  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini  to  Ali  the 
son  of  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan. 

So  Giafar  obeyed  his  commands,  and  set  forth  on  his  journey,  and  when  he  ap- 
proached, and  saw  this  tumult  and  crowd,  he  said.  What  is  the  occasion  of  this 
crowd  ?  They  related  to  him,  therefore,  the  situation  in  which  they  were  with  re- 
gard to  Noureddin;  and  when  he  heard  their  words,  he  hastened  to  go  up  to  the 
Sultan,  and,  having  saluted  him,  acquainted  him  with  the  cause  of  his  coming,  and 
told  him,  that  if  any  evil  event  had  happened  to  Noureddin  Ali,  the  Caliph  would 
destroy  him  who  was  the  cause  of  it.  He  then  arrested  the  Sultan,  and  the  Vizier 
Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy,  and  gave  orders  to  liberate  Noureddin  Ali,  and  enthroned 
nim  as  Sultan  in  the  place  of  the  Sultan  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini ; 
after  which  he  remained  at  Balsora  three  days,  the  usual  period  of  entertainment; 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  fourth  day,  Noureddin  Ali  said  to  Giafar,  I  have  a 
longing  desire  to  see  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  So  Giafar  said  to  the  King  Mo- 
hammed the  Son  of  Suleiman,  Prepare  thyself  for  travelling;  for  we  will  perform 
the  morning-prayers,  and  depart  to  Bagdad.  He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: — and 
they  performed  the  morning-prayers,  and  mounted  all  together,  with  the  Vizier 
Mowein  the  son  of  Saouy,  who  now  repented  of  what  he  had  done.  As  to  Noured- 
din Ali,  he  rode  by  the  side  of  Giafor :  and  they  continued  their  journey  until  they 
arrived  at  Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace. 

They  then  presented  themselves  before  the  Caliph,  and  related  to  him  the  case  of 
Noureddin ;  whereupon  the  Caliph  addressed  him,  saying,  Take  this  sword,  and 
strike  off  with  it  the  head  of  thine  enemy.  And  he  took  it,  and  approached  Mowein 
the  son  of  Saouy ;  but  he  looked  at  him,  and  said  to  him,  I  did  according  to  my 
nature,  and  do  thou  according  to  thine.  And  Noureddin  threw  down  the  sword  from 
his  hand,  and,  looking  towards  the  Caliph,  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  hath 
beguiled  me.  So  the  Caliph  said.  Do  thou  leave  him: — and  he  said  to  Mesrour,  0 
Mesrour,  advance  thou,  and  strike  off  his  head.  Mesrour,  therefore,  did  so  :  and 
upon  this,  the  Caliph  said  to  Ali  the  son  of  Fadladdin  the  son  of  Khacan,  Request 
of  me  what  thou  wilt.  He  replied,  0  my  lord,  I  have  no  want  of  the  sovereignty 
of  Balsora,  and  desire  nothing  but  to  have  the  honour  of  serving  thee. — Most  wil- 
lingly I  assent,  said  the  Caliph. — And  he  summoned  the  damsel,  and  when  she  had 
come  before  him,  he  bestowed  favours  upon  them  both  ;  he  gave  to  them  one  of  the 
palaces  of  Bagdad,  and  assigned  to  them  regular  allowances,  and  made  Noureddin 
one  of  his  companions  at  the  table ;  and  he  remained  with  him  until  death  overtook 
him. 

13 


'^^^ 


194  GANEM    THE    SON    OF    AYOUB. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Forty-fourth. 


THE  STORY  OF  GANEM  THE  SON  OF  AYOUB,  THE  DISTRACTED 
SLAVE  OF  LOVE. 

It  hath  been  told  me,  0  happy  King,  said  Sheherazade,  that  there  was,  in  ancient 
times,  a  certain  merchant  of  Damascus,  possessed  of  wealth,  who  had  a  son  like 
the  moon  at  the  full,  of  eloquent  tongue,  called  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  the  Dis- 
tracted Slave  of  Love ;  and  this  son  had  a  sister,  named  Fetnah,  on  account  of  her 
excessive  beauty  and  loveliness.  Their  father  died,  leaving  them  large  property, 
among  which  were  a  hundred  loads  of  silk  and  brocade,  and  bags  of  musk:  and 
upon  these  loads  was  written.  This  is  intended  for  Bagdad : — it  having  been  his  de- 
sire to  journey  to  that  city. 

So,  when  God  (whose  name  be  extolled  !)  had  taken  his  soul,  and  some  time  had 
elapsed,  his  son  took  these  loads,  and  journeyed  with  them  to  Bagdad. — This  was 
in  the  time  of  Haroun  Alrashid. — He  took  leave  of  his  mother  and  relations  and 
townspeople  before  his  departure,  and  went  forth,  placing  his  dependence  upon  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted !),  and  God  decreed  him  safety,  so  that  he  arrived  at  Bag- 
dad, whither  there  travelled  in  his  company  a  party  of  merchants.  He  hired  for 
himself  a  handsome  house,  and  furnished  it  with  carpets  and  cushions,  and  sus- 
pended curtains  in  it ;  and  there  he  deposited  those  loads,  together  with  the  mules 
and  camels,  and  remained  until  he  had  rested  himself;  and  the  merchants  of  Bag- 
dad, and  its  great  men,  came  and  saluted  him.  He  then  took  a  wrapper  containing 
ten  pieces  of  costly  stuff,  with  the  prices  written  upon  them,  and  went  forth  with 
them  to  the  market  of  the  merchants,  who  met  him  and  saluted  him,  treated  him 
with  honour  and  welcomed  him,  and  seated  him  at  the  shop  of  the  sheikh  of  the 
market;  and  he  sold  the  pieces,  gaining,  for  every  piece  of  gold,  two.  So  Ganem 
rejoiced,  and  he  proceeded  to  sell  the  stuffs  by  little  and  little  ;  and  continued  to  do 
60  for  a  whole  year. 

After  this,  on  the  first  day  of  the  following  year,  he  came  to  the  same  market,  but 
found  its  gates  shut,  and,  inquiring  the  cause  of  this,  he  was  answered.  One  of  the 
merchants  hath  died,  and  all  the  rest  of  them  have  gone  to  walk  in  his  funeral-pro- 
cession. Wilt  thou  then,  added  his  informant,  gain  a  recompense  by  walking  with 
them? — He  replied.  Yes: — and  he  asked  respecting  the  place  of  the  funeral.  So 
they  guided  him  thither ;  and  he  performed  the  ablution,  and  walked  with  the  other 
merchants  until  they  arrived  at  the  place  of  prayer,  where  they  prayed  over  the 
dead.  The  merchants  then  walked  all  together  before  the  corpse  to  the  burial-ground, 
Ganem  following  them  until  the  procession  arrived  at  the  burial-ground  outside  the 
city,  and  they  proceeded  among  the  tombs  until  they  came  to  that  in  which  the 
corpse  was  to  be  deposited.  They  found  that  the  family  of  the  deceased  had  pitched 
a  tent  over  the  tomb,  and  placed  there  the  candles  and  lamps  ;  and  they  buried  the 
dead,  and  the  readers  sat  reciting  the  Koran  at  the  tomb.  The  merchants  sat  with 
them  ;  and  so  also  did  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub :  but  he  was  overcome  by  bashful- 
ness,  saying  within  himself,  I  cannot  quit  them  until  I  have  departed  with  them. 
They  sat  listening  to  the  recitation  of  the  Koran  until  the  period  of  nightfall,  when 


THE    DISTRACTED    SLAVE    OF    LOVE.  195 

the  servants  placed  before  them  the  supper  and  sweetmeats,  and  they  ate  till  they 
•were  satisfied,  and  washed  their  hands,  and  resumed  their  seats. 

The  heart  of  Ganem  was  now  troubled  with  reflections  upon  his  merchandise,  and 
he  was  fearful  of  the  thieves,  and  said  within  himself,  I  am  a  stranger,  and  suspected 
of  possessing  wealth,  and  if  I  pass  the  night  far  away  from  my  abode,  the  thieves 
will  steal  the  money  and  the  loads.  So,  fearing  for  his  property,  he  arose  and  went 
forth  from  among  the  company,  asking  their  leave  to  depart  on  account  of  some 
business  that  he  had  to  transact,  and  followed  the  beaten  track  until  he  came  to 
the  gate  of  the  city ;  but  it  was  then  midnight,  and  he  found  the  gate  of  the  city 
shut,  and  saw  no  one  coming  or  going,  and  heard  not  a  sound  save  the  barking  of 
the  dogs,  and  the  howling  of  the  wolves  :  whereupon  he  exclaimed.  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God  !  I  was  in  fear  for  my  property,  and  came  hither  on 
account  of  it,  and  have  found  the  gate  shut,  and  now  I  have  become  in  fear  for  my 
life  ! — He  then  returned  to  seek  for  himself  a  place  in  which  to  sleep  until  the  morn- 
ing ;  and,  finding  a  private  burial-place  enclosed  by  four  walls,  w^ith  a  palm-tree 
within  it,  and  a  gate-way  of  hard  stone  open,  he  entered  it,  and  desired  to  sleep  ; 
but  sleep  came  not  to  him. 

Tremor  and  gloom  overcame  him,  thus  lying  among  the  tombs,  and  he  rose  upon 
his  feet,  and  opening  the  door,  looked  out,  and  beheld  a  light  gleaming  in  the  distance 
in  the  direction  of  the  city-gate.  lie  advanced  a  few  steps,  and  saw  the  light  ap- 
proaching in  the  way  which  led  to  the  burial-place  in  which  he  was  taking  refuge  : 
whereupon  Ganem  feared  for  himself,  and  hastily  closed  the  door,  and  climbed  up 
into  the  palm-tree,  and  concealed  himself  in  the  midst  of  its  branches.  The  light 
continued  to  approach  the  tomb  by  little  and  little  until  it  came  very  near;  and  as 
he  looked  attentively  at  it,  he  perceived  three  black  slaves,  two  of  whom  were  bear- 
ing a  chest,  the  other  having  in  his  hand  an  adze  and  a  lantern;  and  as  they  drew 
near,  one  of  the  two  slaves  who  were  bearing  the  chest  said,  AVhat  aileth  thee,  0 
Sawab? — to  which  the  other  of  the  two  replied.  What  aileth  thee,  O  Cafour?  The 
former  rejoined.  Were  we  not  here  at  the  hour  of  nightfall,  and  did  we  not  leave  the 
door  open? — Yes,  answered  the  other:  what  thou  sayest  is  true.  See  then,  resumed 
the  first  speaker,  It  is  shut  and  barred. — Upon  this,  the  third,  who  was  carrying  the 
adze  and  light,  and  whose  name  was  Bakheet,  said.  How  small  is  your  sense  ? 
Know  ye  not  that  the  owners  of  the  gardens  go  forth  from  Bagdad  and  repair  hither, 
and  evening  overtaking  them,  enter  this  place,  and  shut  the  door  upon  themselves, 
through  fear,  lest  the  blacks  like  ourselves  should  take  them  and  eat  them  ? — Thou 
hast  spoken  truth,  they  answered;  but  there  is  none  among  us  of  less  sense  than 
thyself.  —  Verily,  he  replied,  ye  will  not  believe  me  until  we  enter  the  burial-place 
and  find  some  one  in  it :  and  I  imagine  that,  if  any  one  be  in  it,  and  have  seen  the 
light,  he  hath  betaken  himself  to  the  top  of  the  palm-tree. 

When  Ganem  heard  these  words  of  the  slave,  he  said  within  himself,  IIow  cunning 
is  this  slave  1  May  Allah  disgrace  the  blacks  for  their  malice  and  villany!  There 
is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  What  will  deliver  me 
from  this  difficulty  ? — The  two  men  who  were  bearing  the  chest  then  said  to  him  who 
had  the  adze.  Climb  over  the  wall,  and  open  to  us  the  door,  0  Bakheet ;  for  we  are 
fatigued  with  carrying  the  chest  upon  our  necks ;  and  if  thou  open  to  us  the  door, 
we  will  give  thee  one  of  the  persons  whom  we  take,  and  we  will  fry  him  for  thee 
excellently,  so  that  not  a  drop  of  his  fat  shall  be  lost.  But  he  replied,  I  am  afraid 
of  a  thing  which  my  little  sense  hath  suggested  to  me  :  let  us  throw  over  the  chest 
behind  the  door  ;  for  it  is  our  deposit.  They  said  to  him,  if  we  throw  it,  it  will  break. 
— I  am  afraid,  he  rejoined,  that  there  may  be,  within  the  tomb,  robbers  who  slay 
men  and  steal  their  property  ;  for  when  evening  overtaketh  them  they  enter  these 
places  to  divide  what  they  have  taken.  —  0  thou  of  little  sense,  exclaimed  the  two 
others  ;  can  they  enter  here?  —  They  then  put  down  the  chest,  and  climbed  up  the 
■wall,  and  descended,  and  opened  the  door,  while  the  third  slave,  Bakheet,  stood  wait- 
ing for  them  with  the  light,  and  a  basket  containing  some  plaster  ;  after  which  they 


196  THE    STORY    OF    THE    SLAVE    CAFOUR. 

seated  themselves,  having  closed  the  door;  and  one  of  them  said,  0  my  brother,  we 
are  tired  with  walking  and  taking  up  and  putting  down,  and  opening  the  door  and 
shutting  it,  and  it  is  now  midnight,  and  we  have  not  strength  remaining  to  open  the 
tomb  and  to  bury  the  chest;  wherefore  we  will  sit  here  three  hours  to  rest  ourselves, 
and  then  arise  and  accomplish  our  business  ;  but  each  of  us  shall  in  the  mean  time 
tell  his  story,  and  relate  all  that  hath  happened  from  beginning  to  end.  So  the  first, 
who  carried  the  light,  told  his  story  ;  but  it  was  of  a  nature  unfit  to  be  here  repeated; 
after  which,  anoiher'of  the  slaves  thus  began  : 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  SLAVE  CAFOUR. 

Know,  0  my  brothers,  that  I  was,  at  the  commencement  of  my  career,  a  boy  of 
eight  years,  and  I  used  to  tell  one  lie  to  the  slave-merchants  every  year,  so  that  they 
fell  out  with  each  other  in  consequence,  and  the  slave-merchant  my  master,  becoming 
impatient  of  me,  committed  me  to  the  broker,  desiring  him  to  cry.  Who  will  buy  this 
slave  with  his  fault?  He  was  therefore  asked,  What  is  his  fault?  —  and  answered. 
He  telleth  one  lie  every  year.  And  a  merchant  approached  the  broker,  and  said  to 
him.  How  much  have  they  bidden  for  this  slave  w'ith  his  fault?  He  answered.  They 
have  bidden  six  hundred  pieces  of  silver.  —  Then  thou  shalt  have  twenty  for  thyself, 
replied  the  merchant.  So  the  broker  introduced  him  to  the  slave-merchant,  who 
received  from  him  the  money,  and  the  broker  conveyed  me  to  the  dwelling  of  the 
merchant,  and  took  his  brokerage. 

The  merchant  clad  me  in  a  dress  suitable  to  my  condition,  and  I  continued  with 
him  for  the  remainder  of  the  year,  until  the  new  year  commenced  with  prosperity. 
It  was  a  blessed  year,  plenteous  in  the  produce  of  the  earth,  and  the  merchants  began 
to  give  entertainments,  every  day  one  taking  his  turn  to  do  so,  until  it  was  my 
master's  turn  to  give  an  enfertainment  in  a  garden  within  the  city.  So  he  went,  and 
the  other  merchants  also,  and  he  took  for  them  what  they  required  of  food  and  other 
provisions,  and  they  sat  eating  and  drinking  and  carousing  till  noon,  when  my 
master  wanted  something  from  the  house,  and  said,  0  slave,  mount  the  mule,  and  go 
to  the  house,  and  bring  from  thy  mistress  such  a  thing,  and  return  quickly. 

I  obeyed,  therefore,  and  went  to  the  house:  but  when  I  approached  it,  I  shrieked 
out,  and  shed  tears ;  whereupon  the  people  of  the  quarter  assembled  together,  old 
and  young;  and  my  master's  wife  and  daughters,  hearing  my  cry,  opened  the  door, 
and  asked  me  what  was  the  matter.  I  answered  them.  My  master  was  sitting 
beneath  an  old  wall,  he  and  his  friends,  and  it  fell  upon  them  ;  and  when  I  beheld 
what  happened  to  them,  I  mounted  the  mule  and  came  in  haste  to  inform  you.  And 
when  his  children  and  wife  heard  these  words,  they  shrieked,  and  tore  their  clothes, 
and  slapped  their  fa<;es,  and  the  neighbours  came  to  them.  Then  my  master's  wife 
overturned  the  furniture  of  the  house,  one  thing  upon  another,  and  pulled  down  its 
shelves,  and  broke  its  shutters  and  its  windows,  and  smeared  its  walls  with  mud 
and  indigo,  and  said  to  me.  Wo  to  thee,  0  Cafour !  Come  hither  and  help  me,  and 
demolish  these  cupboard's,  and  smash  these  vessels  and  this  China-ware. — So  I  went 
to  her,  and  destroyed  with  her  the  shelves  of  the  house  and  all  that  was  upon  them, 
and  its  cupboards  and"  what  they  contained,  and  went  about  over  the  terraces  and 
through  every  place  until  I  had  laid  waste  the  whole,  crying  all  the  while.  Oh  my 
master!  My  mistress  then  went  forth,  with  her  face  uncovered,  and  only  with  her 
head-veil,  and  the  girls  and  boys  went  with  her,  saying  to  me,  0  Cafour,  walk  on 
before  us,  and  show  us  the  place  where  thy  master  lieth  dead  beneath  the  wall,  that 
we  may  take  him  forth  from  under  the  ruins,  and  carry  him  in  a  bier,  and  bring 
him  to  the  house,  and  convey  his  corpse  in  a  handsome  manner  to  the  burial.  So  I 
walked  before  them,  crying,  Oh  my  master! — and  they  followed  me  with  their  fivces 
and  heads  uncovered,  crying  Oh  our  misfortune!  Oh  our  calamity  ! — and  there  was 
none  among  the  men,  nor  among  the  women,  nor  among  the  children,  nor  a  maiden. 


THE    STORY    OF    THE    SLAVE    CAFOUR.  197 

nor  an  old  woman  (in  the  quarter),  who  did  not  accompany  us  :  and  all  of  them 
slapped  themselves  in  the  excess  of  their  lamentation.  Thus  I  went  with  them 
through  the  city  ;  and  the  people  asking  the  news,  they  informed  them  of  that  which 
they  had  heard  from  me ;  and  the  people  exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power 
but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  We  will  go  to  the  Judge,  and  acquaint  him. — 
And  when  they  arrived  before  the  Judge,  they  informed  him  ;  and  he  mounted,  and 
took  with  him  labourers  with  axes  and  baskets,  and  they  followed  my  footsteps, 
accompanied  by  a  crowd  of  people. 

I  preceded  them,  weeping  and  crying  out,  and  throwing  dust  upon  my  head,  and 
slapping  my  face !  and  when  I  came  to  the  party  in  the  garden,  and  my  master 
beheld  me,  I  slapped  my  face,  and  exclaimed.  Oh  my  mistress?  who  will  have  pity 
upon  me  after  my  mistress?  Would  that  I  had  been  her  sacrifice! — AVhen  my 
master,  therefore,  saw  me,  he  was  confounded,  his  countenance  became  pale,  and  he 
said,  AVhat  aileth  thee,  0  Cafour,  and  what  is  this  predicament,  and  what  is  the 
news?  I  answered  him,  When  thou  sentest  me  to  the  house  to  bring  thee  what  thou 
wantedst,  I  went  thither  and  entered  the  house,  and  found  that  the  wall  of  the  saloon 
had  fallen,  and  that  the  whole  saloon  had  tumbled  down  upon  my  mistress  and  her 
children. — And  did  not  thy  mistress,  said  he,  escape?  I  answered,  No  :  not  one  of 
them  escaped  ;  and  the  first  of  them  that  died  was  my  mistress  the  elder. — But  did 
my  youngest  daughter  escape?  he  asked.  I  answered.  No.  —  And  what,  said  he, 
hath  become  of  the  mule  that  I  ride;  is  she  safe?  —  No,  0  my  master,  I  answered; 
for  the  walls  of  the  house  and  the  walls  of  the  stable  tumbled  down  upon  all  that  was 
in  the  house;  even  upon  the  sheep  and  the  geese,  and  the  hens,  and  all  of  them 
became  a  mass  of  flesh  beneath  the  ruins;  not  one  of  them  escaped.  He  then  said 
to  me.  And  thy  master  the  elder,  I  answered.  No  ;  not  one  escaped  ;  and  now  there 
remain  neither  house  nor  inhabitants,  nor  any  trace  of  them  ;  and  as  to  the  sheep 
and  the  geese  and  the  hens,  the  cats  and  dogs  have  now  eaten  them. — And  when  my 
master  heard  my  words,  the  light  became  darkness  befoi-e  his  face,  and  he  was  no 
longer  master  of  his  senses  nor  of  his  reason,  and  was  unable  to  stand  upon  his  feet: 
he  was  paralysed,  and  the  strength  of  his  back  failed  him,  and  he  rent  his  clothes, 
and  plucked  his  beard  and  slapped  his  face,  and  threw  his  turban  from  his  head,  and 
ceased  not  to  slap  his  face  until  the  blood  flowed  from  it;  and  he  began  to  cry,  Ah  ! 
Oh  my  children!  Ah!  Oh  my  wife !  Ah!  Oh  my  misfortune  !  Unto  whom  hath 
happened  the  like  of  that  which  hath  happened  to  me!  —  The  merchants,  also,  his 
companions,  joined  with  him  in  cries  and  lamentations,  and  were  moved  with  pity 
for  ills  case,  and  rent  their  clothes;  and  my  master  went  forth  from  the  garden, 
beating  himself  for  the  calamity  that  had  (as  he  supposed)  befallen  him,  and  re- 
doubled the  blows  upon  his  face,  seeming  as  though  he  were  drunk. 

And  as  the  party  thus  went  out  from  the  gate  of  the  garden,  they  beheld  a  great 
dust,  and  heard  tumultuous  cries,  and  looking  in  that  direction,  save  the  crowd  ap- 
proaching them.  This  crowd  was  the  Judge  and  his  attendants,  and  a  concourse  of 
people  who  had  come  to  gratify  their  curiosity,  with  the  merchant's  fivmily  behind 
them;  shrieking  and  crying  with  violent  lamentation  and  excessive  grief ;  and  the 
first  who  accosted  my  master  were  his  wife  and  children.  On  beholding  these,  he 
was  confounded,  and  laughed,  and  said  to  them.  How  are  ye:  and  what  hath  hap- 
pened to  you  in  the  house,  and  what  hath  befallen  you?  And  when  they  saw  him, 
they  exclaimed.  Praise  be  to  God  for  thy  safety !  And  they  threw  themselves  upon 
him,  and  his  children  clung  to  him,  crying  out,  Oh  our  father!  Praise  be  to  God 
for  thy  safety,  0  our  father!  —  and  his  wife  said  to  him.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath 
shown  us  thy  face  in  safety !  —  and  she  was  stupified,  and  her  reason  fled  from  her 
at  that  which  she  beheld.  She  then  said  to  him.  How  didst  thou  escape  with  thy 
friends?  —  And  how,  said  he,  were  ye  in  the  house?  —  We  were  all  well,  they  an- 
swered, in  prosperity  and  health,  and  no  evil  hath  befallen  our  house,  save  that  thy 
slave  Cafour  came  to  us  with  his  head  uncovered  and  his  clothes  rent,  crying  out.  Oh 
my  master!  Oh  my  master!  —  and  we  said  to  him,  What  is  the  matter,  0  Cafour? 


198  GANEM   THE   SON   OF   AYOUB, 

and  he  answered,  My  master  was  sitting  under  a  wall  in  the  garden,  and  it  fell  upon 
him,  and  he  died.  —  By  Allah,  replied  my  master,  he  came  to  me  just  now  crying. 
Oh  my  mistress!  Oh  the  children  of  my  mistress!  —  and  said.  My  mistress  and  her 
children  are  all  dead  ! 

He  then  looked  aside,  and  seeing  me  with  my  turban  falling  from  my  head,  while 
I  still  cried  out  and  wept  violently,  and  threw  dust  upon  my  head,  he  called  out  to 
me :  so  I  approached  him,  and  he  said  to  me,  Wo  to  thee !  0  malevolent  slave !  0 
misbegotten  wretch  !  0  thou  of  accursed  race !  What  events  hast  thou  brought 
about!  But,  by  Allah,  I  will  strip  off  thy  skin  from  thy  flesh,  and  cut  thy  flesh 
from  thy  bones  !  —  By  Allah,  replied  I,  thou  canst  not  do  to  me  anything  ;  for  thou 
boughtest  me  with  my  fault,  on  this  condition;  the  witnesses  testifying  that  thou 
boughtest  me  with  my  fault,  thou  knowing  it;  and  it  was,  that  I  was  accustomed  to 
tell  one  lie  every  year:  and  this  is  but  half  a  lie,  and  when  the  year  is  complete,  I 
will  tell  the  other  half  of  it :  so  it  will  be  an  entire  lie.  But  upon  this,  he  cried  out 
at  me,  0  most  accursed  of  slaves  !  is  this  but  half  a  lie?  Nay,  it  is  an  exceeding 
calamity!  Depart  from  me ;  for  thou  art  free.' — By  Allah,  I  replied,  if  thou  liberate 
me,  I  will  not  liberate  thee  until  the  year  be  complete,  and  I  tell  the  remaining  half 
of  the  lie ;  and  when  I  have  completed  it,  then  take  me  to  the  market,  and  sell  me 
as  thou  boughtest  me,  with  my  fault;  and  liberate  me  not;  for  I  have  no  trade  by 
means  of  which  to  procure  my  subsistence ;  this  is  a  legal  proposition  that  I  have 
stated  to  thee,  laid  down  by  the  lawyers  in  the  chapter  of  emancipation. — While  we 
were  thus  talking,  the  crowd  approached,  with  the  people  of  the  quarter,  women 
and  men,  come  to  mourn,  and  the  Judge  with  his  attendants ;  and  my  master  and 
the  other  merchants  went  to  the  Judge,  and  acquainted  him  with  the  case,  and  that 
this  was  but  half  a  lie ;  and  when  the  people  who  were  present  heard  this,  they  were 
astonished  at  this  lie,  and  struck  with  the  utmost  wonder:  and  they  cursed  and  re- 
viled me  while  I  stood  laughing,  and  saying,  How  can  my  master  kill  me  when  he 
bought  me  with  this  fault  ? 

So  when  my  master  went  to  the  house,  he  found  it  in  a  state  of  ruin  (and  it  was 
I  who  destroyed  the  greater  part,  and  broke  in  it  things  worth  a  large  sum  of  money) ; 
and  his  wife  said  to  him,  It  was  Cafour  who  broke  the  vessels  and  the  China-ware. 
Upon  this,  his  rage  increased,  and  he  exclaimed.  By  Allah,  in  my  life  I  have  never 
seen  such  a  misbegotten  wretch  as  this  slave ;  yet  he  calleth  it  half  a  lie.  What 
then  would  have  been  the  result  had  it  been  a  whole  lie  ?  In  that  case  he  had  de- 
stroyed a  city,  or  two  cities  ! — Then,  in  the  excess  of  his  rage,  he  went  to  the  Judge, 
who  inflicted  upon  me  a  severe  beating,  so  that  I  became  insensible,  and  swooned 
away ;  after  which  my  master  contrived  means  of  obtaining  for  me  a  high  a  price, 
and  I  ceased  not  to  excite  disturbances  in  the  places  into  which  I  was  sold,  and  was 
transferred  from  emir  to  emir,  and  from  grandee  to  grandee,  by  sale  and  purchase, 
until  I  entered  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  now  my  spirit  is  broken, 
and  my  strength  hath  failed. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  GANEM  THE  SON  OF  AYOUB,  THE 
DISTRACTED  SLAVE  OF  LOVE. 

When  the  other  slaves  had  heard  his  story,  they  laughed  at  it,  and  said  to  him. 
Verily  thou  art  a  villain,  the  son  of  a  villain :  thou  hast  told  an  abominable  lie. 
The  first  and  second  then  said  to  the  third  slave.  Relate  to  us  thy  story. — 0  sons  of 
my  uncle,  he  replied.  All  that  hath  just  been  related  is  nonsense:  but  my  story  is 
long,  and  this  is  not  a  time  to  tell  it:  for  the  morning,  0  sons  of  my  uncle,  is  near, 
and  perhaps  it  may  overtake  us  with  this  chest  still  before  us,  and  we  shall  be  dis- 

'The  manumission  of  a  slave,  without  giving  him  the  means  of  providing  for  himself,  is  con- 
sidered by  Mahometans  iis  a  punishment. 


THE   DISTRACTED    SLAVE   OF   LOVE.  199 

graced  among  the  public,  and  our  lives  be  lost:  haste  then  to  work,  and  when  we 
have  finished,  and  returned  home,  I  will  relate  to  you  my  story.  So  they  put  down 
the  light,  and  dug  a  trench  of  the  size  of  the  chest  between  four  tombs  ;  Cafour 
digging,  and  Sawab  removing  the  earth  in  baskets,  until  they  had  dug  to  the  depth 
of  half  a  fathom,  when  they  put  the  chest  into  the  trench,  and  replaced  the  earth 
over  it,  and  went  forth  from  the  enclosure,  and,  having  closed  the  gate,  disappeared 
from  before  the  eyes  of  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub. 

When,  therefore,  they  had  left  the  place  vacant  unto  Ganem,  and  he  knew  that  he 
was  alone,  his  mind  became  busied  respecting  the  contents  of  the  chest,  and  he  said 
within  himself.  What  can  this  chest  contain  ?  He  waited  until  daybreak  gleamed 
and  shone  forth,  and  then  descended  from  the  palm-tree,  and  removed  the  earth  with 
his  hands  until  he  had  uncovered  the  chest  and  disengaged  it,  when  he  took  a  stone 
and  struck  with  it  the  lock,  and  broke  it;  and  lifting  up  the  cover,  he  looked  in, 
and  beheld  a  damsel  asleep,  stupified  M-ith  bhang,  but  still  breathing;  she  was  of  a 
beautiful  and  lovely  person,  and  decked  with  ornaments  of  gold  and  necklaces  of 
jewels  worth  a  kingdom,  and  of  a  value  that  no  money  would  equal.  When  Ganem 
the  son  of  Ayoub  beheld  her,  he  knew  that  she  had  been  the  object  of  a  plot,  and 
being  convinced  of  this,  he  pulled  her  up  until  he  had  lifted  her  out  of  the  chest, 
and  laid  her  upon  her  back  ;  and  as  soon  as  she  scented  the  breeze,  and  the  air  en- 
tered her  nostrils,  and  her  mouth  and  throat,  she  sneezed,  and  then  was  choked,  and 
coughed,  whereupon  there  fell  from  her  throat  a  round  piece  of  bhang,  of  such  po- 
tency that  if  an  elephant  smelt  it  he  would  sleep  from  one  night  to  another.  She 
then  opened  her  eyes,  and,  looking  around,  said,  with  an  eloquent  voice,  Wo  to  thee 
0  wind !  thou  neither  satisfiest  the  thirsty,  nor  cheereth  by  thy  presence  the  satisfied 
with  drink  !  Where  is  Zahr  el  Bostan  ? — But  no  one  answered  her.  Then  looking 
aside,  she  exclaimed.  Where  are  my  slaves !  are  ye  awake  ?  speak. — But  no  one  an- 
swered her.  And  she  looked  round  about  her,  and  exclaimed,  Alas  for  me,  that  I 
am  transported  to  the  tombs!  0  Thou  who  knowest  the  secrets  of  the  breasts  and 
recompenseth  on  the  day  of  resurrection !  who  hath  brought  me  from  among  the 
curtains  and  the  veils,  and  placed  me  amid  four  tombs  ? 

While  she  was  saying  all  this,  Ganem  stood  still ;  but  he  now  said  to  her,  0  my 
mistress,  there  are  neither  veils  nor  palaces  nor  tombs  for  thee  here :  this  is  none 
other  than  thy  slave  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  whom  the  King,  who  is  omniscient 
with  respect  to  hidden  things,  hath  impelled  hither  that  he  may  deliver  thee  from 
these  troubles,  and  that  the  utmost  of  thy  desires  may  be  accomplished  unto  thee. 
And  he  was  silent ;  and  when  she  became  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the  case,  she 
exclaimed,  I  testify  that  there  is  no  deity  but  God,  and  I  testify  that  Mahomet  is 
God's  Apostle !  Then  looking  towards  Ganem,  with  her  hands  placed  upon  her 
breast,  she  said  to  him  with  a  sweet  voice,  0  auspicious  youth  !  who  brought  me 
unto  this  place  ?  For  now  1  have  recovered  my  senses. — 0  my  mistress,  he  answered, 
three  eunuchs  came  bearing  this  chest : — and  he  related  to  her  all  that  had  happened, 
and  how  the  evening  had  overtaken  him,  so  that  he  became  the  means  of  her  pre- 
servation, and  that  otherwise  she  had  died  of  suffocation  ;  and  he  inquired  of  her 
respecting  her  history.  0  youth,  she  replied,  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  cast  me 
into  the  hands  of  one  like  thee  !  Rise  therefore  now,  and  put  me  into  the  chest,  and 
go  forth  to  the  road,  and  as  soon  as  thou  shalt  find  any  one  who  lets  out  asses  or 
other  beasts,  or  a  muleteer,  hire  him  to  transport  this  chest,  and  convey  me  to  thy 
house  ;  and  when  I  am  in  thy  abode  it  will  be  well,  and  I  will  relate  to  thee  my 
story,  and  acquaint  thee  with  my  tale,  and  good  fortun-e  will  accrue  to  thee  through 
my  means. — So  Ganem  rejoiced,  and  he  went  forth  into  the  desert  tract. 

The  day  had  begun  to  gleam,  the  sun  rose  in  splendour,  and  the  people  came 
walking  forth  ;  and  Ganem  hired  a  man  with  a  mule,  and  brought  him  to  the  burial- 
place,  lie  then  lifted  the  chest,  after  he  had  put  the  damsel  into  it,  and,  with  hia 
heart  smitten  by  love  for  her,  proceeded  with  her,  full  of  joy,  for  she  was  a  damsel 
worth  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  was  decked  with  ornaments  and  apparel  of 


200  GANEM   THE    SON   OF   AYOUB, 

enormous  value.  Scarcely  had  he  found  himself  at  his  house  ^vhen  he  put  down 
the  chest,  and  opened  it,  and  took  forth  from  it  the  damsel,  who  looked,  and  saw  that 
the  place  was  a  handsome  dwelling  furnished  with  variegated  carpets,  and  she  ob- 
served the  gay  colours  and  various  embellishments,  and  beheld  stuifs  packed  up, 
and  loads  of  goods,  and  other  property :  so  she  knew  that  he  was  a  great  merchant, 
and  a  man  of  wealth.  She  then  uncovered  her  face,  and  looked  at  him,  and  ob- 
served him  to  be  a  handsome  young  man,  and  loved  him  ;  and  she  said  to  hira, 
Bring  us  something  to  eat.  He  answered  her,  On  the  head  and  the  eye  be  thy  com- 
mands:— and  went  to  the  market,  and  bought  a  roasted  lamb,  and  a  dish  of  sweet- 
meats, and  procured  some  dried  fruits,  and  candles,  and  wine,  and  the  requisite 
apparatus  for  perfumes.  Then  returning  to  the  house,  he  took  in  the  things,  and 
when  the  damsel  saw  him,  she  laughed,  and  kissed  him,  and  embraced  him,  and 
began  to  caress  him,  so  that  the  love  which  he  felt  increased,  and  took  entire  posses- 
sion of  his  heart.  They  then  ate  and  drank  until  the  approach  of  night,  and  their 
love  was  mutual ;  for  they  were  both  of  the  same  age,  and  both  equal  in  comeliness  ; 
and  when  the  night  approached,  the  Distracted  Slave  of  Love,  Ganem  the  son  of 
Ayoub,  arose  and  lighted  the  candles  and  lamps,  and  the  chamber  glistened;  he  then 
brought  forth  the  wine-service,  and  prepared  the  table,  and  sat  down  with  her  ;  he 
filling  and  handing  to  her,  and  she  filling  and  handing  to  him,  while  they  both 
toyed  and  laughed  and  recited  verses:  their  gaiety  increased,  and  they  were  en- 
grossed by  mutual  love. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Uniter  of  Hearts  ! — Thus 
they  continued  until  it  was  near  morning,  when  sleep  overcame  them,  and  each  of 
them  slept  apart  from  the  other  till  morning  came. 

Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub  then  arose,  and  went  forth  to  the  market,  and  bought 
what  was  requisite  of  vegetables  and  meat  and  wine  and  other  provisions,  and 
brought  them  to  the  house:  and  he  again  sat  with  her  to  eat,  and  they  ate  until  they 
were  satisfied ;  after  which  he  brought  the  wine,  and  they  drank  and  toyed  together 
till  their  cheeks  reddened  and  their  eyes  became  more  intensely  black  :  and  Ganem 
said,  0  my  mistress  have  compassion  on  the  captive  of  thy  love,  and  him  whom 
thine  eyes  have  slain  !  I  had  remained  sound  of  heart  but  for  thee  [ — Then  he  •wept 
a  while  ;  and  she  replied,  0  my  master,  and  light  of  mine  eye,  by  Allah,  I  love  thee, 
and  confide  in  thee;  but  I  know  that  thou  canst  not  be  united  to  me. — And  what 
hindereth?  said  he.  She  answered,  I  will  this  night  relate  to  thee  my  story,  that 
thou  mayest  accept  my  excuse.  But  they  continued  thus  a  whole  month,  and  after 
this,  one  night,  when  Ganem  was  complaining  to  her  of  his  passion,  she  said  to  him, 
I  will  now  explain  to  thee  my  case,  that  thou  mayest  know  my  dignity,  and  my 
secret  be  revealed  to  thee,  and  my  excuse  become  manifest  to  thee.  He  replied. 
Well.  And  she  took  hold  of  a  band  which  confined  a  part  of  her  dress,  and  said 
to  him,  0  my  master,  read  what  is  on  this  border.  So  he  took  the  border  in  his 
hand,  and  looked  at  it,  and  found  worked  upon  it  in  gold,  I  am  thine,  and  thou  art 
mine,  0  descendant  of  the  Prophet's  uncle.*  And  when  he  had  read  this,  he  let  fall 
his  hand,  and  said  to  her,  Reveal  to  me  thy  history.  She  answered,  Well : — and 
thus  began. 

Know  that  I  am  a  favourite  slave  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  my  name  is 
Alcolomb.  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  after  he  had  reared  me  in  his  palace,  and 
I  had  grown  up,  observed  my  qualities,  and  the  beauty  and  loveliness  with  which 
my  Lord  had  endowed  me,  and  loved  me  excessively:  he  took  me  and  lodged  me  in 
a  private  apartment,  and  appointed  me  ten  female  slaves  to  serve  me,  and  then  gave 
me  those  ornaments  which  thou  seest  with  me.  After  this,  the  Caliph  went  forth 
one  day  on  a  journey  to  one  of  the  surrounding  provinces,  and  the  lady  Zobeide 
came  to  one  of  the  female  slaves  who  were  in  my  service,  and  said.  When  thy  mis- 
tress Alcolomb  sleepeth,  put  this  piece  of  bhang  into  her  nose  and  her  drink,  and 
thou  shalt  receive  from  me  a  sum  of  money  that  will  satisfy  thee.     The  slave  replied, 

'This  is  meant  to  indicate  Ilaroun  Alrashid. 


Aleolomb  Drugged  for  Burial.    (Page  200.) 


201 


THE    DISTRACTED    SLAVE    OF    LOVE.  203 

Most  willingly:  —  and  she  received  the  bhang  from  her,  rejoicing  on  account  of  the 
money,  and  because  she  had  been  originally  Zobeide's  slave :  and  she  insinuated  the 
bhang  into  me,  whereupon  I  fell  upon  the  floor  with  my  head  bent  down  to  my  feet, 
and  seemed  to  be  in  another  world ;  and  when  she  could  devise  no  other  stratagem, 
she  put  me  into  that  chest,  and  privily  summoned  the  black  slaves,  and,  after  having 
given  presents  to  them  and  to  the  door-keepers,  sent  me  with  the  black  slaves  on  the 
night  when  thou  wast  reposing  at  the  top  of  the  palm-tree:  and  they  did  with  me 
as  thou  sawest,  and  my  deliverance  was  effected  through  thy  means :  then  thou 
broughtest  me  unto  this  place,  where  thou  hast  treated  me  with  the  utmost  kindness. 
This  is  my  story:  and  I  know  not  what  hath  happened  to  the  Caliph  during  my 
absence.     Know,  therefore,  my  dignity;  and  divulge  not  my  case. 

When  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub  heard  these  words  of  Alcolomb,  and  discovered 
that  she  was  the  favourite  of  the  Caliph,  he  drew  back,  in  his  awe  for  the  Caliph, 
and  sat  alone  at  one  side  of  the  chamber,  blaming  himself,  and  reflecting  upon  his 
situation,  perplexed  by  love  of  her  to  whom  he  could  not  be  united  ;  and  he  wept 
from  the  violence  of  his  desire,  and  the  fierceness  of  his  passion  and  distraction, 
and  began  to  complain  of  fortune  and  its  injustice.  —  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of 
Him  who  causeth  the  hearts  of  the  generous  to  be  troubled  with  love,  and  endueth 
not  the  mean  with  so  much  of  it  as  equalleth  the  weight  of  a  grain!  —  And  upon 
this  Alcolomb  rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  and  kissed  him,  and,  her  heart  being 
entirely  captivated  by  his  love,  she  revealed  what  she  had  hidden  of  the  extent  of 
her  passion,  and  encircled  his  neck  with  her  arms,  and  kissed  him  again,  but  he 
withdrew  from  her  embrace,  in  his  fear  for  the  Caliph.  They  then  conversed  a 
while,  drowned  in  the  sea  of  mutual  love,  and  so  remained  until  day,  when  Ganem 
arose,  and  went  forth  to  the  market  as  usual,  and  procured  what  was  requisite,  and, 
returning  to  the  house,  found  Alcolomb  weeping  ;  but  as  soon  as  she  beheld  him,  she 
ceased  from  her  tears,  and  smiled,  and  said  to  him.  Thou  hast  made  me  desolate  by 
thine  absence,  0  beloved  of  my  heart.  By  Allah,  this  hour  during  which  thou  hast 
been  avray  from  me  hath  appeared  as  a  year ;  for  I  cannot  endure  thy  separation  ; 
and  see,  I  have  thus  shown  thee  my  state,  through  the  violence  of  my  passion. 
Arise  therefore  now,  and  mind  not  what  hath  happened,  but  take  me  as  thy  wife.  — 
But  he  replied,  I  seek  refuge  with  Allah!  This  is  a  thing  that  cannot  be.  How 
should  the  dog  sit  in  the  place  of  the  lion  ?  What  belongeth  to  my  lord  is  forbidden 
me  to  approach.  —  He  then  tore  himself  from  her,  and  sat  apart;  and  she  increased 
in  love  through  his  refusal.  —  In  this  manner  they  passed  three  long  months;  and 
whenever  she  made  any  advances  to  him  he  withdrew  from  her,  and  said.  Whatever 
belongeth  to  the  master  is  forbidden  to  the  slave.  —  Such  was  the  case  of  the  Dis- 
tracted Slave  of  Love,  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub. 

Meanwhile,  Zobeide,  during  the  absence  of  the  Caliph,  having  acted  thus  with 
Alcolomb,  became  perplexed,  saying  within  herself.  What  shall  I  say  to  the  Caliph 
when  he  cometh  and  inquireth  respecting  her ;  and  what  shall  be  my  answer  to  him  ? 
She  then  called  for  an  old  woman  who  resided  with  her,  and  acquainted  her  with  her 
secret,  and  said  to  her.  What  shall  I  do,  now  that  Alcolomb  is  no  more  ?  The  old 
woman  answered,  when  she  understood  the  affair,  Know,  0  my  mistress,  that  the 
return  of  the  Caliph  is  near ;  but  I  wnll  send  to  a  carpenter,  and  desire  him  to  make 
a  wooden  image  of  a  corpse,  and  they  shall  dig  for  it  a  grave,  and  thou  shalt  light 
candles  and  lamps  around  it,  and  command  every  one  who  is  in  the  palace  to  wear 
black,  and  order  thy  female  slaves  and  eunuchs,  as  soon  as  they  know  of  the  Caliph's 
return  from  his  journey,  to  raise  lamentations  in  the  vestibules,  and  when  he  enters 
and  asks  the  news,  they  shall  answer  him,  Alcolomb  is  dead  ;  and  maj'  God  abund- 
antly compensate  thee  for  the  loss  of  her! — and  from  the  esteem  with  which  she  was 
regarded  by  our  mistress,  she  hath  buried  her  in  her  own  palace.  So  when  he 
heareth  this,  he  will  weep,  and  the  event  will  distress  him.  Then  he  will  cause  the 
readers  to  sit  up  by  night  at  her  tomb  to  perform  recitations  of  the  Koran  ;  and  if  he 
Bay  within   himself.   Surely  the  daughter  of  my  uncle,  through   her  jealousy  hath 


204  GANEM   THE   SON   OF   ATOUB, 

been  led  to  destroy  Alcolomb, — or  the  distraction  of  love  overpower  him,  and  he  give 
orders  to  take  her  forth  from  the  tomb,  fear  not  from  that ;  for  if  they  dig  down  to 
the  image  in  the  form  of  a  human  being,  and  take  it  forth  shrouded  in  costly  grave- 
clothes,  and  the  Caliph  desire  to  remove  the  grave-clothes  from  it,  to  behold  her,  do 
thou  prevent  him,  and  the  fear  of  the  world  to  come  will  withhold  him  ;  and  do  thou 
say  to  him,  To  behold  her  corpse  uncovered  is  unlawful.  Then  he  will  believe  her 
death,  and  will  return  her  image  to  its  place,  and  thank  thee  for  thy  conduct,  and 
thou  shalt  escape,  please  God,  from  this  difficulty. — When  the  lady  Zubeide,  there- 
fore, heard  what  she  said,  she  approved  of  it,  and  bestowed  upon  her  a  dress  of 
honour,  and  commanded  her  to  do  this,  having  given  her  a  sum  of  money.  So  the 
old  woman  set  about  the  business  immediately,  and  ordered  the  carpenter  to  make 
for  her  an  image  as  above  described,  and  when  it  was  finished,  she  brought  it  to  the 
lady  Zobeide,  and  she  shrouded  it,  and  lighted  the  candles  and  lamps,  and  spread 
the  carpets  around  the  tomb,  and  clad  herself  in  black,  ordering  the  female  slaves  to 
do  the  same ;  and  the  news  was  spread  through  the  palace  that  Alcolomb  had  died. 

Some  time  after  this,  the  Caliph  returned  from  his  journey,  and  went  up  to  his 
palace ;  but  his  mind  was  occupied  only  with  Alcolomb ;  and  seeing  the  pages  and 
eunuchs  and  female  slaves  all  clad  in  black,  his  heart  was  agitated  ;  and  when  he 
entered  the  palace  of  the  lady  Zobeide,  and  beheld  her  also  clad  in  black,  he  inquired 
the  reason  of  it,  and  they  informed  him  of  the  death  of  Alcolomb.  Upon  hearing 
this,  he  fell  down  in  a  swoon  ;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  asked  where  was  her 
tomb  ;  and  the  lady  Zobeide  answered,  Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that,  on 
account  of  the  esteem  in  which  she  was  held  by  me,  I  burled  her  in  my  palace.  So 
the  Caliph,  entering  the  palace  in  his  travelling  dress,  proceeded  to  visit  the  tomb  of 
Alcolomb,  and  found  the  carpets  spread,  and  the  candles  and  lamps  lighted  ;  and 
when  he  beheld  this,  he  thanked  her  for  what  she  had  done.  But  afterwards  he  be- 
came perplexed,  and  wavered  for  some  time  between  belief  and  disbelief,  until 
suspicion  overcame  him,  and  he  gave  orders  to  open  the  tomb  and  to  take  her  out ; 
when,  however,  he  saw  the  grave-clothes,  and  was  about  to  remove  them  that  he 
might  behold  her,  he  feared  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  and  the  old  woman  said, 
Restore  her  to  her  place.  Then  immediately  the  Caliph  commanded  to  bring  the 
professors  of  religion  and  law,  and  the  readers,  and  they  performed  recitations  of 
the  whole  of  the  Koran  at  her  tomb,  while  he  sat  by  the  side  of  it  weeping  until  he 
became  insensible. 

He  continued  to  frequent  the  tomb  for  the  space  of  a  month:  after  which  it  hap- 
pened that  he  entered  the  Harem,  after  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  had  dispersed  from 
before  him  to  their  houses,  and  he  slept  awhile,  and  a  female  slave  sat  at  his  head, 
and  another  at  his  feet;  and  after  sleep  had  overcome  him  he  awoke,  and  opened  his 
eyes,  and  heard  the  damsel  who  was  at  his  head  say  to  her  at  his  feet.  Wo  to  thee, 
0  Keizuran  ! — Wherefore,  0  Kadib?  said  the  other. — Our  lord,  rejoined  the  first,  is 
ignorant  of  what  hath  happened  ;  so  he  sitteth  up  by  night  at  a  tomb  in  which  there 
is  nothing  but  a  carved  image,  the  work  of  a  carpenter. — And  what  then,  asked  the 
other  damsel,  hath  befallen  Alcolomb?  Her  companion  answered,  Know  that  our 
mistress  Zobeide  sent  some  bhang  by  a  female  slave,  and  she  stupified  her  with  it, 
and  when  the  bhang  had  taken  efi"ect  upon  her,  she  put  her  in  a  chest,  and  sent  her 
away  with  Sawab  and  Cafour,  commanding  them  to  throw  her  into  the  tomb.  Upon 
this,  Keizuran  said,  Wo  to  thee,  0  Kadib!  Is  not  the  lady  Alcolomb  dead  ?— 
Heaven  preserve  her  youth  from  death !  answered  Kadib :  I  heard  the  lady  Zobeide 
say  that  Alcolomb  was  with  a  young  merchant  named  Ganem  of  Damascus,  and  that 
she  had  been  with  him,  including  this  day,  four  months  ;  and  our  lord  here  weepeth 
and  passeth  sleepless  nights  at  a  tomb  in  which  there  is  no  corpse. — Thus  they  con- 
versed together,  while  the  Caliph  heard  their  words  :  and  when  they  had  finished 
their  conversation,  and  he  had  become  acquainted  with  the  event,  that  this  tomb  was 
a  false  one,  and  that  Alcolomb  had  been  with  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub  for  the  space 
of  four  months,  he  was  violently  incensed,  and  arose,  and  summoned  the  Emirs  of 


THE    DISTRACTED    SLAVE    OF   LOVE.  205 

his  court;  whereupon  the  Vizier  Giafar  the  Barmecide  presented  himself  and  kissed 
the  ground  before  him,  and  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  in  anger,  Descend,  0  Giafar,  with 
a  body  of  men,  and  inquire  for  the  house  of  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  and  assault 
it  suddenly,  and  bring  him  hither  with  my  female  slave  Alcolomb:  and  I  will 
assuredly  torture  him. 

Giafar  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: — and  he  went  forth  with  his  attendants,  the  Judge 
also  accompanying  him,  and  they  proceeded  until  they  arrived  at  Ganem's  house. 
Ganem  had  just  before  gone  out  and  brought  a  pot  of  meat,  and  was  about  to  stretch 
forth  his  hand  to  eat  of  it  with  Alcolomb,  when  she  looked  out,  and  found  that  the 
house  was  beset  on  all  sides,  and  the  Vizier  and  the  Judge  and  the  ofiScers  of  vio- 
lence and  the  Mamlouks  with  drawn  swords  were  surrounding  it  as  the  black  sur- 
rounds the  pupil  of  the  eye  ;  and  upon  this  she  knew  that  tidings  of  her  situation  had 
reached  the  ears  of  the  Caliph  her  lord,  and  she  made  sure  of  destruction  :  her  coun- 
tenance became  pale,  and  her  beauty  changed,  and  looking  towards  Ganem,  she  said 
to  him,  0  my  beloved,  save  thyself! — How  shall  I  do,  said  he,  and  whither  shall  I 
flee,  when  my  wealth  and  means  of  subsistence  are  in  this  house  ?  But  she  answered. 
Delay  not,  lest  thou  perish,  and  thy  wealth  also  be  lost. — 0  my  mistress,  and  light 
of  mine  eye,  rejoined  he,  how  can  I  contrive  to  go  forth  when  they  are  surrounding 
the  house? — Fear  not,  she  answered: — and  she  pulled  off  his  clothes,  and  clad  him 
in  worn-out,  ragged  garments,  and,  taking  the  pot  that  had  contained  the  meat, 
placed  it  upon  his  head,  and  put  in  it  a  little  bread  and  a  saucer  of  meat,  and  said 
to  him,  Go  forth  by  the  help  of  this  stratagem,  and  thou  hast  nothing  to  fear  with 
respect  to  me,  for  I  know  what  I  am  able  to  do  with  the  Caliph.  When  Ganem, 
therefore,  heard  the  words  of  Alcolomb,  and  the  advice  which  she  gave  him,  he  went 
forth  through  the  midst  of  them,  bearing  the  pot,  and  Providence  protected  him,  so 
that  he  escaped  from  the  snares  and  injuries  which  menaced  him,  by  the  blessing 
of  his  good  conscience. 

And  when  the  Vizier  Giafar  arrived  at  the  house,  he  dismounted  from  his  horse, 
and  entered,  and  looked  at  Alcolomb ;  who  had  adorned  herself,  and  filled  a  chest 
with  gold  and  ornaments  and  jewels  and  rarities,  such  as  were  light  to  carry  and  of 
great  value  ;  and  when  Giafar  came  in  to  her,  she  rose  upon  her  feet,  and  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  saying  to  him,  0  my  master,  the  pen  hath  written  what  God  hath 
decreed.  But  Giafar,  when  he  beheld  her  situation,  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  mis- 
tress, he  gave  me  no  order  but  to  arrest  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub.  And  she  said, 
Know  that  he  hath  packed  up  some  bales  of  merchandise,  and  gone  with  them  to 
Damascus,  and  I  know  nothing  more  than  this ;  and  I  request  thee  to  take  care  of 
this  chest  for  me,  and  to  convey  it  to  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  So 
Giafar  answered,  I  hear  and  obey ; — and  he  took  the  chest,  and  gave  orders  that  it 
should  be  conveyed,  together  with  Alcolomb,  to  the  palace  of  the  Caliph,  treating 
her  with  honour  and  respect.  This  took  place  after  they  had  plundered  the  house 
of  Ganem ;  and  they  went  to  the  Caliph  ;  and  Giafar  related  to  him  all  that  had  hap- 
pened ;  whereupon  the  Caliph  appointed  to  Alcolomb  &  dark  chamber,  and  there 
lodged  her,  commissioning  an  old  woman  to  serve  her ;  for  he  imagined  that  Ganem 
had  acted  dishonestly  towards  her. 

He  then  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Emir  Mohammed  the  son  of  Suleiman  Zeini ;  who 
was  viceroy  of  Damascus,  containing  as  follows: — As  soon  as  this  letter  cometh  to 
thy  hands,  thou  shalt  arrest  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  and  send  him  unto  me.  So 
when  the  mandate  was  brought  to  him,  he  kissed  it,  and  put  it  upon  his  head,  and 
caused  it  to  be  proclaimed  through  the  market-street.  Whosoever  desireth  to  plunder, 
let  him  repair  to  the  house  of  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub.  And  they  came  to  the 
house,  and  found  that  the  mother  of  Ganem  and  his  sister  had  made  for  them  a  tomb, 
and  sat  by  it  weeping;  and  they  laid  hold  upon  them,  and  plundered  the  house,  and 
tte  mother  and  sister  knew  not  the  cause :  and  when  they  brought  them  before  the 
Sultan,  he  inquired  of  them  respecting  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub;  and  they  answered 


206  GANEM    THE    SON    OF    AYOUB, 

him,  For  the  space  of  a  year  we  have  obtained  no  tidings  of  him.— And  they  re- 
stored them  to  their  place. 

In  the  mean  time,  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  the  Distracted  Slave  of  Love,  when 
his  wealth  had  been  seized,  was  perplexed,  and  began  to  weep  for  himself  so  as  to 
break  his  heart.  He  walked  on,  and  ceased  not  on  his  way  to  the  close  of  day,  suf- 
fering from  excessive  hunger  and  fatigue,  until  he  arrived  at  a  village,  where  he 
entered  a  mosque,  and  seated  himself  upon  a  round  mat,  and  he  leaned  his  back 
ao-ainst  one  of  the  walls  of  the  building,  and  then  threw  himself  down,  under  the 
influence  of  extreme  hunger  and  weariness.  There  he  remained  until  morning,  his 
heart  palpitating  from  want  of  food  ;  vermin  attacked  his  body,  his  breath  became 
fetid,  and  he  was  altogether  changed;  and  the  people  of  that  village,  coming  to 
perform  the  morning  prayers,  found  him  lying  there  sick  through  want  of  food,  yet 
exhibiting  evident  traces  of  former  affluence  ;  and  when  they  approached  him,  they 
found  him  cold  and  hungry.  They  clad  him,  therefore,  with  an  old  garment  having 
ragged  sleeves,  and  said  to  him.  Whence  art  thou,  0  stranger,  and  what  is  the  cause 
of  thine  infirmity?  And  Ganem  opened  his  eyes,  and  looked  at  them,  and  wept ;  but 
he  returned  them  no  answer.  Then  one  of  them,  knowing  the  violence  of  his  hunger, 
went  and  brought  him  a  saucer  of  honey  and  two  cakes  of  bread,  and  he  ate,  while 
they  sat  around  him  until  the  sun  rose,  when  they  departed  to  their  several  occupa- 
tions.—  In  this  state  he  remained  among  them  for  a  month,  and  his  infirmity  and 
disease  increased;  so  the  people,  commiserating  him,  consulted  together  respecting 
his  case,  and  agreed  to  transport  him  to  the  hospital  at  Bagdad. 

"While  they  were  thus  conversing,  lo,  two  women,  beggars,  came  in  to  him,  and 
they  were  his  mother  and  sister:  and  when  he  beheld  them,  he  gave  them  the  bread 
that  was  at  his  head,  and  they  slept  by  him  the  next  night:  but  he  knew  them  not. 
And  on  the  following  day,  the  people  of  the  village  came  to  him,  bringing  a  camel, 
and  said  to  its  owner.  Convey  this  sick  person  on  the  camel,  and  when  thou  hast 
arrived  at  Bagdad,  put  him  down  at  the  door  of  the  hospital ;  perhaps  he  may  recover 
his  health,  and  thou  wilt  receive  a  recompense.  He  answered  them,  I  hear  and 
obey.  So  they  brought  forth  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub  from  the  mosque,  and  placed 
him,  with  the  round  mat  upon  which  he  was  sleeping,  on  the  camel ;  and  his  mother 
and  sister  came  to  look  at  him  among  the  other  people;  but  they  knew  him  not. 
Then  observing  him  attentively,  they  said.  Verily  he  resembleth  our  Ganem  !  Can 
he  be  this  sick  person  or  not? — But  as  to  Ganem,  he  awoke  not  until  he  was  mounted 
on  the  camel,  and  he  began  to  weep  and  moan  ;  and  the  people  of  the  village  saw 
his  mother  and  sister  weeping  for  him,  though  they  did  not  know  him.  Then  his 
mother  and  sister  journeyed  onwards  to  Bagdad,  while  the  camel-driver  also  pro- 
ceeded without  stopping  until  he  had  deposited  Ganem  at  the  door  of  the  hospital, 
when  he  took  his  camel  and  returned. 

Ganem  remained  lying  there  until  the  morning,  and  when  the  people  began  to 
pass  along  the  street,  they  beheld  him.  He  had  become  so  emaciated  that  his  form 
resembled  that  of  a  toothpick,  and  the  people  ceased  not  to  gaze  at  him  until  the 
sheikh  of  the  market  came  and  repelled  them  from  him,  and  said,  I  will  gain  Para- 
dise by  moans  of  this  poor  person ;  for  if  they  take  him  into  the  hospital  they  will 
kill  him  in  one  day.  He  then  ordered  his  young  men  to  carry  him,  aad  they  con- 
veyed him  to  his  house,  where  he  spread  for  him  a  new  bed,  and  put  for  him  a  new 
cushion,  and  said  to  his  wife.  Serve  him  fiiithfully.  She  replied.  On  the  head  :— and 
she  tucked  up  her  sleeves,  and,  having  heated  for  him  some  water,  washed  his  hands 
and  feet  and  body,  and  clothed  him  in  a  vest  of  one  of  her  female  slaves.  She  then 
gave  him  to  drink  a  cup  of  wine,  and  sprinkled  rose-water  upon  him  ;  so  he  recov- 
ered his  senses ;  and  he  remembered  his  beloved  Alcolomb,  and  his  anguish  in- 
creased.— Thus  did  it  happen  to  Ganem. 

Now  as  to  Alcolomb, — when  the  Caliph,  incensed  against  her,  had  lodged  her  in 
the  dark  chamber,  she  remained  there  in  the  same  state  for  eighty  days ;  and  it  hap- 
pened that  the  Caliph  passed  one  day  by  that  place,  and  heard  her  recitin:;  \eises  : 


THE    DISTRACTED    SLAVE    OF   LOVE.  207 

and  when  she  had  finished  her  recitation  of  them,  she  exclaimed,  0  my  beloved! 

0  Ganem  !  How  kind  art  thou,  and  how  chaste  is  thy  disposition  !  Thou  hast  acted 
with  kindness  unto  him  who  hath  injured  thee,  and  hast  guarded  the  honour  of  him 
who  hath  violated  thine,  and  hast  protected  his  harem,  and  he  hath  enslaved  both 
thee  and  thy  family  ;  but  thou  wilt  assuredly  stand,  and  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
before  a  just  Judge,  and  thou  wilt  obtain  justice  against  him  on  the  day  when  the 
Judge  shall  be  God,  and  the  witnesses  the  angels  I — And  when  the  Caliph  heard 
her  words,  and  understood  her  complaint,  he  knew  that  she  was  injured;  and  he 
entered  his  palace,  and  sent  the  eunuch  to  her,  and  when  she  came  before  him  she 
hung  down  her  head,  with  weeping  eye,  and  sorrowful  heart :  and  he  said  to  her,  0 
Alcolomb,  I  see  that  thou  complainest  of  my  oppi'ession,  and  accusest  me  of  tyranny, 
and  thinkest  that  T  have  injured  him  who  hath  acted  kindly  unto  me.  Who  then  is 
he  who  hath  guarded  my  honour  and  I  have  violated  his  ?  and  who  hath  protected 
my  harem  and  T  have  enslaved  his  ? — She  answered  him,  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub : 
for  he  hath  not  attempted  any  dishonest  action  towards  me,  by  thy  beneficence,  O 
Prince  of  the  Faithful ! — Upon  this  the  Caliph  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor 
power  but  in  God? — and  then  added,  0  Alcolomb,  desire  of  me  what  thou  wilt,  and 

1  will  grant  thy  wish.  So  she  replied,  I  desire  of  thee  my  beloved,  Ganem  the  son 
of  Ayoub.  And  when  he  heard  her  words,  he  said,  I  will  cause  him  to  be  brought 
hither,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  in  honour. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  rejoined, 
when  thou  shalt  have  caused  him  to  be  brought,  wilt  thou  present  me  to  him?  He 
answered,  When  I  have  had  him  brought  I  will  present  thee  to  him,  the  present  of 
a  generous  man  who  will  not  revoke  his  gift.  So  .she  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
permit  me  to  search  about  for  him  :  perhaps  God  may  unite  me  with  him.  And  he 
replied.  Do  as  thou  wilt. 

Upon  this  she  rejoiced,  and  went  forth,  taking  with  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
and  visited  the  sheikhs,  and  gave  alms  for  the  sake  of  Ganem  ;  and  on  the  following 
day  she  went  to  the  market  of  the  merchants,  and  gave  to  the  chief  of  the  market 
some  money,  saying  to  him,  Bestow  it  in  alms  upon  the  strangers.  Then  again,  in 
the  following  week,  she  went  forth,  taking  with  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and, 
entering  the  market  of  the  goldsmiths  and  jewellers,  summoned  the  chief  of  the 
market,  and  he  came,  and  she  gave  him  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to 
him.  Bestow  it  in  alms  upon  the  strangers : — whereupon  the  chief,  who  was  the 
sheikh  of  the  market  before  mentioned,  looked  at  har,  and  said  to  her.  Wilt  thou  go 
with  me  to  my  house,  to  look  at  a  young  stranger  there,  and  see  how  elegant  he  is, 
and  how  perfectly  charming  ?  For  it  is  probable  that  he  is  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub, 
the  Distracted  Slave  of  Love. — But  the  chief  had  no  knowledge  of  him,  arid 
imagined  that  he  was  a  poor  person  involved  in  debt,  whose  wealth  had  been  taken 
from  him,  or  a  lover  parted  from  his  beloved.  And  when  she  heard  his  words,  her 
heart  beat,  and  her  affections  were  engrossed  by  him,  and  she  answered,  Send  with 
me  some  one  to  conduct  me  to  thy  house.  So  he  sent  with  her  a  young  boy,  who 
conducted  her  to  the  house  where  the  stranger  was  lodged,  and  she  thanked  him  for 
doing  so ;  and  when  she  entered  the  house,  and  saluted  the  chief's  wife,  the  latter 
arose  and  kissed  the  ground  before  her;  for  she  knew  her.  Then  Alcolomb  said  to 
her.  Where  is  the  sick  person  who  is  with  you  ?  And  she  wept,  and  answered, 
Here  he  is,  0  my  mistress;  but  he  is  of  a  respectable  family,  and  exhibiteth  traces 
of  former  aiSuence.  And  Alcolomb  looked  towards  the  bed  upon  which  he  was 
lying,  and  regarding  him  narrowly,  beheld  him  as  though  he  wei-e  Ganem  himself; 
but  his  condition  was  changed,  and  he  had  become  so  emaciated  that  he  resembled 
a  toothpick,  and  the  truth  of  his  case  was  disguised  from  her,  so  that  she  did  not  dis- 
cover him  to  be  the  person  whom  she  sought:  but  she  was  moved  with  compassion 
for  him,  and  she  wept,  and  exclaimed.  Verily,  strangers  are  objects  of  pity,  though 
they  be  Emirs  in  their  own  countries!  She  then  ordered  for  him  supplies  of  wine 
and  medicines,  and  sat  at  his  head  a  while,  and  mounted,  and  returned  to  her 


208  GANEM   THE    SON   OF   AYOUB, 

palace  ;  and  she  continued  to  go  forth  to  every  market  for  the  purpose  of  searching 
for  Ganem. 

Soon  after,  the  chief  of  the  market  brought  the  mother  of  Ganem,  and  his  sister 
Fetnah,  and  went  with  them  to  Alcolomb,  and  said  to  her,  0  most  charitable  lady, 
there  have  entered  our  city  this  day  a  woman  and  a  girl  of  respectable  origin,  bear- 
ing evident  traces  of  former  affluence,  but  they  are  clad  in  garments  of  hair-cloth, 
and  each  of  them  hath  a  wallet  hung  to  her  neck,  and  their  eyes  are  weeping,  and 
their  hearts  sorrowful ;  so  I  have  brought  them  unto  thee,  that  thou  mayest  give 
them  refuge,  and  preserve  them  from  the  disgrace  of  beggary  ;  for  they  are  not  per- 
sons suited  to  ask  alms  of  the  sordid  :  and,  please  God,  we  shall  enter  Paradise  by 
their  means. — By  Allah,  0  my  master,  she  replied,  thou  hast  made  me  long  to  behold 
them  !  Where  are  they  ?  Order  them  to  come  in.  So,  upon  this,  Fetnah  and  her 
mother  came  in  to  Alcolomh,  who,  when  she  saw  them,  and  observed  that  they  were 
both  distinguished  by  beauty,  wept  for  them,  and  said,  By  Allah,  they  are  persons 
of  an  affluent  family,  and  traces  of  wealth  are  conspicuous  in  their  appearance.  0 
my  mistress,  replied  the  chief  of  the  market,  we  love  the  poor  and  indigent  for  the 
sake  of  future  recompense :  and  probably  the  extortioners  have  oppressed  these  two 
persons,  and  plundered  them  of  their  wealth,  and  ruined  their  houses.  Then  these 
two  females  wept  violently,  and,  remembering  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  the  Dis- 
tracted Slave  of  Love,  their  wailing  increased,  and  Alcolomb  wept  with  them  ;  and 
the  mother  of  Ganem  exclaimed.  We  pray  God  to  unite  us  with  him  whom  we  seek, 
and  he  is  my  son  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub.  When  Alcolomb,  therefore,  heard  these 
words,  she  knew  that  this  woman.was  the  mother  of  her  beloved,  and  that  the  other 
was  his  sister,  and  she  wept  until  she  fell  down  in  a  swoon  ;  and  when  she  recovered, 
she  approached  them,  and  said  to  them.  Ye  have  nothing  to  fear;  for  this  day  is  the 
first  of  your  prosperity,  and  the  last  of  your  adversity  ;  therefore  grieve  not.  She 
then  ordered  the  chief  of  the  market  to  take  them  to  his  house,  and  to  let  his  wife 
conduct  them  into  the  bath,  and  attire  them  in  handsome  clothing,  and  take  care  of 
them,  and  treat  them  with  the  utmost  honour  ;  and  she  gave  him  a  sum  of  money. 

Then,  on  the  following  day,  Alcolomb  mounted  and  went  again  to  the  house  of 
the  chief  of  the  market,  and  went  to  visit  his  wife,  who  rose  to  her,  and  kissed  the 
ground  before  her,  and  thanked  her  for  her  charity ;  and  she  saw  that  the  wife  had 
conducted  the  mother  of  Ganem,  and  his  sister,  to  the  bath,  and  taken  off  their 
former  clothes,  and  that  the  traces  of  their  original  affluence  had  become  more  con- 
spicuous in  consequence;  and  she  sat  a  while  conversing  with  them;  after  which 
she  asked  the  wife  of  the  chief  of  the  market  respecting  the  sick  person  who  was 
with  her.  She  answered,  lie  is  in  the  same  state.  And  Alcolomb  Said,  Arise,  and 
let  us  look  at  him  and  visit  him.  So  they  both  arose,  with  Ganem's  mother  and 
sister,  and  went  in  to  him,  and  seated  themselves  by  him  ;  and  when  Ganem  the  son 
of  Ayoub,  the  Distracted  Slave  of  Love,  heard  one  of  them  mention  Alcolomb,  ema- 
ciated as  he  was  in  body  and  limbs,  his  soul  returned  to  him,  and  he  raised  his  head 
from  the  pillow,  and  called  out,  0  Alcolomb!  She  looked  at  him,  therefore,  and 
knew  him,  and  cried,  saying.  Yes,  0  my  beloved  !  lie  then  said  to  her.  Draw  near 
to  me.  And  she  asked  him,  Art  thou  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  the  Distracted  Slave 
of  Love?  He  answered  her.  Yes:  I  am  he.  And  upon  this,  she  fell  down  in  a 
swoon  ;  and  when  his  sister  and  his  mother  heard  their  words,  they  cried  out.  Oh 
our  joy! — and  in  like  manner  fainted.  And  when  they  recovered,  Alcolomb  said  to 
Ganem,  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  united  us  with  thee  and  with  thy  mother  and 
sister !  Then  approaching  him,  she  related  to  him  ail  that  had  happened  to  her 
with  the  Caliph,  adding,  I  said  to  him,  I  have  declared  to  thee  the  truth,  0  Prince 
of  the  Faithful : — and  he  believed  my  words,  and  approved  thee  ;  and  he  is  now  de- 
siring to  see  thee.  And  she  said  to  him.  The  Caliph  hath  given  me  to  thee: — where- 
upon he  was  tilled  with  the  utmost  joy:  and  Alcolomb  said  to  them  all.  Quit  not 
this  place  until  I  come  again. 

She  then  arose  immediately,  and  departed  to  her  palace,  and  removed  theuce  the 


THE    DISTRACTED    SLAVE    OF    LOVE.  209 

chest  that  she  had  brought  from  Ganem's  house,  and  took  forth  from  it  some  pieces 
of  gohi,  which  she  gave  to  the  chief  of  the  market,  saying  to  him,  Take  these  pieces 
of  gold,  and  buy  for  each  of  them  four  complete  suits  of  dress  of  the  best  kinds  of 
stuff,  and  twenty  handkerchiefs,  and  whatever  else  they  require.  And  after  this, 
she  conducted  them  to  the  bath,  and  gave  orders  to  wash  them,  and  prepared  for 
them  boiled  meats,  and  infusion  of  galangal,  and  juice  of  apples,  after  they  had 
come  forth  from  the  bath  and  dressed  themselves.  For  three  days  she  remained  with 
them,  feeding  them  with  fowls  and  with  boiled  meats,  and  giving  them  sherbet  of 
relined  sugar  to  drink  ;  and  after  the  three  days  their  spirits  returned  to  them.  Then 
she  conducted  tliem  again  to  the  bath,  and  they  came  forth,  and  she  changed  their 
clothes,  and,  leaving  them  in  the  house  of  the  chief  of  the  market,  went  to  the  Ca- 
liph, and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  related  to  him  the  story,  telling  him 
that  her  master,  Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub,  the  Distracted  Slave  of  Love,  had  come, 
and  his  mother  and  sister  also  had  arrived.  When  the  Caliph,  therefore,  heard 
these  words  of  Alcolomb,  he  said  to  the  eunuchs.  Bring  hither  to  me  Ganem.  And 
Giafar  went  down  with  them  to  bring  him  ;  but  Alcolomb  had  gone  before  him,  and 
went  in  unto  Ganem,  and  said  to  him,  Tiie  Caliph  hath  sent  to  thee  to  bring  thee 
before  him :  have  a  care  then  to  display  eloquence  of  tongue,  and  firmness  of  heart, 
and  sweetness  of  speech.  And  she  attired  him  in  a  magnificent  dress,  and  gave 
him  pieces  of  gold  in  abundance,  saying  to  him.  Bestow  plentifully  upon  the  domes- 
tics of  the  Caliph  as  thou  goest  in  to  him.  And  lo,  Giafar  approached  him,  mounted 
upon  his  mule,  and  Ganem  advanced  to  meet  him,  and  greeted  him  with  a  prayer 
for  long  life,  kissing  the  ground  before  him. 

The  planet  of  his  prosperity  had  appeared,  and  the  star  of  his  glory  had  risen 
aloft,  and  Giafar  took  him,  and  they  proceeded  until  they  entered  into  the  presence 
of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ;  and  when  Ganem  came  before  him,  he  looked  towards 
the  Viziers  and  Emirs,  and  Chamberlains  and  Lieutenants,  and  the  other  officers  of 
the  court  and  the  warriors,  and,  being  eloquent  of  tongue,  firm  of  heart,  delicate  in 
the  style  of  bis  language,  and  pleasing  in  the  allusions  it  conveyed,  hung  down  his 
head  towards  the  ground,  and  then  looked  towards  the  Caliph,  and  addressed  him  in  a 
series  of  complimentary  verses.  And  when  he  had  finished  his  recitation,  the  Caliph 
was  delighted  with  the  graces  of  his  person,  and  pleased  with  the  eloquence  of  his 
tongue,  and  the  sweetness  of  his  speech  ;  and  he  said  to  him.  Approach  me.  He 
therefore  approached  him,  and  the  Caliph  said  to  him.  Explain  to  me  thy  tale,  and 
acquaint  me  with  the  truth  of  thy  history.  So  Ganem  sat  and  related  to  the  Caliph 
all  that  had  happened  to  him  from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  when  the  Caliph  knew 
that  he  spoke  truth,  he  bestowed  upon  him  a  dress  of  honour,  and  admitted  him  into 
his  favour,  and  said  to  him.  Acquit  me  of  responsibility.  And  he  did  so,  and  said 
to  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  slave  and  all  that  his  hands  possess  belong  to 
his  master: — and  the  Caliph  rejoiced.  He  then  gave  orders  to  appropriate  a  palace 
to  him  exclusively,  and  appointed  him  abundant  pensions  and  allowances,  and  re- 
moved to  him  his  mother  and  his  sister.  And  the  Caliph,  hearing  that  his  sister 
Fetnah  was  in  beauty  (as  her  name  imported)  a  temptation,  demanded  her  of  him 
in  marriage.  Ganem  therefore  replied.  She  is  thy  handmaid,  and  I  am  thy  mamlouk. 
And  the  Caliph  thanked  him,  and  gave  him  a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and 
summoned  the  Cadi  and  witnesses,  and  they  performed  the  marriage-contract.  Then 
he  and  Ganem  visited  their  wives  on  the  same  day,  the  Caliph  going  to  Fetnah,  and 
Ganem  the  son  of  Ayoub  to  Alcolomb;  and  on  the  following  morning  the  Caliph 
ordered  that  all  that  had  happened  to  Ganem,  from  first  to  last  should  be  committed 
to  writing  and  inserted  in  the  record,  that  his  posterity  might  consider  it,  and  wonder 
at  the  disposals  of  destiny,  and  commit  their  affairs  unto  the  Creator  of  the  night 
and  the  day. 
*14 


210  TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND   THE   LADY    DUNIA. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Hundred  and  Seventh  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Hun 
dred  and  Thirty-seventh. 


THE  STORY  OF  TAJ-ELMOLOUK  AND  THE  LADY  DUNIA. 

There  was,  in  former  times,  a  city  behind  the  mountains  of  Ispahan,  called  the 
Green  City,  and  in  it  resided  a  King  called  the  King  Suleiman.  He  was  a  person 
of  liberality  and  beneficence,  and  justice  and  integrity,  and  of  a  generous  and 
obliging  disposition  ;  travellers  repaired  to  him  from  every  quarter,  and  his  fame 
spread  throughout  all  the  regions  and  countries;  and  he  reigned  a  long  time  in 
glory  and  security  ;  but  he  vras  destitute  of  children  and  of  wives. 

lie  had  a  Vizier  who  nearly  resembled  him  in  his  qualities;  in  liberality  and  other 
endowments  ;  and  it  came  to  pass  that  he  sent  to  this  Vizier  one  day,  and  having 
summoned  him  into  his  presence,  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  my  heart  is  contracted,  and 
my  patience  is  overcome,  and  my  strength  is  impaired,  because  I  have  neither  a  wife 
nor  child :  this  is  not  the  usual  way  of  kings  who  rule  over  lords  and  paupers ;  for 
they  rejoice  in  leaving  children,  and  multiplying  by  them  the  number  of  their  pos- 
terity ;  and  the  Prophet  (God  favour  and  preserve  him!)  hath  said.  Intermarry, 
and  beget  offspring,  that  ye  may  increase  in  number ;  for  I  shall  contend  for  your 
superiority  with  the  other  nations  on  the  day  of  resurrection:  —  what  then  is  thy 
counsel,  0  Vizier?  Point  out  to  me  what  is  advisable. — But  when  the  Vizier  heard 
these  words,  tears  poured  from  his  eyes,  and  he  replied,  Far  be  it  from  me,  0  King 
of  the  age,  that  I  should  speak  of  that  which  belongeth  unto  the  Compassionate  to 
decide  !  Dost  thou  desire  that  I  should  enter  the  fire  of  Hell,  through  the  anger  of 
the  Almighty  King? — Know,  0  Vizier,  rejoined  his  sovereign,  that  if  the  King  pur- 
chase a  female  slave  whose  rank  and  lineage  are  unknown,  he  will  not  be  acquainted 
with  her  ignoble  origin  that  he  may  abstain  from  her,  or  the  nobility  of  her  extrac- 
tion that  he  may  make  her  his  companion:  so,  if  he  do  this,  she  may  perhaps  bear 
him  a  son  who  may  be  a  hypocrite,  a  tyrant,  a  shedder  of  blood;  and  she  may  re- 
semble a  marshy  land,  whose  produce  is  worthless,  and  attaineth  no  excellence:  her 
child  may  be  obnoxious  to  the  indignation  of  his  Lord,  not  doing  what  lie  com- 
mandeth  him,  nor  refraining  from  that  which  lie  forbiddeth  him  to  do.  I  will 
never,  therefore,  be  the  means  of  such  an  event  by  purchasing  a  female  slave.  I 
desire,  rather,  that  thou  demand  in  marriage  for  me  one  of  the  daughters  of  the 
Kings,  whose  lineage  is  known,  and  whose  loveliness  is  celebrated.  If,  then,  thou 
wilt  point  out  to  me  one  of  good  birth  and  of  religion  among  the  daughters  of  tlie  Ma- 
hometan Kings,  I  will  demand  her  as  my  wife,  and  marry  her  in  the  presence  of 
witnesses,  that  I  may  thereby  obtain  the  approval  of  the  Lord  of  mankind.  —  The 
Vizier  replied.  Verily,  God  hath  accomplished  thy  want  and  given  thee  thy  desire. 
— How  so?  asked  the  King. — Know,  0  King,  answered  the  Vizier,  that  it  hath  been 
told  me  that  the  King  Zehr-Shah,  the  sovereign  of  the  White  Hand,  hath  a  daughter 
of  astonishing  hjvelinoss,  whom  words  cannot  describe,  whose  equal  cxisteth  not  in 
this  age,  for  she  is  endowed  with  the  most  perfect  beauty  and  symmetry,  with  black 
eyes,  and  long  hair,  and  slender  waist,  and  largo  hips  ;  when  she  approaclieth  she 
seduceth,  and  when  she  turneth  her  back  she  killeth,  ravishing  the  heart  and  the 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND   THE   LADY   DUNIA.  211 

eye.  It  is  my  opinion,  therefore,  0  King,  that  thou  shouldst  send  to  her  father  an 
intelligent  messenger,  well  informed,  and  experienced  in  the  course  of  events,  that 
he  may  courteously  ask  her  in  marriage  for  thee  of  her  father:  for  she  hath  no  equal 
in  the  distant  parts  of  the  earth,  nor  in  the  near;  so  shalt  thou  enjoy  her  lovely 
face,  and  the  Glorious  King  shall  approve  thy  conduct ;  since  it  has  been  handed 
dovrn  from  the  Prophet  (God  favour  and  preserve  him  !)  that  he  said,  There  is  no 
mockery  among  the  Faithful. 

Upon  this  the  King  was  perfectly  delighted,  his  bosom  expanded  with  joy,  and 
anxiety  and  grief  departed  from  him,  and,  addressing  his  Vizier,  he  said  to  him. 
Know,  0  Vizier,  that  no  one  shall  go  on  this  business  but  thou,  on  account  of  thy 
consummate  wisdom  and  politeness :  depart  therefore  to  thy  house,  and  accomplish 
what  thou  hast  to  do,  and  prepare  thyself  by  the  morrow,  and  demand  for  me  in 
marriage  this  damsel  with  whom  thou  hast  caused  my  heart  to  be  engrossed,  and 
return  not  to  me  without  her.  The  Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: — and  he  went 
to  his  house,  and  gave  orders  to  bring  presents  suitable  to  Kings,  consisting  of  costly 
jewels  and  precious  rarities,  such  as  were  light  to  carry  and  of  great  value,  together 
with  Arab  horses,  and  Davidean  coats  of  mail,  and  chests  of  wealth,  such  as  lan- 
guage would  fail  to  describe.  These  they  placed  upon  mules  and  camels,  and  the 
Vizier  departed,  accompanied  by  a  hundred  mamlouks,  and  a  hundred  male  black 
slaves,  and  a  hundred  female  slaves,  and  the  flags  and  banners  were  unfurled  over 
his  head.  The  King  charged  him  to  return  soon  ;  and,  after  his  departure,  the  King 
Suleiman  Shah  burned  with  desire,  and  became  engrossed  with  love  of  the  damsel 
night  and  day.  Meanwhile,  the  Vizier,  by  night  and  by  day,  traversed  the  deserts 
and  wastes  until  there  remained  between  him  and  the  city  to  which  he  was  repairing 
one  day's  journey,  when  he  alighted  at  the  bank  of  a  river,  and,  having  summoned 
one  of  his  chief  officers,  ordered  him  to  go  quickly  to  the  King  Zehr-Shah,  and  to 
acquaint  him  with  his  approach.  He  answered,  I  hear  and  obey:— -and  went 
quickly  to  the  city;  and  when  he  arrived  there  it  happened  that  the  King  Zehr-Shah 
was  sitting  in  one  of  the  places  of  recreation  before  the  gate  of  the  city,  and,  seeing 
him  as  he  entered,  knew  him  to  be  a  stranger,  and  summoned  him  before  him.  So 
when  the  messenger  came  to  him,  he  informed  him  of  the  approach  of  the  Vizier  of 
the  supreme  King  Suleiman  Shah,  the  King  of  Green  Land  and  of  the  mountains 
of  Ispahan  ;  and  the  King  Zehr-Shah  rejoiced,  and  welcomed  the  messenger,  and, 
having  conducted  him  to  his  palace,  said  to  him  Where  didst  thou  part  from  the 
Vizier?  He  answered,  I  parted  from  him  in  the  morning  at  the  bank  of  such  a 
river,  and  to-morrow  he  will  arrive  and  visit  thee  :  may  God  continue  his  favours 
unto  thee,  and  show  mercy  unto  thy  parents !  Zehr-Shah  then  ordered  one  of  his 
Viziers  to  take  with  him  the  greater  number  of  his  chief  officers  and  chamberlains, 
and  lieutenants  and  the  lords  of  his  court,  and  to  go  forth  with  them  to  meet  him, 
in  honour  of  the  King  Suleiman  :  for  his  dominion  extended  through  the  land. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Vizier  of  Suleiman  remained  where  he  had  halted  until  mid- 
right,  and  then  proceeded  towards  the  city:  and  when  the  morning  gleamed,  and 
the  sun  shone  upon  the  hills  and  the  lowlands,  suddenly  the  Vizier  of  the  King  Zehr- 
Shah,  and  his  chamberlains  and  the  lords  of  his  court,  and  the  chief  officers  of  his 
kingdom,  approached  and  joined  him  at  the  distance  of  some  leagiies  from  the  city. 
So  the  Vizier  of  Suleiman  felt  sure  of  the  accomplishment  of  his  business,  and 
saluted  those  who  met  him  ;  and  the  latter  preceded  him  until  they  arrived  at  the 
palace  of  the  King,  and  passed  in  before  him  through  the  entrance  to  the  seventh 
vestibule.  This  was  the  place  which  no  one  entered  on  horseback  ;  for  it  was  near 
to  the  King ;  therefore  here  the  Vizier  alighted,  and  he  proceeded  on  fdot  until  ho 
came  to  a  lofty  saloon,  at  the  upper  end  of  which  was  a  sofa  of  alabaster  set  with 
pearls  and  jewels,  having  four  legs  of  elephants'  tusks,  and  upon  it  was  a  mattrass 
covered  with  green  satin  embroidered  with  red  gold,  and  over  it  was  a  canopy 
adorned  with  hearls  and  jewels.  Upon  this  sofa  sat  the  King  Zehr-Shah,  and  tho 
lords  of  his  court  stood  in  attendance  upon  him.    And  when  the  Vizier  went  in  unto 


212  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 

him,  and  stood  before  him,  he  composed  his  heart,  and  gave  liberty  to  his  longuo, 
and  displaying  the  oratory  of  Viziers,  and  uttering  the  language  of  the  eloquent, 
addressed  the  King  with  courtesy  of  manner,  and  recited  a  series  of  complimentary 
verses;  and  when  he  had  finished  the  King  caused  him  to  draw  near,  treated  him 
with  the  utmost  respect,  and,  seating  him  by  his  side,  smiled  in  his  f\xce,  and 
honoured  him  with  a  gracious  reply.  After  this,  the  attendants  brought  forward  the 
table  in  that  saloon,  and  they  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  when  the  attendants  re- 
moved the  table,  and  every  one  who  was  present  went  forth,  excepting  the  chief  offi- 
cers. When  the  Vizier,  therefore,  saw  that  they  had  quitted  the  hall,  he  arose  and 
stood  on  his  feet,  and,  complimenting  the  King,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him, 
and  said,  0  great  King,  and  dignified  sovereign,  I  have  come  unto  thee  and  visited 
thee  on  an  afi'air  productive  of  peace  and  prosperity  and  happiness  unto  thee  ;  and 
it  is  this:  I  have  come  to  thee  as  an  ambassador  to  desire  in  marriage  thy  daughter, 
the  distinguished  by  rank  and  lineage,  from  the  King  Suleiman,  who  is  endowed 
with  justice  and  integrity,  and  graciousness  and  beneficence,  the  King  of  the  Green 
Land  and  of  the  mountains  of  Ispahan,  and  he  hath  sent  unto  thee  many  presents 
and  numerous  rarities,  desiring  thine  alliance.  Dost  thou  then  wish  the  same  of 
him? — He  then  stood  silent,  waiting  for  the  answer;  and  when  the  King  Zehr-Shah 
heard  these  words  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  modestly  kissed  the  ground  ;  and  the 
persons  who  were  present  wondered  at  the  King's  condescension  to  the  ambassador, 
and  their  minds  were  amazed.  The  King  then  offered  up  praises  unto  Ilim  who  is 
possessed  of  glory  and  honour,  and  said,  still  standing,  O  exalted  Vizier,  and  illus- 
trious lord,  hear  what  I  say.  We  are,  unto  the  King  Suleiman,  among  the  number 
of  his  subjects,  and  shall  be  ennobled  by  his  affinity:  we  covet  this  distinction,  and 
my  daughter  is  one  of  his  handmaids.  This  is  my  greatest  desire ;  that  he  may  be 
a  means  of  support  to  me,  and  my  reliance. — And  he  summoned  the  Cadies  and  wit- 
nesses, and  they  bore  witness  that  the  King  Suleiman  had  appointed  his  Vizier  as 
his  deputy  to  effect  the  marriage,  and  the  King  Zehr-Shah  joyfully  officiated  for  his 
daughter  in  performing  the  contract;  so  the  Cadies  concluded  the  marriage-contract, 
and  offered  up  a  prayer  for  the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  both  parties  :  after  which, 
the  Vizier  arose,  and  produced  the  presents  and  precious  rarities  and  all  the  gifts 
that  he  had  brought,  and  offered  the  whole  to  the  King  Zehr-Shah. 

The  King  then  occupied  himself  in  fitting  out  his  daughter,  and  in  honourably 
entertaining  the  Vizier ;  and  he  feasted  at  his  banquets  the  great  and  the  abject, 
and  continued  the  festivity  for  a  period  of  two  months,  omitting  in  it  nothing  that 
would  rejoice  the  heart  and  the  eye.  And  when  everything  that  the  bride  required 
was  completed,  the  King  gave  orders  to  carry  forth  the  tents,  and  they  were  pitched 
outside  the  city.  They  packed  the  stuffs  in  the  chests,  and  made  ready  the  Greek 
and  Turkish  female  slaves  ;  and  the  King  provided  the  bride  with  precious  treasures 
and  costly  jewels,  and  made  for  her  a  litter  of  gold  adorned  with  pearls  and  jewels, 
appropriating  to  her  use  ten  mules  for  the  journey.  The  litter  appeared  like  a 
private  chamber,  and  its  occupant  like  one  of  the  beautiful  Ilouries,  her  canopy 
resembling  one  of  the  pavilions  of  Paradise.  They  packed  up  the  treasures  and 
wealth,  and  placed  them  upon  the  mules  and  camels,  and  the  King  Zehr-Shah  went 
with  them  to  the  distance  of  three  leagues,  and  then  bade  farewell  to  his  daughter 
and  the  Vizier  and  his  attendants,  and  returned  home  in  joy  and  safety. 

The  Vizier  proceeded  with  the  King's  daughter,  and  continued  his  day's  journeys 
and  his  route  over  the  wastes,  travelling  with  diligence  by  night  and  day,  until  there 
remained  between  him  and  his  country  three  days'  journey  ;  whereupon  he  sent 
forward  a  messenger  to  the  King  Suleiman  to  inform  him  of  the  approach  of  the 
bride.  So  the  messenger  hastened  in  his  journey  till  he  arrived  in  the  presence  of 
the  King,  and  acquainted  him  with  the  approach  of  the  bride;  and  the  King  was 
rejoiced,  and  bestowed  a  robe  of  honour  upon  the  messenger,  and  ordered  his  troops 
to  go  forth  in  grand  procession  to  meet  the  bride  and  her  attendants  with  honour, 
desiring  them  to  equip  themselves  in  the  gayest  manner,  and  to  unfurl  the  standards 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA.  213 

over  their  heads.  And  they  complied  with  his  commands  ;  and  a  crier  proclaimed 
through  the  city  that  no  curtained  damsel  nor  honoured  lady  nor  infirm  old  woman 
should  fail  to  go  forth  to  meet  the  bride.  So  they  all  went  forth  to  meet  her,  and 
the  chief  among  them  accompanied  her  to  serve  her.  They  decided  together  to  con- 
duct her  towards  night  to  the  King's  palace,  and  the  chief  officers  of  the  court  agreed 
to  decorate  the  streets,  and  to  stand  while  the  bride  passed  Vjy  them  with  the  eunuchs 
and  female  slaves  before  her,  she  herself  being  clad  in  the  dress  which  her  father 
gave  her.  And  when  she  approached,  the  troops  surrounded  her,  ranged  on  the 
right  and  left,  and  the  litter  advanced  with  her  until  it  drew  near  to  the  palace,  and 
there  was  no  one  who  did  not  come  forth  to  see  it:  the  drums  were  beaten,  and  the 
spears  brandished,  and  the  trumpets  sounded,  and  sweet  odours  were  difi'used  around, 
and  the  standards  flapped  and  the  horses  raced  with  each  other,  until  they  arrived  at 
the  gate  of  the  palace,  when  the  pages  advanced  with  the  litter  to  the  entrance  of 
the  harem  :  the  palace  was  illuminated  by  its  splendour,  and  its  walls  shone  with 
the  lustre  of  its  ornaments:  and  at  night  the  eunuchs  opened  the  doors  of  the  inner 
apartment,  and  stood  surrounding  the  chief  entrance.  The  bride  then  came  forward 
among  the  female  slaves,  like  the  moon  among  the  stars,  or  the  chief  pearl  among 
the  minor  pearls  of  the  string,  and  she  entered  the  apartment,  where  they  had  placed 
for  her  a  sofa  of  alabaster  set  with  pearls  and  jewels.  Upon  this  she  seated  herself, 
and  the  King  came  in  to  visit  her,  and  God  inspired  his  heart  with  love  for  hei*,  so 
that  his  disquietude  and  trouble  ceased. 

lie  remained  with  her  about  a  month,  after  which  he  went  forth  and  sat  upon  his 
throne  and  administered  justice  to  his  subjects:  and  towards  daybreak  on  the 
morning  after  the  expiration  of  the  ninth  month,  his  wife  gave  birth  to  a  male  child 
of  an  auspicious  appearance.  When  the  King  heard  of  it  he  rejoiced  exceedingly, 
and  gave  a  large  sum  of  money  to  thebringer  of  the  good  tidings;  and  in  his  joy  he 
went  to  the  child,  and  kissed  it  between  the  eyes,  wondering  at  its  surpassing  beauty. 
The  midwives  took  it,  and  blackened  the  edges  of  its  eye-lids  with  kohl ;  and  they 
named  it  Taj-elmolouk.  He  was  nourished  on  the  bosom  of  indulgence,  and  reared 
in  the  lap  of  prosperity  ;  and  days  and  years  passed  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
seven  years  :  whereupon  the  King  Suleiman  summoned  the  men  of  learning  and 
science,  and  ordered  them  to  instruct  his  son  in  writing  and  science  and  polite  litera- 
ture ;  and  they  continued  to  do  so  for  some  years,  until  he  had  learnt  what  was 
requisite  ;  and  when  he  was  acquainted  with  all  that  the  King  desired,  he  caused 
him  to  be  brought  from  the  professors  and  teachers,  and  engaged  for  him  a  master 
to  instruct  him  in  horsemanship,  who  continued  to  teach  him  until  his  pupil  was 
fourteen  years  of  age.  Whenever  the  youth  went  forth  on  any  business,  every  one 
who  beheld  him  was  ravished  by  his  beauty,  so  that  they  composed  verses  in  his 
praise,  and  even  the  women  of  virtue  were  overcome  by  love  for  him,  through  the 
surpassing  beauty  with  which  he  was  endowed  :  and  when  he  had  attained  the  age 
of  eighteen  years,  the  grey  down  appeared  upon  a  mole  upon  his  red  cheek,  while 
another  mole,  like  a  globule  of  ambergris,  added  to  these  charms,  and  he  captivated 
the  minds  and  eyes  of  his  beholders.  His  comeliness  increased  as  he  became  a  man, 
and  he  had  companions  and  friends,  and  every  one  who  enjoyed  access  to  him  wished 
that  Taj-elmolouk  might  be  Sultan  after  the  death  of  his  father,  and  that  he  might 
himself  be  one  of  his  emirs. 

Now  Taj-elmolouk  became  addicted  to  hunting,  and  would  not  desist  from  it  for  a 
single  hour.  Ilis  father,  the  King,  used  to  forbid  him  this  pursuit,  fearing,  on  his 
account,  the  perils  of  the  desert  and  the  wild  beasts;  but  he  would  not  receive  his 
warnings.  And  it  came  to  pass  that  he  said  to  his  servants.  Take  with  you  provender 
for  ten  days.  And  they  complied  with  his  order;  and  when  he  went  forth  with  his 
followers  to  the  chase,  they  proceeded  over  the  desert,  and  continued  their  course  for 
four  days,  until  they  came  in  sight  of  a  verdant  tract,  where  they  beheld  wild  beasts 
ranging  at  large,  and  trees  with  ripe  fruit,  and  springs  gushing  forth  ;  so  he  said  to 
his  followers.  Set  here  the  nets,  and  enlarge  their  circle,  and  our  place  of  meeting 


214  TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND    THE   LADY   DUNIA. 

shall  be  at  the  extremity  of  the  circle,  at  such  a  spot.  They  therefore  obeyed  his 
commands:  they  set  the  nets,  and  enlai-ged  their  circle,  and  there  collected  within 
them  an  abundance  of  birds,  and  a  variety  of  wild  beasts  and  gazelles,  in  such 
numbers  that  the  wild  beasts  cried  out  in  fear  of  them,  and  threw  themselves  in  the 
faces  of  the  horses  in  their  attempts  to  escape.  So  he  urged  the  dogs  and  the  lynxes 
and  the  hawks  at  them,  and  they  shot  the  wild  beasts  with  arrows,  striking  them  in 
mortal  places ;  and  they  arrived  not  at  the  further  extremity  of  the  circle  without 
having  taken  of  the  wild  beasts,  a  great  number ;  the  rest  having  fled  away.  Taj- 
elmolouk  then  alighted  at  some  water,  and  having  caused  the  game  to  be  brought 
before  him,  divided  it:  he  appropriated  to  his  father  Suleiman  the  best  of  the  beasts, 
and  despatched  the  portion  to  him ;  and  some  be  distributed  among  the  ofiBcers  of 
his  court. 

They  passed  the  night  at  that  place  ;  and  in  the  morning  there  approached  them 
a  great  caravan,  comprising  black  slaves  and  servants  and  merchants.  The  caravan 
halted  at  the  water  and  the  verdant  tract;  and  when  Taj-ehnolouk  beheld  them,  he 
said  to  one  of  his  companions.  Bring  me  an  account  of  these  people,  an  1  ask  them 
wherefore  they  have  halted  in  this  place.  And  when  the  messenger  went  to  them, 
he  said  to  them.  Inform  us  who  ye  are,  and  return  an  answer  quickly.  So  they 
replied.  We  are  merchants,  and  have  halted  here  for  the  sake  of  rest,  for  the  next 
station  is  distant  from  us ;  and  we  have  halted  in  this  place  because  we  here  enjoy 
tranquillity  under  the  protection  of  the  King  Suleiman  and  his  son  ;  for  we  know 
that  every  one  who  alighteth  in  his  dominions  is  in  safety  and  peace ;  and  we  have 
some  precious  stuffs  which  we  have  brought  on  account  of  his  son  Taj-elmolouk. 
The  messenger,  therefore,  returned  to  the  King's  son,  and  acquainted  him  with  the 
truth  of  the  matter,  informing  him  of  what  he  had  heard  from  the  merchants  ;  and 
the  King's  son  said.  If  they  have  anything  which  they  have  brought  on  my  account, 
I  will  not  enter  the  city  nor  remove  from  this  place  until  I  cause  it  to  be  displayed 
before  me.  He  then  mounted  his  horse,  and  proceeded,  his  mamlouks  following 
him,  until  he  drew  near  to  the  caravan ;  and  the  merchants  rose  to  him  and  greeted 
him  with  prayers  for  the  divine  aid  and  favour,  and  the  continuance  of  his  glory 
and  his  excellences.  A  tent  of  red  satin  embroidered  with  pearls  and  jewels  was 
pitched  for  him,  and  they  spread  for  him,  over  a  carpet  of  silk,  a  royal  carpet,  the 
upper  end  of  which  was  adorned  with  emeralds :  and  Taj-elmolouk  seated  himself, 
and  the  mamlouks  stood  waiting  upon  him,  and  he  sent  to  the  merchants,  command- 
ing them  to  bring  everything  that  they  had  with  them.  So  they  approached  him 
with  their  merchandise,  and  he  caused  all  of  it  to  be  displayed  before  him,  and  took 
of  it  what  suited  him,  and  gave  them  the  price. 

After  this,  he  mounted,  and  was  about  to  depart :  when,  casting  a  glance  at  the 
caravan,  he  saw  a  young  man,  a  comely  youth,  attired  in  clean  clothes,  of  elegant 
person,  with  shining  forehead  and  brilliant  countenance ;  but  the  charms  of  this 
youth  had  suffered  a  change,  and  paleness  had  overspread  him,  in  consequence  of 
his  separation  from  the  objects  of  his  affection,  and  great  was  his  groaning  and 
lamentation,  and  with  tears  flowing  from  his  eyes,  he  recited  these  verses: — 

Our  separation  is  protracted,  and  anxiety  and  fear  are  prolonged;  and  tears  from  my  eye,  0 
my  friend,  are  flowing. 

I  bade  farewell  to  my  heart  on  the  day  of  parting,  and  now  I  am  alone,  without  heart,  and 
without  hope. 

0  my  friend,  pause  with  me  while  I  bid  her  farewell  by  whose  voice  diseases  and  infirmities 
would  be  cured. 
Having  thus  said,  he  wept  awhile,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  while  Taj-elmolouk 
looked  at  him,  wondering  at  his  case ;  and  when  he  recovered  he  stared  with  a  bold 
look,  and  again  recited  some  verses,  commencing  thus: — 

Beware  of  her  eye ;  for  it  is  enchanting,  and  none  escapeth  upon  whom  it  is  cast. 
He  then  uttered  a  loud  sigh,  and  a  second  time  fainted  away  ;  and  when  Taj-elmolouk 


AZIZ   AND    AZIZAH.  215 

beheld  him  in  this  state,  he  was  perplexed  at  his  case,  and  he  walked  towards  him  : 
and  as  soon  as  he  recovered  from  his  fit,  he  saw  the  King's  sou  standing  at  his  head  : 
whereupon  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  Taj-elmolouk 
said  to  him.  Wherefore  hast  thou  not  displayed  thy  merchandise  to  us  ? — 0  my  lord, 
he  answered,  my  merchandise  compriseth  nothing  suitable  to  thy  highness.  But 
the  King's  son  said,  Thou  must  positively  show  me  what  thou  hast,  and  acquaint  me 
with  thy  circumstances ;  for  I  see  thee  with  weeping  eye  and  mourning  heart :  and 
if  thou  be  oppressed,  we  will  put  an  end  to  the  oppression  that  thou  sufi'ereat,  and 
if  thou  be  in  debt,  we  will  discharge  thy  debt;  for  my  heart  hath  been  tormented 
on  thine  account  since  I  first  beheld  thee. 

Then  Taj-elmolouk  gave  orders  to  place  a  chair  ;  and  they  set  for  him  a  chair  of 
ivory  and  ebony  ornamented  with  reticulated  work  of  gold  and  silk,  and  they  spread 
for  him  a  silken  carpet;  and  Taj-elmolouk  seated  himself  upon  the  chair,  and  com- 
manded the  young  man  to  sit  upon  the  carpet,  and  said  to  him.  Display  to  me  thy 
merchandise.  The  young  man  replied,  0  my  lord,  mention  it  not  unto  me  ;  for  my 
merchandise  is  not  suitable  to  thee.  But  Taj-olmolouk  said  to  him.  It  must  be  done  ; 
and  ordered  some  of  his  pages  to  bring  it:  so  they  brought  it  in  spite  of  him  ;  and 
when  the  young  man  beheld  it,  his  tears  flowed,  and  he  wept  and  sighed  and  lamented, 
and  groans  rose  from  his  throat.  After  again  repeating  some  verses  he  opened  his 
merchandise,  and  displayed  it  before  Taj-elmolouk,  portion  by  portion  and  piece  by 
piece,  and  took  forth  from  among  it  a  garment  of  satin  interwoven  with  gold,  worth 
two  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  when  he  opened  this,  there  fell  from  the  midst  of 
it  a  piece  of  linen,  and  the  young  man,  snatching  it  hastily,  put  it  beneath  him,  his 
reason  wandering,  and  thus  exclaimed — 

When  will  the  tortured  heart  be  healed  by  thee  ?     The  constellation  of  the  Pleiades  is  nearer 
to  me  than  thou ! 

Taj-elmolouk  was  struck  with  the  utmost  wonder  at  his  words,  not  knowing  the  cause 
of  them:  and  when  the  young  man  took  the  piece  of  linen,  and  put  it  beneath  him, 
Taj-elmolouk  said  to  him,  What  is  this  piece  of  linen  ?  He  answered,  0  my  lord, 
thou  hast  no  interest  in  this.  But  the  King's  son  said,  Show  it  to  me. — 0  my  lord, 
he  replied,  I  refrained  not  from  exposing  to  thee  my  merchandise  but  on  account  of 
this:  for  I  cannot  allow  thee  to  see  it.  Taj-elmolouk,  however,  said,  I  must  see  it: 
— and  he  urged  him,  and  was  angry.  The  young  man,  therefore,  took  it  from 
beneath  his  knee,  and  wept  and  sighed  and  lamented  exceedingly :  so  Taj-elmolouk 
said  to  him,  I  regard  thy  conduct  as  not  right ;  acquaint  me  then  with  the  cause  of 
thy  weeping  at  beholding  this  piece  of  linen.  And  when  the  young  man  heard  the 
mention  of  the  piece  of  linen,  he  sighed  and  said,  0  my  lord,  my  story  is  wonderful, 
and  my  case  is  strange  with  respect  to  this  piece  of  linen  and  her  to  whom  it  be- 
longed, and  her  who  designed  these  figures  and  emblems.  He  then  unfolded  the 
piece  of  linen  ;  and  lo,  in  it  was  the  figure  of  a  gazelle  worked  with  silk,  and  em- 
broidered with  red  gold,  and  facing  it  was  the  figure  of  another  gazelle  worked  with 
silver,  and  having  upon  its  neck  a  ring  of  red  gold  and  three  jewels  of  chrysolite. 
When  Taj-elmolouk  beheld  this,  and  observed  the  beauty  of  its  execution,  he  ex- 
claimed. Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God,  who  hath  taught  man  that  which  he 
knew  not!  And  his  heart  was  engrossed  with  desire  to  hear  the  story  of  this  young 
man  ;  so  he  said  to  him,  Relate  to  me  the  story  of  thyself  and  her  who  was  the 
owner  of  these  gazelles.     The  young  man,  therefore,  replied : — 


THE  STORY  OF  AZIZ  AND  AZIZAH. 

Know,  0  my  lord,  that  my  father  was  a  great  merchant,  and  he  was  blest  with  no 
jhild  excepting  me.  I  had  a  cousin  (the  daughter  of  a  paternal  uncle)  with  whom 
I  was  brought  up  in  my  father's  house ;  for  her  father  had  died,  and  before    his 


216  AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH. 

death  he  had  made  an  agreement  with  my  father  that  they  should  marry  me  to  hor: 
80,  when  I  had  attained  to  manhood,  and  she  to  womanhood,  they  did  not  exclude 
her  from  me,  nor  me  from  her.  My  father  then  spoke  to  my  mother,  and  said  to 
her,  This  year  we  will  perform  the  marriage-contract  of  Aziz  and  Azizah.  And 
having  agreed  with  my  mother  to  do  this,  he  began  to  make  ready  the  provisions 
for  the  entertainments. 

All  this  was  done  while  I  and  my  cousin  were  living  together  without  the  slightest 
restraint,  and  ignorant  of  the  circumstance  ;  and  she  was  more  intelligftnt  and  more 
knowing  than  I.  And  when  my  father  had  made  the  preparations  for  the  festivity, 
and  nothing  remained  but  the  performance  of  the  contract,  and  my  union  to  my 
cousin,  my  father  proposed  that  they  should  perform  the  contract  after  the  Friday- 
prayers  :  so  he  repaired  to  his  friends,  the  merchants  and  others,  and  acquainted 
them  with  his  intention  ;  and  my  mother  went  and  invited  her  female  friends  and 
relations.  And  when  the  Friday  came,  they  washed  the  saloon  which  was  appro- 
priated to  the  guests,  and  cleansed  its  marble  pavement,  and  spread  the  carpets 
in  our  house,  and  furnished  it  with  everything  that  was  requisite,  after  they  had 
decorated  its  walls  with  stuffs  interwoven  with  gold;  the  people  having  agreed  to 
pay  their  compliments  to  our  family  after  the  Friday-prayers.  My  father  then  went 
and  caused  sweetmeats  and  dishes  of  sugar  to  be  prepared  ;  and  there  remained 
nothing  but  the  performance  of  the  contract.  My  mother  had  sent  me  to  the  bath, 
and  sent  after  me  a  new  suit  of  clothes  of  the  richest  description  ;  and  on  my 
coming  out  from  the  bath,  I  put  on  this  handsome  suit,  which  was  perfumed;  and 
when  I  put  it  on,  a  delicious  odour  was  diffused  from  it,  and  left  a  fragrance  in  the 
way. 

I  desired  now  to  repair  to  the  mosque  :  but,  remembering  one  of  my  friends,  I  re- 
turned to  search  for  him,  that  he  might  be  present  at  the  ceremony  of  the  contract, 
saying  within  myself,  I  will  busy  me  with  this  affair  until  the  time  of  prayer  draws 
near.  I  then  entered  a  by-street  which  I  had  never  entered  before.  I  was  perspir- 
ing from  the  effect  of  the  bath,  and  the  new  clothes  which  I  wore,  and  the  moisture 
dropped  from  me  while  my  perfumes  diffused  their  odour  ;  so  I  seated  myself  at  the 
upper  end  of  the  street  to  rest  myself  upon  a  stone  seat,  and  spread  beneath  me  an 
embroidered  handkerchief  that  I  had  with  me.  The  heat  became  oppressive  to  me, 
and  my  forehead  perspired,  and  the  drops  ran  down  my  face,  and  I  could  not  wipe 
the  moisture  from  it  with  my  handkerchief,  because  it  was  spread  beneath  me :  I  was 
therefore  about  to  take  the  skirt  of  my  farajiah  to  wipe  with  it  my  cheek,  when 
suddenly  a  white  handkerchief  fell  upon  me  from  above.  This  handkerchief  was 
more  delicate  to  the  feel  than  the  zephyr,  and  the  sight  of  it  was  more  pleasant  than 
restoration  to  the  diseased,  and  I  took  it  in  my  hand,  and,  raising  my  head  to  see 
whence  it  had  fallen,  my  eye  met  the  eye  of  the  female  who  owned  these  gazelles: 
and  lo,  she  was  looking  out  from  a  lattice  in  a  window  of  brass.  My  eye  never 
beheld  a  person  more  lovely,  and  altogether  her  charms  were  such  as  the  tongue 
cannot  describe:  and  when  she  saw  me  looking  at  her,  she  put  her  finger  in  her 
mouth,  and  then  united  her  middle-finger  and  her  fore-finger,  and  placed  them  upon 
her  bosom :  after  which,  she  drew  in  her  head  from  the  window,  and  shut  the  lattice 
and  withdrew.  A  fire  had  been  darted  into  my  heart,  and  the  flame  increased  ;  the 
sight  drew  from  me  a  thousand  sighs,  and  I  was  perplexed  :  for  I  heard  not  anything 
from  her,  and  understood  not  what  she  meant  by  her  signs.  I  looked  again  towards 
the  window ;  but  found  it  closed  ;  and  I  waited  until  sunset ;  but  heard  no  sound, 
nor  saw  any  person  :  so,  despairing  of  seeing  her  again,  I  rose  from  my  place,  and 
took  the  handkerchief  with  me.  I  opened  it,  and  the  odour  of  musk  was  diffused 
from  it,  and  I  was  so  exhilarated  by  the  scent  that  I  seemed  as  if  I  were  in  Para- 
dise. I  then  spread  it  before  me  :  whereupon  there  fell  from  it  a  piece  of  delicate 
paper,  and,  opening  this,  I  found  it  richly  perfumed  with  exquisite  scents,  and  in- 
scribed with  verses.     After  this  I  cast  a  glance  at  the  beauty  of  the  handkerchief, 


AZIZ    AND   AZIZAH.  217 

and  beheld  an  amatory  couplet  worked  upon  one  of  its  two  borders,  and  another,  of 
a  similar  kind,  on  its  other  border. 

When  I  saw  these  verses  upon  the  handkerchief,  a  flame  of  fire  shot  into  my  heart, 
and  my  desire  and  perplexity  increased;  and  I  took  the  handkerchief  and  the  paper, 
and  went  with  them  to  the  house,  not  knowing  any  means  of  obtaining  what  1  de 
sired,  and  incapable  of  discovering  how  to  proceed  properly  in  my  love.  I  arrived 
not  at  the  house  until  a  considerable  portion  of  the  night  had  elapsed,  and  beheld 
my  cousin  sitting  weeping ;  but  when  she  saw  me,  she  wiped  away  her  tears,  and 
approached  me  and  took  off  from  me  my  outer  clothes,  and  asked  me  the  cause  of 
my  absence.  She  told  me  that  all  the  people,  the  emirs  and  grandees,  and  merchants 
and  others,  had  assembled  in  our  house,  and  the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses  had  come, 
and  they  ate  the  repast,  and  remained  a  considerable  while  sitting  in  expectation  of 
my  presence  for  the  purpose  of  performing  the  marriage-contract,  and  when  they  de- 
spaired of  my  coming,  they  dispersed  and  went  their  way. — Thy  father,  said  she, 
was  violently  enraged  on  account  of  this,  and  swore  that  he  would  not  perform  our 
marriage-contract  until  next  year:  for  he  had  expended  upon  this  festivity  a  large 
sum  of  money.  What,  she  added,  hath  happened  unto  thee  this  day,  that  thou  hast 
delayed  thy  return  until  now,  and  that  this  hath  happened  on  account  of  thine 
absence  ? 

I  answered  her.  Such  and  sucli  things  have  happened  to  me: — and  mentioned  to 
her  the  handkerchief,  acquainting  her  with  the  affair  from  first  to  last;  and  she  took 
the  paper  and  the  handkerchief,  and  read  what  was  upon  them,  and  her  tears  ran  down 
upon  her  cheeks,  and  she  asked  me.  What  did  she  say  to  thee,  and  of  what  did  she 
make  signs  to  thee  ?  I  answered.  She  uttered  not  a  word  ;  but  put  her  finger  in  her 
mouth,  and  then  united  it  with  the  middle  finger,  and  placed  both  fingers  upon  her 
bosom,  and  pointed  to  the  ground;  then  she  drew  in  her  head,  and  closed  the  lattice, 
and  I  saw  her  not  afterwards.  She  carried  off  my  heart  with  her,  and  I  sat  until 
sunset  in  expectation  of  her  looking  out  from  the  lattice  a  second  time:  but  she  did 
it  not;  and  when  I  despaired  of  seeing  her  again,  I  rose  from  the  place.  This  is 
my  story;  and  I  beg  of  thee  to  aid  me  in  the  trouble  in  which  I  am  involved. — Upon 
this,  she  raised  her  head  towards  me,  and  said,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  if  thou  requiredst 
mine  eye,  I  would  pull  it  out  for  thee  from  my  eyelids ;  and  I  must  assist  thee  in  the 
accomplishment  of  thy  desire,  and  assist  her  in  like  manner  :  for  she  is  overwhelmed 
by  love  for  thee,  as  thou  art  by  love  for  her. — And  what,  said  I,  is  the  interpretation 
of  the  signs  which  she  made? — Her  putting  her  finger  in  her  mouth,  she  answered, 
indicated  that  thou  art  in  her  estimation  as  her  soul  to  her  body,  and  that  she 
longeth  for  thy  union  with  her;  and  as  to  the  handkerchief,  it  is  a  signal  of  the 
lover's  salutation  to  the  beloved;  and  the  paper  denoteth  that  her  soul  is  captivated 
by  thee  ;  and  as  to  her  putting  her  two  fingers  upon  her  bosom,  the  meaning  of  it  is 
as  though  she  said  to  thee.  After  two  days  come  hither,  that  my  affliction  may  be 
dissipated  by  thy  countenance.  And  know,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  she  continued,  that 
she  loveth  thee  and  confideth  in  thee.  This  is  my  interpretation  of  her  signs ;  and 
if  1  had  liberty  to  go  in  and  out  at  pleasure,  I  would  effect  thy  union  with  her  in 
the  shortest  time,  and  protect  you  both  with  my  skirt. — When  I  heard  these  words 
from  her,  said  the  young  man,  I  thanked  her  for  what  she  had  said,  and  I  said 
within  myself,  I  will  wait  two  days.  I  then  remained  two  days  in  the  house,  neither 
going  out  nor  coming  in,  nor  eating  nor  drinking.  I  put  my  head  in  the  lap  of  my 
cousin ;  and  she  cheered  me  by  her  conversation,  and  said  to  me.  Be  resolute  and  of 
good  heart,  and  dress  thyself,  and  repair  to  her  at  the  time  appointed.  And  she 
arose,  and  changed  my  clothes,  and  perfumed  me  with  incense. 

I  then  braced  up  my  nerves,  and  fortified  my  heart,  and  went  forth,  and  proceeded 
until  I  entered  the  by-street,  and  after  I  had  sat  a  while  upon  the  stone  bench,  lo, 
the  lattice  opened.  I  looked  towards  her,  and  when  I  saw  her,  I  fell  down  in  a 
swoon:  then  recovering,  I  summoned  resolution,  and  took  heart,  and  looked  at  her 
a  second  time  ;  but  again  I  became  insensible  ;  and  when  I  recovered,  I  saw  with 


218  AZIZ   AND   AZIZAH. 

her  a  mirror  and  a  red  handkerchief.  Observing  me  now,  she  tucked  up  her  sleeves 
from  her  fore-arms,  and,  opening  her  five  fingers,  struck  her  bosom  with  them  (with 
the  palm  and  the  five  fingers):  next  she  raised  her  hands,  and  held  forth  the  mirror 
from  the  lattice,  and  took  the  red  handkerchief,  and  retired  with  it:  after  which  she 
returned,  and  let  it  down  from  the  lattice  towards  the  street  three  times,  letting  it 
down  and  raising  it,  and  then  wringing  it  and  twisting  it  vpith  her  hand,  and  bend- 
ing down  her  head  ;  she  then  drew  it  in  through  the  lattice,  and  closed  the  lattice 
and  departed,  without  speaking  to  me  one  word,  but  leaving  me  in  perplexity,  not 
knowing  to  what  she  alluded.  I  remained  sitting  there  until  the  hour  of  nightfall, 
and  went  home  near  midnight. 

I  found  my  cousin  with  her  hand  placed  to  her  cheek,  and  her  eyelids  pouring 
forth  tears;  and  upon  this,  my  anxieties  and  griefs  increased,  and  I  fell  down  in  a 
corner  of  the  chamber ;  but  she  sprang  towards  me,  and  lifted  me  up,  and  having 
taken  oif  from  me  my  outer  clothes,  wiped  my  face  with  her  sleeve,  and  asked  mo 
what  had  happened  to  me.  I  related  to  her,  therefore,  all  that  had  happpued  on 
the  part  of  the  damsel ;  and  she  said  to  me,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  as  to  her  sign  with 
her  hand  and  five  fingers,  its  interpretation  is.  Come  hither  after  five  days  ! — and  as 
to  her  sign  with  the  mirror,  and  her  putting  forth  her  head  from  the  lattice  [and  her 
actions  with  the  red  handkerchief],  the  meaning  is,  Seat  thyself  at  the  shop  of  the 
dyer  until  my  messenger  shall  come  to  thee.  When  I  heard  her  words,  fire  burned 
in  my  heart,  and  I  replied.  By  Allah,  0  daughter  of  my  uncle,  thou  sayest  truly 
in  this  interpretation ;  for  I  saw  in  the  by-street  a  Jewish  dyer.  I  then  wept, 
and  mv  cousin  said,  Be  resolute  and  firm  of  heart:  for  others  than  thou  are 
troubled  with  love  for  a  period  of  years,  and  contend  with  the  fierceness  of 
passion,  while  thou  hast  but  a  week  to  endure:  "vvherefore  then  should  this  im- 
patience overcome  thee?  And  she  proceeded  to  cheer  me  with  her  conversation, 
and  brought  me  food:  and  I  took  a  morsel,  and  would  have  eaten  it;  but  I  could 
not.  I  abstained  from  drink  and  food,  and  renounced  the  delights  of  sleep,  and  my 
complexion  became  pallid,  and  my  charms  became  changed :  for  I  had  never  known 
love  before  that,  nor  tasted  the  heat  of  that  passion  before;  and  I  fell  sick,  and  my 
cousin  became  sick  on  my  account.  She  occupied  herself  in  relating  to  me  the  suf- 
ferings of  lovers,  in  order  to  enliven  me,  until  I  fell  asleep,  and  I  used  to  awake, 
and  find  her  sleepless  on  my  account,  with  her  tears  flowing  upon  her  cheeks  ;  and 
thus  I  remained,  until  the  five  days  had  past,  when  my  cousin  arose,  and  heated 
some  water  for  me,  and  bathed  me  with  it,  and  dressed  me,  and  said  to  me.  Repair  to 
her,  and  may  Allah  accomplish  thy  wish,  and  grant  thee  what  thou  desirest  of  thy 
beloved. 

So  I  went,  and  walked  on  until  I  came  to  the  upper  end  of  a  by-street,  and  that 
day  was  Saturday  ;  so  I  found  the  shop  of  the  dyer  shut ;  and  sat  there  till  th-e  call 
to  afternoon  prayers  ;  and  the  sun  became  yellow,  and  the  call  to  evening  prayers 
was  chanted  :  and  night  commenced,  and  I  saw  no  trace  of  her,  nor  heard  a  voice, 
nor  received  any  message ;  I  therefore  feared  for  myself,  sitting  alone  ;  and  I  arose 
and  walked  away,  like  one  intoxicated,  until  I  entered  the  house. 

There,  on  going  in,  I  beheld  my  cousin  Azizah  with  one  of  her  hands  holding  a 
peg  knocked  into  the  wall,  and  her  other  hand  upon  her  bosom  ;  and  she  was  groan- 
ing, and  reciting  verses;  but  when  she  had  finished  her  recitation,  she  turned  her 
eyes  towards  me,  and  beheld  me :  whereupon  she  wiped  away  her  tears  and  mine 
with  her  sleeve  ;  and,  smiling  in  my  face,  said  to  m  j,  O  son  of  my  uncle,  Allah  grant 
thee  enjoyment  of  that  which  he  hath  given  thee ! —Wherefore  hast  thou  not  visited 
thy  beloved  this  night?  —  And  when  I  heard  her  words,  I  kicked  her  with  my  foot 
upon  her  bosom,  and  she  fell  down  upon  the  raised  floor,  and  there  was  a  peg  there, 
and  it  wounded  her  forehead.  On  looking  at  her  I  saw  that  her  forehead  was  cut 
open,  and  her  blood  was  flowing;  yet  she  was  silent,  and  uttered  net  a  single  letter, 
but  arose  immediately,  and  burned  some  tinder  of  rags,  and,  having  closed  with  it 
the  wound,  tied  a  bandage  round  her  head,  and  wiped  away  the  blood  that  had 


AZIZ   AND   AZIZAH,  219 

flowed  upon  the  carpet ;  and  it  was  as  though  this  accident  had  not  occurred.  She 
then  came  to  me,  and  smiling  in  my  face,  said  to  me  with  a  gentle  voice,  By  Allah, 
0  son  of  my  uncle,  I  said  not  this  to  make  a  jest  of  thee  or  of  her.  I  was  troubled 
just  now  by  the  aching  of  my  head,  and  with  wiping  away  the  blood  ;  but  at  the 
present  moment  the  pain  of  my  head  is  alleviated,  and  that  of  my  forehead  :  tell 
me  therefore  what  hath  happened  to  thee  this  day. — So  I  related  to  her  all  that  had' 
befallen  me  through  the  conduct  of  that  damsel  on  this  day ;  and  after  I  had  done 
so  I  wept;  but  she  said  to  me.  Rejoice  at  the  announcement  of  the  success  of  thy 
desire,  and  the  accomplishment  of  thy  hope.  Verily  this  is  a  sign  of  acceptance: 
for  she  absented  herself  from  thee  because  she  desireth  to  try  thee,  and  to  know 
whether  thou  art  patient  or  not,  and  whether  thou  art  sincere  in  thy  love  of  her  or 
not.  To-morrow  go  to  her,  and  station  thyself  at  thy  first  place,  and  see  M'hat  sign 
she  will  make  to  thee  ;  for  thy  happiness  is  near,  and  thy  sorrow  is  dissipated. — And 
she  proceeded  to  console  me ;  but  I  ceased  not  to  increase  in  anxiety  and  grief.  She 
then  placed  the  food  before  me  ;  but  I  kicked  it  with  my  foot,  and  the  contents  of 
each  saucer  were  scattered  about ;  and  I  said,  Every  one  who  is  in  love  is  insane, 
and  inclineth  not  to  food,  nor  findeth  pleasure  in  sleep.  —  By  Allah,  0  son  of  my 
uncle,  exclaimed  my  cousin  Azizah,  these  are  indeed  symptoms  of  love  !  And  her 
tears  flowed,  and  she  gathered  together  the  fragments  of  the  saucers,  and  wiped  up 
the  food  that  was  spilt,  and  sat  chatting  to  me,  while  I  prayed  to  God  that  He  would 
hasten  the  morning. 

And  when  the  morning  came  and  diffused  its  light,  I  repaired  to  the  damsel,  and 
entered  hastily  the  by-street,  where  I  seated  myself  upon  the  seat  before  mentioned; 
and  lo,  the  window  was  opened,  and  she  put  forth  her  head  from  it,  laughing.  She 
then  retired,  and  returned  bringing  a  mirror,  and  a  bag,  and  a  pot  filled  with  green 
plants,  and  having  also  in  her  hand  a  lamp;  and  the  first  thing  that  she  did  was 
this:  she  took  the  mirror  in  her  hand,  and  put  it  into  the  bag;  then  she  tied  it  up, 
and  threw  it  back  into  the  chamber.  After  this,  she  let  down  her  hair  over  her 
face,  and  put  the  lamp  upon  the  top  of  the  green  plants  for  a  moment,  and  then  took 
all  these  things  and  departed  with  them,  and  closed  the  lattice.  My  heart  was  riven 
by  her  secret  signs  and  her  obscure  intimations,  for  she  addressed  me  not  with  a 
single  word,  and  my  passion  grew  more  violent  thereat,  and  my  excitement  and  dis- 
traction increased. 

I  retraced  my  steps  with  weeping  eye  and  sorrowful  heart  until  I  entered  the 
house,  where  I  saw  my  cousin  sitting  with  her  face  to  the  wall ;  her  heart  was 
burning  with  anxiety  and  grief  and  jealousy:  but  her  affection  prevented  her  from 
acquainting  me  at  all  with  the  passion  which  she  felt  on  witnessing  my  excessive 
love  and  distraction.  I  then  looked  at  her  again,  and  saw  that  she  had  on  her  head 
two  bandages :  one  of  them  was  on  account  of  the  accident  that  had  happened  to 
her  forehead,  and  the  other  was  upon  her  eye,  on  account  of  a  pain  that  she  suffered 
in  consequence  of  the  violence  of  her  weeping.  And  when  she  heard  me  enter, 
she  looked  towards  me  and  saw  me  as  she  wept,  and  she  wiped  away  her  tears,  and 
rose  to  me  ;  but  she  could  not  speak,  from  the  excessive  love  with  which  she  was 
affected,  and  she  remained  for  some  time  silent ;  after  which,  she  said  to  me,  0  son 
of  my  uncle,  tell  me  what  thou  hast  experienced  from  her  on  this  occasion.  And  I 
told  her  all  that  had  happened  to  me;  whereupon  she  said  to  mo.  Be  patient;  for 
the  time  of  thy  union  is  come,  and  thou  hast  obtained  the  object  of  thy  hopes.  As 
to  the  sign  which  she  made  to  thee  with  the  mirror,  and  her  putting  it  into  the  bag, 
it  is  equivalent  to  her  saying  to  thee,  Wait  until  the  sun  shall  have  set:  —  and  as  to 
her  letting  fall  her  hair  over  her  face,  it  implieth  her  saying  to  thee.  When  night 
Cometh,  and  letteth  fall  its  black  shade  over  the  light  of  day,  come  hither: — and  the 
dign  that  she  made  to  thee  with  the  pot  containing  the  plants  meant  that  she  would 
say  to  thee.  When  thou  comest,  enter  the  garden  that  is  behind  the  by-street: — and 
the  sign  which  she  made  to  thee  with  the  lamp  denoted  her  saying  to  thee,  When 
thou  enterest  the  garden,  to  the  place  where  thou  findest  the  lighted  lamp  do  thou 


220  AZIZ   AND   AZIZAH. 

repair,  and  seat  thyself  beneath  it,  and  there  wait  for  me ;  for  the  love  of  thee  de- 
Rtroyeth  me.  —  But  when  I  heard  these  words  of  my  cousin,  I  cried  out  from  the 
excess  of  my  passion,  and  said,  How  many  times  dost  thou  promise  me,  and  I  go  to 
her  and  attain  not  my  desire,  nor  find  a  true  meaning  to  thine  interpretation  ?  And 
upon  this  my  cousin  laughed,  and  replied,  It  remaineth  for  thee  to  have  patience 
^during  the  rest  of  this  day,  until  the  daylight  is  gone,  and  the  night  cometh  with  its 
deep  darkness,  and  then  shalt  thou  enjoy  thy  union  and  the  accomplishment  of  thy 
hopes  ;  and  these  words  are  true  without  any  falsehood.  She  then  drew  near  to  me, 
and  comforted  me  with  soft  words,  but  dared  not  bring  me  any  food,  fearing  that 
I  should  be  angry  with  her,  and  hoping  that  I  might  incline  to  her  with  favour  ;  she 
only  came  to  me,  and  took  off  my  outer  clothes :  after  which  she  said  to  me,  0  son 
of  my  uncle,  sit  with  me  that  I  may  converse  with  thee  to  amuse  thee  until  the  close 
of  the  day,  and,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  the  night  shall  not  come  without  thy  being 
in  the  company  of  thy  beloved.  But  I  took  no  notice  of  her,  waiting  for  the  night, 
and  saying,  0  Allah,  hasten  the  coming  of  the  night!  And  when  it  arrived,  my 
cousin  wept  violently,  and  gave  me  a  grain  of  pure  musk,  saying  to  me,  0  son  of  my 
uncle,  put  this  grain  in  thy  mouth,  and  when  thou  hast  met  thy  beloved,  and  she 
hath  accepted  thy  suit,  recite  to  her  this  verse :  — 

0  ye  lovers,  by  Allah,  inform  me  how  a  youth  should  act  when  his  love  is  intense. 

She  then  kissed  me,  and  desired  me  to  swear,  that  I  would  not  recite  this  verse  until 
my  departui-e  from  the  damsel ;  and  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

I  went  forth  at  the  hour  of  nightfall,  and  proceeded  until  I  came  to  the  garden. 
I  found  its  gate  open,  and  entered,  and  beheld  a  light  in  the  distance;  so  I  advanced 
towards  it,  and  when  I  arrived  at  it,  I  found  there  a  large  apartment,  over  which 
was  constructed  a  dome  of  ivory  and  ebony,  and  the  lamp  was  suspended  in  the 
midst  of  the  dome.  The  apartment  was  furnished  with  silken  carpets  embroidered 
with  gold  and  silver,  and  there  was  a  great  lighted  candle  in  a  candlestick  of  gold 
beneath  the  lamp;  in  the  midst  of  the  chamber  was  a  fountain  ornamented  with 
various  designs :  by  the  side  of  this  fountain  was  a  table  of  viands  covered  with  a 
silk  napkin,  near  which  was  a  large  china  bottle  full  of  wine,  with  a  cup  of  crystal 
adorned  with  gilding:  and  by  the  side  of  all  these  things  was  a  great  tray  of  silver, 
covered  over.  I  uncovered  it,  and  beheld  in  it  a  variety  of  fruits,  such  as  figs  and 
pomegranates  and  oranges  and  citrons  of  different  kinds,  together  with  various 
flowers,  as  roses  and  jasmine  and  myrtle  and  eglantine  and  narcissus,  and  all  kinds 
of  sweet  scents.  I  was  astonished  at  this  place,  and  affected  with  the  utmost  delight, 
and  my  anxiety  and  grief  were  dissipated  ;  but  I  found  not  in  this  abode  any  being 
of  the  creatures  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  ;  not  even  a  male  or  female  slave 
did  I  see,  nor  the  person  who  thus  neglected  these  things.  I  sat  in  this  chamber, 
waiting  for  the  coming  of  the  beloved  of  my  heart,  until  the  first  hour  of  the  night 
had  passed,  and  the  second  hour,  and  the  third;  but  she  came  not;  and  hunger  be- 
gan to  torment  me  violently ;  for  a  long  time  had  elapsed  without  my  eating  food, 
through  the  excess  of  my  passion  ;  but  when  I  beheld  this  place,  and  my  cousin's 
correct  understanding  of  the  signs  made  by  my  beloved  became  manifest  to  me,  I 
felt  at  ease:  yet  I  still  ejcperienced  the  torment  of  hunger,  and  the  savoury  odours 
of  the  food  upon  the  table  had  excited  my  desire  upon  my  arrival  there.  Feeling 
secure,  therefore,  of  the  attainment  of  my  object,  and  longing  to  eat,  I  approached 
the  table,  and  took  off  the  cover,  and  found  in  the  midst  of  it  a  dish  of  china  contain- 
ing four  fricandoed  fowls  seasoned  with  spices,  around  which  were  four  saucers  :  one 
containing  sweetmeats  ;  and  another,  conserve  of  pomegranate  grains  ;  and  a  third, 
almond  pastry;  and  the  fourth,  honey  cakes;  the  contents  of  these  four  saucers  con- 
sisting of  both  sweet  and  acid.  So  I  ate  of  the  cakes,  and  a  piece  of  meat,  and  I  put 
my  hand  to  the  pastry  and  ate  of  it  as  much  as  was  agreeable,  and  then  turned  to 
the  sweetmeat  and  ate  a  spoonful,  or  two,  or  three,  or  four,  and  I  ate  a  portion  of  a 
fowl,  and  a  morsel  of  another  dish  :   and  when  I  had  done  this,  my  stomach  was  full. 


AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH.  221 

and  my  joints  became  loose,  and  I  was  too  lazy  to  remain  awake:  so  I  laid  my  head 
upon  a  cushion,  after  I  had  washed  my  hands,  and  sleep  overcame  me,  and  I 
knew  not  what  happened  to  me  after  this.  I  awoke  not  until  the  sun  scorched  me 
(for  some  days  had  passed  without  my  having  tasted  sleep)  ;  and  when  I  awoke,  I 
found  upon  my  stomach  some  salt  and  charcoal:  and  I  stood  up  and  shook  my 
clothes,  and  looked  to  the  right  and  left,  but  found  no  one  ;  I  discovered  that  I  had 
been  sleeping  upon  the  marble  pavement  without  anything  spread  beneath  me,  and 
I  was  perplexed  in  my  mind,  and  mourned  greatly :  my  tears  ran  down  upon  my 
cheek,  and  I  lamented  for  myself. 

I  then  returned  to  my  house,  and  when  I  arrived  there  I  found  my  cousin  striking 
her  hand  upon  her  bosom,  and  weeping  with  tears  like  raining  clouds  ;  but  wlen  she 
beheld  me  she  arose  quickly,  and  wiped  away  her  tears,  and,  addressing  me  with  her 
soft  speech,  said  to  me,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  God  hath  been  gracious  to  thee  in  thy  pas- 
sion, since  the  person  whom  thou  lovest  loveth  thee,  while  /  remain  weeping  and 
mourning  for  the  separation  of  thee  who  findest  fault  with  me ;  but  may  God  not 
chastise  thee  on  my  account !  She  then  smiled  in  my  face  with  the  smile  of  one  in 
anger,  and  caressed  me,  and  took  off  my  outer  clothes,  and  spread  them  out,  and 
said,  By  Allah,  these  are  not  the  odours  of  one  who  hath  enjoyed  the  company  of  his 
beloved  !  Tell  me,  then,  what  hath  happened  to  thee,  0  son  of  my  uncle.  —  And  I 
told  her  all  that  had  befallen  me;  whereupon  she  smiled  a  second  time  with  the  smile 
of  one  in  anger,  and  said,  Verily,  my  heart  is  full  and  in  pain  !  But  may  the  person 
who  paineth  thy  heart  cease  to  exist!  This  woman  maketh  herself  extravagantly 
difficult  to  thee.  By  Allah,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  I  fear  what  she  may  do  to  thee. 
Know  that  the  meaning  of  the  salt  is.  Thou  art  drowned  in  sleep,  and  seemest  insipid, 
so  that  the  soul  regardeth  thee  with  loathing,  and  thou  requirest  to  be  salted,  that 
the  stomach  may  not  eject  thee:  thou  pretendest  that  thou  art  of  the  number  of 
generous  lovers;  but  sleep,  unto  lovers,  is  forbidden  ;  and  thy  pretension  to  love  is 
false.  Such,  however,  is  her  pretension  :  her  love  for  thee  is  fsxlse,  for  when  she  saw 
thee  sleeping  she  did  not  rouse  thee  ;  and  had  her  love  for  thee  been  true  she  would 
have  roused  thee.  And  as  to  the  charcoal,  the  meaning  indicated  by  it  is,  May  God 
blacken  thy  face,  since  thou  hast  made  false  pretensions  to  love,  when  thou  art  only 
a  child,  and  hast  no  care  but  for  eating  and  drinking  and  sleeping.  This  is  the 
interpretation  of  her  sign;  and  may  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  deliver  thee 
from  her !  —  Now,  when  I  heard  what  she  said,  I  struck  my  hand  upon  my  breast, 
and  exclaimed,  By  Allah,  this  is  the  truth  !  for  I  slept;  and  lovers  sleep  not:  so  I 
have  wronged  mine  own  self!  What  could  have  been  more  injurious  to  me  than 
eating  and  sleeping  ?  And  what  is  to  be  done  !  —  I  then  wept  exceedingly,  and  said 
to  my  cousin.  Direct  me  what  to  do,  and  have  mercy  upon  me ;  so  may  God  have 
mercy  upon  thee  ;  otherwise  I  shall  die.  My  cousin,  therefore,  having  a  very  great 
love  for  me,  replied,  On  my  head  and  my  eye!  But,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  I  have  told 
thee  several  times,  that,  if  I  had  the  privilege  of  coming  in  and  going  out  when  I 
pleased,  I  would  accomplish  thy  union  with  her  in  the  shortest  time,  and  cover  you 
both  with  my  skirt;  and  this  I  would  not  do  but  from  the  desire  of  obtaining  thine 
approval.  If  God  permit,  I  will  employ  my  utmost  endeavours  to  bring  you  together; 
but  hear  my  words,  and  comply  with  my  directions,  and  go  to  that  same  place,  and 
seat  thyself  there  ;  when  the  hour  of  nightfall  is  come,  seat  thyself  in  the  place  where 
thou  wast,  and  beware  of  eating  anything:  for  eating  induceth  sleep;  have  a  care 
then  that  thou  sleep  not ;  for  she  will  not  come  to  thee  until  a  quarter  of  the  night 
hath  passed :  and  may  God  avert  from  thee  her  wickedness !  —  So  when  I  heard  her 
words,  I  rejoiced,  and  prayed  God  to  hasten  the  night:  and  when  night  came,  I  de- 
sired to  depart ;  and  my  cousin  said  to  me,  When  thou  hast  met  her,  repeat  to  her 
the  verse  before  mentioned,  at  the  time  of  thy  departure.  I  replied.  On  the  head 
and  the  eye. 

And  when  I  went  forth  and  repaired  to  the  garden,  I  found  the  place  prepared 
in  the  same  state  in  which  I  had  seen  it  before:  in  it  was  everything  requisite,  of 


222  AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH. 

food  aid  drink  and  dried  fruits  and  sweet  scents  and  other  things:  and  I  went  up 
into  the  house,  and,  smelling  the  odour  of  the  food,  I  longed  for  it.  I  refrained  from 
it  several  times  ;  but  at  length  I  could  not  withstand  it ;  so  I  arose  and  went  to  the 
table,  and  took  off  its  cover,  and  found  a  dish  of  fowls,  around  which  were  four  sau- 
cers of  food,  of  four  different  kinds;  and  I  ate  of  each  kind  a  morsel,  and  as  much 
as  was  agreeable  of  the  sweetmeat,  and  a  piece  of  meat,  and  drank  some  zardeh,' 
and,  finding  it  pleasant  to  me,  I  drank  again  of  it  plentifully  by  the  spoonful  until  I 
was  satiated  and  my  stomach  was  full.  And  after  this,  my  eyelids  closed  ;  so  I  took 
a  pillow  and  put  it  beneath  my  head,  saying.  Perhaps  I  may  recline  upon  it  without 
sleeping.  But  I  closed  my  eyes  and  slept,  and  awoke  not  until  the  sun  had  risen, 
when  I  found  upon  my  stomach  a  play-bone  and  a  tab-stick'^  and  a  date-stone  and  a 
locust-seed  :  and  there  was  no  furniture  nor  anything  else  in  the  place,  and  it  seemed 
as  if  nothing  had  been  there  on  the  preceding  night. 

I  arose,  and  shook  off  all  these  things  from  me,  and  went  forth  enraged,  and, 
arriving  at  the  house,  I  found  my  cousin  groaning,  and  I  chid  her  and  abused  her ; 
whereupon  she  wept,  and  having  wiped  away  her  tears,  approached  and  kissed  me, 
and  pressed  me  to  her  bosom  ;  but  I  drew  back  from  her,  blaming  myself.  She  then 
said  to  me,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  it  seemeth  that  thou  hast  slept  again  this  last  night. 
I  replied,  Yes ;  but  when  I  awoke  I  found  a  play-bone  laid  upon  my  stomach,  and  a 
tab-stick  and  a  date-stone  and  a  locust-seed  ;  and  I  know  not  wherefore  she  did  this. 
Then  I  wept,  and  approached  her,  and  said  to  her.  Explain  to  me  the  meaning  of  her 
doing  this,  and  tell  me  how  I  shall  act,  and  assist  me  in  my  trouble.  She  replied. 
On  the  head  and  the  eye.  As  to  the  tab-stick  [and  the  play-bone]  which  she  placed 
upon  thy  stomach,  she  meaneth  thereby,  that  thou  camest  there  and  thy  heart  was 
absent,  as  though  she  would  say  to  thee.  Love  is  not  thus  ;  therefore  reckon  not  thy- 
self among  lovers.  And  as  to  the  date-stone,  she  indicated  by  it,  that,  if  thou  wert 
a  lover,  thy  heart  had  been  burning  with  passion,  and  thou  wouldst  not  taste  the 
delight  of  sleep;  for  the  sweetness  of  love  is  like  a  date,  which  kindleth  a  fire  in  the 
heart.  And  as  to  the  locust-seed,  she  intimated  to  thee  by  it,  that  the  heart  of  the 
lover  is  fatigued  ;  and  would  say  to  thee  thereby.  Endure  our  separation  with  the 
patience  of  Job.  —  When  I  heard  this  interpretation,  fire  darted  into  my  heart,  and 
my  grief  increased,  and  I  cried  out  and  exclaimed,  God  had  decreed  that  I  should 
sleep  on  account  of  my  little  fortune!  I  then  said  to  her,  0  daughter  of  my  uncle, 
by  my  life  I  conjure  thee  to  contrive  for  me  some  stratagem  by  means  of  which  I 
may  obtain  an  interview  with  her.  And  I  wept.  — 0  Aziz,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  she 
replied,  verily  my  heart  is  full  of  thoughts,  and  I  cannot  talk  ;  but  go  thou  to-night 
to  that  place,  and  beware  of  sleeping,  and  so  shalt  thou  attain  thy  desire.  This  is 
my  counsel,  and  peace  be  on  thee.  —  I  said,  Please  God,  I  will  not  sleep ;  but  I  will 
do  as  thou  chargest  me.  And  my  cousin  arose,  and  brought  me  food,  saying  to  me. 
Eat  now  what  will  satisfy  thee,  that  thou  mayest  have  no  desire  remaining.  So  I 
ate  what  satisfied  me;  and  when  night  came,  my  cousin  arose,  and  brought  me  a 
superb  suit  of  clothing,  and  clad  me  with  it,  and  conjured  me  to  repeat  to  the  damsel 
the  verse  before  mentioned,  and  cautioned  me  against  sleeping. 

I  then  departed  from  her,  and,  having  repaired  to  the  garden,  went  up  into  the 
apartment ;  and  I  gazed  at  the  garden,  and  kept  opening  my  eyes  with  my  fingers, 
and  shaking  my  head,  as  the  night  grew  dark.  But  I  became  hungry  from  watching, 
and  the  odours  of  the  food  were  wafted  towards  me,  and  my  hunger  in  consequence 
increased  ;  so  I  went  to  the  table,  and  removed  its  cover,  and  ate  a  morsel  of  every 
dish,  and  a  piece  of  meat,  and  I  went  to  the  bottle  of  wine,  saying  within  myself,  I 
will  drink  a  cup  : — and  I  drank  it,  and  then  drank  the  second,  and  the  third,  and  so 
on  to  the  number  often  :  and  being  already  stricken  by  love,  I  fell  upon  the  floor  as 
one  slain.    Thus  I  remained  until  day  came,  and  I  awoke,  and  found  myself  outside 

'  A  sweet  drink,  i)repa'-ofl  w  th  rice,  honey,  and  saffron. 

'  A  flat  stick,  ali()\it  eight  inche.s  in  length,  thrown  upon  a  board  in  a  garao  played  in  tho  East, 


AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH.  223 

the  garden,  with  a  large  sharp  knife  upon  my  stomach,  and  a  small  iron  weight; 
and  I  trembled  with  fear,  and  took  them  with  me  and  returned  to  the  house. 

I  found  my  cousin  saying,  I  am  in  this  house  wretched  and  sorrowful,  with  no 
relief  but  weeping.  And  as  I  entered,  I  fell  down  prostrate,  throwing  the  knife  and 
weight  from  my  hand,  and  fainted  ;  and  when  I  recovered,  I  acquainted  her  with 
that  which  had  befallen  me,  and  said  to  her,  I  shall  not  attain  my  desire.  Her  grief 
increased  at  witnessing  my  weeping  and  my  excessive  passion,  and  she  said  to  me, 
I  have  failed  of  success  in  cautioning  thee  against  sleeping ;  for  thou  wouldst  not 
attend  to  my  advice:  my  words  profit  thee  nothing.  But  I  replied,  I  conjure  thee 
by  Allah  that  thou  explain  to  me  the  meaning  of  the  knife  and  the  iron  weight.  So 
she  said,  As  to  the  weight,  she  alluded  by  it  to  her  right  eye,  and  intimated  that  she 
swore  by  it,  and  said.  By  the  Lord  of  all  creatures,  and  by  my  right  eye,  if  thou 
come  again  and  sleep,  I  will  assuredly  slaughter  thee  with  this  knife!  —  I  fear  for 
thee,  therefore,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  from  her  malice  ;  and  my  heart  is  full  of  grief 
on  thine  account,  and  I  cannot  talk.  If,  then,  thou  art  confident  in  thyself  that,  if 
thou  return  to  her,  thou  wilt  not  sleep,  return  to  her,  and  beware  of  sleeping,  and  so 
shalt  thou  attain  thy  desire:  but  if  thou  know  that,  shouldst  thou  go  to  her  again, 
thou  wilt  sleep  as  usual,  and  so  go  to  her  and  sleep,  she  will  slaughter  thee. — What 
then,  said  I,  is  to  be  done,  0  daughter  of  my  uncle?  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  to 
help  me  in  this  affliction. — She  replied.  On  my  head  and  my  eye:  and  if  thou  attend 
to  my  words,  and  comply  with  my  directions,  thou  wilt  accomplish  thy  desire.  I 
said,  I  will  do  so.  And  she  rejoined.  When  the  time  of  departure  cometh  I  will  tell 
thee.  She  then  pressed  me  to  her  bosom,  and  laid  me  on  the  bed,  and  continued 
gently  kneading  my  limbs  until  slumber  overcame  me,  and  I  sank  into  sleep  ;  and 
she  took  a  fan,  and,  seating  herself  at  my  head,  fanned  my  face  until  the  close  of 
day,  when  she  roused  me  ;  and  on  my  waking,  I  found  her  at  my  head  with  the  fan 
in  her  hand,  and  weeping  so  that  her  tears  had  wetted  her  clothes.  But  when  she 
saw  that  I  had  awoke,  she  wiped  away  her  tears,  and  brought  me  some  food.  I 
refrained  from  it;  but  she  said  to  me.  Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  thou  must  attend  to 
my  directions  ?  Eat,  therefore. — So  I  ate,  and  would  not  oppose  her  ;  and  she  pro- 
ceeded to  put  the  food  into  my  mouth  while  I  chewed  it,  until  my  stomach  was  full. 
She  then  gave  me  to  drink  some  infusion  of  jujubes  with  sugar,  and  washed  my 
hands,  and  dried  them  with  a  handkerchief,  and  sprinkled  some  rose-water  upon  me  ; 
after  which  I  sat  with  her  in  healthy  frame ;  and  when  the  night  became  dark,  she 
put  on  me  my  clothes,  and  said,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  watch  all  night,  and  sleep  not; 
for  she  will  not  come  to  thee  this  night  until  near  its  close:  and  if  it  be  the  will  of 
God,  thou  shalt  meet  her  this  night;  but  forget  not  my  charge.  Then  she  wept, 
and  my  heart  was  pained  for  her,  on  account  of  her  excessive  weeping ;  and  I  said 
to  her,  what  is  the  charge  which  thou  gavest  me?  She  answered.  When  thou 
departest  from  her,  repeat  to  her  the  verse  before  mentioned. 

I  then  went  forth  from  her  full  of  joy,  and  proceeded  to  the  garden,  and  went  up 
to  the  house,  satiated  with  food.  I  remained  sleepless  a  quarter  of  the  night,  and 
the  night  seemed  as  long  to  me  as  though  it  were  a  year ;  and  I  continued  watching 
until  two-thirds  of  it  had  passed,  and  the  cocks  crew,  and  I  became  violently  hungry 
from  watching  ;  so  I  went  up  to  the  table,  and  ate  until  I  was  satisfied :  and  my 
head  became  heavy,  and  I  desired  to  sleep  ;  but  suddenly  I  heard  a  noise  in  the 
distance  ;  whereupon  I  arose,  and  washed  my  hands  and  mouth,  and  roused  myself, 
and  soon  after,  she  came.  She  was  accompanied  by  ten  female  slaves,  and  she 
appeared  among  them  like  the  full  moon  among  the  planets ;  she  was  attired  in  a 
garment  of  green  satin  embroidered  with  red  gold  ;  and  when  she  saw  me,  she 
laughed,  and  said.  How  is  it  that  thou  hast  remained  awake,  and  that  sleep  hath  not 
overcome  thee?  Now  that  thou  hast  passed  the  night  sleepless  I  am  convinced  that 
thou  art  a  lover;  for  among  the  characteristics  of  lovers  is  the  watching  by  night  in 
the  resolute  endurance  of  desire.  —  She  then  turned  towards  her  female  slaves,  and 
made  a  sign  to  them  ;  whereupon  they  departed  from  her;  and  she  approached  me, 


224  AZIZ   AND   AZIZAH. 

and  pressed  me  to  her  bosom,  and  kissed  me,  and  we  conversed  together  until  the 
morning,  when  I  desired  to  depart ;  but  she  held  me,  and  said  to  me.  Stop,  that  I 
may  acquaint  thee  with  something,  and  give  thee  a  charge.  So  I  stopped :  and  she 
unfolded  a  handkerchief,  and,  taking  forth  from  it  this  piece  of  linen,  spread  it  open 
before  me  ;  and  I  found  in  it  the  design  of  the  gazelles,  as  thou  seest,  and  I  admired 
it  exceedingly,  and  took  it:  after  which  I  made  a  promise  to  her  that  I  would  pay 
her  a  visit  every  night  in  that  garden,  and  departed  from  her,  full  of  joy  ;  but  in  my 
joy  I  forgot  the  verse  which  my  cousin  had  charged  me  to  repeat.  And  when  she 
gave  me  the  piece  of  linen  containing  the  design  of  the  gazelles,  she  said  to  me,  This 
is  the  work  of  ray  sister.  —  And  what,  said  I,  is  the  name  of  thy  sister?  She 
answered.  Her  name  is  Nour-elhouda :  and  do  thou  take  care  of  this  piece  of  linen. 

After  this,  when  I  had  taken  leave  of  her  and  departed,  full  of  joy,  I  returned 
and  went  in  to  my  cousin,  and  found  her  lying  down,  and  when  she  saw  me  she 
arose,  her  tears  dropping,  and  approached  me,  and,  kissing  my  bosom,  said.  Hast 
thou  recited  the  verse  as  I  charged  thee?  I  answered,  I  forgot  it;  and  nothing 
drove  it  from  my  mind  but  the  design  of  these  gazelles.  And  I  threw  down  the 
piece  of  linen  before  her.  She  arose,  and  then  seated  herself  again,  and,  in  her  im- 
patience, shed  tears,  and  said,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  make  a  present  to  me  of  this 
piece  of  linen.     So  I  gave  it  her,  and  she  took  it  and  spread  it  open,  and  saw  what 


Azizah  weeping  over  the  Desi^  uf  the  Gazelles. 

was  in  it.  And  when  the  time  of  my  departure  came,  she  said.  Go,  and  may  safety 
attend  thee  ;  but  when  thou  retirest  from  her,  recite  to  her  the  verse  that  I  taught 
thee  before,  and  which  thou  forgottest. — Repeat  it  to  me,  said  I.     And  she  did  so. 

I  then  repaired  to  the  garden,  and  entered  the  apartment.  I  found  the  damsel 
waiting  for  me,  and  when  she  beheld  me  she  arose  and  kissed  me  and  seated  me, 
and  we  ate  and  drank,  and  in  the  morning  I  repeated  to  her  the  verse,  which  was 
this: — 

0  ye  lovers,  by  Allah,  inform  me  how  a  youth  should  act  when  his  love  is  intense. 

And  when  she  heard  it,  her  eyes  filled  with  tears,  and  thus  she  replied : — 

He  should  hide  his  love,  and  conceal  his  secret,  and  be  patient  under  every  event,  and  sub- 
missive. 

1  committed  this  to  memory,  and,  glad  at  having  done  what  ray  cousin  desired, 
■went  forth  and  returned  to  her.  I  found  her  lying  down  with  my  mother  at  her 
head  weeping  for  her  unhappy  state  ;  and  when  I  went  in  to  her,  my  mother  said  to 
me.  Perdition  to  such  a  cousin  as  thou !  How  canst  thou  leave  the  daughter  of 
thine  uncle  indisposed  and  not  inquire  respecting  her  disease?  — But  my  cousin,  on 
beholding  me,  raised  her  head,  and  sat  up,  and  said  to  me,  0  Aziz,  hast  thou  re- 
peated to  her  the  verse  that  I  taught  thee?     I  answered,  Yes  :  and  when  she  heard 


AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH.  225 

it,  she  wept,  and  recited  to  me  another  verse,  which  I  retain  in  my  memory.  —  Let 
me  hear  it,  said  my  cousin.  And  when  I  had  repeated  it  to  her  she  wept  violently, 
and  recited  this  other  verse: — 

He  hath  sought  to  attain  a  becoming  patience:  but  found  nought  save  a  heart  pining  with 
desire. 

She  then  said  to  me,  When  thou  goest  to  her  as  usual,  repeat  to  her  this  verse  which 
thou  hast  heard.     I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

So  I  went  to  the  garden,  according  to  my  custom,  and  when  I  was  about  to  return, 
I  recited  to  the  damsel  that  verse;  and  when  she  heard  it,  tears  poured  from  her 
eyes,  and  she  replied, — 

Then,  if  he  have  not  patience  to  conceal  his  secret,  I  know  nothing  better  for  him  than  death 

Retaining  this  in  my  memory,  I  returned  to  the  house  ;  and  when  I  went  in  to  my 
cousin,  I  found  her  fallen  down  in  a  fit,  and  my  mother  sitting  at  her  head ;  and 
when  my  cousin  heard  my  voice,  she  opened  her  eyes,  and  said,  0  Aziz,  hast  thou 
repeated  to  her  the  verse?  I  answered.  Yes:  and  when  she  heard  it,  she  wept,  and 
recited  to  me  this  other  verse.  And  I  repeated  it  to  her  ;  and  as  soon  as  she  heard 
it  she  fainted  again,  and  on  her  recovering  recited  another  verse,  which  was  this : — 

We  hear  and  obey,  and  we  die  ;  then  convey  my  salutation  to  the  person  who  hath  prevented 


our  union. 


At  the  approach  of  the  following  night  again  I  went  to  the  garden  as  usual,  and 
found  the  damsel  expecting  me  ;  and  we  ate  and  drank:  and  in  the  morning,  when 
I  was  about  to  depart,  I  repeated  to  her  what  my  cousin  had  said  ;  whereupon  she 
uttered  a  loud  cry,  and  was  agitated,  and  exclaimed,  By  Allah,  she  who  uttered  this 
verse  hath  died!  She  then  wept  and  said  to  me.  Wo  to  thee!  Is  not  she  who 
uttered  this  verse  related  to  thee  ! — I  answered.  She  is  the  daughter  of  my  paternal 
uncle.  —  Thou  liest,  replied  she:  by  Allah,  if  she  were  the  daughter  of  thy  uncle 
thou  hadst  borne  her  the  same  love  that  she  bore  thee.  Thou  art  he  who  hath 
destroyed  her,  and  may  God  destroy  thee  in  like  manner!  By  Allah,  if  thou  hadst 
told  me  of  thy  having  a  cousin,  I  had  not  admitted  thee  into  my  favour. — Verily, 
said  I,  she  is  my  cousin,  and  she  explained  to  me  the  signs  that  thou  madest  me, 
and  it  was  she  who  taught  me  how  to  proceed  with  thee :  I  had  not  obtained  access 
to  thee  but  through  her  good  management. — And  did  she  know  of  our  affair?  said 
she.  I  answered.  Yes. — May  Allah,  she  exclaimed,  cause  thee  to  bewail  thy  youth, 
as  thou  hast  caused  her  to  Vjewail  hers !     She  then  said  to  me.  Go  and  see  her. 

I  departed,  therefore,  troubled  in  mind,  and  proceeded  until  I  came  to  our  street, 
when  I  heard  a  wailing,  and,  asking  respecting  it,  was  answered.  We  found  Azizah 
lying  behind  the  door,  dead.     I  entered  the  house,  and  when  my  mother  beheld  me. 


Azizah  Dead. 


she  exclaimed.  The  crime  of  destroying  her  is  on  thy  neck,  and  may  God  not  pardou 
thee  her  blood!     Perdition  to  such  a  cousin  as  thou!  —  My  father  then  came,  and 
15 


226  AZIZ   AND   AZIZAH. 

we  y)repared  her  body  for  interment,  and  performed  the  funeral-oeremonies,  and 
buried  her,  and  we  caused  recitations  of  the  whole  of  the  Koran  to  be  performed  at 
her  tomb,  and  remained  there  three  days,  after  which  I  returned  to  the  house,  sor- 
rowing for  her.  And  my  mother  addressed  me,  and  said,  I  desire  to  know  what 
thou  didst  to  her,  so  that  thou  brokest  her  heart.  I  asked  her  continually,  0  my 
son,  respecting  the  cause  of  her  disorder ;  but  she  would  not  acquaint  me  with  it. 
I  conjure  thee,  therefore,  by  Allah,  that  thou  inform  me  what  thou  didst  unto  her, 
to  cause  her  death.  —  I  replied,  I  did  nothing.  But  she  said,  May  God  avenge  her 
upon  thee !  for  she  mentioned  to  me  nothing,  but  concealed  the  truth  of  her  case 
until  she  died,  still  preserving  her  affection  for  thee ;  and  when  she  died  I  was  with 
her,  and  she  opened  her  eyes,  and  said  to  me,  0  wife  of  my  uncle,  may  God  hold 
thy  son  guiltless  of  my  blood,  and  not  punish  him  for  that  which  he  hath  done  unto 
me  ;  and  now  God  transporteth  me  from  the  perishable  world  to  the  world  of  eternity. 
And  I  replied,  0  my  daughter,  may  God  preserve  thee,  and  preserve  thy  youth  ! 
And  I  asked  her  respecting  the  cause  of  her  disorder;  but  she  answered  not.  Then 
she  smiled,  and  said,  0  wife  of  my  uncle,  if  thy  son  desire  to  go  to  the  place  which 
he  is  accustomed  to  frequent,  tell  him  to  repeat  these  two  phrases  on  departing  from 
it — Fidelity  is  good,  and  treachery  is  base: — and  this  I  desire  in  my  compassion  for 
him,  that  I  may  show  him  compassion  in  my  life  and  after  my  death.  She  then 
gave  me  something  for  thee,  and  took  an  oath  of  me  that  I  would  not  give  it  to  thee 
until  I  should  see  thee  weeping  for  her  and  lamenting :  this  thing  I  have,  and  when 
I  see  thee  in  the  state  that  she  hath  described  I  will  give  it  thee.  —  I  said  to  her, 
Show  it  me.     But  she  would  not. 

I  then  gave  myself  up  to  my  pleasures,  and  thought  not  of  the  death  of  my  cousin  ; 
for  I  was  unsettled  in  mind,  and  wished  that  I  were  passing  the  whole  of  every 
night  and  day  with  my  beloved !  and  scarcely  had  the  next  night  approached  when 
I  repaired  again  to  the  garden.  I  found  the  damsel  sitting  there,  burning  with  im- 
patience to  see  me  ;  and  as  soon  as  she  beheld  me,  she  hastened  to  me  and  clung  to 
my  neck,  and  asked  me  respecting  my  cousin.  I  answered  her.  She  is  dead,  and 
we  have  performed  the  rites  and  recitations  of  the  Koran  for  her,  and  four  nighta 
have  passed  since  her  death,  and  this  is  the  fifth.  When  she  heard  this,  she  cried 
out  and  wept,  and  said,  Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  thou  hadst  killed  her?  Hadst  thou 
informed  me  of  her  before  her  death,  I  had  requited  her  for  the  kindness  that  she 
hath  shown  me ;  for  she  hath  been  of  service  to  me  in  giving  thee  access  to  me :  had 
it  not  been  for  her,  I  should  not  have  had  an  interview  with  thee,  and  I  fear  thou 
wilt  fall  into  a  calamity  on  account  of  her  disaster.  —  I  replied.  She  acquitted  me 
before  her  death.  And  I  related  to  her  what  my  mother  had  told  me  ;  upon  which 
she  exclaimed,  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee,  when  thou  goest  to  thy  mother,  learn  what 
it  is  that  she  hath.— My  mother,  said  I,  told  me.  Thy  cousin,  before  she  died,  charged 
me  saying,  If  thy  son  desire  to  go  to  the  place  which  he  is  accustomed  to  frequent, 
tell  him  to  repeat  these  two  phrases: — Fidelity  is  good,  and  treachery  is  base.— And 
when  the  damsel  heard  this,  she  exclaimed,  The  mercy  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted  !)  be  upon  her  !  for  she  hath  saved  thee  from  me  :  I  was  meditating  an  injury 
to  thee;  but  now  I  will  not  hurt  thee  nor  trouble  thee.  And  I  wondered  at  this, 
and  said  to  her.  What  didst  thou  purpose  before  this  to  do  to  me,  after  mutual  love 
had  taken  place  between  ua  ?  She  answered.  Thou  art  devoted  to  me  ;  but  thou  art 
young,  and  thy  mind  is  free  from  deceit,  and  thou  knowest  not  our  malice  nor  our 
deceit ;  were  she  still  in  the  bonds  of  life  she  would  assist  thee ;  for  she  is  the  cause 
of  thy  safety,  and  hath  delivered  thee  from  destruction  ;  and  now  I  charge  thee  that 
thou  speak  not  with  any  female,  nor  answer  any  of  our  sex,  young  or  old:  beware, 
beware  ,  for  thou  art  ignorant  of  the  deceit  of  women,  and  their  malice :  she  who 
used  to  interpret  the  signs  to  thee  is  dead:  and  I  fear  for  thee  lest  thou  fall  into  a 
calamity  and  find  none  to  deliver  thee  from  it  after  the  death  of  thy  cousin.  O  my 
sorrow  for  the  daughter  of  thy  uncle!  Would  that  I  had  known  her  before  her 
death,  that  I  might  have  requited  her  for  the  kindness  that  she  hath  done  me  !     The 


AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH.  227 

mercy  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  be  upon  her  !  for  she  concealed  her  secret, 
and  revealed  not  what  she  felt;  and  but  for  her,  thou  wouldst  never  have  had  acces? 
to  me.  And  now  I  have  a  service  to  demand  of  thee. — What  is  it?  said  I.  She 
answered,  That  thou  conduct  me  to  her  tomb,  that  I  may  visit  her  in  her  grave,  and 
inscribe  some  verses  upon  it.  I  replied.  To-morrow,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose 
name  be  exalted  ! — So  I  remained  with  her  that  night,  and  frequently  she  said  to  me. 
Would  that  thou  hadst  told  me  of  thy  cousin  before  her  death  !  And  I  asked  her, 
What  is  the  meaning  of  these  words  which  she  said — Fidelity  is  good,  and  treachery 
is  base?     But  she  answered  me  not. 

In  the  morning,  therefore,  she  arose,  and,  taking  a  purse  containing  some  pieces 
of  gold,  said  to  me.  Arise,  and  show  me  the  tomb,  that  I  may  visit  it,  and  write  upon 
it  some  verses,  and  build  over  it  a  cupola,  and  pray  for  mercy  upon  her,  and  bestow 
these  pieces  of  gold  in  alms  for  her  soul.  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  I  walked 
before  her,  and  she  followed  me,  and  employed  herself  in  giving  alms  on  the  way  as 
she  went,  and  every  time  that  she  did  so  she  said.  This  is  an  alms  for  the  soul  of 
Azizah,  who  concealed  her  secret  until  she  drank  the  cup  of  death,  and  revealed  not 
her  love.  Thus  she  continued  to  give  of  the  contents  of  the  purse,  and  to  say,  For 
the  soul  of  Azizah,  —  until  we  arrived  at  the  tomb,  and  the  contents  of  the  purse 
were  exhausted  ;  and  when  she  beheld  the  tomb  she  threw  herself  upon  it,  and  wept 
violently.  She  then  took  forth  a  pointed  instrument  of  steel,  and  a  small  mallet, 
and  engraved  upon  the  stone  at  the  head  of  the  tomb,  in  small  characters,  five  verses. 
She  then  again  wept  violently,  and  arose,  and  I  arose  with  her;  and  after  we  had 
returned  to  the  garden,  she  said  to  me,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  never  for- 
sake me.  And  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  So  I  resumed  my  visits  to  her  as  before, 
and  she  treated  me  with  kindness  and  honour,  and  used  to  ask  me  respecting  the 
two  phrases  which  my  cousin  Azizah  had  mentioned  to  my  mother,  and  I  repeated 
them  to  her.  Thus  I  remained,  eating  and  drinking,  and  enjoying  her  conversation, 
and  attiring  myself  in  changes  of  delicate  clothing,  until  I  became  stout  and  fat,  and 
I  experienced  neither  anxiety,  nor  grief,  nor  sorrow,  and  forgot  my  cousin. 

I  continued  drowned  in  these  pleasures  for  a  whole  year,  and  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  new  year  I  entered  the  bath,  and  refreshed  myself,  and  put  on  a  hand- 
some suit;  and  after  I  had  gone  forth  from  the  bath  I  drank  a  cup  of  wine,  and 
smelt  the  odours  of  my  clothes,  which  were  richly  perfumed  with  various  scents. 
My  heart  was  unoppressed  by  calamities  or  misfortunes,  and  when  the  hour  of  night- 
fall came  I  desired  to  repair  to  the  damsel ;  but  I  was  intoxicated,  and  knew  not  my 
way  ;  and,  in  going  to  her,  intoxication  led  me  aside  into  a  by-street  called  the  street 
of  the  Chief:  and  as  I  was  proceeding  along  it,  lo,  an  old  woman  came,  with  a 
lighted  candle  in  one  of  her  hands,  and  in  her  other  hand  a  folded  letter.  I  ad- 
vanced towards  her,  and  she,  with  weeping  eye,  said  to  me,  0  my  son,  art  thou  able 
to  read  ?  I  answered  her.  Yes,  my  old  aunt.  And  she  said,  Take  this  letter,  and 
read  it  to  me.  And  she  handed  me  the  letter ;  so  I  took  it  from  her  and  opened  it, 
and  read  to  her  its  contents,  informing  her  that  it  was  a  letter  from  the  absent,  with 
salutations  to  the  beloved.  And  when  she  heard  this,  she  rejoiced  at  the  good  news, 
and  ejaculated  a  prayer  for  me,  saying.  May  God  dispel  thine  anxiety,  as  thou  hast 
lispelled  mine!  She  then  took  the  letter,  and  proceeded  a  few  steps  ;  but  presently 
she  returned  to  me,  and  kissing  my  hand,  said,  0  my  lord,  may  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted!)  give  thee  enjoyment  of  thy  youth,  and  not  disgrace  thee!  I  beg  that 
thou  wilt  walk  with  me  a- few  paces  to  that  door;  for  I  have  told  them  what  thou 
hast  read  lo  me  of  the  letter,  and  they  do  not  believe  me :  come  with  me,  therefore, 
two  steps,  and  read  to  them  the  letter  outside  the  door,  and  accept  my  prayers  for 
thee.  —  And  what,  said  I,  is  the  history  of  this  letter?  She  answered,  0  my  son, 
♦his  letter  hath  come  from  my  son,  who  hath  been  absent  from  us  for  the  space  of 
ten  years  ;  for  he  journeyed  with  merchandise,  and  hath  remained  abroad  during 
that  period,  and  we  relinquished  all  hope  of  his  return,  thinking  that  he  was  dead: 
then  came  to  us  this  letter  from  him  ;  and  he  hath  a  sister  who  hath  wept  for  him 


228  AZIZ   AND   AZIZAH. 

during  his  absence  night  and  day ;  and  I  told  her  that  he  was  in  health  and  pros* 
perity ;  but  she  believed  me  not,  and  said  to  me,  Thou  must  bring  me  a  person  to 
read  this  letter  and  to  acquaint  me  with  its  contents,  that  my  heart  may  be  set  at 
ease  and  my  mind  comforted.  —  Thou  knowest,  0  my  son,  that  the  loving  are  pre- 
possessed with  evil  anticipations;  favour  me,  therefore,  by  readinj^  this  letter  while 
thou  shalt  stand  outside  the  curtain,  and  his  sister  shall  hear  it  within  the  door,  that 
the  recompense  of  him  who  accomplisheth  a  want  for  one  of  the  fiiithful,  and  dis- 
pelleth  from  his  mind  a  trouble,  may  be  thine:  for  the  Apostle  of  God  (may  God 
favour  and  preserve  him  !)  hath  said.  Whoso  dispelleth  from  the  mind  of  a  sorrowful 
person  one  of  the  troubles  of  this  world,  God  will  dispel  from  his  mind  one  of  the 
troubles  of  the  world  to  come: — and  in  another  tradition.  Whoso  dispelleth  from  the 
mind  of  his  brother  one  of  the  troubles  of  this  world,  God  will  dispel  from  his  mind 
seventy-two  of  the  troubles  of  the  day  of  resurrection :  —  and  now  I  have  desired 
thee,  do  not  disappoint  me.  —  So  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey :  proceed  before  me. 

She  therefore  walked  before  me,  and  I  followed  her  a  little  way,  until  she  arrived 
at  a  great  door  overlaid  with  copper;  and  she  stopped  at  this  door,  and  called  out 
in  Persian,  and  immediately  a  damsel  approached,  with  light  and  nimble  step.  Her 
trousers  were  tucked  up  to  her  knees,  and  I  beheld  a  pair  of  legs  that  confounded 
the  mind  and  the  eye  by  their  beauty:  they  were  like  two  columns  of  alabaster,  and 
ornamented  with  anklets  of  gold  set  with  jewels.  The  skirts  of  her  outer  clothes 
were  tucked  up  under  her  arras,  and  her  sleeves  were  turned  up  from  her  arms,  and 
I  looked  at  her  white  wrists,  and  upon  them  were  two  pairs  of  bracelets  :  in  her 
ears  were  two  ear-rings  of  pearls ;  and  upon  her  neck  was  a  necklace  of  costly 
jewels:  and  on  her  head,  a  coif,  quite  new,  adorned  with  precious  gems.  She  had 
tucked  the  skirt  of  her  inner  tunic  within  the  hand  of  her  trousers,  and  appeared  as 
though  she  had  been  employed  in  some  active  work.  And  when  she  beheld  me,  she 
said  with  an  eloquent  and  sweet  tongue  that  I  had  never  heard  surpassed  in  sweet- 
ness, O  my  mother,  is  this  he  who  hath  come  to  read  the  letter?  She  answered.  Yes. 
And  the  damsel  stretched  forth  her  hand  to  me  with  the  letter.  There  was,  between 
her  and  the  door,  a  distance  of  about  two  yards  ;  and  I  extended  my  hand  to  take 
the  letter  from  her,  and  put  my  head  and  shoulders  within  the  door  to  draw  near  to 
her;  but  before  I  knew  what  she  was  about  to  do,  the  old  woman  placed  her  head 
against  my  back,  and  pushed  me  forward,  while  my  hand  was  holding  the  letter, 
and  I  looked  around,  and  found  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  house  ;  that  is,  within 
the  vestibule.  The  old  woman  entered  more  quickly  than  the  blinding  lightning, 
and  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  shut  the  door:  and  when  the  damsel  beheld  me  within 
the  vestibule,  she  approached  me,  and  pressed  me  to  her  bosom,  and,  taking  me  by 
the  hand,  unable  to  extricate  myself  from  her  grasp,  led  me,  preceded  by  the  old 
woman  with  the  lighted  candle,  until  she  had  passed  through  seven  vestibules;  after 
which  she  conducted  me  into  a  large  saloon,  with  four  raised  floors,  in  which  a 
horseman  might  play  at  goff.  She  then  seated  me,  and  said  to  me.  Open  thine  eye. 
And  I  did  so,  giddy  from  the  violence  that  I  had  experienced,  and  saw  that  the 
whole  construction  of  the  saloon  was  of  the  most  beautiful  alabaster,  and  all  its  fur- 
niture, including  the  cushions  and  mattresses,  of  brocade.  In  it  were  also  two 
benches  of  brass,  and  a  sofa  of  red  gold  set  with  pearls  and  jewels,  not  suitable  to 
any  but  a  King  like  thee. 

After  this,  she  said  to  me,  O  Aziz,  which  of  the  two  states  is  the  more  agreeable 
to  thee,  life  or  death  ?  I  answered  her.  Life.  And  she  said,  Then  if  life  is  more 
agreeable  to  thee,  marry  me. — I  dislike,  I  replied,  marrying  such  a  person  as  thou. 
She  rejoined.  If  thou  marry  me,  thou  wilt  bo  secure  from  the  daughter  of  the  crafty 
Delilah. — And  who,  said  I,  is  the  daughter  of  the  crafty  Delilah  ?  She  laughed, 
and  answered,  IIow  is  it  that  thou  knowest  her  not,  when  thou  hast  now  been  in 
her  company  a  year  and  four  months?  May  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted)  destroy 
her !  Verily  there  existeth  not  any  one  more  treacherous  than  she.  How  many 
persons  hath  she  killed  before  thee,  and  what  deeds  hath  she  done?     And  how  hast 


AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH.  229 

thou  escaped  from  her,  without  her  killing  or  troubling  thee,  when  thou  hast  been 
in  her  company  all  this  time? — When  I  heard  her  words  I  wondered  extremely,  and 
said  to  her,  0  my  mistress  who  acquainted  thee  with  her?  She  answered,  I  know 
her  as  the  age  knoweth  its  calamities;  but  I  desire  that  thou  inform  me  of  all  that 
thou  hast  experienced  from  her,  that  I  may  know  the  cause  of  thy  safety  from  her. 
So  I  related  to  her  all  that  had  happened  to  me  with  her  and  with  my  cousin 
Azizah  ;  and  she  exclaimed,  Allah  have  mercy  upon  her! — and  her  eyes  shed  tears, 
and  she  struck  her  hands  together,  when  she  heard  of  the  death  of  my  cousin 
Azizah,  and  said.  May  Allah  compensate  thee  abundantly  for  the  loss  of  her,  0 
Aziz  ;  for  she  hath  been  the  cause  of  thy  safety  from  the  daughter  of  crafty  Delilah  ; 
and  had  it  not  been  for  her,  thou  hadst  perished.  After  this,  she  clapped  her  hands, 
and  said,  0  my  mother,  bring  in  those  who  are  with  thee.  And  lo,  the  old  woman 
approached  with  four  lawful  witnesses  ;  and  she  lighted  four  candles ;  and  when  the 
witnesses  entered  they  saluted  me,  and  seated  themselves;  and  the  damsel  covered 
herself  with  an  izar,  and  appointed  one  of  the  witnesses  to  be  her  deputy  in  making 
her  contract.  So  they  performed  the  marriage-contract,  and  she  affirmed  of  herself 
that  she  had  received  the  whole  of  the  dowry,  both  the  portion  usually  paid  in  ad- 
vance and  the  arrears,  and  that  she  was  indebted  to  me  in  the  sum  of  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  silver ;  after  which  she  gave  to  the  witnesses  their  fees,  and  they 
departed. 

On  the  following  day,  I  desired  to  go  out ;  but  she  approached  me  laughing,  and 
said.  Dost  thou  think  that  going  out  from  the  bath  is  like  entering  it?  I  imagine 
thou  thinkest  me  to  be  like  the  daughter  of  the  crafty  Delilah.  Beware  of  enter- 
taining such  an  idea.  Thou  art  no  other  than  my  husband,  according  to  the  Koran 
and  the  Sunneh  ;  and  if  thou  hast  been  intoxicated,  return  to  thy  reason.  Verily 
this  house  in  which  thou  art  is  not  opened  but  on  one  day  in  every  year.  Go  to  the 
street  door  and  look. — So  I  went  and  looked,  and  found  it  closed  and  nailed,  and  re- 
turned and  told  her  so  ;  and  she  said  to  me,  0  Aziz,  we  have  of  flour  and  grain  and 
fruits  and  pomegranates  and  sugar  and  meat  and  sheep  and  fowls  and  other  provi- 
sions what  will  suffice  us  for  many  years,  and  from  this  last  night  our  door  will  not 
be  opened  until  after  a  year,  and  I  know  that  thou  wilt  not  behold  thyself  outside 
this  house  until  after  a  year  hath  expired.  Upon  this  I  exclaimed.  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God  !  And  she  laughed,  and  I  laughed  also,  and  com- 
plied with  her  orders,  and  remained  with  her  until  the  twelve  months  of  the  year 
had  expired,  when  I  was  blest  with  a  son  by  her.  And  on  the  first  day  of  the  fol- 
lowing year  I  heard  the  opening  of  the  door,  and  lo,  men  came  in  with  cakes  and 
flour  and  sugar:  and  I  desired  to  go  out;  but  she  said  to  me.  Wait  until  nightfall, 
and  as  thou  camest  in,  so  go  forth.  I  therefore  waited  till  that  hour,  and  was  on 
the  point  of  going  out,  in  fear  and  trembling,  when  she  said  to  me.  By  Allah,  I  will 
rot  let  thee  go  until  I  have  made  thee  swear  to  me  that  thou  wilt  return  this  night 
before  the  door  is  closed.  So  I  promised  her  to  do  it ;  and  she  made  me  swear  by 
binding  oaths  upon  the  sword  and  the  Koran,  and  by  the  oath  of  divorce,  that  I 
would  return  to  her. 

I  then  went  forth  from  her,  and  repaired  to  the  garden.  I  found  it  open  as  usual, 
and  was  angry,  saying  within  myself,  I  have  been  absent  from  this  place  a  whole 
year,  and,  coming  unawares,  have  found  it  open  as  usual.  I  wonder  if  the  damsel 
be  still  there  as  heretofore,  and  I  must  enter  and  see  before  I  go  to  my  mother. — It 
was  then  nightfall,  and  I  entered  the  garden,  and,  proceeding  to  the  apartment 
found  the  daughter  of  the  crafty  Delilah  sitting  with  her  head  upon  her  knee, 
and  her  hand  upon  her  cheek.  Her  complexion  was  changed,  and  her  eyes  were 
sunk,  and  when  she  beheld  me  she  exclaimed.  Praise  be  to  God  for  thy  safety  I — and 
she  endeavoured  to  rise,  but  fell  down  through  her  joy.  I  was  ashamed  at  seeing 
her,  and  hung  down  my  head  ;  but  presently  I  advanced  to  her,  and  kissed  her,  and 
said  to  her.  How  didst  thou  know  that  I  was  coming  to  thee  at  this  time  ?  She  an- 
swered, I  knew  it  not.    By  Allah,  for  a  year  I  have  not  tasted  sleep;  but  have  sat 


230  AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH. 

up  every  night  expecting  thee,  and  in  this  state  have  I  been  from  the  day  when  thou 
vrentest  forth  from  me  and  I  gave  thee  the  nevy  suit  of  clothing,  and  thou  promisedst 
me  that  thou  wouldst  return  to  me.  I  remained  expecting  thee,  and  thou  camest 
not  the  first  night,  nor  the  second,  nor  the  third :  so  I  still  vraited  in  expectation  of 
thy  coming;  for  such  is  the  way  of  the  lover:  and  I  would  now  that  thou  tell  me 
what  hath  been  the  cause  of  thine  absence  from  me  this  year. — I  therefore  told  her  ; 
and  when  she  knew  that  I  had  married,  her  countenance  became  pale.  I  then  said 
to  her,  I  have  come  to  thee  this  night,  but  must  go  before  the  morning.  But  she 
exclaimed.  Is  it  not  enough  for  her  to  have  married  thee,  and  to  have  employed  this 
stratagem  against  thee,  and  imprisoned  thee  with  her  a' whole  year,  that  she  hath 
made  thee  swear  by  the  oath  of  divorce  that  thou  wilt  return  to  her  before  the 
morning,  and  Avill  not  allow  thee  to  divert  thyself  with  thy  mother  nor  with  me,  and 
cannot  endure  thy  passing  one  night  with  either  of  us?  What  then  must  be  the 
state  of  her  from  whom  thou  hast  been  absent  a  whole  year,  though  I  knew  thee 
before  she  did?  But  may  Allah  have  mercy  on  Azizah  ;  for  she  suffered  what  none 
hath  suffered,  and  endured  with  patience  that  the  like  of  which  none  else  hath  en- 
dured, and  died  through  thy  oppression.  It  was  she  who  protected  thee  from  me. 
I  thought  that  thou  wouldst  return,  and  gave  thee  liberty,  though  I  was  able  to  im- 
prison thee,  and  to  destroy  thee. 

Having  thus  said,  she  wept,  and  became  enraged,  and  looked  at  me  with  the  eye 
of  anger;  and  when  I  beheld  her  in  this  state,  the  muscles  of  my  side  quivered,  and 
I  feared  her,  and  became  as  the  bean  upon  the  lire.  She  then  cried  out,  and  sud- 
denly ten  female  slaves  came  to  me,  and  threw  me  upon  the  floor;  and  when  I  fell 
under  their  hands,  she  arose,  atid,  taking  a  knife,  said,  I  will  slaughter  thee  as  goats 
are  slaughtered,  and  this  shall  be  thy  least  recompense  for  that  which  thou  hast  done 
unto  thy  cousin.  When  I  beheld  myself,  therefore,  beneath  her  female  slaves,  and 
my  cheek  was  soiled  with  the  dust,  and  I  saw  the  knife  in  her  hand,  I  looked  upon 
death  as  inevitable.  I  implored  her  mercy ;  but  she  only  increased  in  hardness, 
and  ordered  the  female  slaves  to  bind  my  hands  behind  me;  and  they  did  so,  and 
throwing  me  upon  my  back,  seated  themselves  upon  my  body,  and  held  my  head. 
Then  two  of  them  arose  and  took  hold  of  my  toes,  and  two  others  seated  themselves 
upon  my  legs  ;  after  which  their  mistress  arose,  with  two  others  of  them,  and  she 
ordered  them  to  beat  me;  whereupon  they  beat  me  until  I  fixinted,  and  my  voice 
became  inaudible  ;  and  when  I  recovered,  I  said  within  myself.  Verily  my  being 
slaughtered  were  easier  to  me  than  this  beating !  I  bethought  myself  of  the  words 
of  my  cousin,  when  she  said,  May  God  avert  from  thee  her  wickedness  ! — and  I  cried 
out  and  wept  until  my  voice  failed.  She  then  sharpened  the  knife,  and  said  to  the 
female  slaves.  Uncover  his  throat.  But  God  inspired  me  to  repeat  the  two  phrases 
which  my  cousin  had  charged  me  to  utter,  namely,  Fidelity  is  good  and  treachery  is 
base; — and  when  she  heard  this,  she  cried  out  and  said,  Allah  have  mercy  upon 
thee,  0  Azizah.  Would  that  thy  youth  had  been  spared  !  Thou  hast  profited  thy 
cousin  during  thy  life  and  after  thy  death  !  (Then  addressing  me,  she  added,)  By 
Allah,  thou  hast  saved  thy  life  from  me  by  means  of  these  two  phrases:  but  I  must 
cause  thee  to  bear  a  mark  of  my  resentment.  —  So  saying,  she  inflicted  upon  me  a 
cruel  wound,  and  I  fainted  ;  but  when  I  recovered,  the  blood  had  stopped,  and  she 
gave  me  to  drink  a  cup  of  wine,  and  spurned  me  with  her  foot. 

I  arose ;  but  was  unable  at  first  to  walk ;  presently,  however,  I  proceeded  by  little 
and  little  until  I  arrived  at  the  door  of  my  wife's  house.  I  found  it  open,  and  threw 
myself  Avithin  it,  in  a  state  of  distraction  ;  and  my  wife  came  and  took  me  up  and 
conveyed  me  to  the  saloon,  where  I  fell  into  a  deep  sleep  ;  but  when  I  awoke,  I 
found  myself  laid  at  the  gate  of  the  garden. 

In  anguish  I  arose  and  went  to  my  home,  and,  entering  the  house,  found  my 
mother  weeping  for  me,  and  exclaiming,  Would  that  I  knew,  0  my  son,  in  what  land 
thou  art!  So  I  approached  her,  and  threw  myself  upon  her,  and  when  she  beheld 
me,  she  saw  that  I  was  unwell.     Yellowness  and  blackness  were  mingled  upon  my 


AZIZ    AND    AZIZAH.  231 

face ;  and  I  remembered  my  cousin  and  the  kindness  she  had  shown  me,  and  waa 
convinced  that  she  loved  me.  I  wept  for  her,  and  oiy  mother  also  wept,  and  then 
said  to  me,  0  my  son,  thy  father  is  dead.  And  upon  this  my  rage  increased,  and  I 
wept  until  I  became  insensible ;  and  when  I  recovered  I  looked  towards  the  place 
■where  my  cousin  was  accustomed  to  sit,  and  wept  again  till  I  fainted  from  the 
violence  of  my  lamentation.  I  ceased  not  to  weep  and  wail  until  midnight,  when 
my  mother  said  to  me,  Thy  father  hath  been  dead  ten  days.  But  I  replied,  I  think 
of  no  one  but  my  cousin ;  for  I  deserve  what  hath  happened  to  me,  because  I  ne- 
glected her  when  she  loved  me.  She  asked  me,  therefore,  And  what  hath  happened 
to  thee?  So  I  related  to  her  that  which  had  befallen  me ;  to  which  she  replied, 
Praise  be  to  God  that  this  happened  to  thee  and  that  she  did  not  slaughter  thee  ! 
She  then  applied  remedies  to  my  vcound  until  I  recovered,  and  regained  my  usual 
strength  ;  and  she  said  to  me,  0  my  son,  I  will  now  produce  to  thee  the  deposit  with 
with  which  thy  cousin  intrusted  me ;  for  it  is  thine,  and  she  made  me  swear  that  I 
would  not  produce  it  to  thee  until  I  saw  that  thou  rememberedst  her  and  mournedst 
for  her,  and  that  thine  affections  for  another  were  severed ;  and  now  I  hope  that  I 
find  in  thee  these  dispositions.  She  therefore  arose,  and  opening  a  chest,  took  forth 
from  it  this  piece  of  linen  containing  the  design  of  the  gazelles,  which  I  had  origi- 
nally given  to  her ;  and  when  I  took  it,  I  found  written  upon  it  some  verses  com- 
plaining of  her  unrequited  love  for  me,  and  there  fell  from  it  a  paper  containing 
some  words  of  consolation  and  counsel. 

As  soon  as  I  had  read  and  understood  this  paper,  I  wept  again,  and  my  mother 
did  the  same,  and  I  continued  looking  at  it  and  weeping  until  the  approach  of  night; 
and  in  this  state  I  remained  for  the  space  of  a  year;. after  which,  some  merchants 
of  my  city,  the  same  whom  I  am  accompanying  in  this  caravan,  prepared  for  a  jour- 
ney ;  and  my  mother  suggested  to  me  that  I  should  fit  myself  out  and  go  with  them, 
saying  to  me,  Perhaps  the  journey  will  dispel  this  sorrow  which  thou  sufferest,  and 
thou  wilt  be  absent  a  year,  or  two  years,  or  three,  until  the  caravan  returneth,  and 
thy  heart  may  become  dilated.  Thus  she  continued  to  persuade  me,  so  that  I  pre- 
pared some  merchandise,  and  journeyed  with  them  ;  but  my  tears  have  not  dried  up 
during  my  travels  ;  for  at  every  station  where  we  halt  I  spread  this  piece  of  linen 
before  me,  and  look  at  this  design,  and  think  of  my  cousin  and  weep  for  her  as  thou 
seest,  since  she  loved  me  excessively,  and  died  through  my  unkindness  ;  I  doing 
nothing  but  evil  to  her,  while  she  did  nothing  to  me  but  what  was  good.  When  the 
merchants  return  from  their  journey,  I  shall  return  with  them,  and  the  period  of  my 
absence  will  be  a  complete  year  ;  but  I  still  suffer  increasing  sorrow ;  and  my  sor- 
row hath  been  augmented  only  in  consequence  of  my  passing  by  the  Islands  of 
Camphor,  and  the  Castle  of  Crystal. 

These  islands  are  seven  in  number,  and  the  sovereign  of  them  is  a  King  named 
Shahzeman.  He  hath  a  daughter  named  Dunia:  and  it  was  told  me  that  it  was  she 
who  worked  the  designs  of  the  gazelles,  and  that  this  design  which  is  in  my  posses- 
sion was  one  of  her  work ;  and  when  I  knew  this  I  became  excessively  desirous  of 
seeing  her :  so,  when  the  caravan  entered  her  country,  I  went  forth  and  wandered 
about  the  gardens,  which  contained  a  profusion  of  trees.  The  superintendent  of  the 
gardens  was  a  sheikh  advanced  in  age :  and  I  said  to  him,  0  sheikh,  to  whom  doth 
this  garden  belong  ?  He  answered,  To  the  King's  daughter,  the  lady  Dunia,  and  we 
are  beneath  her  palace  ;  and  if  thou  desire  to  amuse  thyself,  open  the  private  door 
and  take  a  view  of  the  garden  and  smell  the  odours  of  the  flowers.  So  I  said  to  him. 
Have  the  kindness  to  allow  me  to  sit  in  this  garden  until  she  passeth  by,  that  I  may 
enjoy  a  glance  at  her.  The  sheikh  replied.  There  will  be  no  harm  in  thy  doing  so. 
When  he  said  this,  therefore,  I  gave  him  some  money,  saying  to  him.  Buy  for  us 
something  to  eat.  And  he  rejoiced  at  receiving  the  money,  and,  opening  the  door, 
conducted  me  within  ;  and  we  proceeded  until  we  came  to  a  pleasant  spot,  where  he 
brought  me  some  delicate  fruits,  and  said  to  me.  Sit  here  while  I  go  and  return  to 
thee.    And  he  left  me  and  departed,  and,  after  he  had  been  absefit  a  while,  returned 


282  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNTA. 

bringing  a  roasted  lamb:  and  we  ate  until  we  were  satisfied,  my  heart  longing  to 
behold  the  lady  ;  and  while  we  were  sitting,  lo,  the  door  opened  ;  whereupon  he  said 
to  me,  Arise,  and  conceal  thyself.  So  I  arose,  and  hid  myself;  and  a  black  eunuch 
put  forth  his  head  from  the  door,  and  said,  0-sheikh,  is  any  one  with  thee?  He 
answered.  No. — Then  close  the  door,  said  the  eunuch.  The  sheikh,  therefore,  closed 
the  door  of  the  garden  ;  and  lo,  the  lady  Dunia  came  forth.  When  I  beheld  her,  I 
thought  that  the  moon  had  descended  upon  the  earth  ;  my  mind  was  confounded, 
and  I  desired  her  as  the  thirsty  longeth  for  water;  and  after  a  while,  she  closed  the 
door  and  departed.  I  then  went  forth  from  the  garden,  and  repaired  to  my  lodging, 
knowing  that  I  could  not  obtain  access  to  her,  and  when  my  companions  prepared 
for  departure,  I  also  prepared  myself,  and  travelled  with  them  towards  thy  city ; 
and  on  our  arrival  here,  we  met  with  thee. — This  is  my  story,  and  this  is  what  hath 
happened  unto  me ;  and  peace  be  on  thee. 


CONTINUATION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  TAJ-ELMOLOUK  AND  THE  LADY 
DUNIA. 

When  Taj-elmolouk  heard  this  story,  his  heart  became  troubled  with  love  for  the 
lady  Dunia.  He  then  mounted  his  horse,  and,  taking  with  him  Aziz,  returned  to 
his  father's  city,  where  he  assigned  to  him  a  house,  and  furnished  it  with  everything 
that  lie  required  ;  after  which  he  left  him,  and  repaired  to  his  palace.  His  tears 
ran  down  upon  his  cheeks  (for  hearing  affecteth  as  sight  and  union),  and  in  this  state 
he  remained  until  his  father  came  in  to  him,  and  finding  that  his  colour  was  changed, 
knew  that  he  was  oppressed  by  anxiety  and  grief;  so  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  ac- 
quaint me  with  thy  case,  and  tell  me  what  happened  to  thee  to  change  thy  colour. 
He  therefore  related  to  him  all  that  he  had  heard  of  the  story  of  Dunia  ;  and  how 
he  had  fallen  in  love  with  her  from  hearsay,  without  having  seen  her;  whereupon 
his  father  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  her  father  is  a  King,  and  his  country  is  distant 
from  us;  abandon,  therefore,  this  idea,  and  enter  the  palace  of  thy  mother;  for  in 
it  are  five  hundred  female  slaves  like  so  many  moons,  and  whoever  of  them  pleaseth 
thee  do  thou  take  her;  or  if  none  of  thorn  please  thee,  we  will  demand  in  marriage 
for  thee  one  of  the  daughters  of  the  Kings,  more  beautiful  than  the  lady  Dunia. 
But  he  replied,  0  my  father,  I  desire  not  any  but  her:  it  was  she  who  worked  the 
design  of  the  gazelles  that  I  saw,  and  I  must  have  her,  or  I  will  flee  into  the  deserts, 
and  kill  myself  on  her  account. 

So  his  father  said,  Have  patience  with  me,  0  my  son,  that  I  may  send  to  her 
father  and  demand  her  of  him  in  marriage,  and  accomplish  for  thee  thy  wish,  like 
as  I  did  for  myself  in  the  case  of  thy  mother ;  and  if  he  consent  not,  I  will  convulse 
his  kingdom  around  him,  and  send  against  him  an  army  of  which  the  rear  shall  be 
with  me  when  the  van  is  with  him.  He  then  called  for  the  young  man  Aziz,  and 
said  to  him,  O  my  son,  knowest  thou  the  way?  he  answered,  Yes. — Then  I  desire  of 
thee,  said  the  King,  that  thou  journey  with  my  Vizier.  And  Aziz  replied,  I  hear 
and  obey,  0  King  of  the  ago.  The  King,  therefore,  summoned  his  Vizier,  and  said 
to  him.  Manage  for  me  the  affair  of  my  son  according  to  thy  knowledge,  and  repair 
to  the  Islands  of  Camphor,  and  demand  in  marriage  the  daughter  of  their  King. 
He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  Taj-elmolouk  returned  to  his  apartments,  and  his 
malady  and  impatience  increased  ;  he  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  and  recovered  not  until 
the  morning;  and  when  the  morning  arrived  his  father  came  to  him,  and  saw  his 
complexion  was  changed,  and  his  sallowness  increased  ;  and  he  exhorted  him  to 
patience,  and  promised  him  tlie  accomplishment  of  his  union. 

The  King  then  equipped  Aziz,  with  his  Vizier,  and  supplied  them  with  the  pre- 
sents; and  they  journeyed  days  and  nights  until  they  beheld  the  Islands  of  Camphor, 
when  they  halted  on  the  bank  of  a  river,  and  the  Vizier  sent  forward  a  messenger 
from   his  party  to  the  King,  to  acquaint  him  with  their  approach;  and  half  a  day 


The  Embassy  to  Ihe  Islands  of  Camphor.     (Page  232.) 


233 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA.  235 

after  the  departure  of  the  messenger,  suddenly  they  saw  that  tlie  chamberlains  of 
the  King  and  his  Emirs  had  advanced  to  meet  them  from  the  distance  of  a  league, 
and  they  met  them,  and  attended  them  until  they  went  in  with  them  to  the  King. 
They  placed  before  the  King  the  presents,  and  remained  in  his  palace  four  days ; 
and  on  the  fifth  day  the  Vizier  arose  and  went  in  to  the  King,  and,  standing  before 
him,  delivered  to  him  his  message,  and  acquainted  him  with  the  cause  of  his  coming; 
but  the  King  was  perplexed  how  to  answer;  for  his  daughter  liked  not  marriage; 
and  he  hung  down  his  head  for  a  while  towards  the  floor;  and  after  this  he  raised 
it,  and,  looking  towards  one  of  the  eunuchs,  said  to  him,  Go  to  thy  mistress  Dunia, 
and  acquaint  her  with  what  thou  hast  heard,  and  with  the  purpose  of  the  visit  of 
this  Vizier.  So  the  eunuch  went,  and  after  a  short  absence  returned  to  the  King, 
and  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  when  I  went  in  to  the  lady  Dunia,  and  ac- 
quainted her  with  what  I  had  heard,  she  was  violently  enraged,  and  rose  against  me 
with  a  stick,  and  would  have  broken  my  head;  wherefore  I  fled  from  her;  and  she 
said  to  me.  If  my  father  force  me  to  marry,  him  whom  I  marry  I  will  kill.  Iler 
father,  therefore,  said  to  the  Vizier  and  Aziz,  Salute  ye  the  King,  and  inform  him 
of  this,  and  that  my  daughter  liketh  not  marriage.  Accordingly,  the  Vizier  re- 
turned with  his  attendants  unsuccessful,  and  they  ceased  not  their  journey  until 
they  went  in  unto  the  King,  and  acquainted  him  with  what  had  happened:  and 
upon  this  he  ordered  the  chiefs  to  call  together  the  troops  that  they  might  march  to 
war;  but  the  Vizier  said  to  him.  Do  not  this;  for  the  King  is  not  in  fault:  the  re- 
fusal is  on  the  part  of  his  daughter,  who,  when  she  knew  of  this  proposal,  sent  to 
say,  If  my  father  force  me  to  marry,  I  will  kill  him  whom  I  marry,  and  kill  myself 
after  him. 

And  when  the  King  heard  the  words  of  the  Vizier,  he  feared  for  his  son  Taj-el- 
molouk,  and  said,  If  I  make  war  upon  her  father,  and  obtain  possession  of  hia 
daughter,  she  will  kill  herself.  He  then  acquainted  his  son  Taj-elmolouk  with  the 
truth  of  the  case  ;  and  when  the  prince  heard  it,  he  said  to  his  father,  0  my  father, 
I  cannot  exist  without  her:  I  will  therefore  go  to  her,  and  seek  means  of  obtaining 
an  interview  with  her,  though  I  die  in  the  attempt:  and  I  will  do  nothing  but  this. 
His  father  said.  How  wilt  thou  go  to  her?  He  answered,  I  will  go  in  the  disguise 
of  a  merchant. — If  it  must  be  so,  then,  rejoined  the  King,  take  with  thee  the  Vizier 
and  Aziz.  He  then  took  forth  for  him  some  money  from  his  treasuries,  and  pre- 
pared for  him  merchandise  at  the  price  of  a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold ;  and 
they  both  agreed  as  to  this  course  ;  and  when  night  came,  Taj-elmolouk  and  Aziz 
went  to  the  abode  of  the  latter,  and  there  passed  that  night.  But  the  heart  of  Taj- 
elmolouk  was  captivated,  and  neither  eating  nor  rest  pleased  him  :  reflections  over- 
whelmed him,  and  he  was  drowned  in  them;  and,  longing  for  his  beloved,  he  poured 
forth  his  tears,  and  wept  violently;  and  Aziz  wept  with  him,  reflecting  upon  his 
cousin  ;  and  they  both  continued  thus  until  the  morning,  when  Taj-elmolouk  arose 
and  went  in  to  his  mother.  He  was  equipped  for  the  journey;  and  she  asked  him 
respecting  his  state  ;  so  he  acquainted  her  with  the  whole  truth  ;  and  she  gave  him 
fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  bade  him  farewell,  and  he  went  forth  from  her, 
while  she  ofi"ered  up  prayers  for  his  safety,  and  for  his  union  with  the  object  of  his 
love.  He  then  went  in  to  his  father,  and  asked  his  permission  to  depart ;  and  the 
King  granted  him  permission,  and  gave  him  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and 
ordered  that  a  tent  should  be  pitched  for  him  outside  the  city. 

A  large  tent  was  therefore  pitched  for  him  ;  and  after  they  had  remained  in  it 
two  days,  they  commenced  their  journey  :  and  Taj-elmolouk  treated  Aziz  with 
familiar  kindness,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  I  cannot  henceforth  part  with 
thee. — And  I,  replied  Aziz,  am  of  the  like  mind,  and  desire  to  die  at  thy  feet;  but, 
0  my  brother,  my  heart  is  troubled  with  thoughts  of  my  mother.  So  Taj-elmolouk 
said.  When  we  shall  have  attained  our  wish,  all  will  be  well.  Now  the  Vizier  had 
charged  Taj-elmolouk  to  display  an  air  of  patience,  and  Aziz  occupied  himself  with 
reciting  to  him  verses  and  narrating  to  him  histories  and  tales,  and  they  continued 


236  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY   DUNIA. 

on  their  way  by  night  and  day  for  the  space  of  two  months.  The  length  of  the 
journey  became  wearisome  to  Taj-el molouk  ;  and  the  violence  of  his  desire,  and  his 
passion  and  distraction,  increased  ;  so  when  they  drew  near  to  the  city  he  rejoiced 
excessively,  and  his  anxiety  and  grief  ceased. 

They  entered  it  in  the  garb  of  merchants,  the  King's  son  being  also  clad  in  the 
same  manner,  and,  coming  to  a  place  known  as  the  abode  of  merchants,  which  was 
a  large  Khan,  Taj-elmolouk  said  to  Aziz,  Is  this  the  abode  of  the  merchants? 
Aziz  answered,  Yes:  it  is  not,  however,  the  Khan  in  which  I  lodged  with  the 
caravan  that  I  accompanied  ;  but  it  is  better  than  that.  So  they  made  their  camels 
lie  down,  and  unloaded,  and,  having  deposited  their  goods  in  the  magazines,  remained 
there  to  take  rest  four  days.  The  Vizier  then  suggested  to  them  that  they  should 
hire  for  themselves  a  large  house ;  to  which  they  assented  ;  and  they  hired  a  spacious 
house,  fitted  for  festivities.  There  they  took  up  their  abode;  and  the  Vizier  and 
Aziz  studied  to  devise  some  stratagem  for  the  sake  of  Taj-elmolouk,  who  was  per- 
plexed, not  knowing  what  to  do.  The  Vizier  could  contrive  no  other  plan  than  that 
of  his  opening  for  himself  a  shop  to  carry  on  the  trade  of  a  merchant  in  the  market 
of  fine  stuffs:  he  therefore  addressed  Taj-elmolouk  and  Aziz,  and  said  to  them, 
Know,  that  if  we  remain  in  this  state  we  shall  not  attain  our  wish  ;  and  a  thing 
hath  occurred  to  my  mind  which  probably  may  be  advisable,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God. 
So  they  replied,  Do  what  seemeth  fit  to  thee  ;  for  a  blessing  attendeth  the  aged,  and 
especially  in  thy  case,  since  thou  hast  devoted  thyself  to  the  management  of  aff"airs: 
therefore  give  us  the  advice  which  hath  suggested  itself  to  thy  mind.  And  he  said 
to  Taj-elmolouk,  It  is  my  opinion  that  we  should  hire  for  thee  a  shop  in  the  market 
of  fine  stufi"s,  and  that  thou  shouldst  sit  in  it  to  sell  and  buy  ;  for  every  person  of 
the  higher  ranks  and  of  the  people  at  large  standeth  in  need  of  such  stufi's,  and  if 
thou  sit  in  that  shop  thy  affair  will  be  arranged,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !),  especially  because  of  thy  comely  person  ;  but  make  Aziz  thy  trusty 
attendant,  and  seat  him  in  the  shop  to  hand  to  thee  the  stufi's.  And  when  Taj-el- 
molouk heard  these  words,  he  said,  This  is  a  judicious  opinion; — and  immediately 
he  took  forth  a  suit  of  merchant's  attire,  and  clad  himself  in  it,  and  arose  and  went 
forth,  followed  by  his  young  men,  and  gave  to  one  of  them  a  thousand  pieces  of 
gold  to  tit  up  the  shop. 

They  proceeded  until  they  arrived  at  the  market  of  fine  stuffs,  and  when  the  mer- 
chants saw  Taj-elmolouk,  and  observed  his  handsome  and  comely  person,  they  were 
confounded,  and  began  to  say,  llath  Ridwan*  opened  the  gates  of  Paradise  and  ne- 
glected them,  so  that  this  youth  of  surprising  beauty  hath  come  forth  ? — and  one 
said,  This' is  probably  one  of  the  angels.  And  when  they  went  in  among  the  mer- 
chants, they  inquired  for  the  shop  of  the  sheikh  of  the  market.  The  merchants, 
therefore,  guided  them  thither,  and  they  went  to  him,  and  as  they  approached  him, 
he  and  the  merchants  who  were  with  him  rose  to  them,  and  received  them  with 
honour,  especially  the  excellent  Vizier  ;  for  they  saw  him  to  be  an  aged  and  vener- 
:ible  man;  and  observing  that  he  was  accompanied  by  Taj-elmolouk  and  Aziz,  they 
said.  No  doubt  this  sheikh  is  the  father  of  these  two  young  men.  The  Vizier  then 
said  to  them.  Who  among  you  is  the  sheikh  of  the  market?  They  answered.  This 
is  he.  And  the  Vizier,  looking  at  him  and  observing  him,  saw  that  he  was  an  old 
man  of  grave  .and  respectable  aspect,  and  possessing  servants  and  young  men.  The 
sheikh  of  the  market  greeted  them  with  friendly  compliments,  and  treated  them 
with  great  honour  and,  having  seated  them  by  his  side,  said  to  them,  Have  ye  any 
business  which  we  miv  have  the  happiness  of  transacting?  The  Vizier  answered. 
Yes:  I  am  an  old  man,  advanced  in  age,  and  I  have  these  two  young  men:  I  have 
travelled  with  them  through  all  regions  and  countries,  and  have  not  entered  a  town 
without  remaining  in  it  a  whole  year,  that  tiny  might  amuse  themselves  with  the 
sight  of  it  and  l)ecome  acquainted  with  its  inhabitants;  and  now  I  have  come  to 

'  The  Gunrdian  of  Paradise. 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND   THE   LADY   DUNIA.  237 

this  your  town,  and  have  chosen  to  make  a  stay  in  it :  I  therefore  desire  of  thee 
one  of  the  best  shops,  that  I  may  scat  them  in  it  to  traffick,  and  that  they  may 
amuse  themselves  with  the  sight  of  this  city,  and  acquire  the  manners  of  its 
people,  and  obtain  an  experience  in  buying  and  selling  and  other  commercial  trans- 
actions. 

So  the  sheikh  of  the  market  replied,  There  is  no  harm  in  doing  so  :  —  and  looking 
at  the  two  young  men,  he  was  delighted  with  them,  and  he  arose  and  stood  like  a 
servant  before  them  to  wait  upon  them.  And  afterwards  he  went  and  prepared  for 
them  the  shop:  it  was  in  the  midst  of  the  market,  and  there  was  none  larger  than  it, 
nor  any  more  handsome  there  ;  for  it  was  spacious  and  decorated,  and  contained 
shelves  of  ivory  and  ebony.  He  then  delivered  the  keys  to  the  Vizier  (who  was  also 
in  the  garb  of  a  merchant),  and  said,  God  grant  that  it  may  be  attended  with  bless- 
ings to  thy  two  sons  !  And  when  the  Vizier  had  taken  the  keys  of  the  shop,  he  went 
to  it,  together  with  the  servants,  who  deposited  in  it  their  goods ;  and  they  ordered 
the  servants  to  remove  thither  all  the  merchandise  and  stuffs  and  rarities  that  they 
had.  These  things  were  worth  treasuries  of  wealth:  and  they  transported  the  whole 
of  them  to  the  shop.  They  then  passed  the  night,  and  in  the  morning  the  Vizier 
conducted  the  two  young  men  to  the  bath,  where  they  washed  and  enjoyed  them- 
selves to  the  utmost,  after  which  they  returned  to  their  abode  to  rest  from  the  fatigue 
of  bathing,  and  ate  and  drank  ;  and  they  passed  the  next  night  in  their  abode  in  the 
most  perfect  joy  and  happiness.  And  on  the  following  morning  they  rose  from  their 
sleep,  and,  having  performed  the  ablution,  recited  the  divinely-ordained  prayers, 
and  drank  their  morning-beverage;  and  when  daylight  came,  and  the  shops  and 
markets- were  opened,  they  went  forth  from  their  abode,  and  repaired  to  the  market, 
and  opened  the  shop.  The  servants  had  prepared  it  for  them  in  the  handsomest 
manner,  and  spread  it  with  carpets  of  silk,  and  placed  in  it  two  mattrasses,  each  of 
which  was  worth  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  upon  each  mattrass  they  spread  a 
skin  such  as  kings  sit  upon,  surrounded  with  an  edge  of  gold  ;  so  Taj-elmolouk 
seated  himself  upon  one  mattrass,  and  Aziz  upon  the  other,  and  the  Vizier  sat  in 
the  midst  of  the  shop,  while  the  servants  stood  before  them.  —  The  people  heard  of 
them  and  crowded  about  them,  and  they  sold  of  their  merchandise  ;  and  the  fame 
of  Taj-elmolouk  was  spread  through  the  city,  and  the  report  of  his  handsomeness 
and  comeliness  was  blazed  throughout  it.  They  continued  this  life  for  several  days, 
the  people  pressing  to  them  ;  after  which  the  Vizier  addressed  Taj-elmolouk,  and 
charged  him  to  conceal  his  case,  and,  having  charged  Aziz  to  keep  watch  over  him, 
repaired  to  the  house  to  plan  some  mode  of  proceeding  that  might  be  of  advantage 
to  them.  Meanwhile,  Taj-elmolouk  and  Aziz  sat  conversing  together:  and  the 
former  said.  Perhaps  some  one  may  come  from  the  lady  Dunia. 

Thus  Taj-elmolouk  passed  his  time  days  and  nights,  and  slept  not:  desire  over- 
powered him,  and  he  became  more  and  more  emaciated  and  infirm,  renouncing  the 
delight  of  sleep,  and  abstaining  from  drink  and  food  ;  but  still  he  was  like  the  full 
moon  :  and  as  he  was  sitting  one  day,  lo,  an  old  woman  approached  and  advanced 
towards  him,  followed  by  two  female  slaves,  and  she  continued  to  draw  near  until 
she  stopped  at  his  shop.  Beholding  his  graceful  person,  and  his  handsome  and 
lovely  aspect,  she  wondered  at  his  beauty,  and  said,  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of 
Him  who  created  thee !  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  hath  made  thee  a 
temptation  to  all  creatures!  —  She  ceased  not  to  gaze  at  him,  and  said,  This  is  not  a 
mortal :  this  is  no  other  than  a  noble  Angel !  Then  drawing  close  to  him,  she  saluted 
him,  and  he  returned  her  salutation,  and  rose  to  her,  standing  upon  his  feet,  and 
smiled  in  her  face.  All  this  he  did  at  the  hinting  of  Aziz  ;  after  which  he  seated 
her  by  his  side,  and  occupied  himself  with  fanning  her  until  she  had  rested  herself; 
when  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son  !  0  thou  of  perfect  qualities  and  graces  !  art  thou 
of  this  country? — Taj-elmolouk  answered  her  with  an  eloquent  and  sweet  and  charm 
ing  voice,  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  in  my  life  I  never  entered  this  country  until 
now  ;  and  I  have  not  taken  up  my  abode  in  it  but  for  the  sake  of  amusement.     And 


238 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 


she  wished  him  honour,  and  welcomed  him,  and  said,  What  stuffs  hast  thou  brought 
with  thee?  Show  me  something  beautiful ;  for  the  beautiful  bringeth  not  anything 
but  what  is  beautiful.  — And  when  Taj-elmolouk  heard  her  words  his  heart  palpi- 


Taj-elmolouk  receiving  the  Old  Woman. 


tated ;  but  he  understood  not  their  meaning:  so  Aziz  made  a  sign  to  him  ;  and  Taj- 
elmolouk  said  to  her,  I  have  everything  that  thou  desirest  of  stuffs  suitable  only  to 
Kings  and  the  daughters  of  Kings.  For  whom,  then,  wouldst  thou  purchase,  that  I 
may  display  to  thee  what  will  be  appropriate? — He  desired  by  this  question  to  learn 
the  meaning  of  her  words  ;  and  she  answered,  I  want  some  stuff  suitable  to  the  lady 
Dunia,  the  daughter  of  King  Shahzeman.  On  hearing  the  mention  of  his  beloved, 
Taj-elmolouk  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  said  to  Aziz,  Bring  me  the  most  magnificent 
of  the  goods  that  are  by  thee.  And  Aziz  gave  him  a  wrapper,  and  untied  it  before 
her,  and  Taj-elmolouk  said  to  her,  Choose  what  will  suit  her;  for  this  is  such  as  is 
not  found  with  any  hut  me.  So  the  old  woman  chose  some  stuff  that  was  worth  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  said.  What  is  the  price  of  this  ? — What !  said  he,  shall 
I  bargain  with  a  person  like  thee  respecting  this  contemptible  thing?  Praise  be  to 
God  who  hath  made  me  acquainted  with  thee.  —  And  the  old  woman  exclaimed,  I 
invoke  for  thy  comely  fiice  the  protection  of  the  Lord  of  the  Daybreak!  for  verily 
thy  face  is  comely,  and  so  are  thine  actions  1  Joy  be  to  her  who  possesseth  thee, 
and  especially  if  she  be  endowed  with  beauty  like  thee!  —  Upon  this,  Taj-elmolouk 
laughed,until  he  fell  backwards,  and  said  [within  himself],  0  Accomplisher  of  desires 
by  the  means  of  wicked  old  women  !  And  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  is  thy 
name?  lie  answered,  My  name  is  Taj-elmolouk. — This,  she  replied,  is  one  of  the 
names  of  Kings  ;  but  thou  art  in  the  garb  of  the  merchant.  So  Aziz  said.  From  the 
affection  of  his  family  for  him,  and  the  high  estimation  in  which  they  held  him, 
they  gave  him  this  name.     And  the  old  woman  replied,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth. 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND   THE   LADY   DUNIA.  239 

May  God  avert  from  you  the  evil  of  the  envious,  though  hearts  be  broken  by  your 
charms. 

She  then  took  the  stuff  and  departed,  confounded  by  his  handsomeness  and  loveli- 
ness and  elegant  form  ;  and  she  proceeded  until  she  went  in  to  the  lady  Dunia,  when 
she  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  brought  thee  some  beautiful  stuff.  —  Show  it 
me,  said  the  lady.  And  she  replied,  0  my  mistress,  here  it  is,  turn  it  over,  and 
behold  it.  And  when  the  lady  Dunia  saw  it,  she  said  to  her,  0  my  nurse,  verily 
this  is  beautiful  stuff:  I  have  not  seen  such  in  our  city. — 0  my  mistress,  replied  the 
old  woman,  the  seller  of  it  surpasseth  it  in  beauty.  It  seemeth  as  though  Ridwan 
had  opened  the  gates  of  Paradise  and  neglected  them,  and  so  the  merchant  who 
eelleth  this  stuff  had  come  forth  from  it.  I  wish  he  were  with  thee ;  for  he  is  a 
temptation  to  every  one  who  beholdeth  him.  He  hath  come  to  our  city  with  these 
stuffs  for  the  sake  of  amusement. — At  these  words  of  the  old  woman,  the  lady  Dunia 
laughed,  and  said,  Allah  afflict  thee,  thou  ill-omened  old  woman  !  Thou  hast  spoken 
nonsense,  and  art  become  insane.  —  She  then  added.  Give  me  the  stuff  that  I  mav 
examine  it  closely.  So  the  old  woman  handed  it  to  her,  and  she  looked  at  it  again, 
and  saw  that  it  was  but  little,  and  that  its  price  was  great ;  and  she  wondered  at  its 
beauty;  for  she  had  never  in  her  life  seen  anything  like  it.  The  old  woman  then 
said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  if  thou  didst  behold  its  owner,  thou  wouldst  know  that 
he  is  the  handsomest  person  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  And  the  lady  Dunia  said  to 
her.  Didst  thou  ask  him  if  he  had  any  want  to  be  performed,  that  he  might  acquaint 
us  with  it,  and  thou  mightest  accomplish  it  for  him?  The  old  woman,  shaking  her 
head,  replied,  Allah  preserve  thy  sagacity  !  By  Allah  he  hath  a  want.  And  is 
any  person  without  one?  —  Go  to  him,  then,  said  the  lady  Dunia,  and  salute  him, 
and  say  to  him,  I  have  been  honoured  by  thine  arrival  in  our  city,  and  whatever 
want  thou  hast,  we  will  perform  it  for  thee  on  the  head  and  the  eye. 

The  old  woman,  therefore,  returned  immediately  to  Taj-elmolouk,  and  when  he 
saw  her,  his  heart  jumped  with  joy,  and  he  rose  to  her,  standing  upon  his  feet,  and 
taking  her  hand,  seated  her  by  his  side.  So  when  she  had  sat  and  rested  herself, 
she  informed  him  of  that  which  the  lady  Dunia  had  said.  On  hearing  this,  he  was 
filled  with  the  utmost  joy  ;  his  bosom  expanded,  and  he  said  within  himself,  I  have 
accomplished  my  wish  !  He  then  said  to  the  old  woman.  Perhaps  thou  wilt  convey 
to  her  a  letter  from  me,  and  bring  me  back  the  answer.  She  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey.  And  when  he  heard  her  reply  he  said  to  Aziz,  Give  me  an  ink-case  and  paper, 
and  pen  of  brass.  And  Aziz  having  given  him  these  things,  he  wrote  some  verses, 
and  added  beneath.  This  letter  is  from  the  captive  of  desire,  incarcerated  in  the  prison 
of  longing  expectation,  to  whom  there  can  be  no  liberation  but  by  enjoying  an  inter- 
view, even  were  it  with  the  phantom  of  the  object  of  his  hope ;  for  he  is  enduring  a 
painful  torment  from  the  separation  of  his  beloved.  He  then  folded  the  letter,  and 
sealed  it,  and  gave  it  to  the  old  woman,  saying.  Convey  it  to  the  lady  Dunia.  She 
replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  gave  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  said. 
Receive  this  as  a  present  from  me.  So  the  old  woman  took  it  and  departed,  praying 
for  him. 

She  stopped  not  until  she  went  in  to  the  lady  Dunia,  who,  when  she  beheld  her, 
said  to  her,  0  my  nurse,  what  hath  he  demanded  that  we  should  do  for  him  ?  —  0 
my  mistress,  she  answered,  he  hath  sent  with  me  a  letter,  and  I  know  not  its  con- 
tents. And  she  handed  the  letter  to  her.  So  the  lady  Dunia  took  it  and  read  it, 
and  understood  its  meaning,  and  exclaimed,  Whence  is  he,  and  to  what  doth  he 
aspire,  that  this  merchant  openeth  a  correspondence  with  me  ?  Then  slapping  her 
face,  she  said.  Were  it  not  for  my  fear  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  I  would 
crucify  him  upon  his  shop !  So  the  old  woman  said  to  her.  What  is  in  this  letter, 
that  it  hath  disturbed  thy  heart?  Doth  it  contain  a  complaint  of  oppression,  or  a 
demand  for  the  price  of  the  stuff?  —  Wo  to  thee!  she  answered:  it  containeth  not 
that,  nor  anything,  but  love  and  affection :  and  all  this  is  through  thee.  Or,  if  not, 
how  should  this  devil  presume  to  employ  these  words?  —  0  my  mistress,  replied  the 


240  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 

old  woman,  thou  art  residing  in  thy  lofty  palace,  and  no  one  can  obtain  access  to 
thee;  not  even  the  flying  bird.  Allah  preserve  thee  from  blame  and  censure!  Thou 
hast  nothing  to  fear  from  the  barking  of  dogs.  Be  not  angry  with  me  for  my  bring- 
ing thee  this  letter  when  I  knew  not  its  contents:  but  it  is  my  opinion  that  thou 
shouldst  return  him  an  answer,  and  threaten  him  in  it  with  slaughter,  and  forbid 
him  from  employing  these  vain  words;  for  he  will  abstain,  and  not  do  so  again. — 
The  lady  Dunia  said,  I  fear  to  write  to  him,  lest  he  covet  me  more.  But  the  old 
woman  replied.  When  he  heareth  the  threatening  and  promise  of  punishment  he 
will  desist  from  his  present  conduct.  So  she  said.  Bring  me  an  ink-case  and  paper, 
and  a  pen  of  brass.  And  when  they  had  brought  them  to  her,  she  wrote  to  him  a 
menacing  letter,  declaring  that  if  he  persisted  in  his  suit  she  would  crucify  him. 
She  then  folded  up  the  letter,  and  gave  it  to  the  old  woman,  saying  to  her,  Deliver 
it  to  him,  and  say  to  him,  Abstain  from  these  words.  And  she  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey. 

She  took  the  letter,  full  of  joy,  and  went  with  it  to  her  house,  where  she  passed 
the  night;  and  in  the  morning  she  repaired  to  the  shop  of  Taj-elmolouk,  whom  she 
found  expecting  her.  As  soon  as  he  beheld  her,  he  almost  flew  with  joy,  and  when 
she  drew  near  to  him  he  rose  to  her,  standing  upon  his  feet,  and  seated  her  by  his 
side ;  and  she  took  forth  the  letter  and  handed  it  to  him,  saying.  Read  its  contents. 
She  then  said  to  him.  The  lady  Dunia,  when  she  read  thy  letter,  was  enraged  ;  but 
I  coaxed  her  and  jested  with  her  until  I  made  her  laugh,  and  she  was  moved  with 
pity  for  thee,  and  returned  thee  an  answer.  So  Taj-elmolouk  thanked  her  for  this, 
and,  having  ordered  Aziz  to  give  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  read  the  letter,  and 
understood  it ;  and  he  wept  violently,  so  that  the  heart  of  the  old  woman  was  moved 
with  compassion  for  him,  and  his  weeping  and  complaining  grieved  her.  She  said 
to  him,  O  my  son,  and  what  is  in  this  paper,  that  it  hath  made  thee  weep?  He 
answered.  She  threateneth  me  with  slaughter  and  crucifixion,  and  forbiddeth  my 
writing  to  her;  but  if  I  write  not  to  her,  my  death  will  be  preferable  to  my  life: 
therefore  take  a  reply  to  her  letter,  and  let  her  do  what  she  will.  —  By  thy  youth, 
replied  the  old  woman,  I  must  risk  my  life  for  thee,  and  enable  thee  to  attain  thy 
desire,  and  accomplish  for  thee  that  which  is  in  thy  heart.  And  Taj-elmolouk  said. 
Whatsoever  thou  dost  I  will  requite  thee  for  it;  and  it  shall  be  determined  by  thee; 
for  thou  art  experienced  in  the  management  of  affairs,  and  skilled  in  the  modes  of 
intrigue,  and  everything  that  is  difficult  becometh  easy  to  thee,  and  God  is  able  to 
accomplish  all  things.  So  he  took  paper,  and  wrote  a  letter  breathing  the  most  un- 
dying affection.  Having  done  this,  he  sighed  heavily,  and  wept  until  the  old  woman 
wept  with  him  ;  after  which  she  took  the  letter  from  him,  and  said  to  him.  Be  happy 
and  cheerful ;  for  I  must  accomplish  for  thee  thy  wish. 

She  then  arose  and  left  him  as  though  he  were  upon  the  fire,  and  repaired  to  the 
lady  Dunia,  whom  she  found  with  a  countenance  changed  by  her  anger  in  conse- 
quence of  the  former  epistle  of  Taj-elmolouk  ;  and  she  handed  her  the  second  letter; 
whereupon  her  rage  increased,  and  she  said  to  the  old  woman.  Did  I  not  tell  thee 
that  he  would  covet  us  more  ?  —  And  what  is  this  dog,  said  the  old  woman,  that  he 
should  aspire  to  thee?  The  lady  Dunia  replied,  Go  to  him,  and  say  to  him,  If  thou 
write  to  her  again  she  will  strike  off  thy  head.  But  the  old  woman  said.  Do  thou 
write  this  to  him  in  a  letter,  and  I  will  take  it  with  me,  that  his  fear  may  be  the 
greater.     So  she  complied  with  the  old  woman's  instructions. 

Having  folded  this  letter,  she  handed  it  to  the  old  woman,  who  took  it  and  repaired 
with  it  to  Taj-elmolouk.  At  the  sight  of  her  he  rose,  and  said.  May  God  never  de- 
prive me  of  the  blessing  of  thy  coming!  And  the  old  woman  replied.  Receive  the 
answer  to  thy  letter.  So  he  took  the  paper  and  read  it,  and  wept  violently,  and  said, 
I  desire  now  somebody  to  kill  me  ;  for  slaughter  would  be  easier  to  me  than  this  my 
present  state  of  suffering.  He  then  took  an  ink-case  and  a  pen  and  paper,  and  wrote 
a  letter  expressed  in  these  two  verses : — 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 


241 


0  my  hope,  persist  not  in  abandonment  and  cruelty;  but  visit  a  lover  drowned  in  desire. 
Think   not   that  I  can    survive   this   oppression;  for  my  soul  departeth   at  the  loss  of  my 
beloved. 


And  he  folded  the  letter,  and  gave  it  to  the  old  woman,  saying  to  her,  I  have  wearied 
thee  to  no  purpose.  And  again  he  ordered  Aziz  to  give  her  a  thousand  pieces  of 
gold,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  this  paper  must  be  followed  by  complete  union 
or  complete  separation. — 0  my  son,  she  replied,  by  Allah  I  desire  for  thee  nothing 
but  good  fortune  ;  and  I  wish  she  may  be  with  thee ;  for  thou  art  the  shining  moon, 
and  she  is  the  rising  sun  ;  and  if  I  do  not  bring  yoa  together,  no  profit  will  remain 
to  me  in  my  life.  I  have  passed  my  life  in  the  practice  of  artifice  and  deceit,  until 
I  have  attained  the  age  of  ninety  years;  and  how  then  should  I  fail  of  uniting  two 
persons  in  opposition  to  all  law? 

Then,  having  bidden  him  farewell,  and  soothed  his  mind,  she  departed,  and  pro- 
ceeded without  stopping  to  the  lady  Dunia :  but  she  had  hidden  the  paper  in  her 
hair ;  and  when  she  sat  down 
with  her  mistress,  she  scratched 
her  head,  and  said,  0  my  mis- 
tress, perhaps  thou  wilt  untwist 
my  hair ;  for  it  is  a  long  time 
since  I  have  entered  the  bath. 
So  the  lady  Dunia  made  bare  her 
arms  to  the  elbows,  and  un- 
twisted the  old  woman's  hair ; 
whereupon  the  paper  fell  from 
her  head;  and  the  lady  Dunia, 
seeing    it,    said.    What    is    this 


paper , 


The     old   woman    an- 


The  Lady  Dunia  untwisting  the  Old  Woman's  Hair. 


swelled.  It  seemeth  that,  when  1 
was  sitting  at  the  shop  of  the 
merchant,  this  paper  caught  to 
me;  give  it  to  me,  therefore, 
that  T  may  return  it  to  him. 
But  the  lady  Dunia  opened  it 
and  read  it,  and  understood  its 
contents,  and  exclaimed,  This  is 
a  trick  of  thine,  and  were  it  not 
for  the  fact  of  thy  having  reared 
me,  I  would  lay  violent  hands 
upon  thee  this  moment.  God 
hath  afflicted  me  by  this  mer- 
chant, and  all  that  I  have  expe- 
rienced from  him  hath  been  through  thy  means.  I  know  not  from  what  country 
this  man  hath  come.  No  one  but  he  could  ever  use  such  boldness  towards  me.  I 
fear  that  this  affair  which  hath  happened  to  me  may  be  discovered,  and  especially 
since  it  relateth  to  a  man  who  is  neither  of  my  family  nor  of  my  equals,— The  old 
woman  then  addressed  her,  and  said,  No  one  can  utter  a  word  on  this  subject, 
through  fear  of  thy  power,  and  of  the  dignity  of  thy  father:  and  there  will  be  no 
harm  in  thy  returning  him  an  answer. — 0  my  nurse,  replied  the  lady  Dunia,  this  is 
a  devil. — How  hath  he  dared  to  use  these  words,  and  feared  not  the  power  of  the 
Sultan  ?  I  am  perplexed  respecting  his  case  :  for  if  I  give  orders  to  kill  him  it  will 
not  be  right:  and  if  I  leave  him,  he  will  increase  in  his  boldness. — Write  to  him  a 
letter,  rejoined  the  old  woman:  and  perhaps  he  will  be  restrained.  She  therefore 
demanded  a  paper  and  an  ink-case  and  a  pen,  and  wroie  to  him  the  follow 
verses : — 

16 


°g 


242  TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND   THE   LADY   DUNIA. 

If  thou  repeat  what  thou  hast  said,  the  raven  of  separation  will  announce  thy  fate; 
In  a  little  time  will  death  overtake  thee,  and  thy  resting-place  be  beneath  the  earth; 
Thou  shalt  leave  thy  family,  0  deceived,  in  sorrow,  when  the  swords  of  love  have  prevented 
thine  escape. 

Having  then  folded  the  paper,  she  gave  it  to  the  old  woman,  who  took  it,  and 
went  with  it  to  Taj-elmolouk,  and  gave  it  to  him  ;  and  when  he  had  read  it,  and  was 
convinced  that  she  was  hard-hearted,  and  that  he  could  not  obtain  access  to  her,  he 
complained  of  his  case  to  the  Vizier,  and  desired  his  prudent  counsel.  The  Vizier 
replied.  Know  that  there  remaineth  for  thee  nothing  that  can  be  of  avail,  except 
thy  writing  to  her  another  letter,  and  invoking  retribution  upon  her.  So  he  said,  0 
my  brother,  O  Aziz,  write  in  my  stead,  according  to  thy  knowledge.  And  Aziz  did 
as  he  was  desired. 

He  then  folded  the  letter,  and  handed  it  to  Taj-elmolouk ;  and  when  he  had  read 
it,  it  pleased  him,  and  he  gave  it  to  the  old  woman. 

So  she  took  it,  and  repaired  with  it  to  the  lady  Dunia,  who,  as  soon  as  she  had 
read  it  and  understood  its  contents,  fell  into  a  violent  rage,  and  exclaimed,  All  that 
hath  befallen  me  hath  been  through  the  means  of  this  ill-omened  old  woman  !  And 
she  called  out  to  the  female  slaves  and  eunuchs,  and  said,  Seize  this  artful  old 
woman,  and  beat  her  with  your  slippers. — So  they  fell  to  beating  her  with  their 
slippers  until  she  fainted  ;  and  when  she  recovered,  the  lady  Dunia  said  to  her,  O 
wicked  old  woman,  were  it  not  for  my  fear  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  I  had 
killed  thee.  She  then  said  to  her  attendants,  Beat  her  again.  And  they  beat  her 
again  till  she  fainted,  after  which  she  ordered  them  to  throw  her  outside  the  door; 
and  they  dragged  her  along  upon  her  face  and  threw  her  down  before  the  door. 

AVhen  she  recovered,  therefore,  she  arose,  and  walking  and  resting  now  and  then, 
arrived  at  her  abode.  She  waited  until  the  morning,  and  then  arose  and  proceeded 
to  Taj-elmolouk,  whom  she  acquainted  with  all  that  had  befallen  her  ;  and  it  vexed 
him,  and  he  said  to  her.  We  are  grieved,  0  my  mother,  for  that  which  hath  happened 
to  thee:  but  everything  is  in  accordance  with  fate  and  destiny.  She  replied.  Be 
happy  and  cheerful:  for  I  will  not  cease  my  endeavours  until  I  procure  thee  an 
interview  with  her,  and  obtain  for  thee  access  to  this  vile  woman  who  hath  tortured 
me  with  beating.  Taj-elmolouk  then  said  to  her.  Acquaint  me  with  the  causes  (»f 
her  hatred  of  men.  She  replied.  It  is  in  consequence  of  her  having  had  a  dream. — 
And  what  was  that  dream?  he  asked.  She  answered,  She  was  sleeping  one  night, 
and  saw  a  fowler  who  set  his  snare  upon  the  ground,  and  sprinkled  around  it  some 
wheat,  and  then  seated  himself  near  it :  and  there  was  not  a  single  bird  near  but  it 
come  to  that  snare.  And  she  saw,  among  the  birds,  two  pigeons,  a  male  and  a 
female:  and  while  she  was  looking  at  the  snare,  the  foot  of  the  male  bird  became 
entangled  in  it,  and  he  began  to  struggle  ;  whereupon  all  the  other  birds  flew  away 
from  him  in  alarm;  but  his  mate  returned  to  him,  and  flew  around  over  him,  and 
then,  alighting  upon  the  snare,  while  the  fowler  was  inadvertent,  began  to  peck  at 
the  mesh  in  which  was  the  foot  of  the  male,  and  pulled  it  with  her  beak,  until  she 
liberated  his  foot,  and  she  flew  away  with  him.  Then,  after  this  the  fowler  came 
and  readjusted  the  snare,  and  seated  himself  at  a  distance  from  it  ;  and  but  a  little 
while  had  elapsed  when  the  birds  descended,  and  the  snare  caught  the  female 
pigeon  ;  upon  which  all  the  other  birds  flew  away  in  alarm,  and  among  them  the 
male  pigeon,  who  returned  not  to  his  mate  :  so  the  fowler  came  and  took  the  female 
bird,  and  killed  her.  And  the  lady  Dunia  awoke  terrified  by  her  dream,  and  said, 
Every  male  is  like  this,  destitute  of  good  ;  and  men  universally  are  devoid  of  good- 
ness to  women. — And  when  the  old  woman  had  finished  her  story  to  Taj-elmolouk, 
he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  I  wish  to  obtain  one  glance  at  hor,  though  my  death 
be  the  consequence:  contrive,  therefore,  some  stratagem  for  me,  that  I  may  see  her. 
— Know,  then,  said  she,  that  she  hath  a  garden  adjacent  to  her  palace,  for  hor  di- 
version, and  she  goeth  out  into  it  once  in  every  month,  from  the  private  door,  and 
remaineth  in  it  ten  days.     The  time  of  her  thus  going  lirth  to  divert  norself  hath 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND    THE    LADY   DUNIA.  243 

now  arrived,  and  when  she  is  about  to  do  so  I  will  come  to  thee  and  inform  theo 
that  thou  mayest  go  thither  and  meet  her ;  and  do  thou  take  care  not  to  quit  the 
garden :  for  probably,  if  she  behold  thy  handsome  and  comely  aspect,  her  heart 
will  be  captivated  by  love  of  thee ;  since  love  is  the  most  powerful  means  of  effecting 
an  union. 

He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: — and  he  arose,  and  quitted  the  shop  with  Aziz,  and 
they  both,  taking  with  them  the  old  woman,  repaired  to  their  abode,  and  acquainted 
her  with  it;  after  which,  Taj-elmolouk  said  to  Aziz,  0  my  brother,  I  have  no  fur- 
ther want  of  the  shop ;  for  I  have  accomplished  the  purpose  for  which  I  took  it;  and 
I  give  it  to  thee,  with  all  that  it  containeth,  because  thou  hast  come  abroad  with  me, 
and  absented  thyself  from  thy  country.  And  Aziz  accepted  his  present,  and  they 
sat  conversing  together;  Taj-elmolouk  asking  him  respecting  his  strange  adventures 
and  Aziz  relating  what  had  happened  to  him.  Then  addressing  the  Vizier,  they  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  purpose  of  Taj-elmolouk,  and  asked  him.  What  is  to  be  done? 
He  answered.  Let  us  go  to  the  garden.  So  each  of  them  clad  himself  in  the  richest 
of  his  apparel,  and  they  went  forth,  followed  by  three  mamlouks,  and  repaired  to 
the  garden.  They  beheld  it  abounding  with  trees,  and  with  many  rivulets,  and  saw 
the  superintendent  sitting  at  the  gate.  They  saluted  him,  therefore,  and  he  returned 
their  salutation,  and  the  Vizier  handed  to  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to 
him,  I  beg  thee  to  receive  this  money,  and  to  buy  for  us  something  to  eat;  for  we 
are  strangers,  and  I  have  with  me  these  children  whom  I  wish  to  divert.  So  the 
gardener  took  the  pieces  of  gold,  and  replied.  Enter,  and  divert  yourselves;  for  the 
whole  of  it  is  your  property;  and  sit  down  until  I  return  to  you  with  something  for 
you  to  eat.  He  then  went  to  the  market,  and  the  Vizier  and  Taj-elmolouk  and  Aziz 
entered  the  garden  after  the  gardener  had  departed  to  the  market ;  and  soon  the 
latter  returned  bringing  a  roasted  lamb,  which  he  placed  before  them.  And  they 
ate,  and  washed  their  hands,  and  sat  conversing  together:  and  the  Vizier  said.  In- 
form me  respecting  this  gardon  ;  doth  it  belong  to  thee,  or  dost  thou  rent  it?  The 
sheikh  replied.  It  is  not  mine,  but  belongeth  to  the  King's  daughter,  the  lady  Dunia, 
-And  what,  said  the  Vizier,  is  thy  monthly  salary?  He  answered.  One  piece  of 
gold,  and  no  more.  And  the  Vizier,  taking  a  view  of  the  garden,  beheld  there  a 
lofty  but  old  palace  ;  and  he  said,  0  sheik,  I  desire  to  perform  here  a  good  work  by 
which  thou  wilt  be  reminded  of  me. — And  what  good  thing  dost  thou  desire  to  do? 
asked  the  sheikh. — The  Vizier  said.  Take  these  three  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  And 
when  the  superintendent  heard  the  mention  of  the  gold,  he  replied,  0  my  master, 
do  whatsoever  thou  wilt.  So  he  took  the  pieces  of  gold ;  and  the  Vizier  said  to  him. 
If  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  I)  we  will  execute  in  this  place  a 
good  work. 

They  then  vrent  forth  from  him,  and  returned  to  their  abode,  and  passed  the  next 
night:  and  on  the  morrow,  the  Vizier  caused  a  whitewasher  to  be  brought,  and  a 
painter,  and  an  excellent  goldsmith  ;  and,  having  provided  them  with  all  the  imple- 
ments that  they  required,  introduced  them  into  the  garden,  and  ordered  them  to 
whitewash  that  palace  and  to  decorate  it  with  various  kinds  of  paintings.  After 
which  he  gave  orders  to  bring  the  gold,  and  the  ultramarine  pigment,  and  said  to 
the  painter.  Delineate,  at  the  upper  end  of  this  saloon,  the  figure  of  a  fowler,  as 
though  he  had  set  his  snare,  and  a  female  pigeon  had  fallen  into  it,  and  had  become 
entangled  in  it  by  her  bill.  And  when  the  painter  had  finished  his  picture  on  one 
portion,  the  Vizier  said  to  him.  Now  paint,  on  this  other  portion,  as  before,  and  represent 
the  female  pigeon  in  the  snare,  and  show  that  the  fowler  hath  taken  her,  and  put 
the  knife  to  her  neck  ;  and  on  the  other  side  paint  the  figure  of  a  great  bird  of  prey, 
that  hath  captured  the  male  pigeon,  and  fixed  his  talons  into  him.  So  did  he  this  ; 
ind  when  he  had  finished  these  designs  which  the  Vizier  had  described  to  him,  they 
took  leave  of  the  gardener,  and  returned  to  their  abode. 

There  they  sat  conversing  together;  and  Taj-elmolouk  said  to  Aziz,  0  my  brother, 
recite  to  me  some  verses:  perhaps  my  heart  niay  thereby  be  dilated,  and  these 


244  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 

ti'oublinj'.  reflections  may  be  dispelled,  and  the  flame  that  is  in  my  heart  be  quenched. 
And  upon  this,  Aziz,  with  charming  modulations,  chanted  several  verses. 

Meanwhile  the  old  woman  remained  alone  in  her  house  :  and  the  lady  Dunia 
longed  to  divert  herself  in  the  garden:  but  she  used  not  to  go  forth  save  with  the 
old  woman  :  so  she  sent  to  her,  and  made  peace  with  her,  and  soothed  her  mind, 
and  said  to  her,  I  desire  to  go  out  into  the  garden,  to  amuse  myself  with  the  sight 
of  its  trees  and  fruits,  and  that  my  heart  may  be  dilated  by  its  flowers.  The  old 
woman  replied,  I  hear  and  obey:  but  I  would  first  go  to  my  house  and  dress  myself, 
and  I  will  be  with  thee  again. — Go  then  to  thy  house,  rejoined  the  lady  Dunia :  but 
be  not  long  absent  from  me. — The  old  woman,  therefore,  went  forth  from  her,  and 
repaired  to  Taj-elmolouk,  and  said  to  him,  Make  ready  and  clothe  thyself  in  the 
richest  of  thine  apparel,  and  betake  thyself  to  the  garden,  and  go  in  to  the  gardener, 
and  salute  him,  and  then  conceal  thyself  in  the  garden.  He  replied  I  hear  and  obey. 
And  she  agreed  with  him  respecting  a  sign  to  be  made  ;  after  which  she  returned  to 
the  lady  Dunia.  And  when  she  had  gone,  the  Vizier  arose,  and  clad  Taj-elmolouk 
in  a  suit  of  the  most  magnificent  of  the  apparel  of  Kings,  worth  five  thousand  pieces 
of  gold,  and  girded  him  with  a  girdle  of  gold  set  with  jewels,  and  repaired  to  the 
garden.  On  arriving  at  its  gate,  they  found  the  superintendent  sitting  there;  and 
when  he  saw  Taj-elmolouk,  he  rose  to  him,  standing  upon  his  feet,  and,  receiving 
him  with  reverence  and  honour,  opened  to  him  the  gate,  and  said  to  him,  Enter,  and 
divert  thyself  in  the  garden.  But  the  gardener  knew  not  that  the  King's  daughter 
would  enter  the  garden  that  day.  And  when  Taj-elmolouk  had  gone  in,  he  waited 
but  a  short  time,  and  heard  a  noise,  and  before  he  knew  the  cause,  the  eunuchs  and 
female  slaves  came  forth  from  the  private  door  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  superintendent 
beheld  them  he  went  and  acquainted  Taj-elmolouk  with  their  coming,  saying  to  him, 
0  my  lord,  what  is  to  be  done,  now  the  King's  daughter,  the  lady  Dunia,  hath  come? 
He  answered.  No  harm  will  befall  thee ;  for  I  will  conceal  myself  in  some  place  in 
the  garden.  So  the  gardener  charged  him  to  use  the  utmost  caution  in  concealing 
himself,  and  left  him  and  departed. 

And  when  the  King's  daughter,  with  her  female  slaves  and  the  old  woman,  entered 
the  garden,  the  old  woman  said  within  herself,  If  the  eunuchs  be  with  us,  we  shall 
not  attain  our  wish.  So  she  said  to  the  King's  daughter,  0  my  mistress,  I  would 
propose  to  thee  a  thing  productive  of  ease  to  thy  heart.  And  the  lady  Dunia  re- 
plied, Propose  what  thou  wilt.  The  old  woman  therefore  said,  0  my  mistress,  thou 
hast  no  need  of  these  eunuchs  at  the  present  time ;  nor  will  thy  heart  be  dilated  as 
long  as  they  are  with  us :  so  dismiss  them  from  us.  —  Thou  hast  spoken  truly,  re- 
plied the  lady  Dunia; — and  she  dismissed  them  ;  and  a  little  while  after,  as  she  was 
walking,  Taj-elmolouk  beheld  her,  and  gazed  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  while  she 
knew  it  not;  and  every  time  that  he  looked  at  her,  he  fainted,  by  reason  of  her  sur- 
passing beauty.  The  old  woman,  in  the  meantime,  led  her  on  by  conversation  to  the 
palace  which  the  Vizier  had  ordered  to  be  painted  ;  and,  entering  this  palace,  the 
lady  Dunia  took  a  view  of  its  paintings,  and  saw  the  birds  and  the  fowler  and  the 
pigeons  ;  whereupon  she  exclaimed,  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God !  Verily  this 
is  the  representation  of  what  I  beheld  in  my  dream  ! — And  she  continued  gazing  at 
the  figures  of  the  birds  and  the  fowler  and  the  snare,  full  of  wonder;  and  said,  O 
my  nurse,  I  used  to  censure  men,  and  hate  them ;  but  see  the  fowler  how  he  hath 
killed  the  female  bird,  and  the  male  hath  escaped,  and  desired  to  return  to  the 
female  to  liberate  her,  but  the  bird  of  prey  hath  met  him  and  captured  him.  The 
old  woman,  however,  aS"ected  ignorance  to  her,  and  proceeded  to  divert  her  with 
talk  until  they  both  approached  the  place  where  Taj-elmolouk  was  concealed:  upon 
which  she  made  a  sign  to  him  that  he  should  walk  beneath  the  windows  ol  the 
palace ;  and  while  the  lady  Dunia  stood  there,  she  looked  aside,  and  saw  him,  and 
observing  the  beauty  of  his  face,  and  his  elegant  form,  she  said,  0  my  nurse,  whence 
is  this  handsome  youth?  The  old  woman  answered,  I  know  him  not;  but  1  imagine 
that  he  is  the  son  of  a  great  King ;  for  he  is  of  the  utmost  beauty  and  loveli 


TAJ-EL MOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY   DUNIA.  245 

And  the  lady  Dunia  was  enraptured  with  him.  The  spells  that  bound  her  were  dis- 
solved, her  reason  was  overcome  by  his  beauty  and  loveliness  and  his  elegant  person, 
and  she  was  affected  by  violent  love:  so  she  said  to  the  old  woman,  0  my  nurse, 
verily  this  young  man  is  handsome.  The  old  woman  replied,  Thou  hast  spoken 
truth,  0  my  mistress.  And  she  made  a  sign  to  the  King's  son  to  return  to  his  house. 
The  fire  of  desire  flamed  within  him,  and  his  rapture  and  distraction  became  exces- 
sive ;  but  he  went  and  bade  farewell  to  the  superintendent,  and  departed  to  his 
abode,  that  he  might  not  disobey  the  old  woman,  and  acquainted  the  Vizier  and 
Aziz  that  she  had  made  a  sign  to  him  to  depart.  And  they  both  exhorted  him  to  be 
patient,  saying  to  him.  If  the  old  woman  did  not  know  that  there  was  an  object  to 
be  attained  by  thy  return,  she  had  not  made  a  sign  to  thee  to  do  so. 

Now  to  return  to  the  lady  Dunia.  —  Desire  overcame  her,  and  her  rapture  and  dis- 
traction increased ;  so  she  said  to  the  old  woman,  I  know  not  how  to  obtain  an  inter- 
view with  this  young  man  but  through  thy  means.  The  old  woman  exclaimed,  I 
seek  refuge  with  Allah  from  Satan  the  accursed  !  Thou  hast  no  desire  for  men  ;  and 
how,  then,  have  fears  afiected  thee  in  consequence  of  thy  love  of  him?  But  by 
Allah,  none  other  than  he  is  suited  to  thy  youth.  —  0  my  nurse,  rejoined  the  lady 
Dunia,  assist  me  to  obtain  an  interview  with  him,  and  thou  shalt  receive  from  me  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  dress  of  the  same  value :  if  thou  assist  me  not  to  gain 
him  I  shall  die  inevitably.  So  the  old  woman  replied,  Go  thou  to  thy  palace,  and  I 
will  devise  means  to  bring  you  together,  and  give  my  life  to  satisfy  you  both.  The 
lady  Dunia  then  returned  to  her  palace,  while  the  old  woman  repaired  to  Taj-elmo- 
louk  ;  and  when  he  saw  her,  he  rose  to  her,  and  stood,  and  received  her  with  respect 
and  honour,  seating  her  by  his  side  ;  and  she  said  to  him.  The  stratagem  hath  suc- 
ceeded. She  then  related  to  him  what  had  occurred  between  her  and  the  lady  Dunia  ; 
and  he  said  to  her.  When  shall  be  the  interview?  She  answered.  To-morrow.  And 
he  gave  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  garment  of  the  same  value:  and  she 
took  them,  and  departed,  and  stopped  not  until  she  went  in  to  the  lady  Dunia,  who 
said  to  her,  0  my  nurse,  what  news  hast  thou  brought  from  the  beloved  ?  —  I  have 
discovered  his  abode,  she  answered;  and  to-morrow  I  will  bring  him  to  thee.  And 
at  this  the  lady  Dunia  rejoiced,  and  gave  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  gar- 
ment of  the  same  value ;  and  she  took  them,  and  returned  to  her  house. 

She  passed  the  next  night,  and  in  the  morning  she  went  forth  and  repaired  to  Taj- 
elmolouk,  and,  having  clad  him  in  women's  apparel,  said  to  him,  Walk  behind  me, 
and  incline  thy  body  from  side  to  side  as  thou  steppest,  and  proceed  not  with  a  hasty 
pace,  nor  take  notice  of  any  one  who  may  speak  to  thee.  And  after  she  had  thus 
charged  him,  she  went  forth,  and  he  behind  her  in  his  female  attire ;  and  she  pro- 
ceeded to  instruct  him,  on  the  way,  how  to  act,  that  he  might  not  fear.  She  con- 
tinued on  her  way,  with  him  following  her,  until  they  arrived  at  the  entrance  of  the 
palace,  when  she  entered,  and  he  also  after  her,  and  she  passed  through  successive 
doors  and  antechambers  until  she  had  conducted  him  through  seven  doors.  And 
when  she  arrived  at  the  seventh  door,  she  said  to  Taj-elmolouk,  Fortify  thy  heart, 
and  if  I  call  out  to  thee,  and  'say  to  thee,  0  slave-girl,  advance ! — be  not  tardy  in  thy 
pace,  but  hasten  on,  and  when  thou  hast  entered  the  antechamber  beyond,  look  to 
thy  left ;  thou  wilt  see  a  saloon  with  seven  doors ;  and  do  thou  count  five  doors,  and 
enter  the  sixth  ;  for  within  it  is  the  object  of  thy  desire. — And  whither  goest  thou? 
said  Taj-elmolouk.  She  answered,  I  have  no  place  to  go  to;  but  perhaps  I  may 
wait  after  thee  and  speak  with  the  chief  eunuch.  She  then  proceeded,  and  he  fol- 
lowed her,  until  they  arrived  at  the  door  where  was  the  chief  eunuch  ;  and  he  saw 
with  her  Taj-elmolouk  in  the  attire  of  a  female  slave,  and  said  to  her,  What  is  the 
business  of  this  slave-girl  who  is  with  thee?  She  answered  him.  The  lady  Dunia 
hath  heard  that  this  girl  is  skilled  in  different  kinds  of  work,  and  she  desireth  to 
purchase  her.  But  the  eunuch  replied,  I  know  neither  slave-girl  nor  any  other 
person  ;  and  no  one  shall  enter  without  being  searched  by  me,  as  the  King  hath 
commanded  me.     Upon  this,  the  old  woman,  manifesting  anger,  said  to  him,  I  knew 


246 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 


that  thou  wast  a  man  of  sense  and  of  good  manners ;  and  if  thou  art  changed  I  will 
acquaint  her  with  this,  and  inform  her  that  thou  hast  offered  opposition  to  her  female 
shive.  She  then  called  out  to  Taj-elmolouk,  and  said  to  him,  Advance,  0  slave-girl! 
And  immediately  he  entered  the  antechamber,  as  she  had  commanded  him,  and  the 
eunuch  was  silent,  and  said  no  more.  So  Taj-elmolouk  counted  five  doors,  and 
entered  the  sixth,  and  found  the  lady  Dunia  standing  expecting  him. 

As  soon  as  she  beheld  him,  she  knew  him  and  pressed  him  to  her  bosom,  and   he 
imbraced  her  in  like  manner ;  and  the  old  woman,  coming  in  to  them,  contrived  a 


Taj-elmoluuk  and  the  l.acly  Duma. 

pretext  to  dismiss  the  female  slaves  ;  after  which  the  lady  Dunia  said  to  her,  Be  tliou 
keeper  of  the  door.  She  then  remained  alone  with  Taj-elmolouk,  and  they  passed 
the  whole  night  in  innocent  dalliance.  And  on  the  following  morning  she  closed 
the  door  upon  him  and  the  old  woman,  and  entering  another  apartment,  sat  there 
according  to  her  custom  ;  and  her  female  slaves  came  to  her,  and  she  transacted 
their  affairs  and  conversed  with  them,  and  then  said  to  them,  Go  forth  from  me 
now ;  for  I  desire  to  amuse  myself  in  solitude.  So  they  left  her,  and  she  returned 
to  Taj-elmolouk  and  the  old  woman,  taking  with  her  some  food  for  them  ;  and  thus 
they  ceased  not  to  do  for  a  whole  month.  ' 

As  to  the  Vizier,  however,  and  Aziz,  when  Taj-elmolouk  had  gone  to  the  pal.  ce 
of  tlie  King's  daughter,  and  remained  all  this  time,  they  concluded  that  he  would 
never  return  from  it,  and  that  he  was  inevitably  lost ;  and  Aziz  said  to  the  Vizier, 
0  my  fatlier,  what  wilt  thou  do?  The  Vizier  sinswered,  0  my  son,  this  affair  is  one 
of  difficulty,  and  if  we  return  not  to  his  father  to  acquaint  him,  he  will  blame  us 
for  our  negligence.  So  they  prepared  themselves  immediately,  and  journeyed 
towards  tiie  Green  Land  and  the  land  of  Columns,  and  tiie  royal  residence  of  the 
King  Suleiman,  and  traversed  the  valleys  night  and  day  until  they  went  in  and  pre- 
sented themselves  before  the  King  Suleiman  ;  and  they  informed  him  of  that  which 
Lad  happened  to  his  son,  and  that  they  had  learnt  no  news  of  him  since  lie  had  en- 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND   THE   LADY   DUNIA.  247 

tered  the  palace  of  the  King's  daughter.  On  hearing  this  he  was  as  though  the  day 
of  resurrection  had  surprised,  him  :  his  sorrow  was  intense,  and  he  gave  orders  tc 
make  a  proclamation  of  war  throughout  his  dominions.  He  then  sent  forth  his 
troops  outside  the  city,  and  caused  the  tents  to  be  pitched  for  them,  and  remained 
in  his  pavilion  until  the  forces  had  assembled  from  all  the  quarters  of  his  kingdom. 
His  subjects  loved  him  for  his  great  justice  and  beneficence,  and  he  departed  with  an 
army  that  covered  the  earth  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  for  the  purpose  of  de- 
manding his  son  Taj-elmolouk, 

In  the  meantime,  Taj-elmolouk  and  the  lady  Dunia  continued  together  for  half  a 
year,  every  day  increasing  in  mutual  love ;  and  the  love  and  distraction  and  rapture 
of  Taj-elmolouk  so  augmented  that  he  opened  to  her  his  mind,  and  said  to  her,  Know, 
0  beloved  of  my  heart,  that  the  longer  I  remain  with  thee,  the  more  do  my  distrac- 
tion and  ecstasy  and  desire  increase  ;  for  I  have  not  altogether  attained  my  wish. 
So  she  said,  What  dost  thou  wish,  0  light  of  my  eye  and  delight  of  my  heart  ?  He 
answered,  I  desire  to  acquaint  thee  with  my  true  history :  know,  then,  that  I  am  not 
a  merchant,  but  a  King,  son  of  a  King,  and  the  name  of  my  father  is  the  Supreme 
King  Suleiman,  who  sent  the  Vizier  as  ambassador  to  thy  father  to  demand  thee  for 
me  in  marriage  ;  and  when  the  news  came  to  thee  thou  refusedst  to  consent. — He 
then  related  to  her  his  story  fropi  first  to  last ;  and  added,  I  desire  now  to  repair  to 
my  father,  that  he  may  send  an  ambassador  again  to  thy  father,  to  demand  thee  in 
marriage  from  him,  and  so  we  shall  remain  at  ease. — And  when  she  heard  this  she 
rejoiced  exceedingly;  for  it  coincided  with  her  wish  ;  and  they  passed  the  next  night 
determined  upon  this  proceeding. 

But  it  happened,  in  accordance  with  destiny,  that  sleep  overcame  them  unusually 
that  night,  and  they  remained  until  the  sun  had  risen.  The  king  Shahzeman  was 
then  upon  his  royal  seat,  with  the  Emirs  of  his  empire  before  him,  and  the  chief  of 
the  goldsmiths  presented  himself,  having  in  his  hand  a  large  round  casket:  and  he 
advanced,  and,  opening  it  before  the  King,  took  forth  from  it  an  elegant  box,  worth 
a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  for  the  jewels  it  contained,  and  rubies  and  eme- 
ralds, such  as  no  King  of  the  earth  could  procure.  And  when  the  King  saw  it  he 
wondered  at  its  beauty,  and  he  looked  towards  the  chief  eunuch,  to  whom  the  affair 
with  the  old  woman  had  happened  (as  above  described),  and  said  to 'him,  0  Cafour, 
take  this  box,  and  go  with  it  to  the  lady  Dunia.  So  the  eunuch  took  it,  and  pro- 
ceeded until  he  arrived  at  the  chamber  of  the  King's  daughter,  when  he  found  its 
door  closed,  and  the  old  woman  sleeping  at  its  threshold,  and  he  exclaimed.  Until 
this  hour  are  ye  sleeping?  And  when  the  old  woman  heard  what  he  said,  she 
awoke  from  her  sleep,  and,  in  her  fear  of  him,  said.  Wait  until  I  bring  the  key.  She 
then  went  forth  and  fled.  The  eunuch,  therefore,  knew  that  she  was  alarmed,  and 
he  displaced  the  door,  and  entering  the  chamber  found  the  lady  Dunia  asleep  with 
Taj-elmolouk.  At  the  sight  of  this,  he  was  perplexed  at  his  case,  and  was  medi- 
tating to  return  to  the  King,  when  the  lady  Dunia  awoke  and  found  him  by  her; 
and  she  was  troubled,  and  her  countenance  became  pale,  and  she  said,  0  Cafour, 
veil  what  God  hath  veiled.  But  he  replied,  I  cannot  conceal  anything  from  the 
King.  And  he  closed  the  door  upon  them,  and  returned  to  the  king.  So  the  King 
said  to  him,  Hast  thou  given  the  box  to  thy  mistress  ?  The  eunuch  answered,  Take 
the  box  ;  here  it  is.  I  cannot  conceal  from  thee  anything.  Know  that  I  beheld, 
with  the  lady  Dunia,  a  handsome  young  man,  sleeping  in  the  same  chamber.  The 
King,  therefore,  ordered  that  they  should  both  be  brought  before  him  ;  and  when 
they  had  come  into  his  presence,  he  said  to  them,  What  are  these  deeds  ?  And  he 
was  violently  enraged,  and,  seizing  a  dagger,  was  about  to  strike  with  it  Taj-elmo- 
louk ;  but  the  lady  Dunia  threw  her  head  upon  him,  and  said  to  her  father,  Slay  nif 
before  him.  The  king,  however,  chid  her,  and  ordered  them  to  convey  her  back 
to  her  chamber.  Then  looking  towards  Taj-elmolouk,  he  said  to  him.  Wo  to  thee! 
Whence  art  thou,  and  who  is  thy  father,  and  what  hath  emboldened  thee  to  act  thus 
towards  my  daughter  ? — Know,  0  King,  answered  Taj-elmolouk,  that  if  thou  put 


248  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY   DUNIA. 

me  to  death,  thou  wilt  perish,  and  thou  and  all  in  thy  dominions  will  repent. — And 
why  so  ?  said  the  King.  He  answered,  Know  that  I  am  the  son  of  the  King  Sulei- 
man, and  thou  wilt  not  he  aware  of  the  consequence  when  he  will  approach  thee 
with  his  horsemen  and  his  infantry.  And  when  King  Shahzeman  heard  this,  he 
desired  to  defer  putting  him  to  death,  and  to  imprison  him  until  he  should  see 
whether  his  assertion  were  true  ;  but  his  Vizier  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  it  is 
my  advice  that  thou  hasten  the  execution  of  this  young  wretch,  since  he  hath  been 
guilty  of  presumption  towards  the  daughters  of  Kings.  So  he  said  to  the  execu- 
tioner. Strike  off  his  head,  for  he  is  a  traitor.  And  the  executioner  took  him,  and 
having  bound  him  firmly,  raised  his  hand,  and  made  a  sign  of  consultation  to  the 
Emirs  a  first  and  a  second  time,  desiring  by  this  that  some  delay  might  take  place  ; 
but  the  King  called  out  to  him.  How  long  wilt  thou  consult?  If  thou  do  so  again  I 
will  strike  off  thy  head. 

The  executioner,  therefore,  raised  his  hand  until  his  arm-pit  appeared,  and  was 
about  to  strike  off  his  head,  when  loud  cries  were  heard,  and  the  people  closed  their 
shops-  So  the  King  said  to  the  executioner,  Hasten  not.  And  he  sent  a  person  to 
learn  the  news  for  him  ;  and  the  messenger  went,  and  soon  returning,  said  to  the 
King,  I  beheld  an  army  like  the  roaring  sea  agitated  with  waves  ;  their  horses  are 
prancing,  and  the  earth  trembleth  beneath  them,  and  I  know  not  wherefore  they  are 
come.  And  the  King  was  amazed,  and  feared  lest  he  should  be  deposed  from  his 
throne.  He  then  said  to  his  Vizier,  Have  none  of  our  troops  gone  forth  to  meet  this 
army?  But  his  words  were  not  finished  when  his  chamberlains  came  in  to  him,  ac- 
companied by  the  messengers  of  the  approaching  King,  and  among  them  was  the  Vizier 
who  had  been  with  Taj-elmolouk.  He  commenced  by  salutation  ;  and  the  King  rose 
to  them,  and,  calling  them  near  to  him,  asked  them  respecting  the  cause  of  their 
coming:  whereupon  the  Vizier  advanced  from  among  them,  and  approached  the 
King,  and  said  to  him,  Know  that  he  who  hath  alighted  in  thy  territories  is  a  King, 
not  like  the  Kings  who  have  preceded  him,  nor  like  the  Sultans  of  former  times. — 
And  who  is  he?  said  the  King.  The  Vizier  answered.  He  is  the  lord  of  justice  and 
security,  the  fame  of  whose  magnanimity  the  caravans  have  spread  abroad,  the  Sul- 
tan Suleiman,  the  lord  of  the  Green  Land  and  the  Land  of  Columns  and  the  moun- 
tains of  Ispahan,  who  loveth  justice  and  equity,  and  hateth  tyranny  and  oppression; 
and  he  saith  to  thee  that  his  son  is  in  thy  dominions  and  in  thy  city,  and  he  is  the 
vital  spirit  of  his  heart,  and  its  delight :  and  if  he  find  in  him  safety,  it  is  what  he 
desireth,  and  thou  wilt  be  thanked  and  praised  ;  but  if  he  be  not  found  in  thy 
country,  or  if  any  evil  have  befallen  him,  receive  tidings  of  destruction  and  of  the 
ruin  of  thy  territories  ;  for  thy  country  shall  become  a  desert  in  which  the  raven  shall 
croak.  Thus  I  have  delivered  to  thee  the  message  ;  and  peace  be  on  thee. — When 
the  King  Shahzeman  heard  these  words  of  the  envoy,  his  heart  was  troubled,  and  he 
feared  for  his  kingdom,  and  called  out  to  the  lords  of  his  empire,  and  his  Viziers 
and  Chamberlains  and  Lieutenants:  and  when  they  had  come  before  him  he  said  to 
them.  Wo  unto  you  !  Go  down  and  search  for  this  young  man. — But  he  was  under  the 
hand  of  the  executioner,  and  his  appearance  was  changed  through  the  fear  that  he 
suffered.  The  Vizier  then,  looking  aside,  found  the  King's  son  upon  the  skin  of  blood,' 
and  he  recognised  him,  and  arose,  and  threw  himself  upon  him.  So  also  did  the 
other  messengers:  they  then  unbound  him,  and  kissed  his  hands  and  his  feet,  where- 
upon Taj-elmolouk  opened  his  eyes,  and  recognising  the  Vizier,  and  his  companion, 
Aziz,  fell  down  in  a  swoon  through  the  excess  of  his  joy  at  their  presence. 

The  King  Shahzeman  was  perplexed  at  his  situation,  and  in  great  fear  on  dis- 
covering that  the  coming  of  the  army  was  on  account  of  this  young  man  ;  and  he 
arose  and  walked  forward  to  Taj-elmolouk,  and  kissed  his  head,  and,  with  weeping 
eyes,  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  be  not  angry  with  me :  be  not  angry  with  the  evil-doer 
for  his  deed ;  but  have  compassion  on  my  grey  hairs,  and  lay  not  waste  my  dorain- 

'  A  skin  is  laid  down  to  receive  the  head  and  blood  of  those  decapitated  in  an  Eastern  palace. 


TAJ-ELMOLOUK   AND    THE    LADY   DUNIA.  249 

ions.  And  Taj-elniolouk  approached  him,  ajid  kissed  his  hand,  saying  to  him.  No 
harm  shall  befall  thee  ;  for  thou  art  in  my  estimation  as  my  ftither;  but  beware  that 
no  evil  befall  my  beloved,  the  lady  Dunia.  — 0  my  lord,  rejoined  the  King,  fear  not 
for  her;  for  nought  but  happiness  awaiteth  her.  And  he  proceeded  to  excuse  him- 
self to  him,  and  to  soothe  the  mind  of  the  Vizier  of  the  King  Suleiman,  promising 
him  a  large  sum  of  money  that  he  might  conceal  from  the  King  what  he  had  seen. 
After  which  he  ordered  the  grandees  of  his  empire  to  take  Taj-elmolouk  and  to  con- 
duct him  to  the  bath,  to  clothe  him  in  a  suit  of  the  best  of  royal  apparel,  and  bring  him 
back  quickly.  So  they  did  this :  they  conducted  him  into  the  bath,  and,  having  clad 
him  in  the  suit  which  the  King  Shahzeman  had  allotted  him,  brought  him  back  to 
the  hall  of  audience  ;  and  when  he  came  in,  the  King  rose  to  him,  he  and  all  tho 
lords  of  his  empire,  and  they  all  stood  to  wait  upon  him.  Then  Taj-elmolouk  sat 
and  conversed  with  his  father's  Vizier  and  with  Aziz  respecting  the  events  which 
had  happened  to  him :  and  they  replied.  During  that  period  we  went  to  thy  father, 
and  informed  him  that  thou  hadst  entered  the  palace  of  the  King's  daughter,  and 
not  come  forth  from  it,  and  that  thy  case  appeared  doubtful  to  us;  and  when  he 
heard  this,  he  made  ready  the  troops,  and  we  came  to  this  country,  and  on  our 
arrival  have  experienced  joy  and  happiness.  So  he  said  to  them.  Good  fortune  hath 
attended  your  actions  first  and  last. 

The  King,  in  the  meantime,  had  gone  in  to  his  daughter,  the  lady  Dunia,  and 
found  her  weeping  for  Taj-elmolouk.  She  had  taken  a  sword,  and  put  its  hilt  to  the 
floor,  and  its  point  to  the  middle  of  her  bosom,  and  was  leaning  over  it,  saying,  I 
must  kill  myself,  and  not  live  after  my  beloved.  When  her  father,  therefore,  went 
in  to  her,  and  beheld  her  in  this  state,  he  called  out  to  her,  and  said,  0  mistress  of 
the  daughters  of  Kings,  do  it  not ;  but  have  mercy  upon  thy  father  and  the  people 
of  thy  country!  Then  advancing  to  her,  he  said  to  her,  I  conjure  thee  to  abstain, 
lest  evil  befall  thy  father  on  thy  account.  And  he  acquainted  her  with  the  case,  tell- 
ing her  that  her  beloved,  the  son  of  the  King  Suleiman,  desired  to  celebrate  his  mar- 
riage with  her,  and  adding.  The  afi'air  of  the  betrothal  and  marriage  is  committed  to 
thy  judgment.  And  she  smiled,  and  said  to  him.  Did  I  not  tell  thee  that  he  was  the 
son  of  a  Sultan?  I  will  make  him  crucify  thee  upon  a  piece  of  wood  worth  a  couple 
of  pieces  of  silver.  —  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  he  exclaimed,  that  thou  have  mercy 
upon  thy  father!  —  Go  to  him,  she  rejoined,  and  bring  him  to  me.  He  replied,  On 
the  head  and  the  eye.  And  he  returned  from  her  quickly,  and  going  in  to  Taj- 
elmolouk,  rejoiced  him  by  what  he  said.  He  then  arose  with  him  and  went  to  her 
again,  and  when  she  beheld  Taj-elmolouk,  she  embraced  him  in  the  presence  of  her 
father,  and  clung  to  him,  and  said  to  him.  Thou  hast  made  me  desolate  by  thine  ab- 
sence. Then  looking  at  her  father,  she  said,  Can  any  one  act  injuriously  towards 
such  a  person  as  this  handsome  youth,  and  he  a  King,  a  son  of  a  King?  And  upon 
this  the  King  Shahzeman  went  forth,  and  closed  the  door  upon  them,  and  repairing 
to  the  Vizier  and  the  other  messengers  of  the  father  of  Taj-elmolouk,  ordered  them 
to  inform  the  Sultan  Suleiman  that  his  son  was  in  prosperity  and  health,  and  enjoy- 
ing a  life  of  the  utmost  delight.  He  gave  orders  also  to  carry  forth  provisions  and 
pay  to  the  troops  of  the  Sultan  Suleiman  ;  and  after  they  had  conveyed  all  that  he 
commanded  them  to  take  forth,  he  brought  out  a  hundred  coursers,  and  a  hundred 
dromedaries,  and  a  hundred  mamlouks,  and  a  hundred  concubine  slaves,  and  a 
hundred  male  black  slaves,  and  a  hundred  female  slaves,  and  sent  them  all  to  him 
as  a  present. 

He  then  repaired  to  him,  with  the  lords  of  his  empire,  and  his  chief  attendants, 
and  they  proceeded  until  they  arrived  outside  the  city;  and  when  the  Sultan  Sulei- 
man became  acquainted  with  this,  he  advanced  some  paces  to  meet  him.  The  Vizier 
and  Aziz  had  informed  him  of  the  news,  and  he  rejoiced,  and  exclaimed.  Praise  be 
to  God,  who  hath  granted  my  son  the  accomplishment  of  his  wish  !  And  he  em- 
braced the  King  Shahzeman,  and  seated  him  by  his  side  upon  the  sofa,  and  they 
conversed  together  ;  after  which  the  attendants  placed  before  them  the  food,  and 


250  TAJ-ELMOLOUK    AND    THE    LADY    DUNIA. 

when  tney  had  eaten  to  satisfaction  they  brought  them-the  sweetmeats.  Soon  after, 
Taj-elmolouk  came,  approaching  in  his  rich  and  ornamented  dress ;  and  when  his 
father  beheld  him,  he  rose  to  him  and  kissed  him,  and  all  who  were  present  rose  to 
him  ;  and  after  he  had  sat  with  them  a  while  conversing,  the  King  Suleiman  said,  I 
desire  to  perform  my  son's  contract  of  marriage  to  thy  daughter  in  the  presence  of 
witnesses.  And  King  Shahzeman  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  So  he  summoned  the 
Cadi  and  witnesses,  and  they  came,  and  wrote  the  marriage-contract;  and  the  troops 
rejoiced  at  this.     And  King  Shahzeman  began  to  fit  out  his  daughter. 

Then  Taj-elmolouk  said  to  his  father.  Verily,  Aziz  is  a  generous  person  ;  he  hath 
performed  for  me  a  great  service,  and  wearied  himself,  and  journeyed  with  me,  and 
enabled  me  to  attain  the  object  of  my  search,  ceasing  not  to  exhort  me  to  patience 
until  I  accomplished  my  wish,  and  he  hath  been  with  us  two  years  separated  from 
his  country:  it  is  my  desire,  therefore,  that  we  should  prepare  for  him  merchandise  ; 
for  his  country  is  near.  His  father  replied,  Thy  opinion  is  excellent.  So  they  pre- 
pared for  him  a  hundred  loads  of  the  most  costly  stuffs ;  and  Taj-elmolouk  bade  him 
fixrewell,  saying  to  him,  0  my  brother,  accept  this  as  a  present.  And  he  accepted 
it,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him  and  before  his  father.  Taj-elmolouk  then 
mounted  his  horse,  and  proceeded  with  Aziz  for  the  space  of  three  miles  ;  after  which 
Aziz  conjured  him  to  return,  and  said,  Were  it  not  for  my  mother  I  could  not  endure 
thy  separation  ;  and  by  Allah  I  entreat  thee  not  to  cease  acquainting  me  with  thy 
state.  Having  thus  said,  he  bade  him  farewell,  and  repaired  to  his  city.  He  found 
that  his  mother  had  built  for  him  a  tomb  in  the  midst  of  the  house,  and  she  fre- 
quently visited  it:  and  when  he  entered  the  house,  he  found  that  she  had  dishevelled 
her  hair  and  spread  it  upon  the  tomb,  and,  with  streaming  eyes,  was  reciting  some 
verses :  but  before  she  had  finished,  Aziz  went  in  to  her :  and  when  she  beheld  him, 
she  rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  and  asked  him  respecting  his  long  absence;  so 
he  acquainted  her  with  all  the  events  that  had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last, 
and  told  her  that  Taj-elmolouk  had  given  him,  of  wealth  and  stuffs,  a  hundred  loads; 
and  she  rejoiced  at  this.     Such  was  the  history  of  Aziz. 

Now  as  to  Taj-elmolouk,  he  returned  to  his  beloved,  the  lady  Dunia,  and  King 
Shahzeman  fitted  her  out  for  the  journey  with  her  husband  and  her  father-in-law: 
he  sent  to  them  provisions  and  presents  and  rarities,  and  they  loaded  their  beasts 
and  departed  ;  and  King  Shahzeman  accompanied  them  three  days'  journey  to  bid 
them  farewell.  The  King  Suleiman  then  conjured  him  to  return  :  so  he  returned  ; 
and  Taj-elmolouk  and  his  father  and  his  wife  continued  their  journey  night  and  day 
until  they  came  in  sight  of  their  country.  The  city  was  decorated  for  them,  and 
they  entered  it ;  and  the  King  Suleiman  sat  upon  his  throne  with  his  son  Taj-elmo- 
louk by  his  side:  and  he  gave  presents,  and  liberated  the  persons  confined  in  the 
prisons,  after  which  he  celebrated  for  his  son  a  second  wedding-festivity:  the  songs 
and  instrumental  music  were  continued  for  a  whole  month,  and  the  tire-women 
crowded  around  the  ladv  Dunia,  who  was  not  tired  with  the  display,  nor  were  they 
with  gazing  at  her.  Taj-elmolouk  then  took  up  his  abode  witii  her,  after  an  intei^ 
view  with  his  father  and  mother  together;  and  they  passed  a  life  of  the  ulnvet 
delight  and  enjoyment. 


Festivities  when  Taj-elmo:ouk  Returned.     (Page  2SO.) 


251 


ALI   THE    SON    OF    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  253 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Commencing  with  the  Hundred  and  Fifty-third  Night,  and  ending  with  the  Hundred 
and  Sixty-ninth 


THE  STORY  OF  ALI  THE  SON  OF  BECAR,  AND  SHEMSELNIHAR. 

There  was  in  ancient  times,  in  the  reign  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid,  a  mer- 
chant who  had  a  son  named  Aboulhassan  Ali  the  son  of  Thaher,  possessing  abundant 
property,  of  handsome  person,  beloved  by  every  one  who  beheld  him  ;  and  he  used 
to  enter  the  palace  of  the  Caliph  without  permission  ;  and  all  the  concubines  of  the 
Caliph,  and  his  other  female  slaves,  loved  him  ;  and  he  used  to  keep  company  with 
the  King,  and  recite  verses,  to  him,  and  relate  to  him  strange  anecdotes.  But  still 
he  sold  and  bought  in  the  market  of  the  merchants ;  and  there  used  to  sit  at  his 
shop  a  young  man  of  the  sons  of  the  Kings  of  the  Persians,  called  Ali  the  son  of 
Becar. 

This  young  man  was  of  handsome  stature,  of  elegant  shape,  of  perfect  figure,  with 
rosy  cheeks,  with  joined  eyebrows,  sweet  in  speech,  with  laughing  mouth  ;  a  lover 
of  merriment  and  gaiety.  And  it  happened  that  they  were  both  sitting  talking 
together  and  laughing,  when  lo,  there  came  ten  female  slaves,  like  moons,  and  each 
of  them  was  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  justness  of  stature  ;  and 
among  them  was  a  damsel  riding  upon  a  mule  with  an  embroidered  saddle,  the  stir- 
rups of  which  were  of  gold,  and  she  was  covered  with  an  izar  of  delicate  fabric,  and 
round  her  waist  was  a  girdle  of  gold-embroidered  silk  ;  and  when  they  arrived  at  the 
shop  of  Aboulhassan,  she  alighted,  and,  seating  herself  at  his  shop,  saluted  him, 
and  he  returned  her  salutation.  And  when  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  beheld  her,  his 
reason  was  captivated,  and  he  desired  to  arise ;  but  she  said  to  him.  Sit  in  thy 
place.  Wherefore  wouldst  thou  depart  on  our  arrival?  This  is  not  just  conduct. — 
So  he  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  I  fly  from  that  which  I  have  beheld.  And 
when  she  heard  this  reply,  she  smiled  and  said  to  Aboulhassan,  What  is  the  name 
of  this  young  man,  and  whence  is  he?  He  answered  her.  He  is  a  stranger:  his 
name  is  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  he  is  son  of  the  King  of  the  Persians  ;  and  the 
stranger  should  be  honoured.  And  thereupon  she  said  to  him.  When  my  slave-girl 
Cometh  to  thee,  do  thou  bring  him  to  me.  To  which  Aboulhassan  replied.  On  the 
head.     She  then  arose,  and  went  her  way. 

Now  as  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  he  became  in  such  a  state  that  he  knew  not  what 
to  say  ;  and  after  a  while,  the  slave-girl  came  to  Aboulhassan,  and  said  to  him.  My 
mistress  summoneth  thee,  together  with  thy  companion.  So  Aboulhassan  arose, 
and  taking  with  him  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  they  both  went  to  the  palace  of  Haroun 
Alrashid,  and  she  introduced  them  into  a  private  chamber,  and  seated  them  ;  and 
the  tables  were  placed  before  them,  and  they  ate,  and  washed  their  hands.  She 
then  brought  to  them  the  wine,  and  they  made  themselves  merry  with  it ;  after 
which,  she  desired  them  to  arise.  They  therefore  rose,  and  went  with  her,  and  she 
conducted  them  into  another  private  chamber,  raised  upon  four  columns,  decked 
with  a  variety  of  furniture,  and  decorated  in  the  most  beautiful  manner,  as  though 
it  were  one  of  the  palaces  of  Paradise  ;  so  that  they  were  astonished  at  the  rarities 
which  they  beheld.     And  while   they  were  amusing  themselves  with  the  sight  of 


254  A  LI  THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND   SHEMSELNIHAR. 

these  extraordinary  objects,  lo,  ten  female  slaves  approached  with  a  graceful  and 
conceited  gait,  resembling  moons,  dazzling  the  sight,  and  confounding  the  imagina- 
tion. They  stood  in  ranks,  looking  like  the  black-eyed  damsels  of  Paradise  ;  and 
after  them  came  ten  other  female  slaves,  with  lutes  in  their  hands,  and  other  instru- 
ments of  diversion  and  mirth  ;  and  they  saluted  the  two  guests,  and  played  upon 
the  lutes,  and  sang  verses ;  and  every  one  of  them  was  a  temptation  to  the  servants 
of  God.  After  these  came  ten  more  female  slaves,  like  them,  high-bosomed  and  of 
equal  age,  with  black  eyes,  and  red  cheeks,  with  joined  eyebrows,  and  languishing 
looks,  a  temptation  to  God's  servants,  and  a  delight  to  beholders  ;  and  they  were  clad 
in  various  kinds  of  coloured  silks,  such  as  astonished  the  mind.  They  stationed 
themselves  at  the  door ;  and  after  them  came  ten  female  slaves  more  beautiful 
than  they,  attired  in  magnificent  apparel  ;  and  these  also  stationed  themselves  at 
the  door. 

At  last  there  came  forth  from  the  door  twenty  female  slaves,  and  among  them  was 
one  named  Shemselnihar,  like  the  moon  among  the  stars.  She  was  encompassed  by 
the  exuberance  of  her  hair,  and  wore  blue  trousers,  and  an  izarof  silk  embroidered 
with  gold,  and  round  her  waist  was  a  girdle  adorned  with  a  variety  of  jewels.  She 
continued  advancing  with  a  dignified  gait  until  she  seated  herself  upon  the  sofa ; 
and  when  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  beheld  her,  he  said  to  Aboulhassan,  Hadst  thou  acted 
well  tovrards  me  thou  hadst  informed  me  of  these  things  before  I  came  in  hither,  in 
order  that  I  might  have  applied  my  mind  to  consider  the  case,  and  fortified  it  by 
patience  to  endure  the  afiliction  that  hath  befallen  it.  And  he  wept  and  groaned 
and  lamented.  So  Aboulhassan  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  I  desired  nothing  for 
thee  but  good ;  but  I  feared  to  acquaint  thee  with  this,  lest  such  transport  should 
affect  thee  as  would  prevent  thy  meeting  her,  and  would  interpose  an  obstacle  be- 
tween thee  and  thy  union  with  her.  Be  cheerful,  then,  and  happy ;  for  she  offereth 
thee  good  fortune,  and  receiveth  thee  with  favour.  —  And  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said, 
What  is  the  name  of  this  damsel?  Aboulhassan  answered.  She  is  named  Shemsel- 
nihar, and  is  one  of  the  concubines  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Haroun  Alrashid, 
and  this  place  is  the  palace  of  the  Caliph. 

Then  Shemselnihar  sat  contemplating  the  charms  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  he 
gazed  at  her  beauty,  and  they  were  engrossed  with  mutual  love  ;  and  she  ordered 
the  female  slaves  to  seat  themselves,  each  of  them  in  her  proper  place,  upon  a  sofa: 
so  each  sat  before  a  window  ;  and  she  commanded  them  to  sing ;  whereupon  one  of 
them  took  her  lute  and  sang.  Shemselnihar  then  ordered  another  slave-girl  to  sing; 
and  after  her,  another:  and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  next  desired  one  who  was  near 
liim  to  do  the  same;  and  when  she  had  finished  her  song,  he  sighed,  and  shed  abun- 
dant tears;  and  Shemselnihar  seeing  him  weeping  and  groaning  and  lamenting, 
burned  with  transport  and  passion,  and  was  consumed  by  excessive  love  and  dis- 
traction. So  she  arose  from  the  sofa,  and  advanced  to  the  door  of  the  chamber ; 
and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  arose  also,  and  met  her;  and  they  embraced  each  other, 
and  fell  down  fainting  at  the  door.  The  female  slaves,  therefore  came  to  them,  and, 
lifting  them  up,  brought  them  back  into  the  chamber,  and  sprinkled  upon  them 
some  rose  water;  and  when  they  recovered,  they  found  not  Aboulhassan  ;  for  he 
had  hidden  himself  by  the  side  of  a  sofa:  and  the  damsel  said,  "Where  is  Aboul- 
hassan? So  he  came  forth  to  her  from  the  side  of  the  sofa;  and  she  saluted  him, 
and  said,  I  beg  of  God  that  He  will  enable  me  to  recompense  thee,  0  thou  ot  kind 
conduct!  Then  addressing  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  she  said,  0  ray  master,  thy  love 
hath  not  become  extreme  without  my  experiencing  the  like  :  and  we  have  no  resource 
but  to  bear  with  patience  that  which  hath  befallen  us.  — By  Allah,  0  my  mistress, 
replied  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  my  union  with  thee  will  not  content  me,  nor  will  the 
flame  that  I  feel  for  thee  be  extinguished,  nor  the  love  for  thee  that  hath  taken  pos- 
session of  my  heart  quit  me  until  my  soul  departeth  !  Having  said  this,  he  wept, 
and  his  tears  descended  upon  his  cheek  like  rain  ;  and  when  Shemselnihar  beheld 
him  thus  weeping,  she  wept  with  him  ;  whereupon  Aboulhassan  said.  By  Allah.  I 


ALI  THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND   SHEMSELNIHAR.  255 

am  in  wonder  at  your  case,  and  am  perplexed  by  your  condition  ;  for  your  =tate  is 
wonderful,  and  your  case  is  extraordinary!  If  ye  weep  thus  when  ye  are  together, 
how  will  it  be  after  ye  are  separated  !  This  is  not  a  time  for  lamentation  and  weep- 
ing, but  a  time  for  joy  and  gladness. 

So  Shemselnihar  made  a  sign  to  a  female  slave,  who  arose  and  returned  witli 
some  maids  carrying  a  table,  the  dishes  of  which  were  of  silver,  containing  a  variety 
of  viands.  The  slave-girl  then  placed  the  table  before  them  ;  and  Shemselnihar 
began  to  eat,  and  to  feed  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  until  they  were  satisfied,  when  the 
table  was  removed,  and  they  washed  their  hands,  and  the  perfuming-vessels  were 
brought  with  various  kinds  of  aloes-wood,  and  the  sprinkling  bottles  with  rose-water, 
and  they  were  perfumed  and  scented  ;  after  which  vessels  of  graven  gold  were  pre- 
sented to  them,  containing  varieties  of  drinks,  and  fresh  and  dried  fruits,  such  as  the 
appetite  desired,  and  such  as  delighted  the  eyes ;  and  next,  a  slave-girl  brought 
them  a  basin  of  carnelian  full  of  wine.  Shemselnihar  then  chose  ten  maids,  whom 
she  stationed  by  them,  and  ten  female  slaves  from  among  the  singing  girls,  and, 
having  dismissed  all  the  rest  of  the  slave  girls  to  their  apartments,  ordered  some  of 
those  who  remained  present  to  play  upon  the  lute  ;  and  they  did  as  she  commanded 
them.  One  of  them  sang;  and  when  she  had  finished  her  song,  Shemselnihar  filled 
a  cup  and  drank  it,  and  then  filled  it  again  and  gave  it  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and 
ordered  another  slave-girl  to  sing;  after  which,  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  drank  his  cup, 
and  returned  it  to  Shemselnihar,  who  filled  it,  and  handed  it  to  Aboulhassan.  She 
then  took  a  lute,  and  said.  No  one  shall  sing  over  my  cup  but  myself:  —  and  having 
tightened  the  strings,  she  sang  of  love. 

When  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  Aboulhassan,  and  the  rest  of  those  who  were 
present,  heard  the  verses  sung  by  Shemselnihar,  they  almost  flew  with  delight,  and 
they  sported  and  laughed  ;  but  while  they  were  thus  enjoying  themselves,  lo,  a 
female  slave  came,  trembling  vrith  fear,  and  said,  0  my  mistress,  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  hath  come,  and  he  is  at  the  door,  with  Afeef  and  Mesrour  and  others.  And 
when  they  heard  .her  words,  they  nearly  died  with  fright;  but  Shemselnihar  laughed, 
and  said.  Fear  not.  And  she  said  to  the  female  slave.  Return  them  an  answer  while 
we  remove  from  this  place.  She  then  gave  orders  to  shut  the  doors  of  the  apart- 
ment, and  to  let  down  the  curtains  over  them,  while  they  remained  in  it,  and  she 
closed  the  door  of  the  adjoining  saloon,  and  then  went  forth  into  the  garden,  and, 
seating  herself  upon  her  sofa,  ordered  a  slave-girl  to  rub  her  feet,  commanding  the 
rest  of  the  female  slaves  to  go  to  their  apartments,  and  desiring  the  girl  who  remained 
with  her  to  leave  the  gate  open,  that  the  Caliph  might  enter.  And  Mesrour  came 
in,  and  those  who  were  with  him,  twenty  in  number,  with  swords  in  their  hands; 
and  they  saluted  Shemselnihar,  and  she  said  to  them,  Wherefore  have  ye  come? 
They  answered.  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful  saluteth  thee:  he  hath  become  cheerless 
through  desire  of  seeing  thee,  and  informeth  thee  that  he  hath  experienced  this  day 
unusual  joy  and  happiness,  and  wisheth  now  to  complete  it  by  thy  presence.  Wilt 
thou,  then,  come  to  him,  or  shall  he  come  to  thee? — And  she  arose,  and,  kissing  the 
ground,  replied,  I  hear  and  obey  the  commands  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  She 
then  gave  oi-ders  to  bring  her  chief  female  attendants  and  the  other  slaves,  and  they 
came  in,  and  she  intimated  to  them  that  she  was  going  to  comply  with  the  commands 
of  the  Caliph.  The  place  was  completely  prepared  ;  but  she  said  to  the  eunuchs, 
Go  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  inform  him  that  I  shall  soon  be  waiting  for 
him,  when  I  shall  have  prepared  the  place  for  him  with  the  carpets  and  other  things. 
So  the  eunuchs  repaired  quickly  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  Shemselnihar 
arose  and  went  to  her  beloved  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  pressed  him  to  her  bosom, 
and  took  leave  of  him.  And  he  wept  violently,  and  said,  0  my  mistress,  prolong  to 
me  this  leave-taking:  perhaps  it  may  help  to  hasten  the  termination  of  my  life 
through  my  love  of  thee  :  but  I  beg  of  God  that  He  will  bestow  upon  me  patience 
to  endure  the  passion  by  which  He  hath  afllicted  me.  —  By  Allah,  replied  Shemsel- 
nihar, none  will  fall  into  a  state  of  dissolution  but  myself;  for  thou  wilt  go  forth 


256  ALI    THE    SON    OF    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

into  the  market-street,  and  wilt  enjoy  the  company  of  such  as  will  amuse  thee,  and 
thou  wilt  he  preserved  from  danger,  and  thy  passion  will  be  kept  concealed.  But  as 
to  me,  I  shall  fall  into  trouble,  especially  since  I  have  made  an  appointment  with 
the  Caliph  ;  for  probably  great  danger  will  await  me  in  consequence,  on  account  of 
my  desire  and  love  and  passion  for  thee,  and  my  grief  at  having  parted  from  thee. 
With  what  tongue  shall  I  sing,  and  with  what  heart  shall  I  present  myself  before 
the  Caliph,  and  with  what  language  shall  I  converse  with  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, and  with  what  look  shall  I  behold  a  place  where  thou  art  not,  and  how  shall  I 
be  in  an  assembly  in  which  thou  art  not  included,  and  with  what  taste  shall  I  drink 
wine  of  which  thou  art  not  present  to  partake  ?  Aboulhassan  said  to  her,  Be  not 
perplexed  ;  but  be  patient ;  and  be  not  remiss  in  conversing  with  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  this  night,  nor  show  him  any  neglect. 

And  while  they  were  thus  talking,  a  slave-girl  came,  and  said,  0  my  mistress,  the 
pages  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  are  come.  Whereupon  she  arose,  and  said  to 
the  slave-girl,  Take  Aboulhassan  and  his  companion,  and  conduct  them  to  the  upper 
projecting  window  that  overlooketh  the  garden,  and  leave  them  there  till  it  is  dark: 
then  contrive  means  of  leading  them  forth.  So  the  slave-girl  took  them,  and  as- 
cended with  them  to  the  projecting  window,  and,  having  closed  the  door  upon  them, 
went  her  way;  and  they  remained  looking  into  the  garden.  And  lo,  the  Caliph 
arrived,  preceded  by  about  a  hundred  eunuchs  with  swords  in  their  hands,  and 
around  him  were  twenty  female  slaves,  like  moons,  clad  in  the  richest  apparel,  and 
each  having  upon  her  head  a  crown  set  with  rubies  and  other  jewels,  and  in  her 
hand  a  lighted  candle.  The  Caliph  Avalked  in  the  midst  of  them,  while  they  sur- 
rounded him  on  every  side,  and  Mesrour  and  Afeef  and  Waseof  preceded  him  ;  and 
he  advanced  among  them  with  a  graceful  carriage.  Shemselnihar  and  all  the  female 
slaves  who  were  with  her  rose  to  him,  and  met  him  at  the  gate  of  the  garden;  and, 
having  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  preceded  him  until  he  seated  himself  upon  the 
sofa,  when  all  the  female  slaves  and  the  eunuchs  who  were  in  the  garden  stationed 
themselves  around  him,  and  the  candles  were  lighted,  and  the  instruments  of  music 
were  played  upon  until  he  commanded  his  attendants  to  disperse,  and  to  seat  them- 
selves upon  the  sofas;  whereupon  Shemselnihar  took  her  seat  upon  a  sofo  by  the 
side  of  that  of  the  Caliph,  and  began  to  converse  with  him. — All  this  time  Aboul- 
hassan and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  were  looking  on  and  hearing ;  the  Caliph  not  see- 
ing them. — Tlie  Caliph  then  began  to  toy  with  Shemselnihar,  and  gave  orders  to 
open  the  apartment  where  she  had  been  sitting;  and  they  opened  its  door  and  its 
windows,  and  lighted  the  candles  ;  so  that  the  place,  in  the  hour  of  darkness,  shone 
like  the  day ;  after  which,  the  eunuchs  removed  thither  the  drinking-vessels. — At 
the  sight  of  these  things,  Aboulhassan  exclaimed,  Verily  I  have  never  beheld  the 
like  of  these  vessels  and  beverages  and  i-arities,  nor  have  I  ever  heard  of  anything 
to  be  compared  with  these  varieties  of  jewels  :  It  seemeth  to  me  as  though  I  were 
dreaming  !  My  reason  is  confounded,  and  my  heart  palpitateth  !  But  as  to  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar,  after  Shemselnihar  had  quitted  him,  he  remained  a  while  stretched 
upon  the  floor,  through  the  violence  of  his  passion  ;  and  when  he  recovered  he  began 
to  gaze  at  this  unparalleled  scene,  and  said  to  Aboulhassan,  0  my  brother,  I  fear 
that  the  Caliph  will  see  us,  or  become  acquainted  with  our  case;  and  my  fear  is 
chiefly  on  thine  account:  for  as  to  myself,  I  know  that  I  am  of  the  number  of  those 
who  are  about  to  perish  ;  and  the  cause  of  my  death  is  nothing  else  than  my  love  and 
desire,  and  the  excess  of  my  transport  and  distraction;  and  I  beg  deliverance  of  God 
from  the  affliction  that  I  suffer. 

Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  Aboulhassan,  continued  gazing  from  the  projecting 
window  at  the  Caliph  and  the  scene  around  him,  until  the  feast  was  entirely  pre- 
pared before  him,  when  the  Caliph  looked  towards  one  of  the  female  slaves,  and 
said.  Let  us  hear,  0  Gharam,  some  of  thy  delightful  singing: — whereupon,  with 
charming  modulations,  she  sang  a  beautiful  melody.  And  when  Shemselnihar  heard 
her  song,  she  fell  down  in  a  swoon  from  the  sofa  upon  which  she  was  sitting,  and 


ALI   THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  257 

became  unconscious.  The  female  slaves,  therefore,  arose  and  lifted  her  up.  And 
as  soon  as  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  beheld  her  from  the  window,  he  also  fell  down  in  a  fit: 
and  Aboulhassan  exclaimed,  Verily  fate  hath  divided  desire  between  you  with 
equality!  But  while  they  were  conversing,  lo,  the  slave-girl  who  had  brought  them 
up  to  the  window  came  to  them  and  said,  0  Aboulhassan,  arise,  thou  and  thy  com- 
panion, and  descend ;  for  the  world  hath  become  narrow  unto  us,  and  I  fear  that  our 
affair  will  be  exposed ;  arise,  therefore,  immediately,  or  we  die.  Aboulhassan,  re- 
plied, How  shall  this  young  man  arise  with  me?  He  hath  not  strength  to  raise 
himself. — So  the  slave-girl  sprinkled  rose-water  upon  his  face  until  he  recovered, 
and  Aboulhassan  and  the  slave-girl  lifted  him  up,  and  carried  him  down  from  the 
window,  and  proceeded  a  little  way,  when  the  slave-girl  opened  a  small  door  of  iron, 
and  placed  Aboulhassan  and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  upon  a  bench  outside.  She  then 
clapped  her  hands,  and  there  came  a  boat  with  a  rower  in  it,  and  she  led  them  on 
board  of  it,  and  said  to  the  boatman.  Land  them  on  the  opposite  bank.  And  when 
they  had  embarked,  and  quitted  the  garden,  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  looked  back  to- 
wards the  apartment  and  the  garden,  and  bade  them  farewell.  The  slave-girl  then 
said  to  the  boatman,  Make  haste  with  them.  So  he  plied  his  oars  to  make  all  haste, 
and,  accompanied  by  the  slave-girl,  they  crossed  over  to  the  opposite  bank,  when 
she  departed,  taking  leave  of  them  as  they  landed,  and  saying  to  them.  It  had  been 
my  desire  not  to  part  from  you  ;  but  I  cannot  proceed  further  than  this  spot.  And 
she  returned. 

Ali  the  son  of  Becar  lay  prostrate  before  Aboulhassan,  unable  to  rise ;  so  Aboul- 
hassan said  to  him.  This  is  not  a  place  of  safety,  and  we  are  here  in  fear  for  our 
lives,  on-account  of  the  robbers  and  the  sons  of  wickedness.  And  upon  this,  Ali 
the  son  of  Becar  arose,  and  advanced  a  little  way;  but  he  was  unable  to  walk  on. 
Now  Aboulhassan  had  friends  in  that  quarter;  and  he  repaired  to  one  of  them  in 
whom  he  confided,  and  knocked  at  his  door;  upon  which  the  man  came  forth  to  him 
quickly,  and  when  he  behold  him  and  his  companion  he  welcomed  them,  and  con- 
ducted them  into  his  house,  and  having  seated  them,  conversed  with  them,  and 
asked  them  where  they  had  been,  Aboulhassan  answered.  We  came  forth  this  even- 
ing, obliged  to  do  so  by  a  man  with  whom  I  had  some  pecuniary  transactions,  it 
having  been  told  me  that  he  was  about  to  set  forth  on  a  journey  with  my  property. 
So  I  went  out  this  night  and  repaired  to  him,  taking  to  cheer  me,  this  my  companion, 
Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  we  came  hoping  to  see  him;  but  he  hid  himself  from  us, 
and  we  saw  him  not.  We  therefore  returned  with  nothing,  and.  finding  it  difficult 
to  get  back  this  night,  and  seeing  no  other  lodging  for  us  but  thine  abode,  we  came 
unto  thee,  depending  on  thy  usual  kindness. — The  man  of  the  house  then  welcomed 
them  again,  and  studied  to  show  them  honour  ;  so  they  remained  with  him  during 
the  rest  of  the  night;  and  when  the  morning  came,  they  went  forth  from  him,  and 
proceeded  until  they  arrived  at  the  city,  and  entered  it;  and  as  they  passed  by 
the  house  of  Aboulhassan,  he  conjured  his  companion  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  to  enter, 
and  took  him  in.  They  then  laid  themselves  down  on  beds  for  a  little  while,  after 
which  they  awoke;  and  Aboulhassan  ordered  his  servants  to  furnish  the  house  hand- 
somely; and  they  did  so:  Aboulhassan  saying  within  himself,  I  must  cheer  this 
young  man,  and  divert  him  from  his  present  thoughts  ;  for  I  know  his  case. 

And  when  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  recovered,  he  called  for  water,  and  they  brought 
it  him,  and  he  arose  and  performed  the  ablution,  and  recited  the  divinely-ordained 
prayers  which  he  had  omitted  during  the  preceding  day  and  night,  and  began  to 
console  himself  by  conversation.  When  Aboulhassan,  therefore,  saw  him  do  thus, 
he  approached  him  and  said,  Omy  master  Ali,  it  will  be  most  suitable  to  thy  present 
case  that  thou  remain  with  me  this  next  night,  in  order  that  thy  heart  may  become 
dilated,  and  the  anguish  of  desire  that  thou  sufferest  may  be  dispelled,  and  that  thou 
mayeat  beguile  the  time  with  us.  He  replied.  Do  what  seemeth  fit  unto  thee;  for  at 
all  events  I  cannot  escape  from  that  which  hath  befallen  me;  so  do  as  thou  wilt. 
And  Aboulhassan  arose  and  summoned  his  servants  and  brought  his  friends,  and 
17 


258  ALI   THB    SON    OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

sent  to  the  singers  and  instrumental  performers,  who  came ;  and  they  remained 
eating  and  drinking  and  making  merry  during  the  rest  of  the  day,  until  the  evening, 
when  they  lighted  the  candles,  and  the  wine-cups  circulated  among  them,  and  the 
time  passed  with  them  pleasantly.  Then  a  female  singer  took  a  lute,  and  thus 
sung: 

I  have  been   shot  at  by  fortune  with  the  arrow  of  an  eye,  which  hath  struck  me  down,  and  I 

have  parted  from  the  beloved. 
Fortune  hath  been  hostile  to  me,  and  my  patience  hath  failed;  but  I  expected  befo^  that 

this  would  come  to  pass. 

And  when  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  heard  these  words,  he  fell  down  in  a  fit,  and  he  re- 
mained in  it  until  daybreak;  and  Aboulhassan  despaired  of  him  ;  but  when  daylight 
came,  he  recovered,  and  desired  to  return  to  his  house.  Aboulhassan  could  not  pre- 
vent him,  fearing  what  might  be  the  result  of  his  case;  and  his  servants  brought  him  a 
mule,  and  mounted  him  upon  it,  and  Aboulhastsan  accompanied  him  until  he  took 
him  into  his  house  ;  and  when  he  was  safe  there,  Aboulhassan  praised  God  for  his 
escape  from  this  calamity,  and  began  to  console  hira;  but  he  had  no  power  over 
himself,  through  the  violence  of  his  passions.  Aboulhassan  then  bade  him  farewell; 
and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  cease  not  to  impart  to  me  what- 
ever information  thou  mayest  have  to  give.     He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

So  Aboulhassan  arose  and  departed  from  him  to  his  shop,  and  opened  it,  and  sat 
expecting  some  tidings  from  the  damsel ;  but  no  one  brought  him  any  news.  lie 
passed  the  next  night  in  his  house,  and  when  the  morning  came,  he  arose  and  pro. 
ceeded  to  the  house  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and,  going  in  to  him,  found  him  laid 
upon  his  bed  with  his  friends  around  him,  and  the  physicians  with  him,  each  of 
them  prescribing  for  him  something,  and  feeling  his  pulse.  And  when  Aboulhassan 
entered  and  beheld  him,  he  smiled:  and  Aboulhassan  saluted  him,  and  inquired 
respecting  his  state ;  after  which  he  sat  by  him  until  all  the  rest  of  the  people  had 
gone  forth,  when  he  said  to  him,  What  is  this  state  in  which  I  find  thee  ?  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar  answered,  It  hath  been  spread  about  that  I  am  sick,  and  my  friends 
have  heard  this  report,  and  I  have  no  strength  to  arise  and  walk  that  I  might  give 
the  lie  unto  him  who  asserteth  me  to  be  ill  ;  so  I  remain  prostrated  here  as  thou 
seest  me,  and  my  friends  have  come  to  visit  me  :  but,  0  my  brother,  hast  thou  seen 
the  slave-girl,  or  heard  any  news  from  her?  Aboulhassan  replied.  She  hath  not 
come  to  me  since  she  parted  from  us  on  the  bank  of  the  Tigris:  —  and  he  added,  0 
my  brother,  beware  of  disgrace,  and  abstain  from  this  weeping.  But  Ali  the  son  of 
Becar  said,  0  my  brother,  I  have  no  control  over  myself: — and  he  sighed,  and  recited 
some  verses,  and  added,  I  am  afflicted  by  a  calamity  from  which  I  was  lately  exempt, 
and  can  hopfe  for  no  greater  ease  than  death.  So  Aboulhassan  said.  Perhaps  God 
will  restore  thee. 

And  he  went  down  from  him,  and  repaired  to  his  shop  and  opened  it,  and  he  had 
not  long  sat  there  when  the  slave-girl  came  and  saluted  him  ;  and  he  returned  her 
salutation,  and,  looking  at  her,  observed  that  her  heart  was  throbbing,  and  that  she 
bore  an  aspect  of  sadness.  lie  said  to  her.  Thou  art  welcome!  How  is  Shemsel- 
nihar?  —  She  answered,  I  will  presently  acquaint  thee  with  her  case:  — and  asked. 
How  is  Ali  the  son  of  Becar?  Aboulhassan,  therefore,  informed  her  of  everything 
that  he  had  experienced ;  and  she  lamented  and  sighed,  and  wondered  at  his  case. 
She  then  said.  The  state  of  my  mistress  is  more  wonderful  than  that ;  for  when  ye 
went  away,  I  returned  with  my  heart  throbbing  on  your  account,  scarcely  believing 
in  your  escape ;  and  on  my  return  I  found  my  mistress  lying  prostrate  in  the  cham- 
ber, speaking  not  nor  answering  any  one.  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful  was  sitting 
at  her  head,  finding  no  one  to  acquaint  him  with  her  case,  and  not  knowing  M'hat 
she  suifcrcd  ;  and  she  continued  in  her  fit  until  midnight,  when  she  recovered,  and 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  said  to  her.  What  hath  befallen  thee,  0  Shemselniliar,  and 
what  hath  happened  to  thee  this  night?     And  when  she  heard  tiie  words  of  the 


ALI   THE    SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR,  259 

Caliph,  she  kissed  his  feet,  and  answered  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  may  God 
make  me  to  be  thy  sacrifice !  A  derangement  of  the  stomach  hath  given  me  a  head- 
ache, and  excited  a  heat  in  my  body,  so  I  fell  down  in  a  fit  from  the  violence  of  my 
suffering,  and  I  know  not  what  happened  to  me  afterwards.  The  Caliph,  therefore, 
asked  her,  What  hast  thou  taken  this  day  ?  And  she  answered,  I  breakfasted  upon 
a  dish  that  I  had  never  eaten  before.  She  then  feigned  that  she  had  recovered 
strength,  and  called  for  some  wine,  and,  having  drunk  it,  begged  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  to  return  to  his  diversion.  So  he  resumed  his  seat  in  the  chamber;  and 
when  I  came  to  her,  she  asked  me  respecting  thee  and  thy  companion,  and  I  informed 
her  what  I  had  done  with  you,  and  acquainted  her  with  the  words  which  Ali  the 
the  son  of  Becar  had  spoken  :  whereupon  she  was  silent.  The  Caliph  then  sat,  and 
ordered  the  same  female  slave  to  sing;  and  she  sang  these  two  verses: — 

There  hath  been  to  ine  no  pleasure  in  my  life  since  your  departure;  and  would  that  I  knew 

your  state  since  you  left  me  ! 
It  were  fit  that  my  tears  should  be  of  blood,  when  ye  are  weeping  on  account  of  my  absence. 

And  when  Shemselnihar  heard  these  words,  she  fell  down  again  in  a  swoon  ;  and 
I  laid  hold  of  her  hand,  and  sprinkled  some  rose-water  upon  her  face,  and  she 
recovered,  upon  which  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  expose  not  thyself  and  those 
whom  thy  palace  containeth  !  By  the  existence  of  thy  beloved  I  conjure  thee  to 
have  patience!  But  she  replied.  Can  anything  worse  than  death  befall  me?  I 
desire  it;  for  it  will  bring  me  ease.  —  And  while  we  were  thus  conversing,  a  slave- 
girl  sang  these  words  of  the  poet: — 

They  said,  Perhaps  patience  may  be  followed  by  ease.  But  I  replied,  How  is  patience  to  be 
found  since  his  departure  ? 

For  he  made  a  settled  compact  with  me,  to  cut  the  cords  of  patience,  at  the  time  of  his  em- 
bracing me. 

And  as  soon  as  she  had  finished,  Shemselnihar  again  fell  down  in  a  fit.  The  Caliph 
saw  her,  and,  coming  to  her  quickly,  gave  orders  to  remove  the  wine,  and  com- 
manded each  of  the  female  slaves  to  return  to  her  apartment.  lie  then  sat  with  her 
during  the  remainder  of  the  night  until  the  morning,  when  he  summoned  the  physi- 
cians, and  desired  them  to  employ  means  for  her  restoration,  not  knowing  that  she 
was  sufi"ering  from  love  and  desire.  I  remained  with  her  till  I  thought  her  recovered, 
and  this  it  was  which  prevented  my  coming  unto  you  before.  I  left  with  her  a 
number  of  her  special  attendants,  when  she  ordered  me  to  repair  to  you  that  I  might 
obtain  news  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  and  return  to  her.  And  when  Aboulhassan 
heard  her  words,  he  wondered,  and  said  to  her.  By  Allah,  I  have  acquainted  thee 
with  his  whole  case.  Return,  therefore,  to  thy  mistress,  and  salute  her,  and  exhort 
her  to  have  patience,  and  say  to  her,  Conceal  thy  secret;  —  and  tell  her  that  I  am 
acquainted  with  her  case,  and  know  it  to  be  one  of  difiiculty,  requiring  prudent 
management.  And  the  slave-girl  thanked  him,  and  bade  him  farewell,  and  returned 
to  her  mistress. 

Aboulhassan  then  remained  in  his  shop  until  the  close  of  the  day,  and  when  the 
day  had  passed  he  arose  and  locked  up  his  shop,  and  went  to  the  house  of  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar,  and  knocked  at  the  door;  upon  which  there  came  forth  to  him  one  of 
his  servants,  who  conducted  him  within.  And  when  he  went  in  to  his  friend,  the 
latter  smiled,  and  drew  a  good  omen  from  his  coming,  and  said  to  him,  0  Aboul- 
hassan, thou  hast  made  me  desolate  by  thy  remaining  away  from  me  this  day,  and 
my  soul  is  attached  to  thee  for  the  rest  of  my  life.  —  Abstain  from  these  words, 
replied  Aboulhassan  ;  for,  if  it  were  possible  to  ransom  thee,  I  would  give  my  life 
as  thy  sacrifice.  This  day  the  slave-girl  of  Shemselnihar  came  and  informed  me 
that  she  had  been  prevented  from  coming  before  only  by  the  Caliph's  sitting  with 
her  mistress,  and  acquainted  me  with  what  had  happened  to  her  mistress. — And  he 


260  ALI   THE    SON   OF   BECAR,    AND   SHEMSELNIHAR. 

related  to  him  all  that  he  had  heard  from  the  slave-girl;  whereupon  Ali  the  son  of 
Beear  lamented  violently,  and  wept,  and  then,  looking  towards  Aboulhassan,  said  to 
him,  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  to  assist  me  in  my  aiBiction,  and  tell  me  what  plan  is 
to  be  pursued  :  and  I  beg  of  thy  goodness  that  thou  wilt  pass  the  night  here  with 
me,  in  order  that  I  may  be  cheered  by  thy  conversation.  So  Aboulhassan  complied 
with  his  desire,  replying  that  he  would  stay  with  him  that  night ;  and  they  passed 
the  night  conversing  together,  till  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  after  weeping  and  shedding 
copious  tears,  recited  some  verses,  and  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon. 
Aboulhassan  thought  that  his  soul  had  quitted  his  body;  and  he  remained  in  his  fit 
until  daylight  came,  when  he  recovered,  and  conversed  again  with  Aboulhassan  ; 
and  Aboulhassan  continued  sitting  with  him  till  near  the  midtime  between  sunrise 
and  noon. 

He  then  departed  from  him,  and  repaired  to  his  shop  and  opened  it;  and  lo,  the 
slave-girl  came  and  stood  before  him  ;  and  when  he  looked  towards  her,  she  made 
a  sign  of  salutation  to  him,  and  he  returned  her  greeting,  and  she  delivered  to  him 
the  salutation  of  her  mistress,  and  said  to  him,  How  is  Ali  the  son  of  Becar? — 0 
slave-girl,  he  replied,  ask  not  respecting  his  state,  and  the  violence  of  desire  that  he 
suffereth  ;  for  he  sleepeth  not  by  night,  nor  findeth  rest  by  day ;  watching  hath 
emaciated  him,  and  anguish  hath  overcome  him,  and  he  is  in  a  condition  by  no 
means  pleasing  to  a  friend.  She  then  said  to  him,  My  mistress  saluteth  thee  and 
him,  and  hath  written  to  him  a  letter,  and  she  is  in  a  state  more  afflicting  than  his; 
she  hath  intrusted  to  me  the  letter,  and  said,  Return  not  to  me  without  an  answer 
to  it,  and  do  as  I  have  commanded  thee.  —  Here  is  the  letter  with  me.  Wilt  thou 
then  go  with  me  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  that  we  niay  receive  the  answer  from  him  ? 
— Aboulhassan  answered  her,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  locked  up  his  shop,  and, 
taking  with  him  the  slave-girl,  repaired  with  her  by  a  way  different  from  that  by 
which  he  had  come,  and  they  proceeded  until  they  arrived  at  the  house  of  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar,  when  he  stationed  her  at  the  door,  and  entered  the  house.  And  as 
soon  as  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  beheld  him  he  rejoiced  at  his  coming,  and  Aboulhassan 
said  to  him.  The  cause  of  my  coming  is,  that  such  a  man  hath  sent  to  thee  this  slave- 
girl  with  a  note  conveying  his  salutation  to  thee,  and  hath  mentioned  in  it  that  the 
reason  of  his  failing  to  visit  thee  is  an  event  that  hath  happened  to  him  which 
excuseth  him.  The  slave-girl  is  standing  at  the  door.  Wilt  thou  give  her  permis- 
sion to  enter?  Ali,  replied.  Bring  her  in.  And  Aboulhassan  made  a  sign  to  him 
that  she  was  the  slave-girl  of  Shemselnihar ;  and  he  understood  the  sign  ;  and  when 
he  beheld  her  he  was  moved,  and  rejoiced,  and  said  to  her,  with  a  sign,  How  is  the 
master?  May  God  grant  him  restoration  and  health?  —  She  answered.  Well :  — 
and  she  produced  the  letter  and  gave  it  to  him  ;  and  he  took  it  and  kissed  it  and 
read  it,  and  then  handed  it  to  Aboulhassan,  M'ho  found  written  in  it  as  follows: — 

I  have  written  to  thee  a  letter  without  fingers,  and  spoken  to  thee  without  a  tongue, 
and  the  complete  exposition  of  my  state  is  this,  —  that  I  have  an  eye  which  sleep- 
lessness never  quitteth,  and  a  heart  from  which  solicitudes  are  never  absent;  and  I 
am  as  though  I  had  never  known  health  or  happiness,  nor  beheld  a  comely  counte- 
nance, nor  passed  a  pleasant  life:  I  am  as  if  my  nature  were  made  up  of  passion, 
and  of  the  torment  of  excessive  love  and  melancholy ;  and  sickness  hath  become 
uninterrupted  to  me:  and  desire,  augmented  ;  and  longing  expectation,  increased. 
I  beg  of  God  to  hasten  our  union,  that  the  trouble  of  my  mind  may  be  dispelled  ; 
and  I  desire  that  thou  send  me  some  words  from  thee,  that  I  may  cheer  myself  by 
them  ;  and  do  thou  assume  a  becoming  patience  until  God  give  relief.  And  peace 
be  on  thee. 

When  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  had  read  this  letter  from  beginning  to  end,  he  said, 
With  what  hand  shall  I  write,  and  with  what  tongue  shall  I  complain  and  lament? 
He  then  drew  hirtiself  up  with  diflBculty,  and  sat,  and  took  a  paper  in  his  hand,  and 
thus  wrote :  — 

In  the  name  of  God,  the  Compassionate,  the  Merciful.— Thy  letter,  0  my  mistress, 


ALI   THE   SON    OF    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  261 

hath  arrived,  and  given  ease  to  a  soul  wearied  by  transport  and  desire,  and  conveyed 
restoration  to  a  wounded  heart  ulcerated  by  disease  ;  and  thine  emaciated  slave  hatb 
understood  all  the  gracious  words  contained  in  it:  and  by  thy  head,  0  my  mistress 
I  am  in  the  state  described  by  the  poet.  And  I  know  that  complaint  extinguisheth 
not  the  fire  of  affliction  ;  but  it  appeaseth  him  whom  longing  desire  hath  disordered, 
and  whom  separation  destroyeth  :  and  I  will  comfort  myself  by  the  mention  of  the 
word  "  union." 

On  Aboulhassan's  reading  this  letter,  it  excited  painful  feelings  in  him,  and  its 
purport  wounded  his  vitals ;  and  he  gave  it  to  the  slave-girl,  and  when  she  had 
taken  it,  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said  to  her.  Convoy  to  thy  mistress  my  salutation,  and 
acquaint  her  with  my  transport  and  desire,  and  how  love  pervadeth  my  flesh  and 
my  bones ;  and  tell  her  that  I  want  a  person  to  deliver  me  from  the  sea  of  destruc- 
tion, and  to  liberate  me  from  this  perplexity.  He  then  wept,  and  the  slave-girl  wept 
with  him,  and  took  leave  of  him  and  departed  from  him. 

Aboulhassan  went  forth  with  her,  and  bade  her  farewell,  and  repaired  to  his  shop; 
and  as  he  sat  there,  he  found  his  heart  compressed,  and  his  bosom  contracted,  and 
he  was  perplexed  at  his  case.  He  remained  immersed  in  thought  during  the  rest 
of  the  day,  and  the  ensuing  night;  and  on  the  following  day  he  went  to  Ali  the  son 
of  Becar,  and  sat  with  him  until  the  other  persons  had  departed,  when  he  asked  him 
respecting  his  state  ;  and  he  began  to  complain  of  his  desire,  and  his  excessive  love 
and  distraction.  And  Aboulhassan  said  to  him,  I  have  never  beheld  nor  heard  of 
any  lover  like  thee.  Wherefore  this  transport  and  infirmity  and  agitation  when  thou 
art  attached  to  a  complying  object  of  love  ?  How  would  it  be  if  thou  wert  attached 
to  one  who  was  adverse  and  deceitful,  and  if  thy  affair  were  exposed?  —  And  Ali 
the  son  of  Becar,  says  Aboulhassan,  inclined  to  my  words,  and  thanked  me  for  them. 

—  Now  I  had  (he  continues)  a  friend  who  was  acquainted  with  my  case,  and  the 
case  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  knew  that  we  were  leagued  together ;  but  no  one 
else  was  informed  of  what  passed  between  us  ;  and  he  used  to  come  to  me  and  ask 
me  respecting  the  state  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar;  and  soon  after,  he  questioned  me 
with  respect  to  the  damsel.  I  answered  him.  She  invited  him  to  her,  and  more  than 
hath  already  happened  between  them  cannot  take  place;  and  this  is  the  last  of  their 
case  ;  but  I  have  devised  for  myself  a  plan  of  proceeding  which  I  desire  to  lay  before 
thee.  —  His  friend  asked,  What  is  it?  And  Aboulhassan  answered,  I  am  a  man 
known  to  have  extensive  dealings  with  men  and  women,  and  I  fear  that  the  affair 
of  these  two  persons  may  be  discovered,  and  that  such  an  event  will  be  the  cause  of 
my  destruction  and  of  the  seizure  of  my  property  and  the  ruin  of  my  fiimily.  It  is 
my  opinion  that  I  should  collect  together  my  property,  and  fit  myself  out,  and  repair 
to  the  city  of  Balsora,  and  there  remain  until  I  see  what  will  be  the  result  of  their 
case,  that  no  one  may  know  my  situation  ;  for  love  hath  gained  entire  possession  of 
them,  and  letters  have  passed  between  them.  Their  intermediary  is  a  slave-girl, 
who  at  present  keepeth  their  secrets ;  but  I  fear  that  anxiety  may  overcome  her  and 
she  may  reveal  their  case  to  somebody,  and  so  the  nevrs  of  their  affair  may  spread 
and  occasion  my  destruction  ;  since  I  have  no  excuse  to  offer  to  my  accusers.  —  His 
friend  replied,  Thou  hast  acquainted  me  with  a  perilous  affair,  such  as  the  wise  and 
knowing  must  regard  with  fear.  May  God  avert  from  thee  the  evil  that  thou  appre- 
hendest,  and  save  thee  from  the  result  which  thou  dreadest!     This  opinion  is  right. 

—  So  Aboulhassan  departed  to  his  house,  and  occupied  himself  in  settling  his  affiiirs, 
and  preparing  himself  for  the  journey  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  and  three  days  had  not 
passed  before  he  had  finished  his  affairs  and  set  forth  to  Balsora. 

Three  days  after  this,  his  friend  came  to  visit  him,  and,  finding  him  not,  asked 
his  neighbours  respecting  him,  and  they  answered  him.  He  departed  three  days  ago 
to  Balsora;  for  he  had  pecuniary  dealings  with  the  merchants  of  that  city,  and 
therefore  went  to  demand  the  money  of  his  debtors,  and  he  will  soon  return.  And 
the  man  was  perplexed  at  his  case,  and  knew  not  whither  to  go,  saying.  Would  that 
I  Lad  not  parted  with  Aboulhassan  !     He  then  devised  a  stratagem  by  means  of 


262  ALI  THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

which  to  obtain  access  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar ;  and  he  repaired  to  the  house,  and 
said  to  one  of  his  young  men,  Beg  permission  for  me  of  thy  master  that  I  may  enter 
and  salute  him.  So  the  servant  entered,  and  acquainted  his  master  with  the  request, 
and  then  returned  to  him,  and  gave  him  permission  to  enter.  Ho  therefore  went  in 
to  him,  and  found  him  reclining  upon  the  cushion,  and  he  saluted  him,  and  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar  returned  his  salutation,  and  welcomed  him  ;  whereupon  the  man  apolo- 
gised to  him  for  having  failed  to  visit  him  before  during  the  period  of  his  illness, 
and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  an  intimate  friendship  existeth  between  mo  and  Aboul- 
hassan,  and  I  used  to  intrust  to  him  my  secrets,  and  never  relinquish  him  for  an 
hour  ;  and  I  was  absent  on  some  business  with  a  number  of  my  friends  for  the  space 
of  three  days,  and  then,  going  to  him,  found  his  shop  closed;  and  wherefore  I  asked 
the  neighbours  respecting  him,  and  they  said.  He  hath  gone  to  Balsora.  —  Now  I 
know  no  friend  of  his  more  true  than  thou  :  by  Allah,  then,  acquaint  me  with  his 
case. — And  when  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  heard  his  words,  his  colour  changed,  and  be 
was  agitated,  and  replied,  I  have  not  heard  the  news  of  his  departure  before  this 
day;  and  if  the  case  be  as  thou  hast  said,  trouble  hath  befallen  me.  And  he  hang 
down  his  head  towards  the  ground,  in  thought,  and  after  a  while  raised  it  and  look- 
ing towards  a  servant  belonging  to  him,  said  to  him.  Go  to  the  house  of  Aboulhassan, 
and  ask  respecting  him,  whether  he  be  still  there  or  on  a  journey,  and  if  they 
answer.  He  hath  gone  on  a  journey, — ask  whither  he  is  gone.  So  the  servant  Avent, 
and  after  a  short  absence  came  back  to  his  master,  and  said.  When  I  inquired 
respecting  Aboulhassan,  his  dependants  informed  me  that  he  had  gone  on  a  journey 
to  Balsora ;  but  I  found  a  slave-girl  waiting  .at  the  door,  and  when  she  beheld  me 
she  knew  me  ;  but  I  knew  her  not ;  and  she  said  to  me.  Art  thou  the  servant  of  Ali 
the  son  of  Becar?  And  I  answered  her.  Yes.  And  she  said,  I  have  a  letter  for 
him,  from  the  dearest  of  his  friends.  So  she  came  with  me,  and  she  is  standing  at 
the  door. — Upon  this,  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said.  Bring  her  in.  And  the  servant  went 
forth  to  her,  and  brought  her  in:  and  the  man  who  was  sitting  with  the  son  of  Becar 
looked  at  the  slave-girl,  and  saw  that  she  was  an  elegant  person.  The  slave-girl 
then  advanced  to  the  son  of  Becar,  and  saluted  him,  and  talked  with  him  in  a  low 
voice;  and  he  uttered  oaths  during  the  conversation,  swearing  that  he  had  not  men- 
tioned a  thing  which  she  spoke  of;  after  which,  she  bade  him  farewell,  and  departed. 
Now  the  man,  the  friend  of  Aboulhassan,  was  a  jeweller  ;  and  when  the  slave- 
girl  had  departed,  he  found  an  opportunity  to  speak,  and  said  to  Ali  the  son  of 
Becar,  Thei-e  is  no  doubt  whatever  but  that  the  palace  of  the  Caliph  hath  some 
demand  upon  thee,  or  that  thou  hast  dealings  with  it. — And  who,  said  Ali  the  son 
of  Becar,  acquainted  thee  with  that?  The  jeweller  answered,  My  knowledge  of  it 
is  through  this  slave-girl  ;  for  she  is  the  slave-girl  of  Shemselnihar;  and  she  came 
to  me  some  time  ago  with  a  note  in  which  was  written  that  slie  desired  a  necklace 
of  jewels;  so  I  sent  to  her  a  costly  necklace.  And  when  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  heard 
his  words,  he  was  so  agitated  that  the  jeweller  feared  his  dissolution  :  but  presently 
he  recovered  himself,  and  said,  0  my  brother,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  tell  me  how 
thou  knowest  her.  The  jeweller  replied.  Abstain  from  urging  the  inquiry.  But 
Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said  to  him.  I  will  not  desist  from  pressing  thee  until  thou  ac- 
quaint me  with  the  truth.  So  the  jeweller  said,  I  will  inform  thee,  provided  that  no 
suspicion  respecting  me  enter  thy  mind,  nor  any  restraint  be  imposed  upon  thee  by 
my  words,  and  I  will  not  conceal  from  thee  any  secret,  but  will  explain  to  thee  the 
truth  of  the  afiFair,  on  the  condition,  however,  that  thou  acquaint  me  with  thy  true 
case,  and  the  cause  of  thy  sickness.  He  therefore  told  him  his  story,  and  then  said. 
By  Allah,  0  my  brother,  nothing  induced  me  to  conceal  my  affair  from  others  than 
thyself  excepting  my  fear  that  people  might  remove  the  veils  of  protection  from 
others.  And  the  jeweller  said  to  him,  I  desired  not  an  interview  with  thee  but  on 
account  of  my  great  aifecticm  for  thee,  and  my  zeal  for  thee,  and  my  compassion  for 
thy  heart  in  consideration  of  the  torment  that  it  suffereth  from  separation.  Perhaps 
I  may  be  a  comforter  to  thee  in  the  place  of  my  friend  Aboulhassan  during  the 


ALI   THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 


268 


period  of  his  absence.  Be  happy,  then,  and  cheerful. — And  AH  the  son  of  Becar 
thanked  him  for  his  speech.  He  then,  for  a  while,  remained  silent ;  after  which  he 
said  to  the  jeweller,  Knowest  thou  what  the  slave-girl  told  me  secretly  ?  He  answered. 
No,  by  Allah,  0  my  master.  And  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said,  She  supposed  that  I 
had  advised  Aboulhassan  to  depart  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  and  that  I  thus  devised  a 
stratagem  that  there  might  be  no  more  correspondence  and  intercourse:  and  I  swore 
to  her  that  such  had  not  been  the  case;  but  she  believed  me  not,  and  departed  to  her 
mistress  retaining  her  evil  opinion  ;  for  she  inclined  to  Aboulhassan.  The  jeweller 
replied,  O  my  brother,  I  understood  from  the  state  of  the  slave-girl  this  affair ;  but, 
if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  I  will  aid  thee  to  attain  thy  desire. 
—  And  how,  said  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  wilt  thou  manage  with  her  when  she  taketh 
fright  like  a  wild  animal  of  the  desert?  The  jeweller  answered,  I  must  employ  all 
my  endeavours  to  assist  thee,  and  my  contrivance  to  obtain  acquaintance  with  her, 
without  making  any  exposure  or  occasioning  any  mischief.  He  then  begged  leave 
to  depart;  and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  be  mindful  to  con- 
ceal the  secret.     And  he  looked  at  him  and  wept. 

The  jeweller  bade  him  farewell,  and  de- 
parted, not  knowing  what  to  do  in  order  to  _ 
promote  the  affair  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar, 
and  he  continued  on  his  way  meditating 
upon  his  case  ;  and  beheld  a  paper  lying 
in  the  street:  so  he  took  it  up,  and  looked 
at  its  direction,  and  lo,  it  was,  From  the 
most  humble  friend  to  the  most  excellent 
object  of  affection.  —  And  he  opened  the 
paper,  and  saw  written  in  it  as  follows : — 
Know,  0  my  master,  that  I  am  unacquainted 
with  the  cause  of  the  interruption  of  the 
correspondence  between  me  and  thee  ;  but 
if  cruelty  have  originated  from  thee,  I  will 
requite  it  with  fidelity ;  and  if  affection 
have  departed  from  thee,  I  will  preserve 
affection  during  estrangement. 

And  when  he  had  read  it,  lo,  the  slave- 
girl  approached,  looking  to  the  right  and 
left,  and  saw  the  paper  in  his  hand  ;  so  she 
said  to  him,  0  my  master,  verily  this  paper 
dropped  from  me.  But  he  returned  her 
not  an  answer,  walking  on  ;  and  the  slave- 
girl  followed  him  until  he  approached   his 

house;  and  he  entered,  and  the  slave-girl  behind  him.  She  then  said  to  him,  0  my 
master,  return  to  me  this  paper ;  for  it  dropped  from  me.  And  he  looked  at  her, 
and  said,  0  slave-girl,  fear  not,  nor  be  grieved,  but  tell  me  the  story  with  truth  ;  for 
I  am  a  concealer  of  secrets  ;  and  I  conjure  thee  by  an  oath  that  thou  hide  from  me 
nothing  of  the  affair  of  thy  mistress :  perhaps  God  may  assist  me  to  accomplish  her 
desires,  and  make  easy  by  my  means  things  that  now  are  difficult.  And  when  the 
slave-girl  heard  his  words,  she  replied,  0  my  master,  a  secret  will  not  be  lost  when 
thou  art  its  depository,  nor  will  an  affair  be  unsuccessful  when  thou  strivest  to  accom- 
plish it.  Know  that  my  heart  hath  inclined  to  thee,  and  I  will  acquaint  thee  with 
the  truth  of  the  affair,  and  do  thou  give  me  the  letter.— She  then  told  him  the  whole 
story,  and  added,  God  is  witness  of  the  truth  of  what  I  say.  He  replied,  Thou  hast 
spoken  truth  ;  for  I  am  acquainted  with  the  foundation  of  the  story.  And  he  pro- 
ceeded to  relate  to  her  the  case  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  how  he  had  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  state  of  his  mind,  telling  her  the  story  from  first  to  last.  And 
when  she  had  heard  this  she  rejoiced  ;  and  they  agreed  together  that  she  should  taka 


The  Jeweller  finding  the  Letter. 


264  ALI   THE    SON    OF   BECAR,    AND   SHEMSELNIHAR. 

the  paper  and  give  it  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  of  all  that  should  happen  she 
should  return  and  inform  him.  So  he  gave  her  the  paper:  she  took  it  and  sealed  it 
as  it  was  before,  saying,  My  mistress  Shemselnihar  gave  it  to  be  read ;  and  when 
he  hath  read  it  and  given  me  an  answer,  I  will  bring  it  to  thee. 

The  slave-girl  then  bade  him  farewell,  and  proceeded  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar, 
whom  she  found  expecting  her  coming;  and  she  gave  him  the  paper,  and  he  read  it, 
and  then  wrote  back  an  answer,  and  gave  it  to  her.  She  therefore  took  it,  and  re- 
turned with  it  to  the  jeweller,  according  to  the  agreement;  and  he  broke  open  the 
seal,  and  read  it,  and  saw  written  in  it:  — 

Verily  cruelty  hath  not  originated  from  me,  nor  have  I  abandoned  fidelity,  nor 
have  I  broken  a  covenant,  nor  have  I  cut  off  affection,  nor  have  I  ceased  from  grief, 
nor  have  I  found  after  separation  aught  but  affliction,  nor  have  I  had  any  knowledge 
of  that  which  ye  have  mentioned,  nor  do  I  love  anything  but  what  ye  love:  by  Him 
who  knoweth  every  secret  and  hidden  action,  my  desire  is  only  for  an  union  with  the 
person  whom  I  love  ;  and  my  business,  the  concealment  of  the  desire  that  I  suffer, 
though  disease  afflict  me  in  consequence.  This  is  the  exposition  of  my  state :  and 
peace  be  on  thee. 

When  the  jeweller  read  this  paper,  and  knew  its  contents,  he  wept  violently.  The 
slave-girl  then  said  to  him.  Go  not  forth  from  this  place  until  I  return  to  thee ;  for 
he  hath  made  an  accusation  against  me ;  but  he  is  excused  ;  and  I  desire  to  effect 
an  interview  between  thee  and  my  mistress  Shemselnihar,  by  whatever  stratagem  it 
may  be  accomplished.  I  left  her  prostrate  waiting  for  my  bringing  her  the  answer. 
—  Then  the  slave-girl  repaired  to  her  mistress,  and  the  jeweller  passed  the  night 
troubled  in  heart;  and  when  the  morning  came,  he  performed  the  prayers  of  that 
period,  and  sat  expecting  her  arrival ;  and  lo,  she  approached,  and  with  joy  came  in 
to  him,  and  he  said  to  her,  What  is  the  news,  0  slave-girl?  She  answered,  I  went 
from  thee  to  my  mistress,  and  gave  to  her  the  paper  which  Ali  the  son  of  Becar 
wrote  :  and  when  she  had  read  it  and  understood  its  meaning,  her  mind  was  per- 
plexed ;  so  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  fear  not  the  frustration  of  the  affair  between 
you  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  Aboulhassan  ;  for  I  have  found  one  who  will 
take  his  place,  and  who  is  better  than  he,  and  of  higher  rank,  and  one  who  will  keep 
secrets. — And  I  related  to  her  what  had  passed  between  thee  and  Aboulhassan,  and 
how  thou  obtainedst  his  confidence  and  that  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  how  that 
note  dropped  from  me  and  thou  foundest  it,  and  I  acquainted  her  with  the  determi- 
nation made  between  thee  and  me.  —  And  the  jeweller  wondered  extremely.  —  She 
then  said  to  him.  She  desireth  to  hear  thy  words,  that  she  may  be  confirmed  by 
them  in  her  belief  of  the  covenants  made  between  thee  and  him  :  make  up  thy  mind, 
then,  immediately  to  repair  with  me  to  her.  But  when  the  jeweller  heard  these 
words  of  the  slave-girl,  he  considered  that  the  visiting  her  was  a  momentous  affair, 
and  of  great  peril,  not  to  be  undertaken,  nor  suddenly  attempted :  so  he  replied,  O 
my  sister,  I  am  of  the  sons  of  the  common  class,  and  not  like  Aboulhassan;  for 
Aboulhassan  was  high  in  rank,  of  known  reputation,  in  the  habit  of  frequenting  the 
palace  of  the  Caliph  because  its  inhabitants  required  his  merchandise ;  but  as  for 
me,  Aboulhassan  used  to  converse  with  me  and  I  trembled  before  him.  If  thy  mis- 
tress, therefore,  desireth  my  conversation  with  her,  it  will  be  requisite  that  it  be  in 
some  other  place  than  the  palace  of  the  Caliph,  distant  from  the  abode  of  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful ;  for  my  heart  will  not  consent  to  tliat  which  thou  proposest. —  So  he 
refused  to  go  with  her.  She  proceeded  to  tell  him  that  she  would  be  surety  for  his 
safety,  and  said  to  him.  Be  not  apprehensive  nor  fearful.  But  while  they  were  thus 
talking,  lo,  his  legs  shook,  and  his  hands  trembled:  and  the  slave-girl,  therefore, 
said  to  him,  If  it  will  be  painful  to  thee  to  go  to  the  palace  of  the  Caliph,  and  thou 
canst  not  accompany  me,  I  will  persuade  her  to  como  to  thee  ;  therefore  move  not 
from  thy  place  until  I  return  to  thee  with  her.  She  then  departed :  but  soon  re- 
turned to  the  jeweller,  and  said  to  him.  Take  care  lest  there  be  with  thee  a  slave-girl 
or  man-servant.     lie  replied.  There  is  no  one  with  me  but  a  black  female  slave 


ALI   THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND   SHEMSELNIHAR. 


205 


advanced  in  age,  who  serveth  me.  And  the  slave-girl  arose,  and  closed  the  doora 
between  the  jeweller's  female  slave  and  himself,  and  sent  his  young  men  out  from 
the  house. 

After  this,  the  slave-girl  went  forth,  and  returned  with  a  damsel  behind  her,  and 
the  latter  entered  the  jeweller's  abode  with  her,  imparting  a  sweet  odour  to  the 
house;  and  when  the  jeweller  saw  her,  he  arose  and  stood  up,  and  placed  a  cushion 
fcr  her,  and  seated  himself  before  her.     She  remained  a  while  without  speaking, 


Shemselnihar's  first  visit  to  the  Jeweller. 


until  she  had  rested  herself,  when  she  uncovered  her  face,  and  it  appeared  to  the 
jeweller  as  though  the  sun  had  risen  in  his  abode.  She  then  said  to  her  slave-girl. 
Is  this  the  man  of  whom  thou  spakest  to  me?  The  slave-girl  answered,  Yes.  And 
she  looked  towards  the  jeweller,  and  said  to  him,  How  art  thou?  He  answered,  In 
prosperity :  —  and  prayed  fur  her.  And  she  said  to  him,  Thou  hast  induced  us  to 
come  to  thee,  and  to  acquaint  thee  with  our  secret.  And  she  asked  him  respecting 
his  fiimily  and  his  children,  and  he  acquainted  her  with  all  his  circumstances,  and 
said  to  her,  I  have  a  house  besides  this,  which  I  have  devoted  to  the  purpose  of 
assembling  there  with  my  friends  and  brethren,  and  I  have  in  it  nothing  but  what 
I  have  mentioned  to  thy  slave-girl.  After  this,  she  asked  him  how  he  had  become 
acquainted  with  the  foundation  of  the  story  ;  aud  he  informed  her  of  the  particulars 
which  she  demanded,  from  the  first  of  the  affair  to  the  last ;  whereupon  she  sighed 
for  the  separation  of  Aboulhassan,  and  said,  0  such  a  one,  know  that  the  souls  of 
mankind  accord  in  their  desires,  and  persons  stand  in  need  one  of  another  ;  an  action 
is  not  accomplished  without  words  ;  nor  a  wish  without  exertion :  nor  doth  ease 
come  unless  after  fatigue  ;  nor  doth  success  ensue  but  through  the  means  of  the 
generous.  And  now  I  have  acquainted  thee  with  our  affair,  and  it  is  in  thy  power 
to  expose  or  protect  us  ;  and  thy  generous  disposition  requireth  nothing  to  bo  added; 
for  thou  knowest  that  this  my  slave-girl  concealeth  my  secret,  and  on  that  account 
occupieth  a  high  place  with  me;  and  I  have  chosen  her  for  the  transaction  of  my 


2(56  ALI   THE    SON    OF   BECAR,    AND   SHEMSELNIHAR. 

affair.*.  Let  none,  then,  be  more  worthy  in  thy  sight  than  she.  and  do  thou  acquaint 
her  \\ith  thy  proceedings  :  and  be  of  good  heart ;  for  thou  art  .-secure  from  what  thou 
fearest  on  our  account,  and  no  place  shall  be  closed  fi-om  thee  but  she  shall  open  it 
unto  thee,  and  she  shall  convey  to  thee  my  messages  for  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and 
thou  shalt  be  the  intermediary  in  the  transmittal  of  communications  between  me 
and  him. 

Shemselnihar  then  arose,  scarcely  able  to  do  so,  and  departed,  and  the  jeweller 
walked  before  her  until  she  arrived  at  the  gate  of  the  palace,  after  which  he  returned, 
and  sat  in  his  place,  having  beheld  of  her  beauty  what  astonished  him,  and  heard 
of  her  words  what  confounded  his  reason,  and  witnessed  of  her  elegance  and  polite- 
ness what  amazed  him.  He  remained  reflecting  upon  her  endowments  until  his 
mind  became  tranquillized:  when  he  demanded  food,  and  ate  as  much  as  would 
stay  his  spirit.  He  then  changed  his  clothes,  and  went  forth  from  his  house,  and 
repaired  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  whose  servants  came  and  met  him,  and  walked 
before  him  until  they  introduced  him  to  their  master,  and  he  found  him  laid  upon 
his  bed  ;  and  when  he  beheld  the  jeweller,  he  said  to  him.  Thou  hast  been  tardy  in 
coming  to  me,  and  increased  my  anxiety.  Having  thus  said,  he  dismissed  his  ser- 
vants, and  gave  orders  to  shut  his  doors,  and  said  to  the  jeweller,  I  have  not  closed 
my  eye  since  thou  quittest  me;  for  the  slave-girl  came  to  me  yesterday,  bringing  a 
sealed  letter  from  her  mistress  Shemselnihar.  —  And  he  proceeded  to  relate  to  him 
all  that  had  passed  between  him  and  her;  after  which  he  said,  I  have  become  per- 
plexed in  my  affair,  and  my  patience  hath  failed  !  for  Aboulhassan  was  a  cheering 
companion  unto  me,  as  he  knew  the  slave-girl.  And  when  the  jeweller  heard  his 
words  he  laughed  :  so  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  said  to  him.  Wherefore  dost  thou  laugh 
at  my  words,  when  I  have  augured  well  of  thy  coming,  and  taken  thee  as  a  provision 
against  misfortunes?  He  then  wept,  and  recited  verses  expressive  of  his  condition. 
And  when  the  jeweller  heard  the  verses  which  he  recited,  he  wept  at  his  weeping, 
and  acquainted  him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  with  the  slave-girl  since  he 
had  quitted  him.  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  listened  to  his  speech:  and  at  every  word  of 
his  that  he  heard,  the  colour  of  his  face  continued  to  change  from  yellowness  to  red- 
ness, and  his  body  became  at  one  time  stronger,  and  at  another  weaker.  And  when 
he  had  ended  his  account,  the  son  of  Becar  wept,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  I 
am  at  all  events  perishing,  and  would  that  my  end  were  near!  I  beg  of  thee,  in  thy 
kindness,  to  show  favour  to  me  in  all  my  affairs  until  God  shall  please  to  bring  about 
what  seemeth  fit  unto  him,  and  I  will  not  oppose  thee  in  word.  —  The  jeweller 
replied,  Nothing  will  quench  this  fire  in  thee  except  an  interview  with  the  person 
with  whom  thou  art  enamoured:  but  it  should  be  in  some  other  place  than  this, 
which  is  one  of  danger ;  it  should  be  in  a  house  of  mine  next  to  my  own  abode. 
The  slave-girl  came  to  me  there,  together  with  her  mistress,  and  it  is  the  place  that 
she  chose  for  herself;  I  desire,  thei-efore,  your  interview  with  each  other,  and  there 
shall  ye  complain  one  to  another  of  what  ye  have  suffered.  So  Ali  the  son  of  Becar 
said.  Do  as  thou  desirest,  and  what  thou  seest  fit  is  right. 

I  remained  with  him,  says  the  jeweller,  that  night,  conversing  with  him  until  the 
morning  came,  when  I  performed  the  morning  prayers,  and  went  forth  from  him. 
and  repaired  to  my  abode.  And  I  had  not  long  remained  there  when  the  slave-girl 
came  and  saluted  me,  and  I  returned  her  salutation,  and  acquainted  her  with  the 
plan  decided  upon  between  me  and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar :  whereupon  she  said. 
Know  that  the  Caliph  hath  gone  away  from  us,  and  that  there  is  no  one  in  our 
abode,  and  it  is  more  safe  for  us,  and  better.  I  replied.  What  thou  sayest  is  true  ; 
but  it  is  not  like  this  my  house  :  for  this  is  safer  and  more  suited  to  us.  The  slave- 
girl  therefore  said.  It  shall  be  as  thou  seest  fit;  and  I  go  to  my  mistress  to  acquaint 
her  with  that  which  thou  hast  mentioned,  and  to  propose  to  her  what  thou  hast  said. 
She  then  repaired  to  her  mistress,  and  made  the  proposal  to  her,  and  returned  to  my 
house,  and  said  to  me.  My  mistress  acquiesceth  with  that  which  thou  hast  said. 
And  she  took  forth  from  her  pocket  a  purse  containing  some  pieces  of  gold,  saying 


ALI   THE    SON    OP    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  267 

to  me,  My  mistress  saluteth  thee,  and  saith  to  thee.  Take  this,  and  procure  for  ua 
with  it  what  we  require.  But  I  swore  that  I  would  not  expend  anything  of  it.  So 
she  took  it  again,  and  returned  to  her  mistress,  and  said  to  her,  lie  hath  not  ac- 
cepted the  money,  but  returned  it  to  me.  And  after  the  slave-girl  had  gone,  I  re- 
paired to  my  other  house,  and  removed  thither,  of  the  utensils  and  furniture,  what 
the  case  required,  and  transported  thither  the  vessels  of  silver  and  of  china-ware, 
and  prepared  all  that  we  required  of  food  and  drink  ;  and  when  the  slave-girl  came 
again,  and  beheld  what  I  had  done,  it  pleased  her;  and  she  ordered  me  to  bring  Ali 
the  son  of  Becar ;  but  I  replied.  None  shall  bring  him  but  thou. 

Accordingly  she  went  to  him  and  brought  him,  attired  in  the  most  perfect  manner, 
and  with  a  brightened  aspect ;  and  when  he  came  I  met  him  and  welcomed  him, 
and  seated  him  upon  a  mattrass  suitable  to  his  condition,  and  placed  before  him 
some  sweet  scented  flowers  in  vessels  of  china-ware  and  crystal,  and  conversed  with 
him  about  an  hour;  after  which  the  slave-girl  departed,  and  was  absent  until  after 
the  sunset  prayers,  when  she  returned,  accompanied  by  Sheinselnihar  with  two 
maids  and  none  else.  As  soon  as  she  beheld  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  he  beheld 
her,  they  both  fell  down  fainting  upon  the  floor,  and  remained  so  for  an  hour;  and 
when  they  recovered,  they  drew  near  to  each  other,  and  sat  conversing  tenderly,  and 
after  this,  they  made  use  of  some  perfumes,  and  began  to  thank  me  for  my  conduct 
to  them.  I  then  said  to  them,  Have  ye  any  desire  for  food  ?  And  they  answered, 
Yes.  So  I  brought  to  them  some  food,  and  they  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  and 
washed  their  hands  ;  and  I  conducted  them  to  another  chamber,  where  I  brought 
them  the  wine ;  and  they  drank  it,  and  became  merry:  whereupon  Shemselnihar 
said  to  me,  0  my  master,  complete  thy  kindness,  and  bring  to  us  a  lute  or  some 
other  musical  instrument,  that  we  may  now  perfect  our  enjoyment.  I  replied,  On 
my  head  and  my  eye.  And  I  arose,  and  brought  a  lute,  and  she  took  it  and  tuned 
it,  and  placing  it  in  her  lap,  played  upon  it  in  an  admirable  manner.  She  proceeded 
to  sing  verses  so  as  to  confound  the  mind,  with  various  modulations  and  with  pleas- 
ing allusions,  and  the  hearers  almost  flew  with  delight  at  her  admirable  singing. 

After  this,  I  left  them  in  that  house,  and  departed  to  the  house  in  which  I  resided, 
and  there  passed  the  night,  until  the  morning.  And  when  the  morning  came,  I  per- 
formed my  divinely-orduined  prayers,  and  drank  some  wine,  and  sat  thinking  of 
going  to  them  at  my  other  house;  and  as  I  was  sitting,  lo,  my  neighbour  came  ih  to 
me,  terrified,  and  said  to  me,  0  my  brother,  it  was  no  light  matter  to  me  that  befell 
thee  this  last  night  in  thy  other  house.  So  I  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  and  what 
hath  happened?  Acquaint  me  with  that  which  hath  occurred  in  my  house.  —  He 
answered,  The  robbers  who  came  to  our  neighbours  yesterday,  and  murdered  such 
a  one  and  took  his  property,  saw  thee  yesterday  removing  thy  things  to  thy  other 
house,  and  came  thither  in  the  night  and  took  what  thou  hadst  there,  and  murdered 
thy  guests. — I  arose  therefore,  I  and  my  neighbour,  and  we  went  to  that  house,  and 
found  it  empty  ;  nothing  remained  in  it ;  and  I  was  perplexed  at  my  case,  and  said. 
As  to  the  things,  I  care  not  for  their  loss;  and  if  I  borrowed  some  of  them  from  my 
friends  and  they  are  lost,  there  is  no  harm  in  that;  for  they  know  my  excuse  in  tlie 
disappearance  of  my  property  and  the  plundering  of  my  house  ;  but  as  to  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar,  and  the  concubine  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  fear  that  their 
affair  will  be  rumoured  abroad,  and  it  will  be  the  cause  of  the  loss  of  my  life. — The 
jeweller  then  looked  towards  his  companion,  and  said  to  him.  Thou  art  my  brother 
and  my  neighbour,  and  wilt  conceal  what  I  should  not  expose:  what  course  of  con- 
duct, then,  dost  thou  advise  me  to  pursue?  The  man  answered  him.  That  which  I 
advise  thee  to  do  is,  that  thou  be  on  thy  guard  ;  for  they  who  entered  thy  house  and 
took  thy  property  have  murdered  a  most  distinguished  party  from  the  palace  of  the 
Caliph,  and  have  murdered  also  a  party  from  the  house  of  the  chief  magistrate  of 
the  police,  and  the  guards  of  the  court  search  for  them  everywhere,  and  perhaps 
they  will  find  them,  and  thy  wish  will  be  attained  without  any  effort  of  thine.  And 
when  the  jeweller  heard  these  words,  he  returned  to  his  house  in  which  he  resided, 


268  ALI  THE   SON    OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

and  said  within  himself,  Verily  that  which  hath  happened  to  me  is  what  Aboul- 
hassan  feared,  and  on  account  of  which  he  departed  to  Balsora,  and  I  have  fallen 
into  it. 

The  plunder  of  his  house  became  publicly  known  among  the  people,  and  they 
came  to  him  from  every  quarter ;  and  some  of  them  rejoiced  at  his  misfortune,  and 
some  participated  in  his  anxiety  while  he  uttered  his  complaints  to  them,  and  neither 
ate  nor  drank.  And  as  he  sat  repenting,  lo,  one  of  his  servants  came  in  to  him,  and 
said  to  him.  There  is  a  person  at  the  door  who  asketh  for  thee,  whom  I  know  not. 
So  the  jeweller  went  forth  to  him,  and  saluted  him,  and  found  him  to  be  a  man  whom 
he  knew  not ;  and  the  man  said,  I  have  something  to  say  to  thee.  He  therefore 
conducted  him  into  his  house,  and  asked  him.  What  hast  thou  to  say  to  me?  The 
man  answered.  Go  with  me  to  thy  other  house.  The  jeweller  said,  And  dost  thou 
know  my  other  house?  And  he  answered.  Thy  whole  case  is  known  to  me,  and  I 
know  also  that  by  which  God  will  dispel  thine  anxiety. — So  I  said  within  myself 
(continues  the  jeweller),  I  will  go  with  him  whither  he  desireth.  I  then  repairi-d 
with  him  to  the  house,  and  when  the  man  saw  the  house,  he  said,  It  is  without  a 
door-keeper,  and  we  cannot  sit  in  it:  come  with  me,  therefore,  to  another  house. 
And  the  man  continued  going  about  from  place  to  place,  and  1  with  him,  until  the 
night  overtook  us ;  and  I  put  no  question  to  him.  He  ceased  not  on  his  way,  and  I 
with  him,  till  we  went  forth  into  the  open  plain,  saying.  Follow  me.  And  he  hurried 
on,  and  I  hurried  behind  him,  until  we  arrived  at  the  river,  when  he  embarked  with 
me  in  a  boat,  and  the  boatman  rowed  with  us,  till  we  had  crossed  over  to  the  other 
bank  ;  whereupon  he  landed  from  the  boat,  and  I  landed  after  him,  and  he  took  my 
hand,  and  conducted  me  into  a  street  which  1  had  never  entered  before  in  the  whole 
course  of  my  life,  and  I  knew  not  in  what  quarter  it  was.  He  then  stopped  at  the 
door  of  a  house,  and  opened  it,  and  entered,  taking  me  in  with  him,  and  locked  the 
door  with  a  lock  of  iron  ;  after  which,  he  led  me  along  its  passage  till  we  came  into 
the  presence  of  ten  men,  who  were  as  though  they  were  one  and  the  same  man,  and 
they  were  brothers. 

When  we  went  in  to  them,  the  man  first  mentioned  saluted  them,  and  they  re- 
turned his  salutation,  and  ordered  me  to  sit  down.  So  I  seated  myself,  feeble  from 
excessive  fatigue ;  and  they  brought  me  some  rose-water,  and  sprinkled  it  upon  my 
face,  and  gave  me  to  drink  some  wine,  and  placed  before  me  some  food.  I  therefore 
said  [within  myself].  If  there  were  anything  injurious  in  the  food,  they  would  not 
eat  with  me.  And  when  we  had  washed  our  hands  [after  eating],  each  of  us  re- 
turned to  his  place,  and  they  said.  Dost  thou  know  us?  1  answered.  No:  nor  in  my 
life  have  I  known  your  abode :  nay,  I  know  not  him  who  brought  me  unto  you. 
They  then  said.  Acquaint  us  with  thy  story,  and  utter  no  falsehood.  So  I  said, 
Know  that  my  case  is  wonderful,  and  my  affair  is  extraordinary.  And  are  ye,  I 
added,  acquainted  with  aught  of  my  story  ?  They  answered.  Yes :  we  are  the  per- 
sons who  took  thy  things  last  night,  and  we  took  thy  friend,  and  her  who  was  sing- 
ing ?  And  upon  this  I  said.  May  God  let  down  the  curtain  of  his  protection  over 
you  !  Where  are  my  friend  and  she  who  was  singing.  And  they  made  a  sign  to  me 
with  their  hands,  pointing  to  one  side,  and  answered.  Here :  but,  by  Allah,  0  my 
brother,  none  of  us  hath  learnt  their  secret,  and  since  we  brought  them  we  have 
had  no  interview  with  them,  nor  asked  them  respecting  their  condition,  on  account 
of  the  appearance  of  dignity  and  respectability  which  we  have  observed  in  them; 
and  it  was  this  which  prevented  our  killing  them.  Acquaint  us,  therefore,  with 
their  true  history,  and  thou  shalt  be  secure  of  thine  own  safety  and  of  theirs. — 
When  I  heard  these  words,  says  thee  jeweller,  I  almost  died  with  fear  and  terror, 
and  said  to  them.  Know  that,  if  generosity  be  lost,  it  is  to  be  found  only  with  you  ; 
and  if  I  have  a  secret  which  1  fear  to  reveal,  none  but  your  breasts  will  conceal  it. 
And  I  proceeded  to  expatiate  in  this  manner,  and  found  that  readiness  in  making 
the  communication  to  them  would  be  more  advantageous  than  concealing  it ;  so  1 
acquainted  them  with  all  that  had  befallen  me  until  I  arrived  at  the  end  of  the  story 


ALI   THE    SON    OF    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  269 

And  -when  they  heard  my  tale,  they  said,  And  is  this  young  man  AH  the  son  of 
.  Becar,  and  this  female  Shemselnihar  ?  And  they  excused  themselves  to  both  of  them, 
and  afterwards  said  to  me.  Verily  of  that  which  we  took  from  thy  house,  part  is 
gone ;  and  this  is  what  hath  remained  of  it.  They  then  restored  to  me  most  of  the 
things,  and  bound  themselves  to  convey  them  back  to  their  place  in  my  house,  pro- 
mising also  that  they  would  restore  to  me  the  rest ;  but  they  became  divided  into 
two  parties;  one  party  on  my  side,  and  the  other  against  me.  After  this,  we  went 
forth  from  that  house. — Such  was  my  case. 

Now  as  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  and  Shemselnihar,  they  were  at  the  point  of 
death  through  fear.  I  approached  them  and  saluted  them,  and  said  to  them.  What 
can  have  happened  to  the  slave-girl  and  the  two  maids,  and  whither  have  they  gone? 
They  answered.  We  have  no  knowledge  of  them.  And  we  continued  on  our  way 
until  we  arrived  at  the  place  where  was  the  boat,  when  they  put  us  into  it;  and  it 
was  the  boat  in  which  we  had  crossed  over  the  preceding  evening.  The  boat- 
man rowed  with  us  until  he  had  conveyed  us  to  the  opposite  bank,  and  they  landed 
us.  But  we  had  scarcely  seated  ourselves  on  the  bank,  when  a  troop  of  horsemen 
came  and  surrounded  us  on  every  side ;  whereupon  the  men  who  were  with  us 
sprang  up  in  haste  like  eagles,  and  the  boat  returned  to  them,  and  they  embarked 
in  it,  and  it  proceeded  with  them  over  the  river,  while  I  remained  with  Ali  the  son 
of  Becar  and  Shemselnihar,  upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  we  being  unable  either  to 
move  or  to  remain  at  rest.  The  horsemen  siiid  to  us.  Whence  are  ye  ?  And  we  were 
perplexed  for  the  answer;  and  I  said  to  them,  Verily  those  whom  ye  beheld  with  us 
we  know  not:  but  we  saw  them  here ;  and  as  to  ourselves,  we  are  singers,  and  they 
desired  to  take  us  to  sing  to  them,  and  we  escaped  not  from  them  save  by  stratagem 
and  soft  words:  therefore  liberate  us  on  this  occasion,  since  ye  have  witnessed  their 
conduct.  The  horsemen,  howeA'er,  looked  towards  Shemselnihar  and  Ali  the  son 
of  Becar,  and  said  to  me.  Thou  hast  not  spoken  truth  :  if  thou  be  a  person  of  vera- 
city inform  us  who  ye  are,  and  whence  ye  are,  and  in  which  of  the  quarters  of  the 
city  ye  reside.  And  I  knew  not  what  to  say:  but  Shemselnihar  arose  and  ap- 
proached the  chief  of  the  horsemen,  and  spoke  to  him  privately ;  whereupon  ho  de- 
scended from  his  horse,  and  mounted  her  upon  it,  and  taking  the  bridle  in  his  hand, 
led  her  along;  and  in  like  manner  he  did  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  to  me  also. 
The  chief  of  the  horsemen  then  proceeded  with  us  to  a  place  on  the  bank  of  the 
river,  and  called  out  in  his  foreign  language,  upon  which  there  approached  him  a 
number  of  men,  and  he  embarked  us  on  board  a  boat,  his  companions  embarking  in 
another  boat,  and  they  rowed  us  on  until  we  arrived  at  the  palace  of  the  Caliph, 
while  we  suffered  death  from  the  excess  of  our  fear.  [Shemselnihar  having  there 
landed,]  we  proceeded  until  we  came  to  the  place  from  which  there  was  a  way  lead- 
ing to  our  quarter,  and  there  we  landed,  and  we  walked  on,  with  a  party  of  the 
horsemen  cheering  us  by  their  company,  till  we  entered  the  house  [of  Ali  the  son 
of  Becar],  when  the  horsemen  who  were  with  us  bade  us  farewell,  and  went  their 
way. 

As  to  ourselves,  we  entered  the  house,  and  were  unable  to  move  from  our  place, 
not  knowing  morning  from  evening,  and  we  continued  thus  until  the  morning  came. 
And  at  the  close  of  the  day,  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  fell  down  in  a  fit,  and  the  women 
and  the  men  wept  over  him,  as  he  lay  prostrate  and  motionless:  and  some  persona  ' 
of  his  family  came  to  me,  and  said,  Tell  us  what  hath  happened  to  our  son,  and  ac- 
quaint us  with  the  cause  of  the  state  in  which  he  is.  I  replied,  0  people,  hear  my 
words,  and  do  nothing  unpleasant  to  me  ;  but  be  patient,  and  he  will  recover,  and  will 
acquaint  you  himself  with  his  story.  I  then  urged  them,  and  impressed  them  with  the 
fear  of  occasioning  what  would  disgrace  me  with  them  ;  and  while  we  were  thus  talk- 
ing, lo,  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  moved  in  his  bed,  and  his  family  rejoiced,  and  the  people 
dispersed  from  him,  and  his  family  forbade  me  from  quitting  him.  They  sprinkled 
some  rose-water  upon  his  face,  and  when  he  recovered,  and  scented  the  air,  they 
began  to  ask  him  respecting  his  state,  and  he  commenced  acquainting  them  ;  but 


270  ALI   THE    SON   OF    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

his  tono;ue  would  not  return  an  answer  quickly.  After  this,  he  made  a  sign  to  them 
that  they  should  give  me  liberty  to  repair  to  my  abode. 

Accordingly,  they  suffered  me  to  go,  and  I  went  forth,  scarcely  believing  in  my 
escape,  and  proceeded  to  my  house  between  two  men,  until  I  arrived  and  went  in  to 
my  family  ;  and  when  they  beheld  me  in  that  state,  they  slapped  their  faces  ;  but  I 
made  a  sign  to  them  with  my  hand  that  they  should  be  silent,  and  they  were  silent. 
Then  the  two  men  went  their  way ;  and  I  rolled  about  in  my  bed  the  rest  of  the 
night,  and  awoke  not  till  the  midhour  between  sunrise  and  noon,  when  I  found  my 
family  surrounding  me,  and  saying,  Who  hath  brought  misfortune  upon  thee,  and 
by  his  wickedness  smitten  thee?  And  I  said  to  them,  Bring  me  some  wine.  So 
they  brought  it,  and  I  drank  of  it  until  I  was  satisfied,  and  then  said  to  them.  There 
hath  happened  what  hath  happened.  And  they  went  their  way.  And  after  this  I 
excused  myself  to  my  companions,  and  inquired  of  them  respecting  the  things  that 
had  gone  from  my  house,  asking  if  any  of  the  property  had  returned.  They 
answered,  A  portion  hath  returned  ;  fur  a  man  came  and  threw  it  down  within  the 
door  of  the  house,  and  we  saw  him  not.  So  I  comforted  myself,  and  remained  in 
my  house  two  days  unable  to  rise  from  my  place  ;  after  which  I  fortified  myself  and 
walked  to  the  bath,  with  my  heart  troubled  respecting  the  son  of  Becar,  and  Shem- 
eelnihar,  having  heard  no  tidings  of  them  during  that  period,  and  having  been  un- 
able to  go  to  the  house  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  unable  to  rest  in  my  place 
through  my  fear  for  myself.  I  then  repented  before  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !) 
of  the  actions  that  had  been  committed  by  me,  and  praised  Ilim  for  my  safety. 

And  after  a  while,  my  mind  suggested  to  me  to  repair  to  that  place,  and  to  return 
immediately  ;  and  when  I  was  about  to  go,  I  beheld  a  woman  standing,  and  looked 
attentively  at  her,  and  lo,  she  was  the  slave-girl  of  Shemselnihar ;  and  when  I  knew 
her,  I  went  on,  and  hastened  in  my  pace  ;  but  she  followed  me,  and  I  was  alarmed 
at  her:  and  every  time  that  I  looked  at  her,  fear  of  her  overcame  me,  while  she  con- 
tinued saying.  Stop,  that  I  may  tell  thee  something.  I,  however,  paid  no  regard  to 
her,  and  stopped  not  until  I  came  to  a  mosque  in  a  place  where  there  were  no 
people;  whereupon  she  said  to  me.  Enter  this  mosque  that  1  may  say  a  word  to 
thee,  and  fear  nothing.  And  she  conjured  me;  so  I  entered  the  mosque,  and  she 
entered  after  me ;  and  I  performed  the  appointed  prayers,  after  which  I  approached 
her,  sighing,  and  said  to  her,  What  dost  thou  desire  ?  And  she  asked  me  respecting 
my  state,  and  I  told  her  what  had  happened  to  me  and  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and 
said  to  her,  What  is  thy  story?  She  answered.  Know  that  when  I  saw  that  the  men 
had  broken  open  the  door  of  thy  house,  and  entered,  I  feared  them,  apprehending 
that  they  were  from  the  Caliph,  and  that  they  would  take  me  and  my  mistress,  and 
we  should  perish  immediately;  so  I  fled  over  the  terraces,  together  with  the  two 
maids,  and  we  cast  ourselves  down  from  a  high  place  among  a  party  of  people,  and 
fled  thence  until  we  arrived  at  the  palace  of  the  Caliph  in  a  most  ignominious  plight. 
We  kept  our  affair  secret,  and  remained  in  a  state  of  torture  as  on  hot  embers  until 
the  next  night  became  dark,  when  I  opened  the  river-g.ite,  and  summoned  the  boat- 
man who  conveyed  us  away  on  the  former  night,  and  said  to  him,  AVe  know  not 
what  is  become  of  my  mistress ;  therefore  take  me  in  the  boat  that  I  may  search  for 
her  upon  the  river;  perhaps  I  may  obtain  some  tidings  of  her.  So  he  conveyed  me 
in  the  boat,  and  proceeded  with  me  along  the  river  until  midnight,  when  I  saw  a 
boat  approaching  the  gate,  with  a  man  rowing  in  it,  and  other  men,  and  a  wcunan 
lying  prostrate  among  them  ;  and  the  boatman  continued  rowing  on  until  he  arrived 
at  the  shore  ;  and  when  the  woman  landed,  I  looked  attentively  at  her,  and  lo,  she 
was  Shemselnihar.  I  therefore  landed  and  went  to  her,  stupified  with  joy  at  behold- 
ing her  after  I  had  despaired  of  seeing  her  again  :  and  when  I  came  before  her,  she 
ordered  me  to  give  to  the  man  who  had  brought  her  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  Then 
I  and  the  two  maids  carried  her  and  laid  her  upon  her  bed,  and  she  continued  during 
the  rest  of  that  night  in  a  troubled  state;  and  when  the  morning  came,  she  forbade 
the  female  slaves  and  eunuchs  to  come  in  to  her  or  to  approach  her  that  day.     But 


ALT   THE    SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  271 

on  the  following  day  slie  recovered,  and  I  found  her  as  though  she  had  come  forth 
from  a  burial-ground;  so  I  sprinkled  some  rose-water  upon  her  face,  and  changed 
her  clothes,  and  washed  her  hands  and  her  feet,  and  ceased  not  to  persuade  her  until 
I  excited  in  her  a  desire  for  some  food:  and  I  gave  her  some  wine  to  drink,  though 
she  had  no  appetite  for  it. 

And  when  she  took  the  air,  and  strength  returned  to  her,  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mis- 
tress, have  a  regard  for  thyself,  for  thou  hast  suffered  diflBculties  enough,  and  hast 
been  at  the  point  of  destruction.  But  she  replied,  0  good  slave-girl,  death  were 
easier  to  me  than  that  which  hath  befallen  me :  for  it  seemed  that  I  should  be  killed, 
and  that  no  stratagem  could  save  me  ;  because  the  robbers,  when  they  took  us  from 
the  house  of  the  jeweller,  asked  us  and  said.  Who  art  thou,  and  what  is  thy  con- 
dition ? — but  I  answered,  I  am  a  singing-girl: — and  they  believed  me:  then  they 
asked  AH  the  son  of  Becar  respecting  himself,  and  said  to  him,  Who  art  thou,  and 
what  is  thy  condition? — and  he  answered,  I  am  of  the  common  people.  And  they 
took  us,  and  we  proceeded  with  them  until  they  brought  us  to  their  abode,  and  we 
hastened  with  them,  through  the  excess  of  our  fear;  and  when  they  had  rested  with 
us  at  their  dwelling,  they  looked  at  me,  and,  seeing  the  apparel  and  necklaces  and 
jewels  with  which  I  was  decked,  they  disbelieved  my  assertion,  and  said.  These 
necklaces  belong  not  to  one  of  the  female  singers.  They  then  said  to  me.  Be  ve- 
racious to  us,  and  tell  us  the  truth.  What  is  thy  history? — But  I  returned  them  no 
answer,  saying  within  myself,  Now  will  they  kill  me  for  the  ornaments  and  apparel 
that  are  upon  me: — and  I  uttered  not  a  word.  And  they  looked  towards  Ali  the 
son  of  Becar,  and  said  to  him.  And  whence  art  thou  ;  for  thine  appearance  is  not 
that  of  the  common  people?  But  he  was  silent.  We  concealed  our  aff\xir,  and 
wept.  And  God  inclined  the  hearts  of  the  robbers  towards  us ;  and  they  said  to 
us,  Who  is  the  owner  of  the  house  in  which  ye  were?  We  answered  them.  Its 
owner  is  such  a  one,  the  jeweller.  And  one  of  them  said,  I  know  him  well,  and  I 
know  that  he  is  residing  in  his  other  house,  and  I  will  take  upon  myself  to  bring 
him  to  you  immediately.  And  they  agreed  together  to  put  me  in  a  place  by  myself, 
and  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  in  a  place  by  himself,  and  said  to  us.  Rest  ye,  and  fear  not 
that  your  affair  will  be  revealed,  for  ye  are  secure  from  us.  Then  their  companion 
went  to  the  jeweller,  and  brought  him,  and  he  revealed  our  case  to  them,  and  we 
went  in  to  him;  after  which,  one  of  the  men  provided  for  us  a  boat,  and  they  placed 
us  in  it,  and  crossed  over  with  us  to  the  opposite  bank,  and  having  landed  us  there, 
departed.  And  a  troop  of  horse,  of  the  patrol,  came  and  said,  Who  are  ye?  So  I 
spoke  with  the  chief  of  the  patrol,  and  said  to  him,  I  am  Shemselnihar,  the  concubine 
of  the  Caliph  ;  I  made  myself  merry  with  wine,  and  went  forth  to  visit  some  of  my 
acquaintances  among  the  wives  of  the  Viziers,  and  the  robbers  came  upon  me,  and 
took  me,  and  brought  me  to  this  place,  and  when  they  beheld  you  they  fled  ;  and  I 
am  able  to  requite  thee.  And  when  the  chief  of  the  horsemen  heard  my  words,  he 
knew  me,  and,  descending  from  his  horse,  mounted  me  upon  it,  and  in  like  manner 
he  did  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  and  to  the  jeweller;  and  in  my  heart  now  burneth  a 
flame  of  fire  on  their  account,  especially  for  the  jeweller,  the  compnnion  of  the  son 
of  Becar;  repair,  therefore,  unto  him,  and  salute  him,  and  inquire  of  him  respecting 
AH  the  son  of  Becar. 

I  blamed  her  (said  the  slave-girl)  for  what  she  bad  done,  and  cautioned  her,  spy- 
ing to  her,  0  my  mistress,  fear  for  thyself: — but  she  cried  out  at  me,  and  was  angry 
at  my  words.  I  then  arose  and  departed  from  her,  and  came  unto  thee,  but  found 
thee  not ;  and  I  feared  to  go  to  the  son  of  Becar ;  so  I  stood  looking  out  for  thee, 
that  I  might  ask  thee  respecting  him,  and  know  in  what  state  he  is.  And  I  beg  of 
thv  goodness  that  thou  wilt  receive  from  me  some  money:  for  probably  thou  bor- 
rowedst  some  things  of  thy  friends,  and  thou  hast  lost  them,  and  it  is  necessary  that 
thou  make  a  compensation  to  them  for  such  of  their  things  as  have  been  lost  in  thy 
nouse. — So  I  replied,  says  the  jeweller,  I  hear  and  obey.  I  then  walked  with  her 
until  we  came  near  to  my  house,  when  she  said  to  me,  Stop  here  until  I  return  to 


272  ALI   THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

thee.  And  she  departed,  and  returned  bringing  the  money,  and  gave  it  to  me,  saying, 
0  my  master,  in  what  place  shall  we  meet  thee?  I  answered  her,  I  will  go  to  my 
house  immediataly,  and  will  endure  hardship  fur  thy  sake,  and  devise  some  means 
of  procuring  thee  access  to  him  ;  for  access  to  him  is  difficult  at  the  present  time. 

She  then  bade  me  farewell,  and  departed,  and  I  carried  the  money  to  my  abode, 
and  counting  it,  found  it  to  be  five  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  I  gave  some  of  it  to 
my  family,  and  to  every  one  who  had  anything  in  my  possession  I  gave  a  compen- 
sation. After  this  I  took  my  young  men,  and  repaired  to  the  house  from  which  the 
things  had  been  lost,  and  brought  the  carpenters  and  the  builders,  and  they  restored 
it  to  its  former  state ;  and  I  placed  my  female  slave  in  it,  and  forgot  what  had  hap- 
pened to  me.  I  then  went  to  the  house  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar,  and  when  I  arrived 
there,  his  slaves  accosted  me,  and  one  of  them  said  to  me,  The  slaves  of  our  master 
have  been  seeking  thee  night  and  day,  and  he  hath  promised  them  that  whosoever 
of  them  bringeth  thee  to  him  he  will  emancipate  him  ;  so  they  are  searching  for 
thee,  but  know  not  where  thou  art.  Vigour  hath  returned  to  my  master;  but  he 
recovereth  and  relapseth  frequently:  and  when  he  recovereth,  he  mentioneth  thee, 
and  saith.  Ye  must  bring  him  unto  me  for  a  moment,  and  he  shall  return  and  go 
his  way. — So  I  went  with  the  young  man  to  his  master,  and  found  him  unable  to 
speak  :  and  when  I  beheld  him,  I  seated  myself  at  his  head,  and  he  opened  his  eyes, 
and,  seeing  me,  he  wept,  and  said  to  me,  Thou  art  welcome.  I  then  raised  him,  and 
seated  him,  and  pressed  him  to  my  bosom  ;  and  he  said  to  me,  Know,  0  my  brother, 
that  since  I  laid  myself  down  I  have  not  sat  up  until  now;  and  praise  be  to  God  for 
my  beholding  thee!  —  I  continued  raising  him,  says  the  jeweller,  until  I  placed  hira 
upon  his  feet,  and  made  him  walk  some  paces,  and  changed  his  clothes,  and  he 
drank  some  wine  ;  and  when  I  saw  in  him  signs  of  vigour,  I  related  to  him  what 
had  happened  with  the  slave-girl ;  no  one  else  hearing  me  ;  after  which  I  said  to 
him.  Brace  up  thy  nerves,  for  I  know  what  thou  sufferest.  And  he  smiled,  and  I 
said  to  him.  Thou  wilt  experience  nothing  but  what  will  rejoice  thee  and  cure  thee. 
Then  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  gave  orders  to  bring  a  repast;  and  they  brought  it;  and 
he  made  a  sign  to  his  young  men,  whereupon  they  dispersed ;  and  he  said  to  me,  0 
my  brother,  hast  thou  seen  what  hath  befallen  us?  And  he  excused  himself  to  me, 
and  asked  me  how  I  had  been  during  the  late  period.  So  I  acquainted  him  with  all 
that  had  happened  to  me  from  first  to  last;  and  he  wondered,  and  said  to  the  servants, 
Bring  me  such  and  such  things.  And  they  brought  him  costly  furniture,  and  articles 
of  gold  and  silver,  more  than  I  had  lost,  and  gave  to  me  all  of  them  ;  and  I  sent  them' 
to  my  house,  and  remained  with  him  the  next  night.  And  when  the  morning  broke, 
he  said  to  me,  Know  that  to  everything  there  is  an  end  ;  and  the  end  of  love  is  death 
or  union  ;  and  I  am  nearer  unto  death  :  would  that  I  had  died,  then,  before  that 
which  hath  happened  to  me  !  Had  not  God  been  propitious  to  us,  we  had  been  dis- 
graced ;  and  I  know  not  what  will  effect  my  deliverance  from  my  present  state. 
Were  it  not  for  my  fear  of  God,  I  would  hasten  my  own  destruction.  And  know, 
0  my  brother,  that  I  am  like  the  bird  in  the  cage,  and  that  my  life  is  expiring  in 
consequence  of  my  distresses;  but  it  hath  a  known  period,  and  a  decr63d  end. — 
And  he  poured  forth  his  tears ;  and  I  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  know  that  I  pur- 
pose repairing  to  my  house ;  for  perhaps  the  slave^girl  will  return  to  me  with  news. 
He  replied.  There  will  be  no  harm  in  thy  doing  so ;  but  return  quickly  to  acquaint 
me. 

I  therefore  took  leave  of  him,  and  departed  to  my  house  ;  and  I  had  scarcely  sat 
down  when  I  beheld  the  slave-girl  approaching,  weeping  and  wailing:  and  I  said  to 
her,  What  is  the  cause  of  this?  —  0  my  master,  she  answered,  know  that  an  event 
hath  happened  to  us  from  which  we  are  in  fear ;  for  when  I  went  away  from  thee 
yesterday,  I  found  my  mistress  incensed  against  one  of  the  two  maids  who  were  with 
us  that  night,  and  she  gave  orders  to  beat  her;  and  she  feared  her  mistress  and  fled, 
and  one  of  the  officers  charged  to  keep  the  door,  mot  her,  and  took  her,  and  desire4 
to  send  her  back  to  her  mistress.     But  she  made  a  disclosure  to  him,  and  he  coaxed 


ALI  THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR.  273 

Ler,  and  desired  her  to  make  known  her  case,  upon  which  she  acquainted  him  with 
our  proceedings ;  and  the  news  reached  the  Caliph,  and  immediately  he  gave  orders 
to  remove  my  mistress  Shemselnihar  and  all  her  property  to  his  own  palace,  and 
appointed  twenty  eunuchs  to  guard  her.  I  have  not  yet  had  an  interview  with  her, 
nor  acquainted  her  with  the  cause ;  but  I  suspect  it  is  on  that  account,  and  therefore 
am  in  fear  for  myself,  and  am  perplexed,  0  my  master,  not  knowing  what  stratagem 
to  employ  in  my  affiiir,  and  hers,  and  she  hath  no  one  more  faithful  in  keeping  a 
secret  than  myself  Go  thou,  therefore,  0  my  master  (she  continued),  to  Ali  the  son 
of  Becar,  quickly,  and  acquaint  him  with  this,  in  order  that  he  may  be  prepared ; 
and  if  the  aflfiiir  be  exposed,  we  will  contrive  some  means  for  our  own  escape. — 
Upon  this,  says  the  jeweller,  excessive  anxiety  overcame  me,  and  the  universe  became 
dark  before  my  face  at  the  words  of  the  slave-girl.  She  proposed  her  departure,  and 
I  said  to  her.  What  is  thy  advice?  It  is  my  advice,  she  answered,  that  thou  hasten 
to  Ali  the  son  of  Bec^.r,  if  he  be  thy  friend,  and  thou  desire  his  escape ;  thine  be  it  to 
communicate  this  news  to  him  quickly ;  and  be  it  mine,  to  apply  myself  to  learn 
further  news.     She  then  bade  me  farewell,  and  went  forth. 

And  when  the  slave-girl  had  gone  away,  I  arose  and  went  forth  after  her,  and 
repaired  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar.  I  found  him  holding  forth  to  himself  expectations 
of  union,  and  soothing  himself  with  impossibilities  ;  and  when  he  saw  that  I  had 
returned  to  him  quickly,  he  said  to  me,  I  see  thee  to  have  come  back  to  me  imme- 
diately. I  replied,  Cease  to  indulge  thine  attachment  and  to  promise  thyself  success, 
and  abstain  from  thus  busying  thy  mind  ;  for  an  event  hath  occurred  that  may 
occasion  the  loss  of  thy  life  and  thy  property.  And  when  he  heard  these  words,  his 
condition  became  changed,  and  he  was  agitated,  and  said,  0  my  brother,  acquaint 
me  with  that  which  hath  happened.  —  0  my  master,  I  replied,  know  that  such  and 
such  things  have  happened,  and  if  thou  remain  in  this  thy  house  till  the  close  of  the 
day,  thou  wilt  inevitably  perish.  And  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  was  confounded,  and  his 
soul  almost  quitted  his  body,  and  he  exclaimed.  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily 
to  Him  we  return  !  —  and  said.  What  shall  I  do,  0  my  brother;  and  M'hat  is  thy 
advice  ?  I  answered.  My  advice  is,  that  thou  take  with  thee  as  much  of  thy  property 
as  thou  canst,  and  of  thy  young  men  such  as  thou  confidest  in,  and  that  thou  repair 
with  us  to  another  country  before  this  day  shall  have  expired.  And  he  said  to  me. 
I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  arose,  perplexed  at  his  case,  now  walking  and  now  fall- 
ing down,  and  took  what  he  could,  and  made  an  excuse  to  his  family,  charging  them 
with  such  orders  as  he  desired,  and  taking  with  him  three  loaded  camels,  mounted 
his  horse.  I  also  had  done  the  same,  and  we  went  forth  privately,  and  stopped  not 
in  our  journey  during  the  rest  of  the  day  and  the  next  night,  until  the  close  of  the 
night,  when  we  put  down  our  loads,  and  tied  up  our  camels'  feet,  and  slept:  and, 
being  overcome  by  fatigue,  we  were  neglectful  of  ourselves ;  and  lo,  robbers  sur- 
rounded us,  and  took  all  that  we  had  with  us,  and  slew  the  young  men  on  their 
attempting  to  defend  us.  They  then  left  us  in  our  place,  in  a  miserable  condition, 
after  they  had  taken  away  the  property ;  and  when  we  had  arisen,  we  proceeded 
until  morning,  and  arrived  at  a  town,  and,  entering  it,  repaired  to  its  mosque,  stripped 
of  our  clothing. 

We  sat  in  one  side  of  the  mosque  the  remainder  of  the  day,  and  passed  the  next 
night  in  it,  without  food  or  drink  ;  and  at  daybreak  we  performed  the  morning- 
prayers,  and  sat  down  again  ;  and  lo,  a  man  entered,  and  saluted  us,  and,  after 
performing  the  prayers,  looked  towards  us  and  said,  0  men,  are  ye  strangers  ?  We 
answered.  Yes:  robbers  have  intercepted  us  and  stripped  us,  and  we  entered  this 
town,  but  know  not  in  it  any  one  with  whom  to  lodge.  So  the  man  said  to  us,  Will 
ye  arise  and  accompany  me  to  my  house  ?  I  said  therefore  to  Ali  the  son  of  Becar, 
Arise  and  let  us  go  with  him,  and  save  ourselves  from  two  troubles :  the  first  is,  that 
we  fear  some  one  may  come  in  to  us  who  knoweth  us  in  this  mosque,  and  so  we  may 
hf,  disgraced  ;  and  the  second,  that  we  are  strangers,  and  have  no  place  in  which  to 
lodge.  And  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  replied.  Do  what  thou  wilt.  The  man  then  said 
18 


274  ALI   THE   SON   OF   BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 

to  us  a  second  time,  0  poor  men,  comply  with  my  desire,  and  come  with  me  to  my 
abode.  I  therefore  replied,  We  hear  and  obey.  And  the  man  took  off  and  gave  to 
us  part  of  his  own  clothing,  and  clad  us,  and  spoke  kindly  to  us ;  and  we  arose  and 
went  with  him  to  his  house  ;  and  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  there  came  forth  to  us 
a  young  eunuch,  who  opened  the  door  ;  and  the  man,  the  owner  of  the  house,  entered, 
and  we  entered  after  him.  He  then  gave  orders  to  bring  a  wrapper,  containing 
clothes,  and  pieces  of  muslin  for  turbans,  and  clad  us  with  two  suits,  and  gave  us 
two  pieces  of  muslin,  and  we  turbaned  ourselves,  and  sat  down  ;  and  lo,  a  slave-girl 
approached  us  Avith  a  table,  and  placed  it  before  us,  and  we  ate  a  little ;  after  which, 
the  table  was  removed,  and  we  remained  with  him  until  night. 

And  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  sighed,  and  said  to  me,  0  my  brother,  know  that  I  am 
inevitably  perishing,  and  I  desire  to  give  thee  a  charge,  which  is  this  :  that  when 
thou  seest  me  to  have  died,  thou  repair  to  my  mother,  and  acquaint  her,  that  she 
may  come  to  this  place  for  the  sake  of  receiving  the  visits  of  condolence  for  me,  and 
be  present  at  the  washing  of  my  corpse  ;  and  exhort  her  to  bear  my  loss  with 
patience.  He  then  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  heard  a  damsel 
singing  at  a  distance,  and  reciting  verses  ;  and  he  listened  to  her  and  heard  her 
voice ;  one  moment  becoming  insensible,  and  another  recovering ;  and  another, 
weeping  in  his  anguish  and  grief  at  that  which  had  befallen  him  ;  and  he  heard  the 
damsel  sing  with  charming  modulations. 

And  as  soon  as  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  had  heard  her  song,  he  uttered  a  groan,  and 
his  soul  quitted  his  body. 

When  I  saw  that  he  was  dead,  says  the  jeweller,  I  gave  a  charge  respecting  him 
to  the  master  of  the  house,  and  said  to  him.  Know  that  I  am  going  to  Bagdad  to 
acquaint  his  mother  and  his  other  relations,  that  they  may  come  to  prepare  his 
funeral.  I  then  repaired  to  Bagdad,  and  entered  my  house,  and  changed  my  clothes ; 
after  which  I  went  to  the  house  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar.  And  when  his  young  men 
saw  me,  they  came  to  me  and  inquired  of  me  respecting  him  ;  and  I  asked  them  to 
beg  permission  for  me  to  have  an  interview  with  his  mother ;  and  she  gave  me  per- 
mission. So  I  entered  and  saluted  her,  and  said.  Verily,  when  God  decreeth  an 
event,  there  is  no  escaping  from  it;  and  a  soul  cannot  depart  but  by  the  permission 
of  God,  according  to  the  decree  which  prescribeth  its  term.  And  from  these  words 
the  mother  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  inferred  that  her  son  had'  died  ;  and  she  wept 
violently,  and  then  said  to  me.  By  Allah  I  conjure  thee  to  tell  me:  hath  the  soul  of 
my  son  been  taken?  But  I  could  not  return  her  an  answer,  through  the  excess  of 
my  grief;  and  when  she  saw  me  in  this  state,  she  was  suffocated  with  weeping,  and 
fell  upon  the  floor  in  a  fit ;  and  as  soon  as  she  recovered,  she  said,  How  did  it  happen 
to  my  son?  I  replied.  May  God  abundantly  compensate  thee  for  his  loss!  —  and 
then  acquainted  her  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him,  from  beginning  to  end. 
She  said.  Did  he  give  thee  any  charge?  And  I  answered  her.  Yes:  — and  informed 
her  of  that  with  which  he  had  charged  me,  and  said  to  her.  Hasten  to  perform  his 
funeral.  But  on  hearing  my  words  she  fell  down  again  in  a  swoon:  and  when  she 
recovered,  she  resolved  to  do  as  I  had  charged  her. 

I  then  returned  to  my  house,  thinking,  on  my  way,  upon  the  charms  of  his  youth  ; 
and  while  I  was  thus  proceeding,  lo,  a  woman  laid  hold  upon  my  hand,  and,  look- 
ing at  her,  I  saw  her  to  be  the  slave-girl  who  used  to  come  from  Shemselnihar. 
Despondency  had  overcome  her:  and  when  we  recognised  each  other,  we  wept  to- 
gether until  we  arrived  at  the  house,  when  I  said  to  her,  Hast  thou  become  ac- 
quainted with  the  case  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar?  She  answered,  No,  by  Allah. 
And  I  related  to  her  what  had  happened  to  him,  and  then  said  to  her.  And  in  what 
state  is  thy  mistress?  —  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  answered,  would  not  listen 
to  what  any  one  said  against  her;  in  consequence  of  the  violence  of  his  love  for 
her;  but  regarded  all  her  actions  in  a  favouraldo  light,  and  said  to  her,  O  Shemsel- 
nihar, thou  art  dear  in  my  estimation,  and  I  will  endure  with  thee  in  spite  of  thine 
enemies.     He  then  gave  orders  to  furnisli  a  gilded  apartment,  and  an  elegant  closet ; 


ALI    THE   SON    OF    BECAR,    AND    SHEMSELNIHAR. 


275 


and  she  became  in  high  favour  -with  him  in  consequence  of  that  event.  And  it 
happened  that  he  was  sitting  to  take  his  usual  beverage,  and  the  concubines  were 
before  him,  and  he  ordered  them  to  sit  in  their  places,  and  seated  Shemselnihar  by 
his  side  (but  her  patience  had  failed,  and  her.  disorder  had  increased) ;  and  he  then 
commanded  one  of  the  female  slaves  to  sing  ;  so  she  took  the  lute  and  struck  its 
chords  and  sung.     And   when   Shemselnihar  heard  that  slave-girl's  song,  she  was 


Lady  playing  on  the  Kanoon. 


unable  to  keep  her  seat,  and  fell  down  in  a  fit.  The  Caliph  threw  down  the  cup,  and 
drew  her  towards  him,  and  cried  out,  and  the  female  slaves  raised  a  clamour,  and 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  turning  her  over,  found  that  she  was  dead.  He  lamented 
for  her  death,  and  gave  orders  to  break  all  the  dulcimers,  and  other  instruments  of 
music  that  were  there,  and  removed  her  corpse  to  a  closet,  where  he  remained  with 
it  for  the  rest  of  the  night;  and  when  the  day  broke,  he  made  preparations  for  her 
funeral,  and  commanded  to  wash  and  shroud  and  bury  her,  and  mourned  for  her 
greatly,  asking  no  question  respecting  her  condition,  or  her  past  conduct. 

The  slave-girl  then  said,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  acquaint  me  with  the 
period  when  the  funeral-procession  of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  is  to  set  forth,  and  that 
thou  let  me  be  present  at  his  burial.  So  I  replied.  As  for  myself,  in  whatsoever 
place  thou  desirest,  thou  shalt  find  me  ;  but  as  for  thee,  who  can  obtain  access  to 
thee  in  the  place  where  thou  residest?  She  said,  however.  The  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  when  Shemselnihar  died,  emancipated  her  female  slaves  on  the  same  day, 
and  I  am  one  of  them,  and  we  are  staying  at  her  tomb,  in  such  a  place.  I  therefore 
arose  and  went  with  her,  and,  arriving  at  the  burial-ground,  visited  the  tomb  of 
Shemselnihar,  and  then  went  my  way,  and  remained  waiting  for  the  funeral-pro- 
cession of  Ali  the  son  of  Becar  until  it  arrived,  when  the  people  of  Bagdad  went 
forth  to  join  it,  and  I  went  with  them  :  and  I  found  the  slave-girl  among  the  women, 
and  she  was  the  most  violent  of  them  in  lamentation:  and  I  never  witnessed  in 
Bagdad  a  greater  funeral-procession  than  this.  We  pursued  our  way,  densely  crowd- 
ing together,  until  we  came  to  his  tomb,  and  buried  him ;  and  I  have  not  discon- 
tinued my  visits  to  his  tomb,  nor  to  that  of  Shemselnihar. 


276  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN, 


CHAPTER  X. 

Commencing  with  the  Hundred  and  Seventieth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the  Two  hundred 
and  Forty-ninth. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN   AND   THE   PRINCESS 
BADOURA. 

There  was,  in  ancient  times,  a  King  named  Shah-Zaman,  possessing  numerous 
troops  and  attendants  and  guards.  He  dwelt  in  the  Islands  of  Khaledan,  which  are 
adjacent  to  the  country  of  the  Persians;  and  had  married  four  daughters  of  Kings, 
besides  whom  he  had  among  his  female  slaves  sixty  concubines.  His  age,  however, 
was  advanced,  and  his  bones  were  wasted,  and  he  had  not  been  blessed  with  a  son  ; 
so  he  meditated  in  his  mind,  and  mourned  and  was  disquieted,  and  complained  of 
this  to  one  of  his  Viziers,  saying,  I  fear  that,  when  I  die,  my  kingdom  will  be  lost ; 
for  I  have  no  son  to  succeed  to  it  after  me.  But  the  Vizier  replied,  Perhaps  God  will 
yet  bring  to  pass  some  event:  therefore  place  thy  reliance  upon  God,  0  King,  and 
perform  the  ablution,  and  recite  the  appointed  prayers.  It  is  also  my  advice  that 
thou  give  a  banquet  and  invite  to  it  the  poor  and  the  needy,  and  let  them  eat  of  it, 
and  pray  to  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  that  He  may  bless  thee  with  a  son: 
perchance  there  may  be  among  them  a  pure  soul,  whose  prayer,  being  righteous, 
will  be  answered.  After  that  thou  wilt  probably  obtain  thy  desire. — The  King  com- 
plied with  his  advice,  and  his  wife  conceived,  and  when  she  had  completed  her 
months  she  gave  birth  to  a  male  child  like  the  unclouded  full  moon  in  the  dark 
night:  so  he  named  him  Camaralzaman.  He  rejoiced  at  his  birth  with  the  utmost 
joy,  and  they  decorated  the  city  for  seven  days:  the  drums  were  beaten,  and  the 
messengers  imparted  the  glad  tidings ;  the  nurses  and  the  midwives  carried  him, 
and  he  was  reared  with  magnificence  and  fondness  until  he  attained  the  age  of 
fifteen  years. 

He  was  of  surpassing  beauty  and  comeliness,  and  justness  of  stature  and  form, 
and  his  father  loved  him  so  that  he  could  not  be  absent  from  him  by  night  nor  by 
day;  and  the  King  Shah-Zaman  complained  to  one  of  his  Viziers  of  the  excess  of 
his  love  for  his  son,  saying,  0  Vizier,  I  fear  for  my  son  Camaralzaman  from  the  cala- 
mities and  accidents  of  fortune,  and  desire  to  marry  him  during  my  life.  The 
Vizier  therefore  replied,  Know,  0  King,  that  marriage  is  laudable,  and  there 
will  be  no  harm  in  thy  marrying  thy  son  during  thy  life.  So  upon  this  the  King 
Shah-Zaman  said,  Bring  hither  to  me  my  son  Camaralzaman.  And  he  came  and 
hung  down  his  head  towards  the  ground  in  modesty  before  his  father.  His  father 
then  said  to  him,  0  Camaralzaman,  know  that  I  desire  to  marry  thee,  and  to  rejoice 
in  thee  during  my  life.  But  he  replied.  Know,  O  my  father,  that  I  have  no  need  of 
marriage,  and  my  soul  inclineth  not  to  women  ;  for  I  have  found  books  with  narra- 
tives of  their  fraudulence,  and  miracles  have  been  occasioned  by  their  cunning.  0 
my  father,  marriage  is  a  thing  that  I  will  never  do,  though  I  be  made  to  drink  the 
cup  of  perdition.  And  when  the  King  Shah-Zaman  heard  these  words  of  his  son, 
the  light  became  darkness  before  his  face,  and  he  was  grieved  excessively  at  the 
want  of  obedience  which  his  son  Camaralzaman  manifested  towards  him  ;  yet.  from 
the  love  that  he  bore  him,  he  repeated  not  what  he  had  said,  nor  provoked  him  to 


277 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA. 


279 


Camnralzaman  stiindiner  before  his  Father. 


anger:  on  the  contrary,  he  showed  favour  and  regard  towards  him,  and  treated  him 
with  every  kind  of  fondness  that  could  draw  affection  to  the  heart. 

Meanwliile  Camaralzaman  increas- 
ed every  day  in  beauty  and  comeli- 
ness, and  in  elegance  and  tenderness 
of  manner.  The  King  Shah-Zaman 
bore  with  him  patiently  for  a  whole 
year,  until  he  became  perfect  in 
eloquence  and  grace  ;  mankind  were 
ravished  by  his  beauty,  and  every 
zephyr  that  blew  wafted  the  praises 
of  his  loveliness  :  he  became  a  tempta- 
tion unto  lovers,  and  as  a  Paradise 
to  the  desirous  ;  sweet  in  his  speech  ; 
his  face  put  to  shame  the  full  moon  ; 
he  was  endowed  with  justness  of 
stature  and  form,  and  with  graceful 
and  engaging  manners,  resembling  a 
twig  of  the  Oriental  willow  or  an 
Indian  cane,  and  his  cheek  supplied 
the  place  of  the  anemone,  as  his  figure 
did  that  of  the  willow-branch. 

Now  when  he  had  completed  another 
year,  his  father  called  him  and  said 
to  him,  0  my  son,  wilt  thou  not  listen 
to  my  words?  And  upon  this  Ca- 
jiaralzaman  fell  down  upon  the  floor  before  his  father,  through  awe  and  shame,  and 
said  to  him,  0  my  father,  how  should  I  refuse  to  attend  to  thy  words,  when  God  hath 
commanded  me  to  obey  thee,  and  to  abstain  from  opposing  thee?  So  the  King  Shah- 
Zaraan  continued.  Know,  0  my  son,  that  I  desire  to  marry  thee  and  to  rejoice  in  thee 
during  my  life,  and  to  make  thee  Sultan  over  my  dominions  before  my  death.  But 
when  Camaralzaman  heard  these  words  of  his  father,  he  hung  down  his  head  for  a 
while  ;  after  which  he  raised  it,  and  replied,  0  my  father,  this  is  a  thing  that  I  will  never 
do,  though  I  be  made  to  drink  the  cup  of  perdition.  I  know  that  God  hath  im- 
posed on  me  the  obligation  of  yielding  obedience  unto  thee;  but  by  his  claims  upon 
thee  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  constrain  me  not  to  marry:  and  think  not  that  I  will 
marry  during  the  whole  course  of  my  life  ;  for  I  have  perused  the  books  of  the  for- 
mer and  the  later  generations,  and  know  all  the  calamities  and  misfortunes  that 
have  happened  to  them  through  the  disturbances  occasioned  by  women,  and  their 
endless  artifice,  and  the  disasters  that  have  proceeded  from  them. — And  when  the 
King  Shah-Zaman  heard  these  words  from  his  son  Camaralzaman,  and  understood 
the  reasons  which  he  gave,  he  returned  him  not  an  answer,  from  the  excess  of  his 
affection  for  him;  but  treated  him  with  increased  favours  and  consideration. 

The  assembly  broke  up  immediately  ;  and  after  it  was  dissolved,  the  King  Shah- 
Zaman  summoned  his  Vizier,  and  in  private  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  tell  me  what  I 
shall  do  in  the  affair  of  my  son  Camaralzaman  ;  for  I  consulted  thee  on  the  subject 
of  marrying  him  as  preparatory  to  making  him  Sultan,  and  thou  advisedst  me  to  dc 
so,  and  to  mention  the  matter  of  marriage  to  him  :  so  I  proposed  it  to  him,  and  he 
disobeyed  me;  acquaint  me,  therefore,  now  with  that  which  thou  seest  to  be  best. 
The  Vizier  replied.  That  which  I  advise  thee  to  do.  0  King,  is,  that  thou  have  pa- 
tience with  him  for  another  year;  and  when  thou  desirest  to  speak  to  him  after  that 
on  the  subject  of  marriage,  speak  not  to  him  privately,  but  address  him  on  a  judg- 
ment-day, when  all  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  are  present,  and  all  the  troops  are  stand- 
ing before  thee.  Then,  when  all  these  are  assembled,  send  to  thy  son  Camaralza- 
man, and  summon  him  to  thy  presence ;  and  when  he  is  come,  address  him  on  the 
subject  of  marriage  in  the  presence  of  all  the  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  the  chamber- 


280  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

lains  and  lieutenants,  and  other  lords  of  the  empire,  and  the  soldiers  and  the  impetu- 
ous warriors ;  for  he  will  be  bashful  before  them,  and  will  not  be  able  to  oppose  thee 
in  their  presence. — And  when  the  King  Shah-Zaman  heard  these  words  of  his  Vizier, 
he  rejoiced  exceedingly;  he  approved  of  the  Vizier's  advice,  and  bestowed  upon  him 
a  magnificent  robe  of  honour. 

The  King  Shah-Zaman  had  patience  with  his  son  Camaralzaman  another  year:  and 
every  day  that  passed  over  him,  the  latter  increased  in  beauty  and  loveliness,  and 
in  elegance  and  consummate  grace,  until  he  had  nearly  attained  the  age  of  twenty 
years.  God  clad  him  with  the  apparel  of  comeliness,  and  crowned  him  with  the 
crown  of  perfection  ;  his  eye  was  more  enchanting  than  that  of  Lucifer  ;  and  the  play 
of  his  glance,  more  seductive  than  that  of  the  deceiver  of  Eve  :  his  cheeks  shone  with 
redness;  and  his  eyelashes  scorned  the  sharp,  piercing  sword:  the  whiteness  of 
his  forehead  resembling  the  shining  moon  ;  and  the  blackness  of  his  hair  was  like 
the  dark  night. — The  King  Shah-Zaman,  having  attended  to  the  words  of  the  Vizier, 
waited  another  year  until  a  festival-day,  when  the  King's  court  was  attended  by  all 
the  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  the  chamberlains  and  other  lords  of  the  empire,  and  the 
soldiers  and  impetuous  warriors.  lie  then  sent  for  his  son  Camaralzaman,  who 
when  he  came,  kissed  the  ground  before  him  three  times,  and  stood  before  his  father 
with  his  hands  placed  together  behind  his  back.  And  his  father  said  to  him.  Know, 
0  my  son,  that  I  have  summoned  thee  on  this  occasion,  before  the  present  assembly, 
with  all  the  troops  before  me,  for  the  purpose  of  giving  thee  a  command,  and  do  not 
thou  oppose  me  in  that  which  I  say.  It  is,  that  thou  marry  ;  for  I  desire  to  marry 
thee  to  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  Kings,  and  to  rejoice  in  thee  before  my  death. — 
But  when  Camaralzaman  heard  these  words  of  his  fether,  he  hung  down  his  head 
for  a  while  towards  the  ground  ;  and  afterwards,  raising  it  towards  his  father,  the 
madness  of  youth  affected  him,  and  the  ignorance  of  a  stripling's  age,  and  he  replied, 
As  to  myself,  I  will  never  marry,  though  I  be  made  to  drink  the  cup  of  perdition: 
and  iis  to  thee,  thou  art  a  man  of  great  age  and  of  little  sense.  Ilast  thou  not  asked 
me  before  this  day,  twice  before  the  present  occasion,  on  the  subject  of  marriage, 
and  I  would  not  consent  to  the  proposal? — Then  Camaralzaman  unclasped  his  hands 
from  behind  his  back,  and  tucked  up  his  sleeves  from  his  arms,  before  his  father,  in 
his  anger. 

His  father  was  abashed  and  ashamed,  because  this  had  happened  before  the  lords 
of  his  empire,  and  the  soldiers  who  were  present  at  the  festival:  but  presently  the 
royal  energy  returned  to  him,  and  he  cried  out  at  his  son,  and  terrified  him  ;  and 
calling  to  the  mamlouks,  commanded  them  to  seize  him.  They  therefore  laid  hold 
upon  him  ;  and  he  ordered  them  to  bind  his  hands  behind  him,  and  they  did  so,  and 
led  him  forward  before  his  father.  He  hung  down  his  head  in  fear  and  timidity, 
his  face  and  his  forehead  were  bespangled  with  moisture,  and  his  shame  and  confu- 
sion were  excessive,  while  his  father  abused  him  and  reviled  him,  saying  to  him.  Wo 
to  thee,  0  base-born  and  nursling  of  impurity  !  How  couldst  thou  presume  to  make 
me  this  reply  before  my  soldiers  and  armies?  But  hitherto  no  one  hath  chastised 
thee.  Knowest  thou  not  that  this  which  thou  hast  done,  had  it  proceeded  from  any 
one  of  the  common  people,  it  had  been  disgraceful  in  him  ?  —  He  then  commanded 
the  mamlouks  to  loose  the  cords  that  bound  his  hands  behind  him,  and  to  imprison 
him  in  one  of  the  towers  of  the  castle.  The  servants,  therefore,  immediately  went 
into  the  saloon  that  was  in  the  tower,  and  swept  it,  and  wiped  its  pavement;  and 
they  placed  in  it  a  couch  for  Camaralzaman,  upon  which  they  spread  a  mattrass  and 
a  leather  covering ;  and  they  put  for  him  a  cushion,  and  a  large  lantern  and  a  can- 
dle ;  for  the  place  was  dark  in  the  day-time.  Then  the  mamlouks  conducted  Camar- 
alzaman into  this  saloon,  and  stationed  a  eunuch  at  its  door.  And  when  they  had 
done  this,  Camaralzaman  ascended  the  couch  with  broken  spirit  and  mourning  heart. 
He  had  already  blamed  himself,  and  repented  of  his  injurious  conduct  to  his  father, 
when  repentance  availed  him  not,  and  he  exclaimed.  Malediction  upon  marriage  and 
girls  and  deceitful  women  !     Would  that  I  had  attended  to  my  father's  command 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA.  281 

and  married  ;  for  if  I  had  done  so,  it  had  been  better  for  me  than  being  in  this 
prison  !  —  Thus  did  it  befall  Camaralzaman. 

Now  as  to  his  father,  he  remained  upon  his  throne  during  the  rest  of  the  day, 
until  sunset,  when  he  retired  with  the  Vizier,  and  said  to  him.  Know,  0  Vizier,  thai 
thou  hast  been  the  cause  of  all  this  which  hath  happened  between  me  and  my  son, 
by  the  advice  that  thou  gavest  me  ;  and  what  dost  thou  counsel  me  to  do  now  ? — 0 
King,  answered  the  Vizier,  leave  thy  son  in  the  prison  for  a  period  of  fifteen  days* 
then  summon  him  before  thee,  and  command  him  to  marry  ;  for  he  will  never  oppose 
thee  again.  And  the  King  received  this  advice  of  the  Vizier,  and  slept  that  night 
with  a  heart  troubled  on  account  of  his  son  ;  for  he  loved  him  excessively,  because  < 
he  had  no  son  beside  him.  The  King  Shah-Zaman  used  to  remain  without  sleep 
every  night  until  he  put  his  arm  under  the  neck  of  Camaralzaman,  and  then  he 
slept.  So  he  passed  that  night  with  a  heart  disordered  on  his  account,  and  remained 
turning  over  from  side  to  side  as  though  he  were  lying  upon  the  burning  embers  of 
hell:  uneasiness  overcame  him,  and  sleep  visited  him  not  all  that  night:  his  eyes 
constantly  pouring  forth  tears. 

But  as  to  Camaralzaman,  when  night  came,  the  eunuch  placed  before  him  the  lan- 
tern, and  lighted  the  candle,  which  he  placed  in  a  candlestick  ;  and  after  this,  he 
brought  him  some  food.  So  he  ate  a  little,  and  sat  expostulating  with  himself  for 
his  ill  manners  towards  his  father  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  saying,  Knowest  thou  not 
that  the  son  of  Adam  is  a  dependant  of  his  tongue,  and  that  the  tongue  of  a  man  is 
that  which  betrayeth  him  into  perils?  Thus  he  continued  to  expostulate  with  him- 
self, and  to  blame  himself,  until  tears  overcame  him  ;  his  aching  heart  was  tortured, 
and  he  repented  extremely  of  that  which  his  tongue  had  uttered  against  his 
father.  And  when  he  had  finished  his  repast,  he  demanded  water  to  wash  his  hands, 
and  cleansed  them  of  what  adhered  to  them  from  the  food.  He  then  performed  the 
ablution  preparatory  to  prayer,  and  recited  the  prayers  of  sunset  and  nightfall: 
after  which  he  sat  upon  the  couch  reciting  the  Koran.  He  recited  the  Chapters  of 
"  The  Cow"  and  "  The  Family  of  Emran"  and  "  Ya-Seen"  and  "  The  Compassionate" 
and  "  Blessed  be  He  in  whose  hand  is  the  Kingdom"  and  the  "  Two  Preventives," 
and  finished  by  supplication,  and  seeking  refuge  with  God.  Having  done  this,  he 
laid  himself  on  the  couch,  upon  a  mattrass  covered  with  satin,  with  two  facings,  and 
stuffed  with  ostrich-feathers;  and  when  he  desired  to  sleep  he  took  off  his  outer 
clothes  and  slept,  in  a  shirt  of  delicate  waxed  stuff,  having  upon  his  head  a  blue 
kerchief,  and  appearing  like  the  moon  in  its  fourteenth  night.  He  then  covered 
himself  with  a  sheet  of  silk,  and  slept,  "with  the  lighted  lantern  at  his  feet,  and  the 
lighted  candle  at  his  head  ;  and  he  continued  asleep  until  the  first  third  of  the  night 
had  expired,  not  knowing  the  hidden  event  that  awaited  him,  and  what  God,  who 
knoweth  all  secrets,  had  decreed  to  befall  him. 

Now  the  saloon  and  the  tower  were  ancient,  and  had  been  deserted  for  many 
years;  and  in  the  tower  was  a  Roman  well  inhabited  by  a  Fairy  of  the  posterity  of 
Eblis  the  accursed.  The  name  of  that  Fairy  was  Maimouna  the  daughter  of  Dam- 
riel,  one  of  the  celebrated  Kings  of  the  Genii.  And  when  Camaralzaman  had 
remained  asleep  until  the  first  third  of  the  night  had  passed,  this  Fairy  ascended 
from  the  Roman  well  to  repair  towards  heaven  for  the  purpose  of  listening  by 
stealth;  and  on  reaching  the  upper  part  of  the  well,  she  saw  a  light  shining  in  the 
tower,  contrary  to  what  was  usual.  She  had  resided  in  that  place  for  a  long  period 
of  years,  and  said  within  herself,  I  have  never  witnessed  anything  like  this  before. 
And  she  wondered  at  this  thing  extremely,  inferring  that  some  strange  cause  had 
occasioned  it.  She  then  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  the  light,  and  found  that  it  is- 
sued from  the  saloon :  so  she  entered  it,  and  saw  the  eunuch  sleeping  at  its  door;  and 
when  she  entered  the  saloon  she  found  a  couch  placed  there,  with  the  form  of  a  man 
sleeping  upon  it,  and  a  lighted  candle  at  its  head,  and  a  lighted  lantern  at  his  feet; 
and  the  Fairy  wondered  at  this  light.  She  advanced  towards  it  by  little  and  little, 
and,  relaxing  her  wings,  stood  over  the  couch,  and  removed  the  sheet  from  his  face, 


282  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

and  looked  at  him.  She  remained  for  an  hour  in  a  state  of  a8ton.j8hment  at  his 
beauty  and  loveliness,  and  found  that  the  light  of  his  face  surpassed  that  of  the  can- 
dle :  it  gleamed  with  splendour :  his  eyes  had  been  wantoning  like  those  of  the 
gazelle,  and  were  intensely  black ;  his  cheeks  were  brilliantly  red,  and  his  eyelids 
were  languishing;  his  eyebrows  were  arched,  and  his  odour  diffi}sed  itself  like  fra- 
grant musk.  At  the  sight  of  him  Maimouna  the  daughter  of  Damriel  extolled  the 
perfection  of  God,  and  exclaimed,  Blessed  be  Allah,  the  best  of  creators  ! — for  this 
Fairy  was  of  the  believing  Genii.  So  she  continued  a  while  gazing  at  the  face  of 
Camaralzaman,  exclaiming.  There  is  no  deity  but  God! — and  wishing,  but  without 
envy,  that  she  were  like  him  in  beauty  and  loveliness.  She  said  within  herself,  By 
Allah,  I  will  not  injure  him,  nor  suffer  any  one  to  hurt  him,  but  from  every  evil  I 
will  ransom  him ;  for  this  comely  face  deserveth  nothing  save  that  people  should 
gaze  at  it  and  extol  the  perfection  of  God  ;  but  how  could  his  fiimily  leave  him  neg- 
lected in  this  ruinous  place!  If  any  of  our  Marids  came  up  unto  him  now  they 
would  destroy  him  ! — The  Fairy  then  bent  over  him,  and  kissed  him  between  his 
eves  ;  after  which  she  let  down  the  sheet  over  his  face,  and  covered  him  with  it. 

Having  done  this,  she  spread  her  wings,  and  soared  aloft  towards  heaven.  She 
rose  from  the  precincts  of  the  saloon,  and  continued  her  upward  flight  through  the 
sky  until  she  drew  near  to  the  lowest  heaven,  when  she  heard  the  flapping  of  wings 
flving  through  the  air.  So  she  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  their  sound,  and  when 
she  approached  the  being  to  whom  they  belonged,  she  found  him  to  be  an  Afrite, 
named  Danhash,  whereupon  she  pounced  upon  him  like  a  hawk.  When  Danhash, 
therefore,  perceived  her,  and  knew  that  she  was  Maimouna,  the  daughter  of  the 
King  of  the  Genii,  he  feared  her;  the  muscles  of  his  side  quivered,  and  he  implored 
her  favour,  saying  to  her,  I  conjure  thee  by  the  Most  Great  Name,  and  by  the  most 
noble  talisman  engraved  upon  the  seal  of  Solomon,  that  thou  treat  me  with  benevo- 
lence, and  hurt  me  not!  And  when  Maimouna  heard  these  words  of  Danhash,  her 
heart  was  moved  with  tenderness  towards  him,  and  she  said  to  him.  Thou  ha'st  con- 
jured me  by  a  mighty  oath  ;  but  I  will  not  liberate  thee  until  thou  hast  informed 
me  whence  thou  art  come. — 0  mistress,  he  replied,  know  that  I  come  from  the 
further  extremity  of  the  country  of  China,  and  from  among  the  islands,  and  I  will 
acquaint  thee  with  a  wonder  that  I  have  beheld  this  night;  and  if  thou  find  my 
words  to  be  true,  do  thou  suffer  me  to  go  my  way,  and  write  me  a  document  in 
thine  own  hand  declaring  that  I  am  thine  emancipated  slave,  so  that  no  one  of  the 
bands  of- Genii  either  of  the  upper  who  fly,  or  of  the  lower  or  those  who  dive,  may 
oppose  me.  Maimouna  said  to  him,  And  what  hast  thou  seen  this  night,  O  Danhash? 
Acquaint  me,  and  tell  me  no  falsehood,  desiring  by  thy  lie  to  escape  from  my  hand  ; 
for  I  swear  by  the  inscription  engraved  upon  the  stone  of  the  seal  of  Solomon  the 
son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!),  that,  if  thy  words  be  not  true,  I  will 
pluck  out  thy  feathers  with  my  hand,  and  tear  thy  skin,  and  break  thy  bones. — 
Then  the  Afrite,  Danhash  the  son  of  Shamhourash  the  Flyer,  said  to  her,  If  my 
words  be  not  true,  do  with  me  what  thou  wilt,  O  my  mistress.  And  he  proceeded 
thus. 

I  came  forth  this  night  from  the  Interior  Islands  in  the  region  of  China,  which 
are  the  dominions  of  the  King  Gaiour,  the  monarch  of  the  Islands  and  the  Seas  and 
Seven  Palaces,  and  have  seen  a  daughter  of  that  King,  than  whom  God  hath  created 
none  in  her  age  more  beautiful.  I  know  not  how  to  describe  her  to  thee;  fur  my 
tongue  would  fail  to  do  so:  but  I  will  mention  to  thee  some  of  her  characteristics  as 
nearly  as  I  can. — As  to  her  hair,  it  is  like  the  nights  of  emigration  and  separation, 
and  as  to  her  face,  it  is  like  the  days  of  union. 

She  hath  a  nose  like  the  edge  of  a  polished  sword,  and  cheeks  like  deep-red  wine, 
or  like  anemones:  her  lips  resemble  coral  and  carnelian,  and  the  moisture  of  her 
mouth  is  more  delicious  than  the  best  of  wine,  and  would  quench  the  fire  of  the 
inflamed;  her  tongue  is  put  in  motion  by  ample  intelligence  and  a  ready  reply;  she 
hath  a  bosom  that  is  a  temptation  to  him  who  beholdeth  it  —  extolled  be  the  perfec- 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA.  283 

tion  of  Him  who  created  and  finished  it !  by  the  side  of  which  are  two  smooth  and 
round  arms ;  and  hips  connected  with  a  slender  waist,  which  tyrannize  over  me  and 
her. 

Her  other  charms  the  describer  cannot  reckon  ;  but  all  that  I  have  mentioned, 
two  delicate  feet,  the  work  of  the  protecting  and  recompensing  Creator,  support; 
and  I  wondered  how  they  could  sustain  what  was  above  them.  Other  particulars  I 
omit,  for  language  would  fail  to  describe  them,  and  no  sign  would  convey  a  just  idea 
of  them. 

The  father  of  this  damsel  (continued  Danhash)  is  a  mighty  King,  an  impetuous 
horseman,  who  crosseth  the  seas  of  the  surrounding  regions  by  night  and  day, 
dreading  not  death,  nor  fearing  the  escape  of  his  foe,  for  he  is  a  despotic  tyrant,  and 
an  oppressive  conqueror;  he  is  lord  of  numerous  armies  and  regions  and  islands 
and  cities  and  habitations.  His  name  is  the  KingGaiour,  and  he  is  monarch  of  the 
Islands  and  the  Seas  and  the  Seven  Palaces.  He  loved  this  his  daughter,  whom  I 
have  described  unto  thee,  with  exceeding  love,  so  that  he  collected  the  treasures  of 
all  the  other  Kings,  and  with  them  built  for  her  seven  palaces,  each  of  a  particular 
kind.  The  first  palace  is  of  crystal ;  the  second,  of  marble ;  the  third,  of  the  iron 
of  China ;  the  fourth,  of  onyx  and  other  precious  stones ;  the  fifth,  of  silver ;  the 
sixth,  of  gold;  and  the  seventh,  of  jewels.  He  filled  the  seven  palaces  with  varieties 
of  magnificent  furniture,  and  vessels  of  gold  and  silver,  and  utensils  of  every  kind 
that  Kings  could  require,  and  commanded  his  daughter  to  reside  in  each  palace  foi 
a  certain  period  of  the  year,  and  then  to  remove  to  another  of  them.  Her  name  is  the 
Queen  Badoura.  When  her  beauty  became  celebrated,  and  her  fame  spread  through- 
out the  surrounding  countries,  all  the  kings  sent  to  her  father  to  request  her  of  him 
in  marriage:  and  he  mentioned  the  subject  of  marriage  to  her;  but  she  disliked  it, 
and  said  to  her  father,  0  my  father,  I  have  no  wish  at  all  to  marry;  for  I  am  a 
princess  and  a  queen,  ruling  over  men,  and  I  desire  not  a  man  to  rule  over  me.  Yet 
the  more  she  showed  reluctance  to  marry,  so  much  the  more  did  her  suitors  increase 
in  eagerness  to  possess  her.  All  the  Kings  of  the  interior  Islands  of  China  sent 
presents  and  rarities  to  her  father  with  letters  requesting  her  as  a  wife,  and  he 
repeated  the  proposals  to  her  many  times  ;  but  she  opposed  his  wish,  and  was  angry 
with  him,  and  said  to  him.  If  thou  mention  the  subject  of  marriage  to  me  again,  I 
will  take  a  sword,  and  put  its  hilt  upon  the  floor  and  its  point  to  my  bosom,  and  lean 
upon  it  until  it  protrude  from  my  back,  and  thus  kill  myself.  So  when  her  father 
heard  these  words  from  her,  the  light  became  darkness  before  his  face,  and  his  heart 
was  tortured  excessively  on  her  account ;  for  he  feared  that  she  would  kill  herself. 
He  was  perplexed  respecting  both  her  and  the  Kings  who  sought  her  in  marriage 
from  him,  and  said  to  her.  If  thou  art  determined  not  to  marry,  abstain  from  going 
out  and  coming  in.  He  then  conveyed  her  into  an  apartment,  and  there  confined 
her,  commissioning  ten  confidential  female  slaves  to  guard  her,  and  forbidding  her 
to  behold  the  seven  palaces  ;  after  which,  he  made  it  appear  that  he  was  incensed 
against  her,  and  sent  letters  to  all  the  Kings  informing  them  that  she  was  afflicted 
with  insanity,  and  that  she  had  been  confined  for  a  year. 

The  Afrite  Danhash,  having  related  these  facts  to  the  Fair^,  said,  I  go  to  her,  0 
my  mistress,  every  night,  and  gaze  at  her,  and  enjoy  for  a  long  time  the  sight  of  her 
face,  and  kiss  her  between  her  eyes  while  she  lieth  asleep ;  but  from  my  love  for  her 
I  do  her  no  injury ;  for  her  loveliness  is  surpassing :  every  one  who  seeth  her  is 
jealous  of  her  with  respect  to  his  own  self.  I  conjure  thee,  0  my  mistress,  that 
thou  come  with  me  and  behold  tu-r  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  justness  of  form  and 
proportion  ;  and  afterwards,  if  thou  desire  to  chastise  me  or  to  enslave  me,  do  it ; 
for  it  is  thine  to  command,  and  thine  to  forbid.  —  Then  the  Afrite  Danhash  hung 
down  his  head  towards  the  earth,  and  lowered  his  wings.  But  the  Fairy  Maimouna, 
after  laughing  at  his  words,  and  spitting  in  his  face,  said  to  hini.  What  is  this  damsel 
of  whom  thou  speakest?  She  is  of  no  more  value  than  a  fragment  of  base  pottery  ! 
What  wouldst  thou   say  if  thou   sawest  my  beloved  ?     By  Allah,  I  thought  thou 


284  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

hadst  some  wonderful  tale,  or  extraordinary  story,  0  accursed!  I  have  seen  a  man 
this  night,  such  that  if  thou  beheldest  him  even  in  a  dream,  thou  wouldst  be  paralyzed 
with  astonishment  at  him. — And  what,  said  Danhash,  is  the  story  of  this  young  man. 
She  answered.  Know,  0  Danhash,  that  this  young  man  hath  experienced  the  like  of 
that  which  hath  happened  to  thy  beloved,  whom  thou  hast  mentioned.  His  father 
commanded  him  many  times  to  marry ;  but  he  refused  ;  and  his  father,  when  he 
had  thus  opposed  him,  was  incensed  against  him,  and  imprisoned  him  in  the  tower 
in  which  I  reside;  and  as  I  came  forth  this  night  I  beheld  him.  —  0  my  mistress, 
replied  Danhash,  show  me  this  young  man,  that  I  may  see  whether  he  be  more 
beautiful  than  my  beloved,  the  Queen  Badoura,  or  not ;  for  I  do  not  imagine  that 
there  existeth  in  this  age  the  like  of  my  beloved. — Thou  liest,  rejoined  the  Fairy,  O 
accursed  !  O  moat  unlucky  of  Marids,  and  most  contemptible  of  Devils  !  for  I  am 
certain  that  there  existeth  not  the  equal  of  my  beloved  in  these  countries.  Art  thou 
mad,  then,  that  thou  comparest  thy  beloved  unto  mine? — I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0 
my  mistress,  resumed  Danhash,  that  thou  come  with  me  to  see  my  beloved,  and  I 
will  return  with  thee  and  behold  thine. — It  must  be  so,  0  accursed,  said  Maimouna; 
for  thou  art  a  knavish  Devil ;  but  I  will  not  accompany  thee,  nor  shalt  thou  go  with 
me,  except  on  the  condition  of  a  bet :  if  thy  beloved,  whom  thou  boldest  to  be 
superior,  prove  more  beautiful  than  mine,  whom  I  regard  as  superior,  the  bet  shall 
be  thine,  and  against  me  ;  but  if  my  beloved  prove  to  be  the  more  beautiful,  the  bet 
shall  be  mine  and  against  thee.  The  Afrite  Danhash  replied,  O  my  mistress,  I  con- 
sent to  this  condition  willingly :  come  then  with  me  to  the  islands.  But  Maimouna 
said.  The  place  of  my  beloved  is  nearer  than  that  of  thine:  here  it  is  beneath  us:  so 
descend  with  me  to  see  my  beloved  ;  and  after  that,  we  will  repair  to  thine.  Dan- 
hash replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

They  then  descended,  and  alighted  within  the  precincts  of  the  saloon  in  tlie  tower, 
and  Maimouna,  having  stationed  Danhash  by  the  side  of  the  couch,  put  forth  her 
hand,  and  raised  the  sheet  from  the  face  of  Camaralzaman,  the  son  of  the  King 
Shah-Zaman  ;  whereupon  his  face  beamed  and  shone,  and  glistened  and  glittered. 
Maimouna  beheld  him,  and  then,  turning  her  eyes  immediately  towards  Danhash, 
said  to  him,  Look,  0  accursed,  and  be  not  the  basest  of  fools:  for  I  am  a  maiden, 
and  am  fascinated  by  him.  So  Danhash  looked  towards  him,  and  remained  a  while 
contemplating  him  ;  after  which,  he  shook  his  head,  and  said  to  Maimouna,  by  Allah, 
0  my  mistress,  thou  art  excused  ;  but  it  remaineth  to  be  shown  that  the  female  is 
different  from  the  male  :  yet  by  Allah,  this  thy  beloved  is,  of  all  men,  he  who  beareth 
the  nearest  resemblance  to  my  beloved,  in  beauty  and  loveliness  and  elegance  and 
all  perfection  :  both  of  them  have  been  formed  alike  in  the  mould  of  beauty.  But 
when  Maimouna  heard  these  words  of  Danhash,  the  light  became  darkness  before 
her  eyes,  and  she  struck  him  with  her  wing  upon  his  head  with  such  force  that  he 
almost  experienced  his  predestined  end  from  the  violence  of  the  blow  :  and  she  said 
to  him,"  I  swear  by  the  brightness  of  his  glorious  aspect  that  thou  shalt  go,  0  ac- 
cursed, this  instant,  and  lift  up  thy  beloved,  and  bring  her  quickly  unto  this  place, 
that  we  may  put  them  together,  and  see  them  both  while  they  lie  asleep  side  by 
side:  then  it  will  be  manifest  unto  us  which  of  them  is  the  more  beautiful.  If  thou 
do  not  what  I  have  commanded  thee  forthwith,  0  accursed,  I  will  burn  thee  with 
my  fire,  and  dart  at  thee  my  destructive  sparks,  and  scatter  thee  torn  in  pieces  over 
the  deserts,  making  thee  an  example  to  the  stationary  and  the  night  traveller.  —  So 
Danhash  replied,  0  my  mistress,  thy  command  shall  be  obeyed  ;  but  I  know  that  my 
beloved  is  more  beautiful,  and  sweeter. 

Then  the  Afrite  Danhash  flew  away  immediately,  and  Maimouna  flew  with  him 
to  guard  him;  and  after  they  had  been  absent  an  hour,  they  returned  conveying  the 
damsel,  who  was  clad  in  a  shirt  of  delicate  Venetian  stuff,  with  two  borders  of  gold 
embroidered  in  the  most  admirable  manner.  The  Afrite  and  Fairy  descended  with 
this  damsel,  and,  having  extended  her  by  the  side  of  the  young  man,  uncovered  the 
faces  of  both,  and  they  bore  the  strongest  resemblance  to  each  other — as  though  they 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADG0RA.  2&5 

were  twins,  or  an  only  brother  and  sister;  they  were  a  temptation  to  the  abstinent 
Danhash  and  Maimouna  began  to  gaze  upon  them,  and  the  former  said,  Verily  my 
beloved  is  the  more  beautiful.  —  Nay,  replied  Maimouna,  my  beloved  is  the  more 
beautiful.  Woe  to  thee,  0  Danhash!  Art  thou  blind?  Dost  thou  not  behold  his 
beauty  and  loveliness,  and  justness  of  stature  and  form  ?  But  hear  what  I  say  of 
my  beloved,  and  if  thou  be  a  true  lover  of  her  with  whom  thou  art  enamoured,  say 
of  her  as  I  shall  say  of  my  beloved. — She  then  kissed  Camaralzaman  several  times, 
and  recited  an  ode  in  his  praise.  And  when  Danhash  heard  it  he  was  extremely 
delighted,  and  full  of  admiration  ;  but  he  said,  Thou  hast  recited  these  tender  verses 
on  thy  beloved  with  thy  mind  engrossed  by  him :  I  will  now  endeavour  to  recite 
some,  the  best  that  I  can  think  of.  So  he  approached  his  beloved  Badoura,  and, 
having  kissed  her  between  the  eyes,  looked  towards  the  Fairy  Maimouna,  and 
towards  his  beloved,  and  recited  an  ode :  but  with  a  wandering  mind.  And  when 
he  had  finished,  the  Fairy  said,  Thou  hast  done  well,  O  Danhash  ;  but  which  of 
these  two  is  the  more  beautiful  ?  He  answered,  My  beloved  Badoura  is  more 
beautiful  than  thine. — Thou  liest,  0  accursed!  she  replied;  for  my  beloved  is  more 
beautiful  than  thine. 

Thus  they  continued  contradicting  each  other,  until  Maimouna  cried  out  at  Dan- 
hash and  would  have  laid  violent  hands  upon  him  ;  but  he  abased  himself  before 
her,  and,  softening  his  speech,  said  to  her.  Let  not  the  truth  be  grievous  unto  thee  ; 
annul  thy  assertion  and  mine;  for  we  each  pronounce  in  favour  of  our  beloved:  let 
each  of  us,  therefore,  reject  both  the  opinions,  and  let  us  seek  one  to  judge  between 
us  with  equity,  and  by  his  sentence  we  will  abide.  Maimouna  replied.  So  shall  it 
be.  She  then  struck  the  floor  with  her  foot,  and  there  arose  from  it  an  Afrite,  blind 
of  one  eye,  and  with  a  diseased  skin  ;  his  eyes  were  slit  upwards  in  his  face  ;  upon 
his  head  were  seven  horns,  and  he  had  four  locks  of  hair  hanging  down  to  the 
ground  ;  his  hands  were  like  those  of  the  Kutrub,'  with  claws  like  the  claws  of  the 
lion,  and  his  feet  were  like  the  elephant's,  with  hoofs  like  those  of  the  ass.  As  soon 
as  this  Afrite  arose,  and  beheld  Maimouna,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and 
placing  his  hands  together  behind  his  back,  said  to  her,  What  dost  thou  require,  0 
my  mistress,  0  daughter  of  the  King?  She  answered,  0  Cashcash,  I  desire  that  thou 
judge  between  me  and  this  accursed  Danhash.  She  then  acquainted  him  with  the 
case  from  first  to  last ;  and  upon  this,  the  Afrite  Cashcash  looked  upon  the  face  of 
the  young  man,  and  upon  that  of  the  damsel,  and  beheld  them  embracing  each  other 
as  they  lay  asleep,  the  arm  of  each  being  under  the  neck  of  the  other,  resembling 
each  other  in  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  equal  in  charms.  The  Marid  Cashcash 
gazed,  and  wondered  at  their  beauty,  and,  after  he  had  long  kept  his  eyes  upon  them, 
looked  towards  Maimouna  and  Danhash,  and  recited  some  amatory  verses,  and  then 
added.  By  Allah,  neither  of  them  is  more  or  less  beautiful  than  the  other;  but  they 
bear  the  strongest  resemblance  to  each  other  in  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  elegance 
and  perfection  ;  and  they  are  not  to  be  pronounced  difl^erent  from  each  other  in  these 
respects  because  they  are  of  difi'erent  sexes.  I  have  to  propose,  however,  another 
mode  of  determining  the  question  ;  and  it  is  this:  that  we  wake  each  of  them  with- 
out the  knowledge  of  the  other ;  and  the  one  who  shall  be  most  inflamed  with  love 
for  the  other  shall  be  confessed  to  be  the  inferior  in  beauty  and  loveliness. — Excellent, 
said  Maimouna,  is  this  advice  that  thou  hast  given,  and  I  approve  of  it. — And  I  also, 
said  Danhash,  approve  of  it. 

Upon  this,  therefore,  Danhash  transformed  himself  into  a  flea,  and  bit  Camaralza- 
man upon  his  neck,  in  a  soft  place  :  so  Camaralzaman  put  his  hand  to  his  neck,  and 
scratched  the  place  of  the  bite,  on  account  of  the  violence  of  the  smarting  that  it 
occasioned,  and  moving  sideways,  found  something  lying  by  him,  from  which  pro- 
ceeded a  breath  more  fragrant  than  musk,  with  a  body  softer  than  butter.  Camaral- 
tamun  wondered  at  this  exceedingly,  and  immediately  raised  himself.     Looking  at 

'  Some  unknown  or  fabulous  animal. 


286  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

this  person  lying  by  his  side,  he  found  it  to  be  a  damsel  like  a  precious  pearl,  or  like 
a  shining  sun,  with  a  form  like  the  letter  Alif,'  of  quinary  stature,  high-bosomed,  and 
■with  red  cheeks.  And  when  Camaralzaman  thus  beheld  the  lady  Badoura,  the 
daughter  of  the  King  Gaiour,  and  observed  her  beauty  and  loveliness  as  she  lay 
asleep  by  his  side,  he  saw  upon  her  body  a  shirt  of  Venetian  stuff,  and  upon  her 
head  a  coif  of  cloth  of  gold  adorned  with  jewels,  and  on  her  neck  a  long  necklace  of 
precious  gems  such  as  none  of  the  Kings  could  procure.  His  reason  was  confounded 
at  the  sight,  and  he  said  within  himself,  What  God  desireth  will  come  to  pass,  and 
what  He  desireth  not  will  not  happen  !  He  then  turned  her  over  with  his  hand,  and 
attempted  to  rouse  her;  but  she  awoke  not :  for  Danhash  had  made  her  sleep  heavy; 
so  Camaralzaman  squeezed  her  with  his  hand,  and  shook  her,  saying,  0  my  beloved, 
awake,  and  see  whom  I  am  ;  for  I  am  Camaralzaman.  But  she  awoke  not,  nor  moved 
her  head.  And  he  remained  for  an  hour,  reflecting  upon  her  case,  and  said  within 
himself,  If  my  conjecture  be  true,  this  damsel  is  she  to  whom  my  father  desireth  to 
marry  me,  and  for  three  years  I  have  refused  to  do  it:  but,  please  God,  when  morn- 
ing Cometh,  I  will  say  to  my  father.  Marry  me  to  her  : — and  I  will  not  suffer  mid-day 
to  pass  before  I  possess  her  and  delight  myself  with  her  beauty  and  loveliness. — 
He  then  inclined  towards  Badoura  to  kiss  her:  whereupon  Maimouna  the  Fairy 
trembled  and  was  confounded:  but  as  to  the  Afrite  Danhash,  he  leaped  for  joy. 
When  Camaralzaman,  however,  was  about  to  kiss  her  upon  the  mouth,  he  feared  God, 
and  turned  away  his  face,  saying  within  himself,  I  will  have  patience ;  for  perhaps 
my  father,  when  he  was  incensed  against  me,  and  imprisoned  me  in  this  place, 
brought  unto  me  this  bride,  and  commanded  her  to  sleep  by  my  side,  to  prove  me  by 
her,  and  charged  her  not  to  appear  awake  on  my  attempting  to  rouse  her,  and  said 
to  her.  Whatsoever  Camaralzaman  do  to  thee,  acquaint  me  with  it.  And  probably 
my  father  is  standing  concealed  in  some  place  to  observe  me,  while  I  see  him  not, 
and  he  will  witness  all  that  I  do  with  this  damsel,  and  in  the  morning  will  reproach 
me,  and  say  to  me.  How  dost  thou  say,  I  have  no  need  of  marriage  —  and  kiss  that 
damsel,  and  embrace  her  !  So  I  will  withhold  myself  from  her,  lest  I  be  exposed 
before  my  father.  I  will  not  touch  this  damsel  from  the  present  moment,  nor  look 
towards  her :  but  will  only  take  from  her  something  that  may  be  a  token  in  my 
keeping  and  a  memorial  of  her,  that  there  may  be  a  sign  between  me  and  her. — 
Then  Camaralzaman  raised  the  hand  of  the  damsel,  and  took  her  ring  from  her  little 
finger.  It  was  worth  a  large  sum  of  money  ;  for  its  stone  was  a  precious  jewel ;  and 
around  it  were  engraved  verses  : — So  Camaralzaman  took  off  this  ring  from  the  little 
finger  of  the  Queen  Badoura,  and  having  put  it  on  his  own  little  finger,  turned  his 
back  towards  her,  and  slept. 

The  Fairy  Maimouna,  when  she  saw  this,  rejoiced,  and  said  to  Danhash  and  Cash- 
cash,  Have  ye  seen  my  beloved,  Camaralzaman,  how  he  hath  abstained  from  this 
damsel?  This  is  the  result  of  the  perfection  of  his  excellences.  Consider  how  he 
beheld  this  damsel  and  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  yet  embraced  her  not,  nor 
passed  his  hand  over  her;  but  turned  his  back  to  her  and  slept.  —  They  answered 
her,  We  have  witnessed  his  perfect  conduct. 

Maimouna  then  transformed  herself  into  a  flea,  and  entering  beneath  the  clothes 
of  Badoura,  the  beloved  of  Danhash,  bit  her:  whereupon  she  opened  her  eyes,  and 
sat  up,  and  beheld  a  young  man  sleeping  by  her  side,  and  snoring  in  his  sleep,  with 
cheeks  like  anemones,  and  eyes  that  put  to  shame  the  beautiful  Houries,  and  a  mouth 
like  the  seal  of  Solomon.  When  she  beheld  him,  distraction  and  ecstacy  and  desire 
overcame  her,  and  she  said  within  herself,  0  my  disgrace !  This  young  man  is  a 
stranger;  I  know  him  not;  and  wherefore  is  he  lying  by  my  side  in  the  same  bed' 
—  Then  looking  at  him  again,  and  contemplating  his  elegance  and  his  amorous 
aspect,  and  his  beauiy  and  loveliness,  she  said.  By  Allah,  he  is  a  youth  comely  im 

'  The  letter  Alif  is  a  slender  line.  Quinaxv  probably  alluded  to  the  height  of  five  palms  or 
feet. 


AND   THE    PRINCESS   BADOURA.  287 

the  moon,  and  my  heart  is  almost  rent  by  ecstacy  of  love  for  him,  and  by  the  vio- 
lence of  passion  excited  by  his  beauty  and  loveliness!  But  how  am  I  disgraced  bjr 
his  means !  By  Allah,  if  I  had  known  that  this  handsome  youth  was  the  person 
who  demanded  me  in  marriage  of  my  father,  I  had  not  rejected  him,  but  had  mar- 
ried him,  and  delighted  myself  with  his  loveliness. — Then  the  Queen  Badoura  imme- 
diately looked  in  the  face  of  Camaralzaman,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  lord,  and  beloved 
of  my  heart,  and  light  of  mine  eye,  awake  from  thy  sleep!  And  she  shook  him  with 
her  hand.  But  Maimouna  the  Fairy  immersed  him  in  sleep,  and  pressed  down  his 
head  with  her  wing:  so  he  awoke  not.  The  Queen  Badoura  shook  him  again  with 
her  hand,  and  said  to  him.  By  my  life  I  conjure  thee  to  comply  with  my  desire,  and 
awake  from  thy  sleep!  Arise,  0  my  master,  and  recline  upon  the  cushion,  and 
sleep  not !  —  But  Camaralzaman  returned  her  no  reply,  nor  addressed  her  with  a 
word:  still  snoring  in  his  sleep.  So  the  Queen  Badoura  said,  Wherefore  art  thou  so 
proud,  with  thy  beauty  and  loveliness  and  elegance  and  amorous  aspect?  As  thou 
art  comely,  so  am  I  also.  Why  then  dost  thou  act  thus  ?  Have  they  instructed  thee 
to  manifest  aversion  towards  me,  or  hath  my  father,  that  ill-omened  old  man,  forbid- 
den thee  to  speak  to  me  this  night? — Camaralzaman  then  opened  his  eyes:  where- 
upon her  love  for  him  increased.  God  instilled  into  her  heart  a  passion  for  him,  and 
she  cast  at  him  a  glance  which  occasioned  her  a  thousand  sighs  ;  her  heart  throbbed, 
and  she  said  to  Camaralzaman,  0  my  master,  speak  to  me !  0  my  beloved,  converse 
with  me  !  0  object  of  my  passion,  return  me  a  reply,  and  tell  me  what  is  thy  name, 
for  thou  hast  captivated  my  reason  I  — But  all  this  while  Camaralzaman  remained 
immersed  in  sleep,  and  replied  not  a  word.  And  the  Queen  Badoura  sighed,  and 
said.  Wherefore  art  thou  so  self-satisfied?  Then  she  shook  him  again,  and  turned 
over  his  hand,  and  seeing  her  ring  upon  his  little  finger,  she  uttered  a  cry  of  aston- 
ishment, and  said  with  an  amorous  manner,  Alas !  Alas !  By  Allah,  thou  art  my 
beloved,  and  thou  lovest  me;  but  thou  seemest  to  aflfect  an  aversion  towards  me, 
though  thou  camest  to  me  while  I  was  asleep,  and  I  know  not  what  thou  hast  done 
unto  me  ;  yet  I  will  not  pull  ofl"  my  ring  from  thy  little  finger.  —  And  she  searched 
for  something  to  take  from  him,  and  taking  ofi"  his  ring  from  his  finger,  put  it  on 
hers,  instead  of  her  own  ring ;  after  which  she  kissed  his  mouth  and  his  hands,  and 
placed  one  of  her  hands  beneath  his  neck,  and  the  other  under  his  arm,  and  fell 
asleep  again  by  his  side. 

When  Maimouna  beheld  this,  she  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  said  to  Danhash,  Hast 
thou  seen,  0  accursed,  how  thy  beloved  hath  acted  in  the  distraction  of  her  passion 
for  my  beloved,  and  how  he  hath  acted  in  his  pride  and  dissimulation?  There  is  no 
doubt,  then,  that  my  beloved  is  more  beautiful  than  thine:  but  I  pardon  thee. — 
She  then  wrote  for  him  a  paper  of  manumission,  and  looking  towards  Cashcash,  said 
to  him.  Do  thou  insinuate  thyself  with  him  beneath  his  beloved,  and  assist  him  to 
convey  her  back  to  her  place;  for  the  night  is  gone,  and  the  opportunity  for  the 
accomplishment  of  my  intention  is  past.  So  Danhash  and  Cashcash  advanced  to- 
wards the  Queen  Badoura,  and  insinuated  themselves  beneath  her,  and  having  flown 
away  with  her  and  conveyed  her  back  to  her  place,  restored  her  to  her  bed,  while  Mai- 
mouna remained  alone  gazing  at  Camaralzaman  as  he  lay  asleep,  until  but  little  of 
the  night  remained,  when  she  went  her  way. 

Now  when  daybreak  came,  Camaralzaman  awoke  from  his  sleep,  and  looked  to 
the  right  and  left;  but  found  not  the  damsel  with  him.  So  he  said  within  himself. 
What  meaneth  this  affiiir?  it  seemeth  that  my  father  would  excite  in  me  a  desire  to 
marry  the  damsel  who  was  with  me,  and,  having  done  this,  hath  taken  her  away 
secretly,  that  my  desire  for  her  may  increase.  He  then  called  out  to  the  eunuch 
who  was  sleeping  at  the  door,  and  said  to  him.  Wo  to  thee,  O  accursed!  Rise  !  — 
The  eunuch,  therefore,  arose,  his  reason  wandering  from  sleep,  and  brought  to  hira 
the  basin  and  ewer.  And  Camaralzaman  rose,  and  performed  the  ablution,  recited 
the  morning  prayers,  and  sat  repeating  the  praises  of  God.  Then  looking  towards 
the  eunuch,  he  saw  him  standing  in  attendance  before  him,  and  he  said  to  him.  Wo 


288  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

to  thee,  0  Sawab !  Who  hath  come  hither  and  taken  away  the  damsel  from  my  side 
while  I  was  asleep?  —  The  eunuch  said,  0  my  master,  what  damsel  ?  —  The  damsel 
who  was  sleeping  with  me  this  night,  answered  Camaralzaman.  And  the  eunuch 
was  disturbed  at  his  words,  and  replied,  There  was  no  damsel  with  thee,  nor  any 
one  else :  and  how  could  a  damsel  come  in  when  I  was  sleeping  behind  the  door 
and  it  was  locked?     By  Allah,  0  my  master,  neither  male  nor  female  came  in  to 

thee. But  Camaralzaman  exclaimed.  Thou  liest,  0  ill-omened  slave!    Art  thou  also 

of  sufficient  rank  to  presume  to  deceive  me,  and  wilt  thou  not  acquaint  me  whither 
hath  gone  the  damsel  who  was  sleeping  with  me  this  night,  nor  inform  me  who  took 
her  away  from  me  ? — The  eunuch,  agitated  by  what  he  said,  answered.  By  Allah,  0 
my  master,  I  have  neither  seen  a  young  woman  nor  a  young  man.  And  Camaral- 
zaman was  enraged  at  the  words  of  the  eunuch,  and  said  to  him.  They  have  taught 
thee  deceit,  0  accursed !  Come  hither,  then,  to  me.  So  the  eunuch  approached 
him,  and  Camaralzaman  took  him  by  the  collar,  and  threw  him  down  upon  the  floor, 
and  then  kneeling  upon  him,  kicked  him  and  squeezed  his  throat  until  he  became 
insensible ;  after  which,  he  tied  him  to  the  well-rope,  and  lowered  him  into  the  well 
till  he  reached  the  water,  and  let  him  down  into  it:  and  it  was  in  the  cold  season 
of  a  severe  winter.  He  plunged  the  eunuch  in  the  water,  and  then  drew  him  up 
and  let  him  down  again  ;  and  thus  he  continued  to  do.  The  eunuch  all  the  while 
cried  for  help,  and  shrieked  and  cnlled:  but  Camaralzaman  replied.  By  Allah,  0 
accursed,  I  will  not  draw  thee  out  from  this  well  until  thou  acquaint  me  with  the 
story  of  that  damsel,  and  tell  me  who  took  her  away  while  I  slept.  So  the  eunuch 
said.  Deliver  me  from  the  well,  0  my  master,  and  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  the 
truth.  Camaralzaman,  therefore,  drew  him  up  from  the  well,  and  took  him  out, 
stupified  with  what  he  had  suffered  from  the  dipping  and  plunging  and  cold  and 
beating  and  torture.  He  trembled  like  the  reed  in  the  tempestuous  wind,  his  teeth 
were  locked  together,  and  his  clothes  were  dripping.  And  when  he  found  himself 
upon  the  floor  he  said.  Suffer  me,  0  my  master,  to  go  and  take  off  my  clothes,  and 
wring  them,  and  spread  them  in  the  sun,  and  put  on  others ;  then  I  will  return  to 
thee  quickly,  and  acquaint  thee  with  the  affair  of  that  damsel,  and  relate  to  thee  her 
gtory. — By  Allah,  0  ill-omened  slave,  replied  Camaralzaman,  if  thou  hadst  not  expe- 
rienced the  pains  of  death,  thou  hadst  not  confessed  the  truth  !  Go  out,  then,  to 
do  what  thou  desirest,  and  return  to  me  quickly  and  relate  to  me  the  story  of  the 
damsel. 

The  eunuch,  upon  this,  went  forth,  scarcely  believing  in  his  escape,  and  ran  with- 
out stopping  until  he  went  in  to  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  the  father  of  Camaralzaman, 
when  he  found  the  Vizier  by  his  side,  and  they  were  conversing  on  the  affair  of 
Camaralzaman.  He  heard  the  King  say  to  the  Vizier,  Verily  I  have  not  slept  this 
last  night  from  the  trouble  of  my  heart  respecting  Camaralzaman,  and  I  fear  that 
some  evil  will  befall  him  from  his  confinement  in  that  ancient  tower:  it  was  not  at 
all  fit  to  imprison  him.  But  the  Vizier  replied.  Fear  not  for  him  ;  by  Allah,  no 
harm  will  happen  unto  him.  Leave  him  imprisoned  for  a  month,  that  his  temper 
may  become  softened. — And  while  they  were  thus  talking,  the  eunuch  came  in  to 
them  in  the  condition  above  described,  and  said  to  the  King,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan, 
insanity  hath  befallen  thy  son,  and  thus  hath  he  done  unto  me ;  and  he  said  to  me, 
A  damsel  passed  this  night  with  me,  and  went  away  secretly  :  acquaint  me  there- 
fore with  her  history. — But  I  know  not  the  affair  of  this  damsel.  And  when  the 
Sultan  Shah-Zaman  heard  these  words  respecting  his  son  Camaralzaman,  he  cried 
out,  saying.  Oh,  my  son  ! — and  was  violently  enraged  against  the  Vizier  who  had 
been  the  cause  of  these  events,  and  said  to  him.  Arise,  and  ascertain  for  me  the  state 
of  my  son. 

The  Vizier,  therefore,  went  treading  upon  the  skirts  of  his  dress  through  his  fear 
of  the  King,  and  proceeded  with  the  eunuch  to  the  tower.  The  sun  had  risen,  and 
the  Vizier  went  in  to  Camaralzaman,  and  found  him  sitting  upon  the  couch,  reciting 
the  Koran,  and  he  saluted  him,  and  seating  himself  by  his  side,  said  to  him,  0  my 


AND   THE    PRINCESS    BADOURA.  289 

master,  this  ill-omened  slave  hath  brought  us  information  that  hath  troubled  and 
agitated  us,  and  the  King  was  incensed  at  it.  So  Camaralzaman  said,  O  Vizier,  and 
what  hath  he  told  you  concerning  me  to  trouble  my  father?  In  truth  he  hath 
troubled  none  but  me. — The  Vizier  answered,  He  came  to  us  in  a  miserable  plight, 
and  told  us  a  thing. — God  forbid  that  it  should  be  true  of  thee! — he  uttered  a  lie 
respecting  thee  such  as  is  not  proper  to  be  mentioned.  Allah  preserve  thy  youth 
and  thy  sound  reason  and  thine  eloquent  tongue,  and  far  be  it  from  thee  that  any- 
tiiing  base  should  proceed  from  thee  ! — Camaralzaman,  therefore,  said  to  him,  0 
Vizier,  and  what  hath  this  ill-omened  slave  said? — He  informed  us,  answered  the 
Vizier,  that  thou  hadst  become  mad,  and  hadst  said  to  him,  There  was  a  damsel 
with  me  last  night. — Didst  thou  then  say  to  the  eunuch  these  words?  And  when 
Camaralzaman  heard  this,  he  was  violently  enraged,  and  said  to  the  Vizier,  It  is 
evident  to  me  that  ye  taught  the  eunuch  to  act  as  he  did,  and  forbade  him  to  ac- 
quaint me  with  the  affair  of  the  damsel  who  was  sleeping  with  me  this  last  night ; 
but  thou,  0  Vizier,  art  more  sensible  than  the  eunuch  ;  tell  me  therefore  immedi- 
ately whither  is  gone  the  beautiful  damsel  who  was  sleeping  in  my  bosom  last  night;  for 
ye  are  they  who  sent  her  to  me  and  commanded  her  to  pass  the  night  in  my  bosom  ; 
and  I  slept  with  her  until  the  morning,  when  I  awoke,  and  found  her  not.  Where, 
therefore,  is  she  now? — 0  my  master  Camaralzaman,  replied  the  Vizier,  may  the 
name  of  Allah  encompass  thee!  By  Allah,  we  sent  not  any  one  to  thee  last  night, 
and  thou  sleepedst  alone,  with  the  door  locked  upon  thee,  and  the  eunuch  sleeping 
behind  it;  and  neither  damsel  nor  any  one  else  came  to  thee.  Return  then  to  thy 
reason,  0  my  master,  and  no  longer  trouble  thy  heart. — But  Camaralzaman,  en- 
raged at  his  words,  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  that  damsel  is  my  beloved,  and  she  is  the 
beautiful  creature  with  the  black  eyes  and  the  red  cheeks  whom  I  embraced  last 
night.  And  the  Vizier  wondered  at  his  words,  and  asked  him,  Didst  thou  see  that 
damsel  this  night  with  thine  eye,  and  awake  or  in  sleep? — O  ill-omened  old  man, 
said  Camaralzaman,  dost  thou  imagine  that  I  saw  her  with  my  oar?  Nay,  I  sa-w 
her  with  my  eyes,  and  awake,  and  turned  her  over  with  my  hand,  and  remained 
awake  by  her  half  of  the  entire  night,  enjoying  the  contemplation  of  her  beauty 
and  loveliness,  and  elegance  and  amorous  aspect:  but  ye  charged  l^er  that  she 
should  not  speak  to  me  ;  so  she  pretended  to  be  asleep,  and  I  slept  by  her  side  until 
the  morning,  when  I  awoke  from  my  sleep  and  found  her  not. — The  Vizier  replied, 
0  my  master  Camaralzaman,  perhaps  thou  sawest  this  in  thy  sleep,  and  it  is  the 
result  of  confused  dreams  or  vain  fancies,  occasioned  by  eating  a  mixture  of  diffe- 
rent kinds  of  food,  or  an  idea  inspired  by  the  wicked  devils. — 0  ill-omened  old  man, 
exclaimed  Camaralzaman,  wherefore  dost  thou  too  make  a  jest  of  me,  and  tell  me 
that  perhaps  this  is  the  result  of  confused  dreams,  when  the  eunuch  hath  confessed 
to  me  that  the  damsel  was  here,  and  said  to  me,  I  will  immediately  return  to  thee, 
and  relate  to  thee  her  story? 

He  then  instantly  arose,  and  drawing  near  to  the  Vizier  grasped  his  beard  in  his 
hand.  It  was  a  long  beard,  and  Camaralzaman  took  it  and  twisted  it  round  his 
hand,  and  pulled  him  by  it  so  that  he  threw  him  down  from  the  couch  upon  the 
floor ;  and  the  Vizier  felt  as  if  his  soul  had  departed,  from  the  violence  with  which 
his  beard  was  pulled.  Camaralzaman  then  continued  kicking  the  Vizier  with  his 
feet,  and  beating  him  upon  the  back  of  his  neck  with  his  hands,  until  he  had  almost 
put  an  end  to  him.  So  the  Vizier  said  within  himself.  If  the  slave,  the  eunuch, 
saved  himself  from  this  mad  youth  by  his  lie,  it  is  more  fit  that  I  also  should  save 
myself  by  a  lie ;  else  he  will  destroy  me :  therefore  now  will  I  lie  and  save  my  life 
from  him  ;  for  he  is  mad :  of  his  madness  there  is  no  doubt.  Accordingly,  he 
looked  towards  Camaralzaman  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  be  not  angry  with  me ; 
for  thy  father  charged  me  to  conceal  from  thee  the  affair  of  this  damsel ;  but  now  I 
am  weak  and  wearied  by  the  beating ;  for  I  am  become  an  old  man,  and  have  not 
strength  to  endure  blows :  grant  me  then  a  short  delay,  that  I  may  relate  to  thee 
the  story  of  the  damsel. — Upon  this  therefore  he  ceased  from  beating  him,  and  said 
19 


290 


THE    PRINCE    CAMARALZAMAN 


to  him,  Why  wnuldst  thou  not  acquaint  me  with  her  history  until  after  beating  and 
disgrace?     Arise  now,  0  ill-omened  old  man,  and  tell  me  her  story. — The  Vizier 


Camaralzaman  beating  the  Vizier. 


then  said  to  him,  Dost  thou  ask  respecting  the  damsbl  with  the  beautiful  face  and 
consummate  form  ?. — Yes,  said  Camaralzaman  :  inform  me,  0  Vizier,  who  brought 
her  to  me  and  put  her  to  sleep  with  me,  and  where  she  is  now,  that  I  may  myself  go 
to  her.  And  if  my  father,  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  hath  done  thus  unto  me  to  prove 
me  by  that  beautiful  damsel,  with  the  view  of  my  marrying  her,  I  consent  to  do  so. 
He  did  all  this  to  me,  and  inflamed  my  heart  with  love  for  that  damsel,  and  after- 
wards separated  her  from  me,  only  because  of  my  refusal  to  marry.  But  now  I 
consent  to  marry.  I  say  again,  I  consent  to  marry.  So  acquaint  my  father  with 
this,  0  Vizier,  and  advise  him  to  marry  me  to  that  damsel ;  for  I  desire  none  but 
her,  and  my  heart  hath  loved  none  other:  arise  then,  and  hasten  to  my  father, 
and  advise  him  to  be  quick  in  marrying  me:  then  return  to  me  soon  —  im- 
mediately. 

The  Vizier  believed  not  in  his  escape  from  Camaralzaman  until  he  had  gone  forth 
from  the  tower,  and  he  ran  on  until  he  came  into  the  presence  of  the  King  Shah- 
Zaman  ;  when  the  King  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  wherefore  do  I  behold  thee  in  a  state 
of  confusion,  and  who  hath  by  his  wickedness  injured  thee,  so  that  thou  hast  come 
in  terror?  He  answered,  I  have  brought  thee  news.  —  And  what  is  it?  asked  the 
King. — Know,  answered  the  Vizier,  that  madness  hath  befallen  thy  son  Camaralza- 
man.— And  when  the  King  heard  these  words,  the  light  became  darkness  before  his 
face,  and  he  said,  0  Vizier,  explain  to  me  the  nature  of  the  madness  of  my  son.  The 
Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey:  —  and  he  acquainted  him  with  that  which  his  son 
had  done  ;  whereupon  the  King  said  to  him,  Be  informed,  0  Vizier,  that  I  will  grant 
thee,  in  return  for  the  news  which  thou  hast  brought  me  of  the  madness  of  my  son, 
the  striking  off  of  thy  head,  and  the  cessation  of  my  fiivours  to  thee,  0  most  ill- 
omened  of  Viziers,  and  basest  of  Emirs  !  For  I  know  that  thou  hast  been  the  cause 
of  the  madness  of  my  son  by  the  wicked  advice  which  thou  gavest  me  first  and  last. 
By  Allah,  if  any  mischief  or  madness  hath  befallen  my  son,  I  will  nail  thee  upon 
the  roof,  and  make  thee  to  taste  affliction. 

The  King  then  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  taking  the  Vizier  with  him,  entered  the 
tower  in  which  was  Camaralzaman  ;  and  when  they  came  to  him,  he  stood  up  to  his 
father,  descending  quickly  from  the  couch  upon  which  he  was  sitting;  and,  having 
kissed  his  father's  hands,  drew  backwards,  and  hung  down  his  head  towards  the 
ground,  and  stood  before  his  father  with  his  hands  joined  behind  his  back.    Thus  he 


AND    THE    PKINCESS    BADOURA.  291 

remained  a  while  ;  after  which,  he  raised  his  head  towards  his  father,  and,  with  tears 
flowing  from  his  eyes  down  his  c  eeks,  recited  the  words  of  the  poet : — 

If  I  have  been  guilty  of  a  fault  against  you,  and  committed  a  deed  of  a  shameful  nature, 
I  repent  of  my  ofiFence,  and  your  clemency  will  extend  to  the  evil-doer  who  craveth  for- 
giveness. 

And  upon  this,  the  King  arose,  and  embraced  his  son  Camaralzaman,  kissing  him 
between  the  eyes,  and  seated  him  by  his  side  upon  the  couch.  Then  looking  towards 
the  Vizier  with  the  eye  of  anger,  he  said  to  him,  O  dog  of  Viziers,  wherefore  dost 
thou  say  of  my  son  such  and  such  things,  and  terrify  my  heart  on  his  account?  And 
he  turned  towards  his  son,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  is  the  name  of  this  day? 
— 0  my  father,  he  answered,  to-day  is  Saturday,  and  to-morrow  is  Sunday,  and  next 
after  it  is  Monday,  then  Tuesday,  then  Wednesday,  then  Thursday,  and  then  Friday. 
And  the  King  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  0  Camaralzaman,  praise  be  to  God  for  thy 
safety!  What  is  the  name  of  this  month,  in  Arabic?  —  Its  name,  he  answered,  is 
Zulcada,  and  it  is  followed  by  Zulhaja,  and  Moharram,  and  Safar,  and  Rabia-the- 
first,  and  Rabia-the-second,  and  Jumada-the-first,  and  Jumada-the-second,  and  Rejeb, 
and  Shaban,  and  Ramadan,  and  Showal.'  So  the  King  rejoiced  at  this  answer 
exceedingly,  and  spat  in  the  face  of  the  Vizier,  and  said  to  him,  0  wicked  old  man,  how 
dost  thou  assert  that  my  son  Camaralzaman  hath  become  insane,  when  the  case  is  that 
none  hath  become  insane  but  thyself?  The  Vizier  shook  his  head,  and  was  about 
to  speak ;  but  it  occurred  to  his  mind  that  he  should  rather  wait  a  little,  to  see  what 
would  happen. 

The  King  then  said  to  his  son,  0  my  son,  what  were  those  words  that  thou  spakest 
to  the  eunuch  and  the  Vizier,  when  thou  saidst  to  them,  I  was  sleeping  with  a  beau- 
tiful damsel  this  last  night?  And  what  is  the  affair  of  this  damsel  whom  thou  hast 
mentioned?  —  And  Camaralzaman  laughed  at  the  words  of  his  father,  and  answered 
him,  0  my  father,  know  that  I  have  not  strength  to  endure  jesting ;  therefore  add 
not  to  me  another  word  of  it ;  for  my  temper  is  straitened  by  that  which  ye  have 
done  unto  me.  Know,  0  my  father,  that  I  consent  to  marriage ;  but  on  the  condition 
that  thou  marry  me  to  that  damsel  who  was  sleeping  with  me  this  last  night ;  for  I 
am  certain  that  it  was  thou  who  sentest  her  to  me  and  causedst  me  to  be  enamoured  of 
her,  and  that  thou  sentest  to  her  before  the  morning,  and  tookest  her  away  from  me. 
— At  this  the  King  exclaimed.  The  name  of  Allah  encompass  thee,  O  my  son  !  Allah 
preserve  thy  reason  from  derangement!  What  is  this  damsel  of  whom  thou  assertest 
that  I  sent  her  to  thee  this  last  night,  and  then  sent  to  take  her  away  from  thee 
before  the  morning?  By  Allah,  0  my  son,  I  have  no  knowledge  of  this  affair.  I 
conjure  thee,  then,  to  inform  me:  is  not  this  a  confused  dream,  or  a  fancy  resulting 
from  food?  For  thou  passedst  this  last  night  with  a  heart  troubled  on  the  subject 
of  marriage,  and  inspired  with  fancies  by  the  mention  of  that  subject.  Malediction 
upon  marriage  and  its  hour,  and  upon  him  who  advised  me  on  that  matter  !  There 
is  no  doubt  but  that  thy  temperament  is  disturbed  on  that  account,  so  that  thou  hast 
dreamt  that  a  beautiful  damsel  was  embracing  thee,  and  thou  believest  in  thine  own 
mind  that  thou  sawest  this  awake,  when  all  this,  0  my  son,  was  a  confused  dream. 
— But  Camaralzaman  replied.  Abstain  from  these  words,  and  swear  to  me  by  Allah, 
the  Creator,  the  Omniscient,  the  Destroyer  of  the  mighty,  and  the  Annihilator  of  the 
infidel  kings,  that  thou  hast  had  no  knowledge  of  the  damsel  or  her  abode.  So  the 
King  said,  By  Allah  the  Great,  the  God  of  Moses  and  Abraham,  I  have  had  no 
knowledge  of  that  which  thou  mentionest,  and  probably  it  was  a  confused  dream 
that  thou  sawest  in  sleep. 

Then  Camaralzaman  said,  I  will  propose  to  thee  a  parable,  to  prove  to  thee  that 
this  happened  when  I  was  awake,  by  asking  thee  if  it  has  ever  happened  that  any 
person  dreamt  that  he  was  fighting,  and,  after  a  severe  contest,  awoke  from  his  sleep 
and  found  in  his  hand  a  sword  stained  with  blood?     His  father  answered.  No,  by 

'  These  are  the  twelve  months  of  the  year. 


292  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

Allah,  0  my  son  :  such  a  thing  hath  never  occurred.  Then,  said  Camaralzaman,  I 
will  acquaint  thee  with  that  which  hath  happened  unto  me;  and  it  was  this:  I 
seemed  as  though  I  awoke  this  last  night  from  my  sleep  at  midnight,  and  found  a 
damsel  sleeping  by  my  side,  whose  figure  and  form  were  as  mine,  and  I  embraced 
her,  and  touched  her  with  my  hand,  and  took  her  ring,  which  I  put  on  my  finger, 
and  she  pulled  off  my  ring  and  put  it  on  her  finger.  But  I  regarded  her  with  reserve, 
from  a  feeling  of  bashfulness  towards  thee ;  for  I  imagined  that  thou  hadst  sent  her, 
and  hadst  concealed  thyself  in  some  place  to  observe  my  actions.  So  I  was  ashamed 
to  kiss  her  upon  her  mouth  on  thine  account,  as  it  occurred  to  my  mind  that  thou 
desiredst  to  tempt  me  by  her,  to  excite  me  to  marry.  Afterwards  I  awoke  from  my 
sleep  at  the  commencement  of  the  dawn,  and  found  no  trace  of  the  damsel,  nor 
obtained  any  tidings  of  her  ;  and  what  happened  between  me  and  the  eunuch  and 
the  Vizier  was  in  consequence  of  this.  Now  how  could  this  affair  be  as  thou  sup- 
posest,  when  the  incident  of  the  ring  is  true  ?  Were  it  not  for  the  ring  I  should 
imagine  that  it  was  a  dream  ;  but  this  is  her  ring  which  is  upon  my  little  finger  at 
the  present  moment.     See,  O  King,  what  is  its  value. 

Camaralzaman  then  handed  the  ring  to  his  father,  who,  having  taken  it,  and 
turned  it  round,  looked  towards  his  son,  and  said  to  him.  Verily,  some  great  and 
important  revelation  dependeth  upon  this  ring,  and  that  which  happened  to  thee  last 
night  with  this  damsel  is  a  mysterious  affair.  I  know  not  how  this  visitor,  came  in 
among  us,  and  no  one  was  the  cause  of  all  this  but  the  Vizier.  I  conjure  thee,  how- 
ever, by  Allah,  0  my  son,  that  thou  be  patient ;  for  probably  God  will  dispel  this 
affliction  from  thee,  and  send  thee  complete  relief.  0  my  son,  he  continued,  I  have 
now  convinced  myself  that  thou  art  not  insane  ;  but  no  one  can  clear  up  thy  affair 
excepting  God. — Camaralzaman  replied,  By  Allah,  0  my  father,  search  after  this 
damsel  for  me,  and  hasten  her  coming  ;  else  I  shall  die  of  anguish.  Then,  with  ao 
expression  of  transport,  he  looked  towards  his  father,  and  added,  I  have  not  patience 
to  wait  for  her  even  an  hour.  And  upon  this,  the  King  smote  his  hands  together, 
and  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great! 
No  stratagem  will  avail  in  this  affair !  —  He  then  took  the  hand  of  his  son,  and  led 
him  to  the  palace,  where  Camaralzaman  laid  himself  upon  the  bed  of  sickness,  and 
his  father  seated  himself  at  his  head,  mourning  and  weeping  for  his  son,  and  leaving 
him  neither  by  night  nor  day. 

At  length  the  Vizier  said  to  the  King,  0  King  of  the  age,  how  long  wilt  thou 
remain  shut  up  from  thy  troops  with  thy  son  Camaralzaman  ?  Prohaljly  the  order 
of  the  realm  may  be  corrupted  by  thy  estrangement  from  the  lords  of  thy  empire. 
It  is  incumbent  on  the  wise,  when  various  diseases  afflict  his  body,  to  apply  himself 
to  restoratives  for  his  bones  ;  and  it  is  my  advice  that  thou  remove  thy  son  from 
this  place  to  the  pavilion  in  the  palace  overlooking  the  sea,  and  pass  thy  time  in 
retirement  there  with  thy  son,  appointing  two  days  in  every  week,  namely,  Thursday 
and  Monday,  for  the  procession  of  state  and  for  holding  the  court.  So,  on  those  two 
days,  the  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  chamberlains  and  lieutenants,  and  other  lords  of 
the  empire  and  chief  men  of  the  state,  and  the  impetuous  warriors  and  the  rest  of 
the  soldiers  and  subjects,  shall  come  in  unto  thee  and  submit  to  thee  their  cases,  and 
thou  shall  perform  their  wants  and  judge  between  them,  and  take  from  them  and 
give  to  them,  and  command  and  forbid  ;  and  the  rest  of  the  week  thou  shalt  pass  with 
thy  son  Camaralzaman.  Thus  thou  shalt  continue  to  do  until  God  dispel  thy  grief 
and  his:  and  be  not  confident,  0  King,  of  thy  safety  from  the  vicissitudes  of  fortune 
and  the  calamities  of  time:  for  the  wise  is  always  cautious.  And  when  the  Sultan 
heard  these  words  of  the  Vizier,  he  approved  of  his  advice,  and  saw  that  it  was 
suitable  to  his  case:  it  made  an  impression  upon  him,  and  he  feared  that  tho  order 
of  his  realm  would  be  disturbed  around  him  ;  so  he  arose  immediately,  and  gave 
orders  to  remove  his  son  from  that  place  to  the  pavilion  in  the  palace  overlooking 
the  sea.  The  access  to  it  was  over  a  causeway  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  the  width  ol 
which  was  twenty  cubits.  Around  the  pavilion  were  windows  overlooking  the  sea  ; 
its  floor  was  paved  with  coloured  marbles,  its  ceiling  was  painted  with  the  finest 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA.  293 

pigments  of  every  colour,  and  decorated  with  gold  and  ultramarine,  and  they  spread 
in  it  for  Camaralzaman  silken  carpets,  hung  its  walls  with  brocade,  and  suspended 
in  it  curtains  adorned  with  jewels.  Camaralzaman  entered  it,  and  from  the  excess 
of  his  passion  he  became  extremely  restless,  his  heart  was  troubled,  his  complexion 
became  pallid,  and  his  body  wasted.  His  father  sat  at  his  head  mourning  for  him  ; 
and  every  Thursday  and  Monday  the  King  gave  permission  to  every  one  of  the 
Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  chamberlains  and  lieutenants,  and  other  lords  of  the  empire, 
and  all  the  soldiers  and  subjects  who  desired,  to  come  in  to  him  in  that  pavilion. 
So  they  entered,  and  performed  their  several  services,  and  remained  with  him  until 
the  close  of  the  day,  when  they  dispersed  and  went  their  way ;  after  which,  the 
King  went  in  to  his  son  Camaralzaman  in  that  place,  and  left  him  not  night  nor  day; 
and  thus  he  continued  to  do  for  many  days  and  nights.  Thus  did  it  happen  unto 
Camaralzaman. 

Now  I  must  relate  what  took  place  with  the  Queen  Badoura,  the  daughter  of  the 
King  Gaiour,  the  lord  of  the  Islands  and  the  Seven  Palaces. — When  the  Genie  had 
carried  her  back  and  laid  her  again  in  her  bed,  there  remained  of  the  night  no  more 
than  three  hours  ;  and  when  daybreak  came  she  awoke  from  her  sleep,  and  sat  up, 
and  looked  to  the  right  and  left ;  but  saw  not  her  beloved  who  had  been  lying  in 
her  bosom.  Upon  this,  her  heart  was  agitated,  her  reason  quitted  her,  and  she 
uttered  a  great  cry.  So  all  her  female  slaves  and  nurses  and  confidants  awoke  and 
came  in  to  her,  and  the  chief  of  them,  advancing  towards  her,  said  to  her,  0  my 
mistress,  what  hath  befallen  thee  ? — 0  ill-omened  old  woman,  said  the  lady  Badoura, 
where  is  my  beloved,  the  beautiful  youth  who  was  sleeping  this  night  in  my  bosom  ? 
Inform  me  whither  he  hath  gone.  And  when  the  old  lady  heard  these  words,  the 
light  became  darkness  before  her  face,  and  fearing  greatly  from  her  power,  she  said, 
O  my  mistress  Badoura.  what  mean  these  disgraceful  words?  But  the  lady  Badoura 
exclaimed.  Wo  to  thee,  0  ill-omened  old  woman  !  Where  is  my  beloved,  the  beau- 
tiful youth  with  the  lovely  face  and  the  black  eyes  and  the  joined  eyebrows,  who 
was  with  me  from  nightfall  until  near  daybreak  ?  —  By  Allah,  answered  the  old 
woman,  I  have  seen  neither  a  young  man  nor  any  other  person,  and  I  conjure  thee 
by  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  that  thou  jest  not  in  this  unreasonable  manner,  lest  our 
lives  be  lost :  for  perhaps  this  jest  may  come  to  the  knowledge  of  thy  father,  and 
who  will  deliver  us  from  his  hand  ?  The  Queen  Badoura  said  to  her,  There  was  a 
young  man  passing  this  last  night  with  me,  in  countenance  the  most  comely  of  men. 
—  Heaven  preserve  thy  reason  !  exclaimed  the  old  lady:  there  was  no  one  passing 
the  night  with  thee.  And  upon  this,  Badoura  looked  at  her  hand,  and  found  the 
ring  of  Camaralzaman  upon  her  finger,  and  found  not  her  own  ring.  So  she  said 
to  the  lady.  Wo  to  thee,  0  deceitful !  Dost  thou  tell  a  lie,  and  say  to  me.  There  was 
no  one  passing  the  night  with  thee, — and  swear  to  me  by  Allah  falsely  ? — By  Allah  ! 
replied  the  confidant,  I  have  not  told  thee  a  lie,  nor  sworn  falsely.  And  the  lady 
Badoura  was  enraged  at  her ;  and,  drawing  a  sword  that  was  by  her,  struck  her,  and 
would  have  killed  her.  But  the  eunuch  and  the  female  slaves  cried  out  at  her,  and 
went  and  acquainted  her  father  with  her  state. 

The  King,  therefore,  came  immediately  to  his  daughter,  the  lady  Badoura,  and 
said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  what  is  the  matter  with  thee. — 0  my  father,  said  she, 
where  is  the  young  man  who  was  sleeping  by  my  side  this  last  night? — Her  reason 
fled  from  her  head,  and  she  began  to  look  to  the  right  and  left,  and  then  rent  her 
vest  to  its  skirt.  So  when  her  father  saw  her  do  thus,  he  ordered  the  female  slaves 
and  eunuchs  to  seize  her;  and  they  laid  hold  upon  her,  and  bound  her,  and  put  a 
chain  of  iron  upon  her  neck,  and  attached  her  to  a  window  of  the  palace.  Now  as 
to  her  father,  the  world  became  strait  unto  him  ;  for  he  loved  her,  and  her  state  was 
grievous  to  him.  He  therefore  summoned  the  astrologers  and  sages,  and  those 
skilled  in  [magic]  characters,  and  said  to  them.  Whosoever  cureth  my  daughter  of 
her  present  disorder,  I  will  marry  him  to  her,  and  will  give  him  half  of  my  king- 
dom ;  and  whoso  faileth  to  cure  her,  I  will  strike  off  his  head,  and  hang  it  over  the 


294  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

palace-gate.  And  so  he  continued  to  do  until  he  had  cut  off,  on  her  account,  forty 
heada.  He  sought  all  the  sages ;  but  all  the  people  held  back  from  attempting  her 
cure,  and  all  the  sages  were  unable  to  restore  her;  her  case  perplexed  the  men  of 
science,  and  those  skilled  in  [magic]  characters. 

The  lady  Badoura  remained  in  the  same  state  for  three  years.  —  Now  she  had  a 
foster-brother  named  Marzavan,  who  had  travelled  to  the  most  remote  countries,  and 
been  absent  from  her  during  all  that  period.  He  loved  her  with  an  excessive  love, 
greater  than  the  love  of  brothers ;  and  when  he  came  back,  he  went  in  to  his  mother, 
and  inquired  of  her  respecting  his  sister,  the  lady  Badoura.  So  she  said  to  him,  0 
my  son,  insanity  hath  befallen  thy  sister ;  she  hath  been  in  this  state  for  three  years, 
with  a  chain  of  iron  upon  her  neck,  and  the  physicians  have  been  unable  to  cure 
her.  And  when  Maizavan  heard  these  words,  he  said,  I  must  visit  her;  perhaps  I 
may  discover  her  ailment,  and  be  able  to  cure  her.  His  mother,  therefore,  when  she 
heard  him  say  this,  replied.  Thou  must  visit  her  ;  but  wait  until  to-morrow,  that  I 
may  devise  some  stratagem  to  forward  thy  purpose.  She  then  walked  to  the  palace 
of  the  lady  Badoura,  and,  accosting  the  eunuch  who  was  charged  to  keep  the  door, 
gave  him  a  present,  and  said,  I  have  a  daughter  who  was  brought  up  with  the  lady 
Badoura,  and  I  have  married  her;  and  in  consequence  of  that  which  happened  to 
thy  mistress,  her  heart  became  greatly  concerned  for  her  state.  I  therefore  beg  of 
thy  goodness  that  my  daughter  may  pay  her  a  short  visit,  to  see  her,  and  then  return 
by  the  way  that  she  came  without  any  person's  knowing  of  her  visit.  —  The  eunuch 
replied.  That  will  be  impossible,  except  at  night:  so  after  the  Sultan  shall  have 
come  to  see  his  daughter,  and  gone  forth,  enter  thou  with  thy  daughter. 

The  old  woman  then  kissed  the  hand  of  the  eunuch,  and  went  forth  to  her  house ; 
and  at  the  commencement  of  the  next  night  she  arose  immediately,  and  taking  her 
son  Marzavan,  clad  him  in  a  suit  of  woman's  attire,  after  which  she  placed  his  hand 
in  her  own,  and  conducted  him  into  the  palace.  She  advanced  with  him  until  she 
brought  him  to  the  eunuch,  after  the  departure  of  the  Sultan  from  his  daughter,  and 
when  the  eunuch  saw  her,  he  arose,  and  said  to  her.  Enter,  but  prolong  not  thy  stay. 
So  when  the  old  woman  entered  with  her  son  Marzavan,  he  saw  the  lady  Badoura  in 
the  state  already  described,  and  he  saluted  her,  after  his  mother  had  taken  off  his 
woman's  apparel.  Marzavan  then  took  forth  the  books  that  he  had  brought  with 
him,  and  lighted  his  candle.  But  the  lady  Badoura,  looking  at  him,  recognised  him, 
and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  thou  hast  been  travelling,  and  tidings  of  thee  have 
been  suspended.  —  True,  he  replied  ;  but  God  hath  restored  me  in  safety,  and  I  de- 
sired to  travel  again,  and  nothing  prevented  me  from  doing  so  excepting  this  news 
that  I  have  heard  respecting  thee ;  in  consequence  of  which  my  heart  hath  been  tor- 
mented on  thine  account ;  wherefore  I  have  come  to  thee  in  the  hope  that  I  may  dis- 
cover thy  disorder,  and  be  able  to  cure  thee. — But  she  said,  0  my  brother,  dost  thou 
imagine  it  to  be  madness  that  hath  befallen  me?  Then  making  a  sign  to  him,  she 
recited  these  two  verses :  — 

They  said,  Thou  ravest  upon  him  whom  thou  lovest.     And  I  replied,  The  sweets  of  life  are 

only  for  the  mad. 
Well :  I  am  mad :  then  bring  me  him  upon  whom  I  rave ;  and  if  he  cure  my  madness,  do  not 

blame  me. 

So  Marzavan  perceived  that  she  was  in  love  ;  and  he  said  to  her.  Acquaint  me  with 
thy  story,  and  with  all  that  hath  happened  to  thee  ;  perhaps  God  may  discover  to 
me  that  which  may  bring  thee  deliverance.  The  lady  Badoura  therefore  replied,  0 
my  brother,  hear  my  story.  It  is  this:  — I  awoke  from  my  sleep  one  night,  in  the 
last  third  of  the  night,  and,  sitting  up,  beheld  by  my  side  a  young  man,  the  most 
beautiful  of  youths,  such  as  the  tt>ngue  cannot  describe,  like  a  twig  of  the  Oriental 
willow,  or  an  Indian  cane.  So  I  thought  that  my  father  had  ordered  him  to  act 
thus,  to  tempt  me  by  him  ;  for  he  had  required  me  to  marry,  when  the  Kings  de- 
manded me  of  him  to  wife,  and  I  refused  ;  and  this  idea  prevented  my  rousing  him. 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA.  295 

I  feared  that,  if  I  embraced  him,  he  would  perhaps  acquaint  my  father  with  it.  And 
when  I  awoke  in  the  morning,  I  found  his  ring  in  the  place  of  my  own.  This  is  my 
story ;  and,  0  my  brother,  my  heart  hath  been  devoted  to  him  ever  since  I  beheld 
him ;  from  the  excess  of  my  passion  and  desire  I  taste  not  the  savour  of  sleep,  and 
have  no  occupation  but  that  of  pouring  forth  floods  of  tears,  and  reciting  verses, 
night  and  day.  See,  then,  0  my  brother,  how  thou  canst  assist  me  in  my  affliction. 
—  Upon  this,  Marzavan  hung  down  his  head  towards  the  ground  for  a  while,  won- 
dering, and  knowing  not  what  to  do.  He  then  raised  his  head,  and  said  to  her,  All 
that  hath  occurred  to  thee  is  true ;  and  verily  the  story  of  this  young  man  hath 
wearied  my  imagination  ;  but  I  will  travel  about  through  all  the  countries,  and 
search  for  the  means  of  thy  restoration.  Perhaps  God  will  accomplish  it  by  my 
band.  Have  patience,  therefore,  and  be  not  disquieted.  —  Having  thus  said,  he 
bade  her  farewell,  praying  that  she  might  be  endowed  with  patience,  and  departed 
from  her. 

He  returned  to  the  house  of  his  mother,  and  slept  that  night,  and  when  the  morn- 
ing came  he  prepared  for  travelling.  So  he  went  forth,  and  continued  journeying 
from  city  to  city  and  from  island  to  island  for  the  space  of  a  whole  month,  after 
which  he  entered  a  city  called  El-Tarf,  and  inquired  the  news  of  the  people,  hoping 
to  find  the  remedy  of  the  Queen  Badoura.  Whenever  he  had  entered  a  city  or  passed 
by  it,  he  had  heard  it  said  that  the  Queen  Badoura,  the  daughter  of  the  KingGaiour, 
had  been  afflicted  by  insanity  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  inquire  the  news  until  he 
arrived  at  the  city  of  El-Tarf,  when  he  heard  that  Camaralzaman,  the  son  of  King 
Shah-Zaman,  was  sick,  and  that  distraction  and  insanity  had  afflicted  him.  When 
Marzavan,  therefore,  heard  his  story,  he  asked  some  of  the  people  of  that  city  respect- 
ing his  country  and  capital ;  and  they  answered  him.  The  islands  of  KhaJedan  ;  and 
between  us  and  them  is  a  voyage  of  a  whole  month  by  sea ;  but  by  land  the  journey 
is  six  months. 

So  Marzavan  embarked  in  a  ship  bound  for  the  Islands  of  Khaledan.  The  ship 
was  fitted  for  the  voyage,  and  the  wind  was  favourable  to  her  for  the  space  of  a 
mouth,  when  the  city  appeared  before  them  ;  but  when  they  had  come  in  sight  of  it, 
and  had  almost  gained  the  shore,  there  arose  against  them  a  tempestuous  wind, 
which  carried  away  the  yard,  and  the  sails  fell  into  the  sea,  and  the  vessel  was  cap- 
sized with  all  that  it  contained.  Every  one  sought  his  own  safety ;  but  as  to  Mar- 
zavan, the  force  of  the  current  bore  him  along  until  it  conveyed  him  beneath  the 
King's  pavilion,  in  which  was  Camaralzaman.  It  happened,  in  accordance  with 
destiny,  that  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  had  assembled  in  attendance  upon  him,  and  the 
King  Shah-Zaman  was  sitting  with  the  head  of  his  son  Camaralzaman  in  his  lap, 
and  a  eunuch  was  whisking  the  flies  from  him.  Camaralzaman  for  two  days  had 
neither  eaten  nor  drunk,  nor  had  he  spoken  ;  and  the  Vizier  standing  at  his  feet, 
near  the  window  looking  over  the  sea,  raised  his  eyes,  and  beheld  Marzavan  aboot 
to  be  destroyed  by  the  current,  and  at  his  last  gasp ;  whereupon  his  heart  was  moved 
with  pity  for  him,  and,  approaching  the  Sultan,  he  stretched  forth  his  head  towards 
him,  and  said,  I  beg  thy  permission  that  I  may  descend  to  the  court  of  the  pavilion 
and  open  its  gate,  that  I  may  save  a  man  who  is  at  the  point  of  drowning  in  the  sea, 
and  turn  his  anguish  into  joy.  Perhaps  God,  on  that  account  may  deliver  thy  son 
from  his  present  affliction. — The  Sultan  replied.  All  that  hath  befallen  my  son  hath 
been  caused  by  thee,  and  probably  if  thou  deliver  this  drowning  man,  he  will  dis- 
cover our  afi'airs,  and  behold  my  son  in  this  state,  and  exult  over  me.  But  I  swear 
by  Allah,  that  if  this  drowning  man  come  up  and  see  my  son,  and  then  go  forth  and 
divulge  any  of  our  secrets,  I  will  assuredly  strike  ofi"  thy  head  before  his;  for  thou, 
0  Vizier,  art  the  cause  of  all  that  hath  befallen  us,  first  and  last.  Then  do  as  thou 
desirest. 

The  Vizier  accordingly  arose,  and,  opening  the  door  of  the  court,  went  down  upon 
the  causeway,  and  proceeded  twenty  steps  until  he  came  to  the  sea,  when  he  beheld 
Marzavan  at  the  point  of  death.     He  therefore  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  him,  and 


296  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

seized  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  and  drew  him  up;  and  Marzavan  came  forth  from 
the  sea  in  a  state  of  insensibility,  with  his  stomach  filled  with  water,  and  his  eyea 
protruding.  The  Vizier  waited  until  his  spirit  returned  to  him,  and  then  took  off 
from  him  his  clothes,  and  clad  him  with  others,  putting  on  his  head  one  of  the  tur- 
bans of  his  young  men  ;  after  which  he  said  to  him.  Know  that  I  have  been  the 
means  of  thy  deliverance  from  drowning,  and  be  not  thou  the  means  of  my  death 
and  of  thine  own. — How  so  ?  said  Marzavan.  The  Vizier  answered.  Because  thou 
wilt  come  up  and  pass  among  Emirs  and  Viziers,  all  of  them  silent,  speaking  not, 
on  account  of  Camaralzaman,  the  son  of  the  Sultan.  And  when  Marzavan  heard 
the  mention  of  Camaralzaman,  he  knew  him,  having  heard  his  story  in  the  coun- 
tries whence  he  had  come;  but  he  said.  Who  is  Camaralzaman?  The  Vizier 
answered.  He  is  the  son  of  the  Sultan  Shah-Zaman,  and  is  sick,  laid  upon  his  bed, 
without  rest,  knowing  not  night  from  day.  He  hath  almost  parted  with  life,  from 
the  wasting  of  his  body,  and  become  numbered  among  the  dead  ;  he  passeth  the  day 
in  burning,  and  the  night  in  torment,  and  we  have  despaired  of  his  life,  and  made 
sure  of  his  dissolution.  Beware  of  looking  at  him,  or  at  any  place  but  that  whereon 
thou  puttest  thy  foot ;  else  thy  life  and  mine  will  be  sacrificed. — Marzavan  then  said, 
I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  acquaint  me  respecting  this  youth  whom  thou  hast  de- 
scribed to  me,  and  to  tell  me  what  is  the  cause  of  this  state  in  which  he  is.  So  the 
Vizier  replied,  I  know  no  cause  of  it,  save  that  his  father,  three  years  ago,  required 
him  to  marry,  and  he  refused  ;  and  he  awoke  in  the  morning  and  asserted  that  he 
had  been  sleeping,  and  saw  by  his  side  a  damsel  of  surpassing  beauty,  such  as  con- 
founded the  reason  and  baflSed  description,  and  he  told  us  that  he  had  taken  off  her 
ring  from  her  finger  and  put  it  on  his  own  finger,  and  put  his  ring  on  her  finger,  and 
we  know  not  the  mystery  of  this  affair.  By  Allah,  then,  0  my  son,  come  up  with 
me  into  the  pavilion,  and  look  not  at  the  King's  son.  After  that,  go  thy  way.  For 
the  heart  of  the  Sultan  is  filled  with  rage  against  me. — So  Marzavan  said  within 
himself,  By  Allah,  this  is  what  I  sought!  He  then  followed  the  Vizier  until  he 
came  to  the  pavilion  ;  and  the  Vizier  seated  himself  at  the  feet  of  Camaralzaman. 
But  as  to  Marzavan,  he  forthwith  advanced  until  he  stationed  himself  before  Ca- 
maralzaman, and  looked  at  him  ;  whereupon  the  Vizier  became  as  one  dead,  and, 
looking  at  Marzavan,  made  signs  to  him  that  he  should  go  his  way  ;  but  Marzavan 
feigned  to  take  no  notice.  He  continued  gazing  at  Camaralzaman,  and,  knowing 
that  he  was  the  object  of  his  search,  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who 
hath  made  his  stature  like  hers,  and  his  complexion  like  hers,  and  his  cheek  like 
hers!  So  Camaralzaman  opened  his  eyes,  and  listened;  and  the  words  of  Marzavan 
descended  upon  the  heart  of  Camaralzaman  as  coolness  and  health,  and,  turning  hi's 
tongue  in  his  mouth,  he  made  a  sign  to  the  Sultan  with  his  hand,  as  though  he 
would  say,  Let  this  young  man  sit  by  my  side.  And  when  the  Sultan  heard  these 
words  of  his  son  Camaralzaman,  after  he  had  been  enraged  against  the  young  man, 
and  determined  to  strike  off  his  head,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly.  He  arose,  and  seated 
Marzavan  by  the  side  of  his  son,  and,  accosting  him  with  kindness,  said  to  him, 
From  what  country  art  thou?  He  answered,  From  the  Interior  Islands,  from  the 
dominions  of  the  King  Gaiour,  the  lord  of  the  Islands  and  Seas,  and  of  the  Seven 
Palaces.  And  the  King  Shah-Zaman  said.  Perhaps  relief  may  come  to  my  son  Ca- 
maralzaman through  thy  means.  Then  Marzavan  addressed  Camaralzaman,  and 
said  to  him  in  his  ear.  Strengthen  thy  heart,  and  be  cheerful  and  happy;  for  as  to 
her  on  whose  account  thou  hast  been  reduced  to  this  condition,  ask  not  respecting 
her  state.  Thou  hast  concealed  thy  affair,  and  fallen  sick ;  but  she  made  known  her 
feelings,  and  became  distracted,  and  is  now  imprisoned  in  the  most  miserable  con- 
dition, with  a  collar  of  iron  upon  her  neck.  But,  if  it  be  the  will  df  God,  the  resto- 
ration of  you  both  shall  be  effected  by  my  means. — And  when  Camaralzaman  heard 
these  words,  his  soul  returned  to  him,  and  he  recovered  his  senses,  and  made  a  sign 
to  the  King  his  father  that  he  should  raise  him  in  a  sitting  posture.  So  the  King 
rejoiced  excessively,  and  seated  his  son.     He  then  dismissed  all  the  Viziers  and 


AND   THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA.  2^7 

Emirs,  and  Camaralzaman  sat  reclining  between  two  cushions.  The  King  gave  or- 
ders to  perfume  the  pavilion  with  saffron,  and  to  decorate  the  city,  and  said  to  Mar- 
zavan,  By  Allah,  0  my  son,  this  is  an  auspicious  event.  He  treated  him  with  the 
utmost  favour,  and  called  for  food  for  him.  So  they  placed  it  before  him,  and  he 
ate,  and  Camaralzaman  ate  with  him.  He  passed  the  next  night  with  him,  and  the 
King  also  remained  with  'them  both  that  night,  in  the  excess  of  his  joy  at  the  re- 
storation of  his  son. 

On  the  following  morning,  Marzavan  began  to  tell  his  story  to  Camaralzaman, 
saying  to  him.  Know  that  I  am  acquainted  with  her  in  whose  company  thou  wast, 
and  her  name  is  the  lady  Badoura,  the  daughter  of  the  King  Gaiour.  He  then  re- 
lated to  him  all  that  had  happened  to  the  lady  Badoura,  from  beginning  to  end,  and 
acq-.iainted  him  with  the  excess  of  her  love  for  him. — All  that  hath  happened  unto 
thee  with  thy  father,  said  he,  hath  happened  to  her  with  her  father ;  thou  art  with- 
out doubt  her  lover,  and  she  is  thine:  so  strengthen  thy  heart  and  thy  resolution  : 
for  I  will  conduct  thee  unto  her,  and  unite  you  both.  He  continued  to  encourage 
Camaralzaman  until  he  ate  and  drank  and  his  soul  returned  to  him,  and  he  recovered 
from  his  disorder ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  converse  with  him  and  cheer  and  amuse 
him,  and  recite  to  him  verses,  until  he  entered  the  bath,  when  his  father  gave  orders 
again  to  decorate  the  city,  in  his  joy  at  this  event,  and  bestowed  robes  of  honour, 
and  gave  alms,  and  liberated  those  who  were  confined  in  the  prisons. 

Marzavan  then  said  to  Camaralzaman,  Know  that  I  came  not  from  the  lady 
Badoura  but  for  this  purpose;  it  was  the  object  of  my  journey  to  deliver  her  from 
her  present  sufferings  ;  and  it  only  remaineth  for  us  to  devise  some  stratagem  that 
we  may  go  to  her  ;  for  thy  father  cannot  endure  the  idea  of  thy  separation.  But 
to-morrow  do  thou  ask  him  to  permit  thee  to  go  forth  to  hunt  in  the  desert,  and  take 
with  thee  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  full  of  money,  mount  upon  a  swift  horse,  and  take 
with  thee  a  spare  horse.  I  also  will  do  the  like ;  and  say  thou  to  thy  father,  I  de- 
sire to  amuse  myself  in  the  desert,  and  to  hunt,  and  see  the  open  country,  and  to 
pass  there  one  night:  therefore  trouble  not  thy  heart  at  all  on  my  account. — Camar- 
alzaman rejoiced  at  the  words  of  Marzavan,  and,  going  in  to  his  father,  asked  his 
permission  to  go  forth  to  hunt,  saying  as  Marzavan  desired  him.  And  his  father 
granted  him  permission,  but  said  to  him,  Pass  no  more  than  one  night  away,  and  on 
the  morrow  be  with  me  again  ;  for  thou  knowest  that  life  hath  no  pleasure  unto  me 
without  thee,  and  that  I  do  not  believe  thee  to  have  entirely  recovered  from  thy  dis- 
order. Having  thus  said,  he  equipped  Camaralzaman,  together  with  Marzavan, 
giving  orders  that  they  should  be  furnished  with  six  horses,  and  a  dromedary  to 
carry  the  money,  and  a  camel  to  carry  the  water  and  food;  and  Camaralzaman  for- 
bade that  any  one  should  go  forth  with  him  to  attend  upon  him.  So  his  father  bade 
him  farewell,  and  pressed  him  to  his  bosom,  saying  to  him,  I  request  thee  by  Allah 
do  not  be  absent  from  me  more  than  one  night ;  and  during  that  night,  sleep  will 
be  forbidden  unto  me. 

Camaralzaman  and  Marzavan  then  went  forth,  and  mounted  two  horses,  having 
with  them  the  dromedary  bearing  the  money,  and  the  camel  laden  with  water  and 
the  food,  and,  turning  their  faces  towards  the  open  country,  proceeded  the  first  day 
until  evening,  when  they  alighted  and  ate  and  drank,  and  fed  their  beasts  and  rested 
a  while.  After  this  they  mounted  again  and  journeyed  on,  and  continued  on  their 
way  for  the  space  of  three  days ;  and  on  the  fourth  day  they  came  to  a  spacious 
tract  in  which  was  a  forest,  where  they  alighted.  Marzavan  then  took  the  camel 
and  one  of  the  horses,  and  slaughtered  them,  cut  off  their  flesh,  and  stripped  their 
bones,  and  taking  from  Camaralzaman  his  shirt  and  drawers,  rent  them  in  pieces, 
and  daubed  them  with  the  blood  of  the  horse.  He  also  took  Camaralzaman's  upper 
garment,  and  tore  it,  and  daubed  it  with  the  blood,  and  threw  it  in  a  spot  where  the 
road  divided  ;  after  which  they  ate  and  drank  and  proceeded.  So  Camaralzaman 
asked  Marzavan  the  reason  of  this  which  he  had  done;  and  Marzavan  answered, 
Know  that  thy  father,  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  after  thou  hast  been  absent  from  him 


298  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

one  night,  and  not  returned  to  him  on  the  second,  will  mount  and  follow  our  track 
until  he  cometh  to  this  blood  which  I  have  spilled,  when  he  will  see  thy  clothes  torn 
and  bloody,  and  will  inia^jine  that  some  accident  hath  befallen  thee  from  robbers 
who  obstruct  the  roads,  or  from  a  wild  beast  of  the  desert ;  whereupon  he  will  aban- 
don all  hope  of  thee,  and  return  to  the  city ;  and  by  this  stratagem  we  shall  attain 
our  desire. — Camaralzaman  therefore  replied.  Excellently  hast  thou  done. — They 
continued  their  journey  days  and  nights,  Camaralzaman  weeping  all  the  while,  until 
the  Islands  of  the  King  Gaiour  appeared  before  him,  and  Camaralzaman  rejoiced 
exceedingly,  and  thanked  Marzavan  for  what  he  had  done.  They  entered  the  city, 
and  Marzavan  lodged  Camaralzaman  in  a  Khan,  where  they  rested  three  days  from 
the  fatigues  of  the  journey.  After  this,  Marzavan  conducted  Camaralzaman  into 
the  bath,  and  clad  him  in  the  attire  of  a  merchant,  and  made  for  him  a  geomantic 
tablet  of  gold,  with  a  set  of  instruments,  and  an  astrolabe  of  gold.  He  then  said 
to  him,  Arise,  O  my  lord  ;  station  thyself  beneath  the  King's  palace,  and  call  out, 
I  am  the  calculator,  the  writer,  the  astrologer!  Where  then  is  he  who  desireth  to 
consult  me  ? — For  the  king,  as  soon  as  he  heareth  thee,  will  send  for  thee,  and  in- 
troduce thee  to  his  daughter,  thy  beloved  ;  and  when  she  beholdeth  thee,  the  mad- 
ness that  she  suffereth  will  cease  ;  and  her  father,  rejoicing  in  her  safety,  will  marry 
her  to  thee  ;  and  divide  his  kingdom  with  thee  ;  for  he  hath  imposed  this  condition 
on  himself. 

So  Camaralzaman  took  the  advice  of  Marzavan,  and  went  forth  from  the  Khan, 
wearing  the  dress,  and  having  with  him  the  set  of  instruments  which  we  have  de- 
scribed, and  walked  on  until  he  stationed  himself  beneath  the  palace  of  the  King 
Gaionr,  when  he  called  out,  I  am  the  writer,  the  calculator,  the  astrologer!  I  per- 
form the  ceremonies  of  marriage-contracts,  and  write  sure  charms,  and  make  calcu- 
lations, and  write  the  geomantic  characters  by  which  questions  are  determined! 
Where  then  is  he  who  desireth  to  consult  me?  And  when  the  people  of  the  city 
heard  these  words,  as  they  had  not  for  along  time  seen  a  calculator  or  an  astrologer, 
they  stoiid  around  him  and  gazed  at  him,  and  wondering  at  the  beauty  of  his  form 
and  elegance  of  his  youth,  they  said  to  him,  We  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0  our  lord, 
expose  not  thyself  in  this  manner  through  thy  ambition  to  marry  the  daughter  of 
the  King  Gaiour:  but  turn  thine  eyes  towards  these  heads  that  are  hung  up:  for 
their  owners  have  all  of  them  been  killed  on  this  account,  and  their  ambition  led 
them  to  perdition. — But  Camaralzaman  regarded  not  their  words.  On  the  contrary, 
he  raised  his  voice,  and  cried  again,  I  am  the  writer,  the  calculator!  I  bring  near 
the  objects  of  desire  to  the  desirer ! — The  people  still  besought  and  forbade  him  ; 
but  instead  of  hearing  their  words,  he  again  raised  his  voice,  and  cried  as  before. 
Whereupon  they  were  all  angry  with  him,  and  said  to  him.  Thou  art  none  other  than 
a  proud  and  foolish  young  man.  Have  compassion  upon  thy  youth  and  tender  years, 
and  thy  beauty  and  loveliness. — But  he  cried  out  and  said,  I  am  the  astrologer,  the 
calculator!    Is  there,  then,  any  who  desireth  to  consult  me? 

And  while  the  people  were  attempting  to  dissuade  him  from  doing  thus,  the  King 
Gaiour  heard  the  crying,  and  the  clamour  of  the  people,  and  said  to  the  Vizier, 
Bring  to  us  this  astrologer.  So  the  Vizier  descended,  and  took  Camaralzaman,  ^^  bo, 
when  he  went  in  unto  the  King,  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  And  when  the  King 
Gaiour  beheld  him,  he  seated  him  by  his  side,  and  accosted  him  graciously,  saying, 
0  my  son,  by  Allah  call  not  thyself  an  astrologer,  nor  comply  with  my  condition  ; 
for  I  have  bound  myself  that  whosoever  visiteth  my  daughter  and  doth  not  cure  her 
of  that  which  hath  befallen  her,  I  will  strike  ofiF  his  head;  and  that  whosoever  cureth 
her,  I  will  marry  her  to  him.  Let  not  then  thy  beauty  and  loveliness  and  justness 
of  form  deceive  thee.  By  Allah  !  By  Allah  !  If  thou  cure  her  not,  I  will  strike  off 
thy  head  !  —Camaralzaman  replied,  I  agree  to  this  condition.  So  the  King  Gaiour 
desired  the  Cadies  to  bear  witness  against  him,  and  delivered  him  to  the  eunuch, 
saying  to  him,  Conduct  this  person  to  the  lady  Badoura. 

The  eunuch,  therefore,  took  him  by  the  hand,  and  proceeded  with  him  along  tba 


AND   THE    PRINCESS   BADOURA.  299 

passage;  but  Camaralzaman  went  on  before  him  ;  and  the  eunuch  began  to  say  to 
him,  Wo  to  thee!  Hasten  not  to  thine  own  destruction!  By  AHah,  I  never  knew 
any  astrologer  but  thee  hasten  to  his  own  destruction  !  But  thou  knowest  not  the 
calamities  that  are  before  thee.  —  The  eunuch  then  stationed  Camaralzaman  behind 
the  curtain  which  was  over  the  door;  and  Camaralzaman  said  to  him,  Which  of  the 
two  modes  will  be  more  agreeable  to  thee:  my  treating  and  curing  thy  mistress 
here,  or  my  going  in  to  her,  and  curing  her  within  the  curtain  ?  And  the  eunuch 
wondered  at  his  words,  and  answered  him.  If  thou  cure  her  here,  it  will  be  a  greater 
proof  of  thy  excellent  skill.  Upon  this,  therefore,  Camaralzaman  seated  himself 
behind  the  curtain,  and  taking  forth  the  ink-case  and  pen,  wrote  upon  a  paper  these 
words : — 

He  whom  estrangement  hath  afflicted  is  to  be  cured  by  the  performance  of  the 
engagement  of  his  beloved ;  but  misery  is  the  lot  of  him  who  hath  despaired  of  hip 
life,  and  made  sure  of  his  dissolution  ;  for  whose  sorrowful  heart  there  is  no  sup- 
porter or  helper,  and  for  whose  sleepless  eye  there  is  no  reliever  from  anxiety ;  who 
passeth  his  day  in  burning,  and  his  night  in  torture ;  whose  body  hath  suffered  con- 
tinual wasting ;  and  to  whom  no  messenger  hath  come  from  his  beloved.  The 
restoration  of  the  heart  is  effected  by  union  with  the  beloved  ;  and  God  is  the  only 
physician  who  can  cure  him  whom  the  object  of  his  affection  hath  oppressed.  If 
you  or  we  have  been  deceitful,  may  the  deceiver  be  disappointed.  There  is  nothing 
more  charming  than  a  lover  who  is  faithful  to  an  unfeeling  object  of  affection.  — ■ 
Then,  at  the  foot  of  his  letter,  he  wrote  thus:  —  From  the  distracted  and  distressed. 
the  passionate  and  perplexed,  whom  longing  and  ardent  desire  have  disquieted,  the 
captive  of  transport  and  distraction,  Camaralzaman,  the  son  of  Shah-Zaman,  to  the 
peerless  one  of  her  age,  and  the  pre-eminent  among  the  beautiful  Ilouries,  the  lady 
Badoura,  the  daughter  of  the  King  Gaiour.  —  Know  that  I  pass  my  night  in  sleep- 
lessness, and  my  day  in  perplexity,  suffering  from  excessive  wasting  and  sickness, 
and  love  and  desire,  uttering  abundant  sighs,  and  pouring  forth  torrents  of  tears, 
the  slave  of  love,  the  victim  of  passion,  persecuted  by  desire,  the  companion  of  dis- 
ease. I  am  that  restless  one  whose  eye  never  sleepeth  ;  the  slave  of  love  whose  tears 
are  never  interrupted :  the  fire  of  my  heart  is  never  extinguished ;  and  the  flame  of 
my  desire  never  disappeareth. — Then,  having  sealed  the  letter,  he  wrote  in  the  place 
of  the  address  : — 

I  have  sent  thy  ring  which  I  took  in  exchange  when  we  were  together:  then  send  me  mine. 

(For  he  had  enclosed  the  ring  of  the  lady  Badoura  in  the  letter.) 

He  then  handed  the  letter  to  the  eunuch,  who  took  it  and  went  in  with  it  to  the 
lady  Badoura ;  and  she  received  it  from  his  hand,  and  found  in  it  her  ring.  And 
when  she  read  it,  and  understood  its  object,  she  knew  that  her  beloved  was  Camaral- 
zaman, and  that  it  was  he  who  was  standing  outside  the  curtain  ;  whereupon  her 
reason  fled,  through  the  joy  that  she  experienced.  She  arose  immediately,  and, 
pressing  her  feet  against  the  wall,  strained  with  all  her  might  against  the  iron  collar, 
and  broke  it  from  her  neck,  together  with  the  chains,  and  went  forth,  and  threw  her- 
self upon  Camaralzaman,  kissing  his  mouth  like  a  pigeon  feeding  its  young.  She 
embraced  him  in  the  violence  of  her  passion,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  do  I  see 
this  awake  or  in  sleep  ;  and  hath  God  indeed  graciously  granted  us  our  reunion  ? 
She  then  praised  God,  and  thanked  Him,  for  reuniting  her  after  her  despair.  And 
when  the  eunuch  saw  her  in  this  state,  he  went  running  to  the  King  Gaiour,  and, 
kissing  the  ground  before  him,  said  to  him,  0  my  lord,  know  that  this  astrologer  is 
the  wisest  of  all  astrologers;  for  he  cured  thy  daughter  while  he  stood  behind  the 
curtain,  and  went  not  in  to  her.  —  Is  this  news  true?  said  the  King.  —  0  my  lord, 
answered  the  eunuch,  arise  and  see  her,  how  she  hath  broken  the  chains  of  iron  and 
come  forth  to  the  astrologer,  kissing  and  embracing  him. 

So  the  King  Gaiour  arose  and  went  in  to  his  daughter ;  and  when  she  beheld 


300  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

him,  she  arose,  and  covered  her  head.  The  King,  rejoicing  at  her  restoration 
kissed  her  between  her  eyes  ;  for  he  loved  her  excessively  ;  and  then  graciously 
addressd  Camaralzaman,  asking  him  respecting  his  condition,  and  saying.  From 
what  country  art  thou?  Therefore  Camaralzaman  acquainted  him  with  his  rank, 
and  informed  him  that  his  father  was  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  relating  to  him  the 
whole  story  from  beginning  to  end,  and  acquainting  him  with  all  that  had  happened 
to  him  with  the  lady  Badoura,  and  how  he  had  taken  her  ring  from  her  finger,  and 
she  had  put  on  his  ring.  At  this  the  King  Gaiour  wondered,  and  said.  Your  story 
must  be  recorded  in  books  and  read  after  you,  age  after  age.  Then  immediately  he 
summoned  the  Cadies  and  witnesses,  and  performed  the  lady  Badoura's  contract  of 
marriage  to  Camaralzaman,  and  gave  orders  to  decorate  the  city  for  seven  days.  A 
banquet  was  prepared,  the  city  was  decorated,  and  the  people  praised  God  for  his 
having  caused  the  lady  Badoura  to  fail  in  love  with  a  handsome  young  man  of  the 
sons  of  the  Kings.  The  women  displayed  her  before  him,  and  the  marriage  was 
concluded  ;  and  on  the  following  day  the  King  made  a  feast,  to  which  all  [who 
desired]  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  Interior  and  Exterior  Islands  were  admitted,  and 
the  feast  was  continued  during  a  whole  month. 

After  this,  Camaralzaman  thought  upon  his  father,  and  dreamt  that  he  saw  him, 
and  that  he  heard  him  say,  0  my  son,  dost  thou  act  thus  towards  me  ?  He  therefore 
awoke  sorrowful,  and  acquainted  his  wife  with  the  dream.  So  she  went  in  with  him 
to  her  father,  and,  having  informed  him  of  this,  they  begged  his  permission  to  set 
forth  on  the  journey  ;  and  he  gave  permission  to  Camaralzaman  ;  but  the  lady 
Badoura  said,  0  my  father,  I  cannot  endure  his  separation.  Wherefore  he  replied, 
Journey  thou  with  him.  lie  granted  her  permission  to  remain  with  Camaralzaman 
a  whole  year,  and  desired  her  after  that  to  pay  him,  her  father,  an  annual  visit ; 
whereupon  she  kissed  her  father's  hand,  and  Camaralzaman  did  the  same.  The  King 
Gaiour  then  fitted  out  his  daughter  and  her  husband:  he  prepared  for  them  the 
furniture  for  the  journey,  sent  forth  for  them  the  horses  and  the  dromedaries,  together 
with  a  litter  for  his  daughter,  loaded  for  them  the  mules  and  dromedaries,  and  pro- 
vided them  with  all  that  they  required  for  the  journey.  And  on  the  day  of  departure, 
he  bade  farewell  to  Camaralzaman,  and  bestowed  upon  him  a  magnificent  dress  of 
gold  stuff  adorned  with  jewels,  presenting  him  also  with  a  treasure  of  wealth,  and 
giving  him  a  charge  respecting  his  daughter  Badoura.  After  which  he  went  forth 
with  them  both  to  the  limits  of  the  Islands,  where  he  bade  farewell  to  Camaralzaman, 
and,  going  in  to  his  daughter  Badoura  as  she  reposed  in  the  litter,  embraced  her, 
and  wept.  Then  coming  out  from  her,  he  went  to  her  husband,  and  again  bade  him 
farewell,  and  kissed  him  ;  and  having  done  this,  he  parted  from  them,  and  returned 
to  his  Islands  with  his  troops,  after  he  had  ordered  Camaralzaman  and  his  wife  to 
continue  their  journey. 

So  Camaralzaman  and  the  lady  Badoura  proceeded  with  their  attendants  the  first 
day  and  the  second  and  the  third  and  the  fourth,  and  continued  for  the  space  of  a 
month.  They  then  alighted  in  a  spacious  meadow,  abounding  with  herbage  ;  and 
in  it  they  pitched  their  tents,  and  ate  and  drank  and  rested.  And  when  the  lady 
Badoura  slept,  Camaralzaman  went  in  and  found  her  asleep,  clad  in  a  silken  shirt 
of  apricotrcolour,  and  with  a  coif  of  gold-stufi"  adorned  with  jewels  upon  her  head ; 
and  he  observed  a  precious  stone,  red  like  andam,  tied  to  the  band  of  her  trousers, 
with  two  lines  of  writing,  in  characters  not  to  be  read,  engraved  upon  it.  CamaraU 
zaman  wondering  at  this,  said  within  himself.  If  this  precious  stone  were  not  a  thing 
of  great  importance  to  her  she  would  not  have  tied  it  thus  upon  the  band  of  her 
trousers,  and  so  concealed  it,  that  she  might  not  suffer  it  to  be  away  from  her.  Wliat 
then  can  she  do  with  this ;  and  what  can  be  the  secret  property  that  it  possesseth  ? 
— He  then  took  it  and  went  forth  with  it  from  the  tent  to  look  at  it  in  the  light ;  but 
as  he  was  examining  it,  lo,  a  bird  pounced  upon  it,  and,  having  seized  it  from  hia 
hand,  flew  away  with  it,  and  then  alighted  with  it  upon  the  ground. 


AND    THE   PRINCESS   BADOURA-  808 

Camaralzaman,  fearing  to  lose  the  precious  stone, 
ran  after  the  bird:  but  the  bird  proceeded  at  the  same 
rate  as  Camaralzaman,  who  continued  running  after  it 
from  valley  to  valley  and  from  hill  to  hill  until  night 
came  and  darkness  commenced,  when  the  bird  went  to 
roost  upon  a  high  tree,  while  Camaralzaman  stood 
beneath  it,  confounded,  and  faint  with  hunger  and 
fatigue.  He  thought  himself  lost,  and  desired  to  return ; 
but  knew  not  the  place  from  which  he  had  come:  and, 
night  overtaking  him,  he  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  He  then 
slept  beneath  the  tree  upon  which  the  bird  was  roosting 
until  the  morning,  when  he  awoke  from  his  sleep,  and 
found  that  the  bird  had  just  risen  and  flown  from  the 
tree.  So  he  walked  after  it ;  and  the  bird  continued 
flying  by  little  and  little  at  the  same  rate  as  that  at  The  B,ni  with  the  Talisman, 
which   Camaralzaman  walked  ;  upon  seeing  which,  he 

smiled,  and  said,  Allah  !  it  is  wonderful  that  this  bird  yesterday  flew  at  the  same 
rate  as  I  ran,  and  to-day,  knowing  that  I  am  tired,  and  cannot  run,  flieth  at  the 
same  rate  as  I  walk!  Verily  this  is  wonderful!  But  I  must  follow  this  bird, 
and  it  will  either  lead  me  to  the  preservation  of  my  life  or  to  my  death.  So  I 
will  follow  it  whithersoever  it  goeth ;  for  at  all  events  it  will  not  stay  but  in  an 
inhabited  country. — He  then  continued  following  the  bird,  which  passed  every  night 
upon  a  tree ;  and  he  followed  it  for  the  space  of  ten  days,  feeding  upon  the  plants 
of  the  earth,  and  drinking  of  the  rivers;  after  which  he  came  in  sight  of  a  city,  and 
the  bird  darted  into  this  city  as  rapidly  as  a  glance,  and  disappeared  from  Camaral- 
zaman, who  knew  not  whither  it  had  gone.  Upon  this  he  wondered,  and  exclaimed. 
Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  preserved  me,  so  that  I  have  arrived  at  this  city !  Then 
seating  himself  by  some  water,  he  washed  his  hands  and  feet  and  face,  and  rested  a 
while,  reflecting  upon  his  former  life  of  ease,  and  considering  his  present  state  of 
distance  from  his  country  and  his  friends,  and  of  hunger  and  weariness. 

Having  thus  rested,  he  entered  the  gate  of  the  city,  not  knowing  whither  to  go, 
and  walked  through  the  whole  of  the  city.  He  had  entered  by  the  land-gate,  and 
he  walked  on  till  he  went  forth  from  the  sea-gate,  without  meeting  any  one  of  its 
inhabitants.  The  city  was  on  the  shore  of  the  sea;  and  when  he  had  gone  forth 
from  the  sea-gate,  he  walked  on  until  he  came  to  the  gardens  of  the  city ;  and  he 
entered  among  the  trees,  and  went  and  stood  by  the  gate  of  one  of  the  gardens  ; 
whereupon  the  gardener  came  forth  to  him  and  welcomed  him,  saying  to  him.  Praise 
be  to  God  that  thou  hast  escaped  the  people  of  this  city !  Enter  then  this  garden 
quickly,  before  any  one  of  its  inhabitants  see  thee.  —  So,  upon  this,  Camaralzaman 
entered  the  garden,  with  a  wandering  mind,  and  said  to  the  gardener.  What  is  the 
history  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city?  The  gardener  answered.  Know  that  the 
people  of  this  city  are  all  of  them  Magians  ;  and  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  tell  me 
how  thou  earnest  to  this  place,  and  what  was  the  reason  of  thy  entering  our  country. 
Camaralzaman,  therefore,  acquainted  him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  ;  and 
the  gardener  wondered  at  it  extremely,  and  said  to  him,  Know,  0  my  son,  that  the 
lands  of  the  Faithful  are  distant  from  hence:  between  them  and  this  place  is  a  dis- 
tance of  four  months'  voyage  by  sea;  and  by  land,  a  journey  of  a  whole  year.  We 
-have  a  ship  that  saileth  every  year  with  merchandise  to  the  nearest  of  the  Mahome- 
tan lands,  proceding  hence  to  the  sea  of  the  Ebony  Islands,  and  thence  to  the  Islands 
of  Khaledan,  whose  King  is  the  Sultan  ShahZaman.  —  And  upon  this,  Camaralza- 
man meditated  within  himself  a  while,  and  knew  that  there  was  no  plan  more  suitr 
able  for  him  than  that  of  his  remaining  there  with  the  gardener,  and  becoming  his 
assistant  for  a  fourth  of  the  produce.  So  he  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou  take  me  as  tliy 
assistant  on  the  condition  of  my  receiving  the  fourth  of  the  produce  in  this  garden  ? 


304  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

And  the  gardener  answered,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  instructed  him  in  the  con- 
ducting of  the  water  among  the  trees  ;  and  Camaralzaman  occupied  himself  in  ^oing 
this,  and  in  hoeing  up  the  grass ;  the  gardener  clad  him  with  a  blue  vest  reaching 
to  his  knees;  and  he  betooli  himself  to  watering  the  trees,  pouring  forth  floods  of 
tears,  and  reciting  verses  by  night  and  day  on  the  subject  of  his  beloved  Badoura. 

But  as  to  his  wife,  the  lady  Badoura,  she  awoke  from  her  sleep  and  asked  for  her 
husband  Camaralzaman;  but  found  him  not;  and  feeling  the  knot  of  the  band  of 
her  trousers,  she  found  that  it  was  untied,  and  that  the  precious  stone  was  lost; 
whereupon  she  said  within  herself,  0  Allah !  this  is  wonderful !  Where  is  my  be- 
loved? It  seemeth  that  he  hath  taken  the  stone,  and  gone,  and  knoweth  not  the 
secret  virtue  that  it  possesseth.  Whither  can  he  be  gone?  Some  wonderful  event 
must  have  occasioned  his  departure  ;  for  he  cannot  willingly  part  from  me  for  an 
hour.  Accursed  be  the  stone,  and  the  hour  when  it  brought  this  mischief!  —  She 
then  reflected,  and  said  within  herself.  If  I  go  forth  to  the  attendants  and  acquaint 
them  with  the  loss  of  my  husband,  they  will  covet  me  :  I  must  therefore  have  re- 
course to  stratagem.  So  she  put  on  some  clothes  of  Camaralzaman,  and  a  turban  like 
his,  and,  having  thrown  a  litham  over  part  of  her  face,  put  into  her  litter  a  slave-girl ; 
after  which  she  went  forth  from  her  tent,  and  called  out  to  the  young  men,  who  im- 
mediately brought  her  the  horse,  and  she  mounted,  giving  orders  to  bind  on  the 
burdens  ;  they  accordingly  did  this,  and  proceeded  ;  and  she  concealed  her  case  ;  for 
she  resembled  Camaralzaman,  so  that  no  one  doubted  her  to  be  really  him.  She 
continued  her  journey  together  with  her  attendants,  days  and  nights,  until  she  came 
in  sight  of  a  city  overlooking  the  sea,  and  by  it  she  alighted,  and  there  she  pitched 
her  telats,  for  the  sake  of  taking  rest.  She  then  asked  the  name  of  this  city,  and  was 
answered.  This  is  the  City  of  Ebony,  and  its  king  is  the  King  Armanos,  who  hath 
a  daughter  named  Ilaiatalnefous. 

Now  when  the  lady  Badoura  had  alighted  here  to  rest,  the  King  Armanos  sent  a 
messenger  from  his  palace  to  learn  for  him  the  tidings  of  this  (supposed)  King  who 
had  encamped  outside  the  city.  So  the  messenger,  on  coming  to  their  party,  inquired 
of  them,  and  they  acquainted  him  th^t  this  was  a  King's  son  who  had  wandered 
from  his  way,  and  who  was  journeying  to  the  islands  of  Khaledan,  to  the  King  Shah- 
Zaman.  The  messenger,  therefore,  returned  to  the  King  Armanos,  and  acquainted 
him  with  the  news;  and  as  soon  as  the  King  heard  it,  he  descended  with  the  lords 
of  his  empire  to  visit  the  stranger.  As  he  approached  the  tents,  the  lady  Badoura 
advanced  towards  him  on  foot,  and  the  King  Armanos  alighted,  and  they  saluted 
each  other.  He  then  took  her  and  conducted  her  into  the  city,  and  went  up  with 
her  into  his  palace,  where  he  gave  orders  to  prepare  a  banquet,  and  to  convey  her 
to  the  mansion  of  entertainment;  and  there  she  remained  three  days. 

After  this,  it  happened  that  the  lady  Badoura  had  entered  the  bath,  and  she  dis- 
played a  face  shining  like  the  full  moon,  so  that  all  who  beheld  her  were  tilled  with 
admiration  of  her  beauty,  and  she  was  clad  in  a  vest  of  silk  embroidered  with  gold, 
and  adorned  with  jewels.  The  King  Armanos  then  accosted  her  graciously,  and 
said  to  her.  Know,  0  my  son,  that  I  am  now  a  very  old  man,  and  in  my  life  I  have 
never  been  blest  with  a  child,  excepting  a  daughter,  who  resembleth  thee  in  form 
and  stature,  arid  in  beauty  and  loveliness.  I  am  unable  any  longer  to  fulfil  the 
duties  of  a  King.  Wilt  thou,  then,  0  my  son,  reside  in  my  land,  and  dwell  in  my 
country  ?  If  so,  I  will  marry  thee  to  my  daughter,  and  give  thee  my  kingdom.  — 
Upon  this,  the  lady  Badoura  hung  down  her  head,  and  her  forehead  became  mois- 
tened by  baslifulness.  She  said  within  herself,  What  can  be  done,  seeing  that  I  am 
a  woman  ?  If  I  disobey  his  command,  and  depart,  probably  he  will  send  after  me 
an  army  and  kill  me  ;  and  if  I  obey  him,  probably  I  shall  be  disgraced.  I  have  lost 
my  beloved  Camaralzaman,  and  know  not  what  is  become  of  him  ;  and  I  have  no 
means  of  preserving  myself,  unless  by  assenting  to  his  desire,  and  residing  with  him 
until  God  accomplish  what  must  come  to  pass.— She  then  raised  her  head,  and  paid 
submission  to  the  King  by  saying,  I  hear  and  obey.     Whereupon  the  King  rejoiced. 


AND   THE    PRINCESS   BADOURA.  305 

and  gave  orders  to  proclaim  throughout  the  Ebony  Islands  that  rejoicincrs  should  be 
celebrated  and  the  houses  decorated.  He  assembled  the  chamberlains  and  lieuten- 
ants, and  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  the  other  lords  of  his  empire,  and  the  Cadiea  of 
his  city,  and  having  abdicated  the  throne,  appointed  the  lady  Badoura  Sultan  in  his 
stead,  and  clad  her  with  the  royal  vestments.  All  the  Emirs  presented  themselves 
before  her,  complaining  not  of  her  youth  ;  and  every  one  of  them  who  looked  at  her 
was  astonished  at  her  extreme  beauty  and  loveliness. 

So  when  the  lady  Badoura  had  been  created  Sultan,  and  the  drums  had  been 
beaten  to  announce  the  joyful  event,  the  King  Armanos  prepared  his  daughter  Hai- 
atalnefous  for  her  marriage;  and  after  a  few  short  days,  they  introduced  the  lady 
Badoura  to  the  lady  Ilaiatalnefous.  They  resembled  two  full  moons  by  the  side  of 
each  other,  or  two  suns  that  had  risen  together  ;  and  when  the  attendants  had  closed 
the  doors  upon  them,  and  let  down  the  curtains,  after  they  had  lighted  the  candles 
for  them,  and  spread  the  bed,  the  lady  Badoura  sat  with  the  lady  Haiatalnefous,  and, 
reflecting  upon  her  beloved  Caraaralzaman,  her  grief  became  violent,  and  she  poured 
forth  tears,  and  recited  some  verses  commencing  thus:  — 

0  ye  who  have  quitted  me  with  my  heart  full  of  trouble,   your  absence  hath  left  no  life 
in  my  body  ! 

Then  sitting  by  the  side  of  the  lady  Haiatalnefous,  she  kissed  her  upon  the  mouth, 
and,  arising  abruptly,  performed  the  ablution,  and  continued  praying  until  the  lady 
Haiatalnefous  had  fallen  asleep,  when  she  entered  the  bed,  and  turned  her  back  to 
her  till  the  morning.  And  when  the  morning  arrived,  the  old  King  and  his  wife 
came  in  to  their  daughter,  and  asked  her  how  she  was.  So  she  acquainted  them 
with  what  had  happened,  and  with  the  verses  that  she  had  heard. 

But  the  Queen  Badoura,  having  gone  forth,  seated  herself  on  the  throne,  and  the 
Emirs  and  other  lords  of  the  empire,  and  all  the  chiefs  and  soldiers,  went  up  to  her, 
and  congratulated  her  on  her  accession  to  the  throne,  kissed  the  ground  before  her, 
and  prayed  for  her,  while  she  accosted  them  with  smiles,  bestowed  upon  them  robes 
of  honour,  and  increased  the  fiefs  of  the  Emirs.  So  all  the  soldiers  and  people  loved 
her,  and  prayed  for  the  continuance  of  her  reign,  having  no  doubt  that  she  was  a 
man;  and  she  commanded  and  forbade,  and  dispensed  justice  and  equity,  liberated 
the  persons  who  were  confined  to  the  prisons,  and  abolished  the  custom-taxes.  She 
continued  sitting  in  the  hall  of  justice  until  night,  and  then  entering  the  chamber 
that  was  prepared  for  her  found  the  lady  Haiatalnefous  sitting  there.  She  therefore 
seated  herself  by  her  side,  and  patted  her  on  the  back,  caressed  her,  and  kissed  her 
between  the  eyes,  and  then,  as  before,  recited  some  verses  deploring  the  absence  of 
her  husband  ;  after  which,  she  rose  upon  her  feet,  and  having  wiped  away  her  tears, 
performed  the  ablution  and  prayed,  and  continued  praying  until  sleep  overcame  the 
lady  Haiatalnefous.  The  Queen  Badoura  then  laid  herself  by  her  side,  and  so 
remained  until  the  morning;  when  she  arose,  and  performed  the  morning-prayers, 
seated  herself  upon  the  throne  and  com-manded  and  forbade,  and  administered  jus- 
tice and  equity.  In  the  mean  time,  the  King  Armanos  went  in  to  hig  daughter,  and 
made  his  inquiries.  So  she  informed  him  of  all  that  had  happened  to  her,  repeating 
to  him  the  verses  which  the  Queen  Badoura  had  recited,  and  said  to  him,  0  my 
father,  I  have  never  beheld  any  one  more  sensible  or  more  bashful  than  my  husband ; 
but  he  only  weepeth  and  sigheth.  Her  father,  therefore,  replied,  0  ray  daughter, 
have  patience  with  him  yet  this  third  night  only:  and  if  he  show  thee  not  proper 
attention,  we  shall  know  what  course  to  pursue  with  him  :  I  will  divest  him  of  the 
regal  authority,  and  banish  him  from  our  country.  —  Thus  he  agreed  with  his 
daughter  to  do,  and  thus  he  resolved  in  his  mind. 

Now  when  the  next  night  came,  the  Queen  Badoura  arose  from  the  throne,  and, 
returning  to  the  chamber  prepared  for  her  in  the  palace,  saw  the  candles  lighted, 
and  the  lady  Haiatalnefous  sitting  there ;  whereupon  she  thought  of  her  husband, 
20 


306  THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

and  of  the  events  that  had  happened  to  herself  and  him  during  the  last  few  days; 
and  she  wept,  and  continued  groaning,  and  again  recited  some  verses  expressive  of 
her  unhappy  state.  She  then  desired  to  arise  to  prayer  ;  but  Haiatalnefous  clung 
to  her  skirts,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  master,  art  thou  not  ashamed  to  act  thus  to- 
wards my  father,  who  hath  treated  thee  with  so  much  kindness,  and  to  regard  me 
with  this  protracted  indifference?  And  when  the  Queen  Badoura  heard  this,  she 
sat  down,  and  replied,  0  my  beloved,  what  sayest  thou?  —  What  I  say,  replied  Hai- 
atalnefous, is  this:  that  I  have  beheld  no  one  so  self-satisfied  as  thou.  Is  then  every 
one  who  is  lovely  thus  selfish?  But  I  say  not  this  on  my  own  account:  I  do  so 
only  in  my  fear  for  thee  from  the  King  Armanos :  for  he  hath  resolved,  if  thou  pay 
me  not  proper  respect,  to  depose  thee  from  the  sovereignty  to-morrow,  and  to  banish 
thee  from  his  country  ;  and  probably  his  rage  may  so  increase  that  he  may  kill 
thee.  I  therefore  am  moved  with  compassion  for  thee,  and  have  given  thee  good 
advice;  and  it  is  thine  to  decide  how  thou  wilt  act.  —  On  hearing  these  words,  the 
Queen  Badoura  hung  down  her  head  towards  the  ground,  and  was  perplexed  at  her 
case,  saying  within  herself.  If  I  oppose  his  wish,  I  perish  ;  and  if  I  obey  him,  I  am 
disgraced  ;  but  I  am  now  Queen  of  all  the  Ebony  Islands,  and  they  are  under  my 
rule,  and  I  cannot  meet  again  with  Camaralzaman  unless  in  this  place  ;  for  there  is 
no  way  by  which  he  can  return  to  his  country  but  by  the  Ebony  Islands.  I  will 
therefore  commit  my  case  unto  God,  who  is  the  best  director. — She  then  said  to 
Haiatalnefous,  0  my  beloved,  my  neglect  of  thee  hath  been  involuntary.  And  she 
related  to  her  all  that  had  befallen  her  from  beginning  to  end,  adding,  I  conjure  thee 
by  Allah  to  conceal  my  case  and  to  keep  my  secret  until  God  reunite  me  with  my 
beloved  Camaralzaman,  and  after  that  we  shall  see  what  will  happen. — Upon  this, 
Haiatalnefous  was  filled  with  the  utmost  wonder,  and,  being  moved  with  pity  for  her, 
prayed  for  her  reunion  with  her  beloved,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  sister,  fear  not  nor 
be  alarmed  ;  but  have  patience  until  God  accomplish  that  which  must  come  to  pass. 
The  bosoms  of  the  ingenuous  are  the  sepulchres  of  secrets  ;  and  thy  secret  I  will 
not  reveal. — Then  they  toyed  together,  and  embraced  each  other,  and  slept  until  near 
the  call  to  morning-prayers,  when  the  mother  of  Haiatalnefous  came  in  to  her,  and 
was  satisfied  with  her  report.  The  Queen  Badoura,  after  performing  the  morning- 
prayers,  repaired  to  the  hall  of  judgment,  and  there,  seated  upon  the  throne,  judged 
the  people  ;  and  the  King  Armanos  was  rejoiced  at  what  he  heard  ;  his  bosom  ex- 
panded, and  he  gave  banquets  ;  and  thus  they  continued  for  a  length  of  time. — Such 
were  the  adventures  of  Camaralzaman  and  the  Queen  Badoura. 

But  as  to  the  King  Shah-Zaman, — after  the  departure  of  his  son  to  the  chase,  ac- 
companied by  Marzavan,  as  already  related,  he  waited  until  the  second  night  ;  and 
when  his  son  came  not,  his  reason  was  perplexed,  and  he  slept  not  that  night.  He 
be'?ame  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  disquiet,  his  excitement  was  excessive,  and  he 
burned  with  anxiety ;  and  scarcely  had  the  day  broke  when  he  arose.  He  sat  ex- 
pecting his  son  until  mid-day;  but  he  came  not;  and  his  heart  became  impressed 
with  a  dread  of  separation,  and  he  burned  with  fears  for  his  son.  He  wept  until  he 
wetted  his  clothes  with  his  tears,  and  then,  wiping  away  the  tears,  he  issued  a  pro- 
clamation coniHianding  his  forces  to  march,  and  urging  them  to  undertake  a  long 
expedition.  So  all  the  troops  mounted,  and  the  Sultan  went  forth  with  a  heart  tor- 
tured for  his  son,  and  full  of  grief.  He  disposed  his  army  in  six  divisions,  on  the 
right  and  left,  and  before  and  behind,  and  said  to  them.  To-morrow  ye  shall  meet  at 
the  parting  of  the  road.  The  troops,  therefore,  being  thus  divided,  the  horsemen 
.let  forth,  and  proceeded  the  rest  of  that  day  until  the  hour  of  darkness  ;  and  they 
continued  on  their  way  the  whole  of  the  night,  and  the  next  day  till  noon,  when 
they  arrived  at  a  spot  where  the  road  divided  into  four  branches  ;  so  that  they  knew 
not  which  way  to  go.  But  here  they  beheld  torn  clothes,  and  mangled  flesh,  xnd 
they  looked  at  the  traces  of  the  blood,  and  observed  every  piece  of  the  clothes.  So 
when  the  King  Shah-Zaman  saw  this,  he  uttered  a  great  cry  from  the  bottom  of  his 
bosom,  and  exclaimed,  Oh,  my  son  !     He  slapped  his  face,  and  plucked  his  beard, 


AND   THE    PRINCESS   BADOURA.  307 

and  rent  his  clothes,  feeling  convinced  of  the  death  of  his  son.  His  weeping  and 
wailing  were  excessive,  and  the  troops  wept  with  him,  all  of  them  regarding  as  cer- 
tain the  destruction  of  Camaralzanian:  they  threw  dust  upon  their  heads,  and  the 
night  overtook  them  while  they  wept  and  wailed,  so  that  they  were  at  the  point  of 
death.  The  King  Shah-Zaman  then  returned  with  his  troops  to  his  city,  convinced 
of  the  death  of  his  son,  and  concluding  that  either  a  wild  beast  or  a  robber  had  at- 
tacked him  and  torn  him  in  pieces.  He  issued  a  proclamation  throughout  the 
Islands  of  Khaledan  that  the  people  should  wear  black  in  token  of  mourning  for 
his  son  Camaralzaman,  and  built  for  himself  an  edifice  which  he  named  the  House 
of  Lamentations  ;  and  every  Thursday  and  Monday  he  decided  the  aifairs  of  his 
troops  and  people;  passing  the  rest  of  the  week  in  the  House  of  Lamentations, 
mourning  for  his  son,  and  bewailing  him  with  elegies. 

Meanwhile,  the  Queen  Badoura  remained  monarch  of  the  country  of  Ebony,  the 
people  pointing  at  her  with  the  finger,  and  saying,  This  is  the  son-in-law  of  the  King 
Armanos ;  and  every  night  she  slept  with  the  lady  Haiatalnefous,  complaining  of 
the  absence  of  her  husband  Camaralzaman,  and  describing  to  her  his  beauty  and 
loveliness,  desiring  an  interview  with  him  were  it  only  in  her  sleep. 

Now  Camaralzaman  continued  residing  in  the  jiarden  with  its  owner  for  a  length 
of  time,  weeping  night  and  day,  and  sighing,  and  lamenting  in  verses  the  past  times 
of  enjoyment  and  happiness,  while  the  gardener,  to  console  him,  told  him  that  the 
ship  would  sail  at  the  end  of  the  year  to  the  lands  of  the  believers.  Thus  he  re- 
mained until,  one  day,  he  saw  the  people  assembling  together,  at  which  he  won- 
dered ;  and  the  gardener  came  in  to  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  cease  from 
work  this  day,  and  water  not  the  trees  ;  for  this  day  is  a  festival  of  the  people, 
whereon  they  visit  one  another.  Therefore  rest  and  only  keep  thine  eye  upon  the 
garden  ;  for  I  desire  to  look  out  for  the  vessel  for  thee,  since  there  remaineth  but  a 
short  time,  and  to  send  thee  to  the  country  of  the  Mahometans.  The  gardener  then 
went  forth  ;  and  Camaralzaman  remained  alone  in  the  garden.  His  heart  was 
broken,  his  tears  flowed,  and  he  continued  weeping  until  he  fell  down  in  a  swoon  ; 
and  when  he  recovered  he  arose,  and  walked  about  the  garden  reflecting  upon  his 
misfortunes  and  upon  his  protracted  estrangement  and  separation.  His  reason  being 
thus  disturbed,  he  stumbled,  and  fell  upon  his  face,  and  his  forehead  struck  against 
the  root  of  a  tree  with  such  force  that  his  blood  flowed,  and  mingled  with  his  tears. 
He  however  wiped  away  the  blood  and  dried  up  his  tears,  and,  having  bound  his 
forehead  with  a  piece  of  rag,  arose  and  continued  his  walk  about  the  garden.  And 
he  turned  up  his  eyes  towards  a  tree  upon  which  were  two  birds  contending 
together ;  and  one  of  them  overcame  the  other ;  it  pecked  at  its  neck,  and  severed 
its  head  from  its  body,  and,  taking  the  head,  flew  away  with  it.  The  body  of  the 
bird  thus  killed  then  fell  upon  the  ground  before  Camaralzaman,  and  as  it  lay  there, 
lo,  two  great  birds  pounced  down  upon  it,  and  one  of  them  placing  itself  at  its 
upper  extremity,  and  the  other'  at  its  tail,  they  depressed  their  wings  over  it,  and 
stretched  forth  their  necks  towards  it  and  moaned.  So  Camaralzaman  wept  for 
his  separation  from  his  wife  when  he  beheld  the  two  birds  moaning  over  their  com- 
panion. After  this,  he  saw  the  two  birds  make  a  hollow,  and  bury  in  it  the  slaugh- 
tered bird;  and,  having  done  so,  they  soared  aloft  into  the  sky;  but  after  they  had 
been  absent  a  while,  they  returned  bringing  with  them  the  bird  that  had  committed 
the  murder.  They  alighted  with  it  upon  the  grave  of  the  slaughtered  bird,  and 
there  crouched  upon  it  and  killed  it:  they  rent  open  its  body,  tore  out  its  bowels, 
and  poured  its  blood  upon  the  grave  of  the  slaughtered  bird:  then  they  strewed 
about  its  flesh,  and  tore  its  skin,  and,  pulling  out  all  that  was  within  it,  they  scat- 
tered it  in  different  places. 

All  this  took  place  while  Camaralzaman  looked  on  in  wonder ;  and  as  he  happened 
to  cast  a  glance  towards  the  place  where  the  two  great  birds  had  killed  the  other,  he 
observed  something  shining.  So  he  approached  it,  and  saw  it  to  be  the  bird's  crop ; 
and  he  took  it  and  opened  it,  and  found  in  it  the  stone  that  had  been  the  cause  of 


308  THE    PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN 

his  separation  from  his  wife.  As  soon  as  he  beheld  it  he  knew  it,  and  fell  upon  the 
ground  in  a  fit,  through  his  joy;  and  when  he  recovered  he  said  within  himself, 
This  is  a  good  sign,  and  an  omen  of  my  reunion  with  my  beloved  !  He  then  ex- 
amined it,  drew  it  over  his  eye,  and  tied  it  upon  his  arm,  anticipating  from  it  a 
happy  resrjlt,  after  which  he  arose  and  walked  about,  waiting  for  the  gardener.  lie 
continued  searching  for  him  until  night :  but  he  came  not.  So  Caraaralzaman  slept 
in  his  usual  place,  until  the  morning,  when  he  arose  to  his  work. 

Having  girded  himself  with  a  rope  of  the  fibres  of  the  palm-tree,  he  took  the  hoe 
and  the  basket,  and  went  into  the  midst  of  the  garden  till  he  came  to  a  locust  tree, 
and  he  struck  at  its  root  with  the  hoe,  whereupon  the  blow  loudly  resounded.  So 
he  removed  the  earth  from  its  place,  and  having  done  this  he  discovered  a  trap-door, 
on  opening  which  he  found  an  aperture ;  and  he  descended  into  it,  and  beheld  an  old 
saloon,  of  the  age  of  Thamoud  and  Ad,'  spacious,  and  [containing  a  number  of 
jars]  tilled  with  red  gold  ;  upon  which  he  said  within  himself,  Fatigue  is  past,  and 
joy  and  happiness  have  come!  He  then  ascended  from  this  place  into  the  garden, 
and,  having  replaced  the  trap-door,  resumed  his  occupation  of  conducting  the  water 
to  the  trees  in  the  garden. 

Thus  he  continued  to  busy  himself  until  the  close  of  the  day,  when  the  gardener 
came  to  him,  and  said,  0  my  son,  receive  glad  tidings  of  thy  speedy  return  to  thy 
native  land  ;  for  the  merchants  have  prepared  for  the  voyage,  and  the  ship  after 
three  days  is  to  set  sail  for  the  city  of  Ebony,  which  is  the  first  of  the  cities  of  the 
Mahometans;  and  when  thou  hast  arrived  there,  thou  wilt  travel  by  land  six  months 
to  the  Islands  of  Khaledan  and  tiie  King  Shah-Zaman.  So  Camaralzaman  rejoiced 
at  this,  and,  kissing  the  hand  of  the  gardener,  said  to  him,  0  my  f^ither,  like  as  thou 
hast  given  me  good  tidings,  I  too  give  good  tidings  unto  thee.  And  he  acquainted 
him  with  the  affair  of  the  saloon  ;  whereat  the  gardener  also  rejoiced,  and  replied^ 
I  have  been  eighty  years  in  this  garden  without  finding  anything,  and  thoa  hast 
been  with  me  less  than  a  year  and  hast  discovered  this  :  it  is  therefore  thy  prize,  and 
a  means  of  terminating  thy  grief,  and  will  assist  thee  to  accomplish  thy  return  to 
thy  family  and  thy  reunion  with  thy  beloved.  But  Camaralzaman  said.  It  must 
positively  be  divided  between  me  and  thee.  He  then  took  the  gardener,  and  con- 
ducted him  into  that  saloon,  and  showed  him  the  gold,  which  was  in  twenty  jars: 
80  he  took  ten,  and  the  gardener  took  ten.  And  the  gardener  said  to  him,  0  my  son, 
fill  for  thyself  large  jars  with  the  olives  which  are  in  this  garden  ;  for  they  exist  not 
in  any  country  but  ours,  and  the  merchants  export  them  to  all  other  parts ;  and 
place  thou  the  gold  in  the  jars,  and  the  olives  over  the  gold;  then  close  them  and 
take  them  to  the  ship.  So  Camaralzaman  arose  immediately,  and  filled  fifty  large 
jars,  putting  the  gold  in  them,  and  closing  each  after  he  had  put  the  olives  over  the 
gold  ;  and  the  precious  stone  he  put  into  one  of  the  jars.  After  which  he  sat  con- 
versing with  the  gardener,  and  felt  confident  of  his  speedy  reunion  with  his  family, 
saying  within  himself.  When  I  have  arrived  at  tlfe  Ebony  Island,  I  will  journey 
thence  to  the  country  of  my  father,  and  inquire  for  my  beloved  Badoura:  but  I 
wonder  whether  she  have  returned  to  her  own  country,  or  journeyed  on  to  the 
country  of  my  father,  or  whether  any  accident  have  happened  to  her  on  the  way. 

lie  then  sat  waiting  for  the  expiration  of  the  days,  and  related  to  the  gardener 
the  story  of  the  birds,  and  of  what  passed  between  them,  whereat  the  gardener 
wondered.  After  this,  both  of  them  slept  until  the  morning,  and  the  gardener  awoke 
ill,  and  remained  so  two  days:  and  on  the  third  day  his  illness  so  increased  that 
they  despaired  of  his  life.  Camaralzaman,  therefore,  grieved  for  the  gardener ;  and 
while  he  was  in  this  state,  lo,  the  master  of  the  ship,  with  the  sailors,  came  and  in- 
quired for  the  gardener  :  so  he  acquainted  them  with  his  illness.  They  then  said, 
Where  is  the  young  man  who  desireth  to  go  with  us  to  the  Island  of  Ebony?  And 
Camaralzaman  answered.  He  is  the  mamlouk  who  is  before  you.  And  he  desired 
them  to  transport  the  jars  to  the  ship.     They  therefore  removed  them  to  the  ship, 

'  Tribes  who  are  said  to  have  inhabited  Arabia  3000  years  ago. 


AND    THE    PRINCESS    BADOURA.  309 

and  said  to  Camaralzaman,  Hasten :  for  the  wind  hath  become  fair.  And  he  re- 
plied, I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  conveyed  his  provisions  to  the  ship,  and  returned 
to  the  gardener  to  bid  him  fixrewell ;  but  he  found  him  in  the  agonies  of  death ;  so 
he  seated  himself  at  his  head  till  he  died ;  and  he  closed  his  eyes,  and  prepared  hit 
body  for  burial,  and  interred  it. 

Having  done  this,  he  repaired  to  the  ship.  He  found,  however,  that  it  had  spread 
its  sails  and  departed  ;  and  it  continued  cleaving  the  sea  until  it  disappeared  from 
before  his  eyes.  He  was  confounded  and  perplexed,  and  he  returned  to  the  garden 
anxious  and  sorrowful,  and  threw  dust  upon  his  head.  He  hired  the  garden  from 
its  proprietor,  and  employed  a  man  to  assist  him  in  watering  the  trees ;  and,  going 
to  the  trap-door,  he  descended  into  the  saloon,  and  stowed  the  remaining  gold  in  fifty 
other  large  jars,  putting  olives  over  it.  He  then  made  inquiries  respecting  the  ship, 
and  the  people  answered  him  that  it  sailed  not  more  than  once  in  every  year.  His 
trouble  of  mind  increased,  and  he  mourned  for  that  which  had  befallen  him,  es- 
pecially for  the  loss  of  the  precious  stone  of  the  lady  Badoura.  He  passed  the  night 
and  day  in  weeping,  and  reciting  verses. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  wind  was  favourable  to  the  ship,  and  it  arrived  at  the  Island 
of  Ebony.  And  it  happened  in  accordance  with  destiny,  that  the  Queen  Badoura 
was  sitting  at  a  window,  and  beheld  the  vessel  when  it  cast  anchor  by  the  shore. 
Her  heart  throbbed  at  the  sight,  and  she  mounted  with  the  emirs  and  chamberlains, 
and,  repairing  to  the  shore,  stopped  near  the  ship,  as  the  crew  were  transporting  the 
merchandise  to  the  magazines.  She  forthwith  summoned  the  master  of  the  vessel, 
and  asked  him  what  he  had  brought ;  and  he  answered  her,  0  King,  I  have  in  this 
vessel  aromatics,  and  medicinal  powders,  and  coUyriums,  and  plasters  and  ointments, 
and  wealth  and  magnificent  stuffs,  and  costly  merchandise,  such  as  camels  and 
mules  cannot  carry;  among  which  are  various  kinds  of  essences  and  spices,  and 
aloes-wood,  and  tamarinds  and  olives,  such  as  are  scarcely  to  be  found  in  this 
country.  On  hearing  this,  she  felt  a  desire  for  the  olives,  and  said  to  the  owner  of 
the  ship,  What  is  the  quantity  of  the  olives  that  thou  hast  brought?  He  answered, 
I  have  fifty  large  jars  full ;  but  their  owner  came  not  with  us  ;  and  the  King  shall 
take  of  them  what  he  desireth.  So  she  said.  Land  them,  that  I  may  look  at  them. 
And  the  master  called  out  to  his  crew,  whereupon  they  brought  out  the  fifty  jars; 
and  she  opened  one,  and,  having  looked  at  the  olives,  said,  I  will  take  these  fifty 
jars  and  give  you  their  price,  whatever  it  be.  The  master  of  the  ship  replied.  These 
have  no  value  in  our  country:  but  their  owner  remained  behind  us,  and  he  is  a  poor 
man.  But  she  said.  What  is  their  price?  And  he  answered,  A  thousand  pieces  of 
silver.     I  will  take  them,  replied  she,  for  a  thousand  pieces  of  silver. 

She  then  commanded  that  they  should  be  conveyed  to  the  palace ;  and  when  night 
oame  she  gave  orders  to  bring  to  her  one  of  the  jars;  and  she  opened  it.  There  was 
no  one  in  the  chamber  but  herself  and  Haiatalnefous ;  and  she  placed  a  dish  before 
her,  and  on  her  pouring  into  it  some  of  the  contents  of  the  jar,  there  fell  into  the 
dish  a  heap  of  red  gold  ;  whereupon  she  said  to  the  lady  Haiatalnefous,  This  is 
nothing  but  gold?  She  therefore  examined  the  whole,  and  found  that  all  the  jars 
contained  gold,  and  that  the  olives  altogether  would  not  fill  one  of  the  jars:  and 
searching  among  the  gold,  she  discovered  the  precious  stone  with  it.  So  she  took  it, 
and  examined  it,  and  found  that  it  was  the  stone  which  was  attached  to  the  band  of 
her  trousers,  and  which  Camaralzaman  had  taken.  As  soon  as  she  recognised  it 
she  cried  out  in  her  joy,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon :  and  when  she  recovered  she  said, 
within  herself.  This  precious  stone  was  the  cause  of  the  separation  of  my  beloved 
Camaralzaman  ;  but  it  is  an  omen  of  good  fortune!  She  then  told  the  lady  Haiatal- 
nefous that  its  recovery  was  a  prognostic  of  her  reunion.  And  when  the  morning 
came,  she  seated  herself  upon  the  throne,  and  summoned  the  master  of  the  ship, 
who,  when  he  came,  kissed  the  ground  before  her:  and  she  said  to  him.  Where  did 
ye  leave  the  owner  of  these  olives?  He  answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  we  left  him 
in  the  country  of  the  Magians,  and  he  is  a  gardener.     And  she  said,  if  thou  bring 


310         THE   PRINCE   CAMARALZAMAN   AND   THE    PRINCESS    BADOURA. 

him  not,  thou  knowest  not  the  misfortune  that  will  happen  unto  thee  and  to  thy  ship. 
She  immediately  gave  orders  to  affix  seals  upon  the  magazines  of  the  merchants,  and 
said  to  them,  The  owner  of  these  olives  is  an  offender  against  me,  and  is  my  debtor; 
and  if  he  come  not,  I  will  assuredly  slay  you  all,  and  seize  your  merchandize.  So 
they  applied  to  the  master  of  the  ship,  promising  to  pay  him  the  hire  of  the  vessel  if 
he  would  return,  and  said  to  him.  Deliver  us  from  this  tyrant. 

The  master  therefore  embarked,  and  loosed  the  sails,  and  God  decreed  him  safety, 
80  that  he  arrived  at  the  Island  of  the  Magians  ;  and  landing  by  night,  he  went  up 
to  the  garden.  The  night  had  become  tedious  to  Camaralzaman,  and  he  was  think- 
ing upon  his  beloved,  as  he  sat  in  the  garden  weeping  for  the  misfcjrtunes  that  had 
befallen  him  ;  and  the  master  of  the  ship  knocked  at  the  gate  of  his  garden.  He 
thenefore  opened  the  gate  and  went  forth  to  him,  and  immediately  the  sailors  carried 
him  off,  and,  embarking  with  him,  loosed  the  sails,  and  departed.  They  continued 
their  voyage  days  and  nights,  while  Camaralzaman  knew  not  the  occasion  of  thia 
conduct.  He  asked  them  the  cause,  and  they  answered  him.  Thou  art  an  offender 
against  the  King  of  the  Ebony  Islands,  the  son  of  the  King  Armanos,  and  hast  stolen 
his  wealth,  0  thou  unlucky  !  But  he  replied.  By  Allah,  in  my  life  I  never  entered 
that  country,  nor  do  I  know  it. 

They  continued  their  voyage  with  him  until  they  came  in  sight  of  the  Ebony 
Islands,  and  took  him  up  to  the  lady  Badoura,  who  as  soon  as  she  saw  him,  knew 
him,  and  said.  Commit  him  to  the  eunuchs,  that  they  may  conduct  him  to  the  bath. 
She  then  dispelled  the  fears  of  the  merchants,  and  bestowed  upon  the  master  of  the 
ship  a  robe  of  honour  worth  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  After  which,  she  went  in 
to  the  lady  Haiatalnefous,  and  acquainted  her  with  the  event,  saying  to  her.  Conceal 
the  news  until  I  have  attained  my  desire,  and  done  a  deed  which  shall  be  recorded, 
and  read  after  us  to  Kings  and  subjects.  And  when  she  gave  orders  to  conduct 
Camaralzaman  into  the  bath,  they  did  so,  and  clad  him  in  the  apparel  of  Kings; 
and  when  he  came  forth  from  the  bath  he  appeared  like  a  branch  of  the  Oriental 
willow,  or  a  planet  at  whose  appearance  the  sun  and  moon  were  abashed  ;  and  hia 
soul  returned  to  him.  He  then  repaired  to  her,  and  entered  the  palace  ;  but  when 
she  beheld  him  she  restrained  her  heart,  that  her  purpose  might  be  accomplished. 
She  bestowed  upon  him  mamlouks  and  servants,  and  camels  and  mules,  gave  him  a 
treasury  of  wealth,  and  ceased  not  to  promote  him  from  grade  to  grade  until  she 
made  him  treasurer,  delivering  all  the  treasures  to  his  care.  She  admitted  him  into 
high  favour,  and  acquainted  the  Emirs  with  his  station,  and  they  all  loved  him. 
Every  day  the  Queen  Badoura  increased  his  appointments,  and  Camaralzaman  knevr 
not  the  cause  of  her  thus  honouring  him.  From  the  abundance  of  his  wealth  he  gave 
liberal  presents;  and  he  served  the  King  Armanos  with  such  zeal  that  he  loved  him, 
as  did  the  Emirs  and  other  great  men,  and  the  common  people,  so  that  they  swore 
by  his  life. 

But  all  this  time  Camaralzaman  wondered  at  the  honours  which  the  Queen  Badoura 
showed  him,  and  said  within  himself.  By  Allah,  this  love  must  have  some  cause ;  or 
perhaps  this  King  thus  favoureth  me  from  some  evil  intention  ;  I  must  therefore  ask 
his  permission  to  depart  from  his  country.  Accordingly,  he  went  to  the  Queen 
Badoura,  and  said  to  her,  0  King,  thou  hast  bestowed  on  me  great  favours,  and  thy 
favours  will  be  complete  if  thou  permit  me  to  depart,  and  take  from  me  all  that  thou 
hast  bestowed  upon  me.  And  the  Queen  Badoura  smiled,  and  said,  What  induceth 
thee  to  desire  to  travel,  and  to  rush  headlong  into  perils,  when  thou  art  enjoying  the 
hio-hest  favour  and  extraordinary  beneficence?  —  0  King,  answered  Camaralzaman, 
if  this  favour  be  without  cause,  it  is  most  wonderful,  especially  as  thou  hast  conferred 
upon  me  dignities  such  as  are  proper  for  the  aged,  when  I  am  but  a  child.  The 
Queen  Badoura  then  took  him  into  a  private  apartment,  and  made  herself  known  to 
him:  and  he  discovered  that  she  was  his  wife,  the  Queen  Badoura,  the  daughter  of 
the  King  Gaiour,  lord  of  the  Islands  and  the  Seas ;  whereupon  they  embraced  and 


THE   TWO    PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD.  311 

kissed  each  other.  She  related  to  him  all  that  had  happened  to  her  from  first  to 
last;  and  he  in  like  manner  acquainted  her  with  all  that  had  befallen  him. 

And  when  the  next  morning  ^,ame,  and  diffused  its  light,  the  Queen  Badoura  sent 
to  the  King  Armanos,  and  informed  him  of  the  truth  of  her  case,  that  she  was  the 
wife  of  Camaralzaman,  relating  to  him  their  story  and  the  cause  of  their  separation ; 
and  the  King  Armanos,  on  hearing  her  tale,  wondered  at  it  extremely.  He  gave 
orders  to  write  it  in  letters  of  gold,  and  then,  looking  towards  Camaralzaman,  said 
to  him,  0  son  of  the  King,  wilt  thou  form  an  alliance  with  me  by  marrying  my 
daughter  Haiatalnefous?  He  answered,  I  must  consult  the  Queen  Badoura;  fori 
owe  her  unlimited  gratitude.  But  when  he  consulted  her,  she  replied.  Excellent  is 
this  proposal !  Marry  her,  therefore,  and  I  will  be  a  handmaid  to  her ;  for  I  owe 
her  a  debt  of  kindness  and  beneficence,  and  favour  and  obligation,  especially  as  we 
are  in  her  abode,  and  since  we  have  been  loaded  with  the  benefits  of  her  father. — 
So  when  Camaralzaman  saw  that  the  Queen  Badoura  inclined  to  this,  and  was  not 
jealous  of  Haiatalnefous,  he  agreed  with  her  on  this  subject,  and  acquainted  the 
King  Armanos  with  that  which  the  Queen  Badoura  had  said,  that  she  approved  of 
the  marriage,  and  would  be  a  handmaid  to  Haiatalnefous.  And  on  hearing  these 
words  from  Camaralzaman,  the  King  Armanos  rejoiced  exceedingly.  He  went  forth 
immediately,  and  seated  himself  upon  his  throne,  and,  having  summoned  all  the 
Emirs  and  Viziers  and  chamberlains  and  the  other  lords  of  the  empire,  acquainted 
them  with  the  story  of  Camaralzaman,  and  his  wife  the  Queen  Badoura  from  first  to 
last,  telling  them  that  he  desired  to  marry  his  daughter  Haiatalnefous  to  Camaral- 
zaman, and  to  appoint  him  Sultan  over  them  in  the  place  of  his  wife  the  Queen 
Badoura.  Upon  which  all  of  them  said.  Since  Camaralzaman  is  the  husband  of  the 
Queen  Badoura,  who  was  our  sovereign  before  him  when  we  thought  her  the  son-in- 
law  of  our  King  Armanos,  we  are  all  content  to  have  him  as  our  Sultan,  and  we  will 
be  servants  unto  him,  and  never  swerve  from  our  allegiance  to  him. 

The  King  Armanos,  therefore,  rejoiced  at  this  exceedingly  :  he  summoned  the 
Cadies  and  witnesses,  and  the  chief  oflicers  of  the  empire,  and  performed  Camaral- 
zaman's  contract  of  marriage  to  his  daughter,  the  Queen  Haiatalnefous.  He  cele- 
brated festivities,  gave  sumptuous  banquets,  conferred  costly  robes  of  honour  upon 
all  the  Emirs  and  chiefs  and  soldiers,  bestowed  alms  upon  the  poor  and  the  needy, 
and  liberated  all  the  prisoners ;  and  the  people  rejoiced  at  the  accession  of  the  King 
Camaralzaman,  praying  for  the  continuance  of  his  glory,  and  prosperity,  and  felicity, 
and  honour.  As  soon  as  he  had  become  Sultan  over  them  Camaralzaman  abolished 
the  custom-taxes ;  he  conducted  himself  in  a  praiseworthy  manner  towards  hia 
people,  and  resided  with  his  wives  in  enjoyment  and  happiness  and  fidelity  and 
cheerfulness,  behaving  towards  both  of  them  with  impartiality.  Thus  he  remained 
for  a  length  of  time  ;  his  anxieties  and  sorrows  were  obliterated;  and  he  forgot  his 
father  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  and  the  glory  and  power  that  he  had  enjoyed  under 
him. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  TWO  PRINCES  AMGIAD  AND  ASSAD. 

After  this,  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  blessed  Camaralzaman  with  two  male 
children  by  his  two  wives.  They  were  like  two  shining  moons:  the  elder  of  them 
was  the  son  of  the  Queen  Badoura,  and  his  name  was  the  Prince  Amgiad;  and  the 
younger  was  the  son  of  Haiatalnefous,  and  his  name  was  the  Prince  Assad  ;  and 
Assad  was  more  lovely  than  his  brother  Amgiad.  They  were  reared  with  magnifi- 
cence and  tenderness,  and  instructed  in  polite  arts  and  accomplishments :  they 
learned  caligraphy  and  general  science,  and  the  arts  of  government  and  horseman- 
ship, until  they  attained  the  utmost  perfection,  and  became  distinguished  by  con- 
summate beauty  and  loveliness,  so  that  the  women  were  ravished  by  their  charms. 
They  grew  up  to  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  always  in  each  other's  company,  eating 


312 


THE   TWO   PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD. 


and  drinking  together,  and  never  separated  one  from  another,  and  all  the  people 
envied  them  on  this  account.  And  vrhen  they  had  attained  to  manhood,  and  were 
both  endowed  with  every  accomplishment,  their  father,  whenever  he  made  a  jourqey, 
seated  them  by  turns  in  the  hall  of  judgment,  and  each  of  them  judged  the  people 
for  one  day  at  a  time. 

Now  it  happened,  in  accordance  with  confirmed  destiny  and  determined  fate,  that 
two  ladies  in  the  King's  palace,  on  whom  he  had  set  his  affections,  became  enamoured 
of  the  two  princes,  Amgiad  and  Assad.  Each  of  these  two  women  used  to  toy  with 
the  object  of  her  love,  and  kiss  him,  and  press  him  to  her  bosom  ;  and  when  his 
mother  beheld  this,  she  imagined  that  it  was  only  an  affection  like  that  of  a  parent. 
Love  took  entire  possession  of  the  hearts  of  the  two  women,  and  when  they  had 
waited  long  without  finding  any  way  of  accomplishing  their  union,  they  abstained 
from  drink  and  food,  and  relinquished  the  delight  of  sleep. 


Amgiad   and  Assad. 


The  King  then  went  forth  to  the  chase,  and  ordered  his  two  sons  to  sit  in  his  place 
to  administer  justice,  each  of  them  for  one  day  at  a  time,  according  to  their  custom. 
So  on  the  first  day,  Amgiad,  the  son  of  the  Queen  Badoura,  sat  for  judgment,  and 
commanded  and  forbade,  and  invested  and  deposed,  and  gave  and  denied.  And  his 
enamoured  wrote  him  a  letter,  endeavouring  to  conciliate  his  affection,  and  declaring 
that  she  was  wholly  devoted  to  him,  and  transported  with  love  for  him,  exposing 
her  whole  case  to  him,  and  telling  him  that  she  desired  to  be  united  to  him.  She 
took  a  paper,  and  wrote  in  it  these  words : — 

From  the  poor,  the  love-sick  female ;  the  mourning,  the  estranged,  whose  youth  is 
consumed  by  love  for  thee,  and  whose  torment  on  thine  account  hath  been  protracted. 
— If  I  described  to  thee  the  extent  of  my  sorrow,  and  the  sadness  that  I  suffer,  and 
the  violent  love  that  is  in  my  heart,  and  how  I  weep  and  moan,  and  how  my  mourn- 
ing heart  is  cut  in  pieces,  and  my  constant  griefs,  and  continual  anxieties,  and  the 


THE   TWO   PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD.  313 

pain  that  I  endare  from  separation,  and  from  sadness  and  ardent  desire,  the  ex 
position  of  my  case  would  be  too  long  for  a  letter,  and  none  could  calculate  its 
extent.  The  earth  and  heaven  have  become  strait  unto  me,  and  I  have  no  hope  nor 
trust  but  in  thee  ;  for  I  have  arrived  at  th^  point  of  death,  and  suffered  the  horrors 
of  destruction.  My  ardour  hath  become  excessive,  with  my  disjunction  and  estrange- 
ment, and  if  I  described  the  longing  desire  that  I  feel,  papers  would  be  insufficient 
for  it.  —  She  then  wrapped  up  the  letter  in  a  piece  of  costly  silk,  richly  perfumed 
with  musk  and  ambergris,  and  put  with  it  the  silk  strings  of  her  hair,  for  the  price 
of  which  treasures  would  be  consumed ;  after  which  she  wrapped  the  whole  in  a 
handkerchief,  and  gave  it  to  a  eunuch,  commanding  him  to  convey  it  to  the  Prince 
Amgiad. 

So  the  eunuch  went,  not  knowing  the  secret  destiny  that  awaited  him  (for  He  who 
is  acquainted  with  all  the  secrets  of  futurity  ordereth  events  as  He  willeth) ;  and 
when  he  went  in  to  the  Prince  Amgiad,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  handed 
to  him  the  kerchief  with  the  letter.  The  Prince  Amgiad,  therefore,  took  the  hand- 
kerchief from  him,  and,  unfolding  it,  saw  the  letter,  and  opened  and  read  it ;  and 
when  he  understood  its  meaning,  he  perceived  that  the  woman  contemplated  deceit, 
and  had  acted  disloyally  towards  his  father,  the  King  Camaralzaman.  And  upon 
this  he  was  violently  enraged,  and  abused  womankind  for  their  conduct,  exclaiming, 
Execration  upon  treacherous  women,  deficient  in  sense  and  religion  I  He  then  drew 
his  sword,  and  said  to  the  eunuch,  Wo  to  thee,  0  wicked  slave  !  Dost  thou  bear  a 
letter  expressive  of  disloyalty  from  a  woman  belonging  to  thy  master?  By  Allah, 
there  is  no  good  in  thee,  0  thou  of  black  complexion !     0  detestable  in  aspect,  and 


Eunuch  slain  by  Amgiad, 

irresolute  in  character! — And  he  struck  him  with  the  sword  upon  his  neck,  severing 
his  head  from  his  body.  After  which,  he  fulded  up  the  handkerchief  upon  its  con- 
tents, and  having  put  it  into  his  pocket,  went  in  to  his  mother,  and  acquainted  her 
with  what  had  happened,  abusing  and  reviling  her,  also,  and  saying.  Every  one  of 
you  is  worse  [in  some  respect]  than  another.  By  Allah  the  Great,  he  added,  did  1 
uot  fear  to  commit  a  breach  of  good  manners,  injurious  to  my  father  Camaralzaman, 


314  THE   TWO    PRINCES    AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD. 

I  would  go  in  to  her  and  strike  off  her  head,  as  I  struck  off  the  head  of  the  eunuch. 
— Then  he  went  forth  from  his  mother,  the  Queen  Badoura,  in  a  state  of  excessive 
rage.  And  when  the  news  of  what  he  had  done  to  the  eunuch  reached  his  enamoured, 
she  reviled  him  and  cursed  him,  and  devised  a  malicious  stratagem  against  him. 
The  Prince  Amgiad  passed  the  next  night  enfeebled  by  rage  and  indignation,  and 
trouble  of  mind,  and  neither  food  nor  drink  was  pleasant  to  him,  nor  was  sleep. 

And  on  the  following  morning,  his  brother,  the  Prince  Assad,  went  forth  and 
seated  himself  in  the  place  of  his  father,  the  King  Camaralzaman,  to  judge  the 
people  ;  and  he  judged,  and  administered  justice,  and  invested  and  deposed,  and 
commanded  and  forbade,  and  gave  and  bestowed  ;  and  he  continued  sitting  in  the 
judgment-hall  until  near  the  time  of  afternoon  prayers.  Then  his  enamoured  sent 
to  a  deceitful  old  woman,  and,  having  revealed  to  her  the  feelings  of  her  heart,  took 
a  paper  to  write  upon  it  a  letter  to  the  Prince  Assad,  and  to  complain  to  him  of  the 
excess  of  her  affection,  and  of  the  ecstacy  of  her  love  for  him.  And  she  wrote  to 
him  these  words:  — 

From  her  who  is  perishing  through  the  ecstacy  of  love  and  desire  to  the  most 
charming  of  mankind  in  disposition  and  in  form,  the  self-complacent  with  his  love- 
liness, the  haughty  with  his  amorous  aspect,  who  turneth  with  aversion  from  the  de- 
sirer  of  an  union  with  him,  who  is  reluctant  to  show  favour  unto  the  submissive  and 
abject, — to  the  cruel  and  disdainful,  the  Prince  Assad,  who  is  endowed  with  sur- 
passing beauty,  and  with  admirable  loveliness,  with  the  brilliant  countenance,  and 
the  splendid  forehead,  and  overpowering  brightness.  This  is  my  letter  unto  him 
the  love  of  whom  hath  dissolved  my  body,  and  mangled  my  skin  and  my  bones. — 
Know  that  my  patience  hath  failed,  and  I  am  perplexed  in  my  case:  desire  and 
sleeplessness  have  disquieted  me,  and  patience  and  sleep  have  denied  themselves  to 
me:  mourning  and  watching  have  been  inseparable  from  me,  and  violent  love  and 
desire  have  afflicted  me.  together  with  disease  and  infirmity.  But  may  my  life  be  a 
ransom  for  thee  ;  and  if  the  slaughter  of  the  love-smitten  please  thee,  may  Allah 
prolong  thy  life,  and  from  every  evil  preserve  thee  ! — Then  she  richly  perfumed  the 
letter  with  strong-scented  musk,  and  wound  it  round  with  the  silken  strings  of  her 
hair,  which  were  of  the  silk  of  Irak,  having  oblong  emeral<ls  for  pendants,  adorned 
with  pearls  and  jewels.  Having  done  this,  she  delivered  it  to  the  old  woman,  and 
ordered  her  to  give  it  to  the  Prince  Assad. 

The  old  woman  therefore  departed  in  order  to  please  her,  and  immediately  went 
in  to  the  Prince  Assad,  who  was  alone  when  she  entered  ;  and  she  handed  him  the 
paper,  with  what  was  enclosed  within  it,  and  waited  a  long  time  for  the  answer. 
Meanwhile,  the  Prince  Assad  read  the  paper,  and  understood  its  contents ;  and 
having  wrapped  it  up  again  in  the  silk  strings,  he  put  it  in  his  pocket.  He  was  en- 
raged to  the  utmost  degree,  and  cursed  deceitful  women  :  then  rising,  he  drew  the 
sword  from  its  scabbard,  and  striking  the  neck  of  the  old  woman,  severed  her  head 
from  her  body;  after  which,  he  arose  and  proceeded  until  he  went  in  to  his  mother, 
and  he  reviled  her  too,  in  his  anger  with  the  sex.  He  then  went  forth  from  her, 
and  repaired  to  his  brother  the  Prince  Amgiad,  to  whom  he  related  all  that  had 
happened  to  him,  telling  him  that  he  had  killed  the  old  woman  who  had  brought 
him  the  letter.  And  the  Prince  Amgiad  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  brother,  yester 
day,  while  I  was  sitting  on  the  throne,  the  like  of  that  which  hath  happened  to  thee 
this  day  happened  to  me  also.  And  he  acquainted  him  with  the  whole  oceurrencT>. 
They  remained  conversing  together  that  night,  and  cursing  deceitful  women,  and 
charged  each  other  to  conceal  this  affair,  lest  their  father,  the  King,  should  hear  of 
it,  and  kill  the  two  women.  So  they  passed  the  night  in  incessant  grief  until  the 
morning. 

And  when  the  next  morning  came,  the  King  arrived  with  his  troops  from  the 
chase,  and  went  up  to  his  palace ;  and  having  dismissed  the  Emirs,  he  arose,  and 
entered  the  palace,  whereupon  he  beheld  the  two  women  who  had  acted  thus  towards 
bis  sons,  lying  on  their  bed  in  a  state  of  extreme  weakness.     They  had  contrived  a 


THE    TWO    PRINCES    AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD.  315 

plot  ;i3;ainst  the  two  Princes,  und  agreed  to  destroy  them  ;  for  they  had  disgraced 
themselves  in  their  eyes,  and  dreaded  the  consequence  of  their  being  so  known  to 
have  oifended.  When  the  King,  therefore,  saw  them  in  this  condition,  he  said  to 
them.  What  is  the  matter  with  you?  And  they  rose  to  him,  and  kissed  his  hands, 
and,  reversing  the  true  state  of  the  case,  answered  him.  Know,  O  King,  that  thy 
two  sons,  who  have  been  reared  in  the  enjoyment  of  thy  beneficence,  have  acted  dis- 
loyally towards  thee  by  their  conduct  to  us,  and  have  dishonoured  thee.  And  when 
Camaralzaman  heard  these  words,  the  light  became  darkness  before  his  face,  and  he 
was  violently  incensed,  so  that  his  reason  fled  through  the  excess  of  his  rage,  and 
he  said,  Explain  to  me  this  occurrence.  So  each  of  them  told  the  story  that  she 
had  framed,  and  both  of  them  wept  violently  before  the  King. 

When  the  King,  therefore,  witnessed  their  weeping,  and  heard  their  words,  he  felt 
convinced  of  their  truth,  and,  being  enraged  to  the  utmost  degree,  he  arose  with  the 
desire  of  falling  upon  his  two  sons  and  killing  them.  But  his  father-in-law,  the 
King  Armanos,  met  him.  lie  was  just  then  entering  to  salute  him,  having  heard 
of  his  return  from  the  chase;  and  he  beheld  him  with  the  drawn  sword  in  his  h;»nd, 
and  with  blood  dropping  from  his  nostrils,  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  his  rage. 
So  he  asked  him  what  troubled  him,  and  Camaralzaman  acquainted  him  with  all 
that  had  been  done  (as  he  supposed)  by  his  sons  Amgiad  and  Assad,  and  said  to 
him,  I  am  now  going  in  to  them  to  kill  them  in  a  most  ignominious  manner,  and 
make  them  a  most  shameful  example.  His  father-in-law,  the  King  Armanos,  being 
alike  incensed  against  them,  said  to  him,  And  excellent  would  be  the  deed  that  thou 
wouldst  do,  0  my  son;  and  may  God  grant  no  blessing  unto  them,  nor  to  any  sons 
who  commit  such  actions  against  the  honour  of  their  father:  but,  0  my  son,  the 
author  of  the  proverb  saith,  lie  who  looketh  not  to  results,  fortune  will  not  attend 
him : — and  they  are  at  all  events  thy  sons.  It  will  be  proper  that  thou  kill  them 
not  with  thine  own  hand;  for  in  doing  so  thou  wouldst  drink  of  their  anguish,  and 
repent  afterwards  of  having  put  them  to  death,  when  repentance  would  not  avaij. 
But  send  them  with  one  of  the  mamlouks,  that  he  may  kill  them  in  the  desert,  when 
they  are  absent  from  thine  eye. 

So  when  the  King  Camaralzaman  heard  these  words  of  his  father-in-law,  the 
King  Armanos,  he  saw  them  to  be  just.  He  therefore  sheathed  his  sword,  and,  re- 
turning, seated  himself  upon  his  throne,  and  summoned  his  Treasurer,  who  was  a 
very  old  man,  experienced  in  the  management  of  affairs,  and  the  vicissitudes  of  for- 
tune. And  he  said  to  him,  Go  in  to  my  two  sons  Amgiad  and  Assad,  bind  their 
hands  firmly  behind  them,  and  put  them  in  two  chests,  and  place  them  upon  a  mule: 
then  mount  thou,  and  go  forth  with  them  into  the  midst  of  the  desert,  and  slaughter 
them  ;  after  which,  fill  for  me  two  glass  bottles  with  their  blood,  and  bring  them  to 
me  quickly. 

The  Treasurer  answered,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  arose  immediately,  and,  re- 
pairing to  Amgiad  and  Assad,  met  them  on  the  way  coming  forth  from  the  vestibule 
of  the  palace.  They  had  clad  themselves  in  the  richest  of  their  apparel  for  the  pur- 
pose of  visiting  their  father,  to  salute  him,  and  compliment  him  on  his  safe  arrival  from 
his  hunting  expedition.  And  when  the  Treasurer  saw  them,  he  laid  hold  upon  them, 
saying,  0  my  two  sons,  know  that  I  am  a  slave  under  command,  and  your  father 
hath  given  me  an  order:  will  ye  then  obey  his  command?  They  answered,  Yes. 
And  upon  this,  the  Treasurer  bound  their  hands  behind  them,  and  put  them  in  two 
chests,  and,  having  placed  them  on  the  back  of  a  mule,  went  forth  with  them  from 
the  city.  lie  proceeded  with  them  over  the  desert  until  near  noon,  when  he  halted 
with  them  in  a  waste  and  desolate  place,  and,  alighting  from  his  horse,  put  down 
the  two  chests  from  the  back  of  the  mule,  and  opened  them,  and  took  forth  from  them 
Amgiad  and  Assad.  When  he  looked  at  them  he  wept  violently  on  contemplating 
their  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  afterwards  drew  his  sword,  and  said  to. them,  By 
Allah,  0  my  lords,  it  is  painful  to  me  to  do  an  abominable  deed  unto  you  ;  but  I  am 
excusable  in  this  case ;  for  I  am  a  slave  under  command,  and  your  father  the  King 


316  THE   TWO    PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD. 

Camaralzaman  hath  ordered  me  to  strike  off  your  heads.  And  they  replied,  0  Emir, 
do  what  the  King  hath  commanded  thee ;  for  we  patiently  submit  to  that  which  God 
(to  whom  be  ascribed  all  might  and  glory !)  hath  decreed  to  befall  us ;  and  thou  art 
absolved  of  the  guilt  of  shedding  our  blood. 

They  then  embraced  each  other,  and  bade  one  another  farewell ;  and  Assad  said  to 
the  Treasurer,  By  Allah  I  conjure  thee,  0  uncle,  that  thou  make  me  not  to  drink  the 
anguish  of  my  brother,  nor  his  sighing;  but  kill  me  before  him,  that  so  my  fate  may 
be  more  easy  to  me.  Amgiad  also  said  to  the  Treasurer  as  Assad  had  said,  and 
made  use  of  blandishments  to  him  that  he  might  kill  him  before  his  brother,  saying 
to  him.  My  brother  is  younger  than  I,  therefore  make  me  not  to  taste  his  affliction. 
Then  each  of  them  wept  most  violently,  and  the  Treasurer  wept  also  at  witnessing 
their  lamentation  ;  and  the  two  brothers  again  embraced  each  other,  and  bade  one 
another  farewell,  one  of  them  saying  to  the  other.  Verily  all  this  is  owing  to  the 
artifice  of  those  two  deceitful  women  ;  and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in 
God,  the  High,  the  Great!  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  Him  we  re- 
turn ! — And  Assad,  embracing  his  brother,  uttered  groans. 

And  when  Amgiad  heard  the  weeping  of  his  brother,  he  likewise  wept,  and  pressed 
him  to  his  bosom.  Then  Amgiad  said  to  the  Treasurer,  I  implore  thee  by  the  One, 
the  Omnipotent,  the  King,  the  Protector,  that  thou  kill  me  before  my  brother  Assad: 
perhaps  the  fire  of  my  heart  may  so  be  assuaged  ;  and  let  it  not  burn  more.  But 
Assad,  weeping,  said.  None  shall  be  killed  first  but  myself.  So  Amgiad  said.  The 
best  plan  will  be  this,  that  thou  embrace  me,  and  I  embrace  thee,  so  that  the  sword 
may  fall  upon  us  and  kill  us  with  one  blow. 

And  when  they  both  embraced,  face  to  face,  and  clung  together,  the  Treasurer 
bound  them,  and  tied  them  with  ropes,  weeping  while  he  did  so.  He  then  drew  his  sword, 
and  said,  By  Allah,  0  my  lords,  it  is  indeed  hard  to  me  to  kill  you.  Have  ye  any  , 
want?  If  so,  I  will  perform  it.  Or  any  commission?  If  so,  I  will  execute  it.  Or 
any  message  ?  If  so,  I  will  convey  it. — And  Amgiad  answered.  We  have  no  want 
to  be  performed  ;  but  as  to  commission,  I  charge  thee  to  place  my  brother  Assad 
beneath,  and  myself  above,  that  the  blow  may  fiiU  upon  me  first;  and  when  thou 
hast  killed  us,  and  returned  unto  the  King,  and  he  saith  to  thee.  What  didst  thou 
hear  from  them  before  their  death  ? — that  thou  answer  him,  Verily  thy  two  sons 
send  thee  their  salutation,  and  say  to  thee.  Thou  knowest  not  whether  they  were  in- 
nocent or  guilty,  and  thou  hast  killed  them,  and  not  assured  thyself  of  their  guilt, 
nor  considered  their  case.  And  when  the  Treasurer  heard  these  words  of  Amgiad, 
he  wept  violently,  so  that  he  wetted  his  beard  ;  and  as  to  Assad,  his  eyes  filled  with 
tears,  and  he  embraced  his  brother  Amgiad,  so  that  they  appeared  together  like  a 
single  person,  and  the  Treasurer  drew  his  sword,  and  was  about  to  strike  them.  But 
lo  !  his  horse  started  away  in  fright  over  the  desert.  It  was  worth  a  thousand  pieces 
of  gold,  and  upon  it  was  a  magnificent  saddle,  worth  a  great  sum  of  money.  So  he 
threw  the  sword  from  his  hand,  and  went  after  his  horse.  His  heart  was  inflamed, 
and  he  continued  running  after  the  horse,  to  take  it,  until  it  entered  a  forest;  and 
he  entered  after  it;  but  the  horse  pursued  its  way  into  the  midst  of  the  forest, 
striking  the  ground  with  its  hoofs,  and  the  dust  rose  high,  while  the  horse  snorted 
and  n-eighed  in  its  fury.  Now  there  was  in  that  forest  a  formidable  lion,  of  hideous 
aspect,  his  eyes  casting  forth  sparks:  his  face  was  grim,  and  his  form  struck  the 
soul  with  terror:  and  the  Treasurer,  looking  towards  him,  beheld  this  lion  ap- 
proaching him,  and  he  found  no  way  of  escape  from  him,  not  having  with  him  a  sword. 
So  he  said  within  himself.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the 
Great !  This  calamity  hath  not  befallen  me  but  on  account  of  the  offence  of  Amgiad 
and  Assad,  and  verily  this  journey  hath  been  unfortunate  from  its  commence- 
ment! 

MeanwJiile  the  heat  became  intense  to  Amgiad  and  Assad,  and  they  were  affected 
with  a  violent  thirst,  so  that  their  tongues  hung  out ;  and  they  prayed  for  relief  from 
the  thirst.     But  none  relieved  them ;  and  they  said.  Would  that  we  were  killed  and 


THE    TWO    PRINCES    AMQIAD    AND    ASSAD.  317 

were  at  ease  from  this  ;  bat  we  know  not  whither  the  horse  hath  run  away,  that  the 
Treasurer  hath  gone  after  it  and  left  us  bound.  Had  he  come  to  us  and  killed  us, 
it  had  been  easier  to  us  than  our  enduring  this  torment. — But  afterwards  Assad  said, 
0  my  brother,  have  patience,  and  the  relief  of  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled, 
and  whose  name  be  exalted  1)  will  come  to  us  ;  for  the  horse  ran  not  away  but  be- 
cause God  is  propitious  towards  us,  and  nothing  afflicteth  us  but  this  thirst.  He 
then  shook  himself,  and  struggled  to  the  right  and  left ;  whereupon  his  bonds  be- 
came loosed  ;  and  he  arose,  and  loosed  the  bonds  of  his  brother ;  after  which  he 
took  the  Emir's  sword,  and  said  to  his  brother.  By  Allah,  we  will  not  depart  hence 
until  we  investigate  his  case,  and  know  what  hath  happened  to  him.  So  they  began 
to  follow  the  footsteps,  and  they  led  them  to  the  forest.  They  therefore  said  one  to 
another,  Verily  the  horse  and  the  Treasurer  have  not  passed  beyond  this  forest. 
And  Assad  said  to  his  brother.  Stay  here  while  I  enter  the  forest  and  examine  it. 
But  Amglad  replied,  I  will  not  suffer  thee  to  enter  it  alone,  and  we  will  not  enter 
but  together;  so  if  we  escape  we  shall  escape  together,  and  if  we  perish  we  shall 
perish  together.  Accordingly  they  both  entered,  and  they  found  that  the  lion  had 
sprung  upon  the  Treasurer,  who  was  lying  beneath  him  like  a  sparrow,  but  suppli- 
cating God,  and  making  a  sign  towards  heaven.  So  when  Amgiad  saw  him  he  took 
the  sword,  and,  rushing  upon  the  lion,  struck  him  with  the  sword  between  his  eyes, 
and  killed  him. 

The  lion  fell  down  prostrate  upon  the  ground,  and  the  Emir  arose,  wondering  at 
the  event,  and  saw  Amgiad  and  Assad,  the  sons  of  his  lord,  standing  there ;  and  he 
threw  himself  at  their  feet,  saying  to  them.  By  Allah,  0  my  lords,  it  were  not 
just  that  I  should  act  so  extravagantly  with  you  as  to  kill  you.  May  he  who  would 
kill  you  cease  to  exist!  With  my  soul  I  will  ransom  you. — Then  rising  immediately, 
he  embraced  them,  and  inquired  of  them  the  cause  of  the  loosing  of  their  bonds, 
and  of  their  coming  to  him.  They  therefore  informed  him  that  they  had  thirsted, 
and  that  the  bonds  of  one  of  them  became  loosed,  so  that  he  loosed  the  other,  be- 
cause of  the  purity  of  their  intentions;  after  which  they  followed  the  footsteps  until 
they  came  to  him.  And  when  he  heard  their  words,  he  thanked  them  for  that  which 
they  had  done,  and  went  out  from  the  forest  with  them :  and  when  they  were  with- 
out the  forest,  they  said  to  him,  0  uncle,  do  what  our  father  hath  commanded  thee. 
But  he  replied,  Allah  forbid  that  I  should  attempt  any  injury  to  you  !  Know,  how- 
ever, that  I  desire  to  take  off  your  clothes,  and  to  clothe  you  with  mine,  and  to  fill 
two  glass  bottles  with  the  blood  of  the  lion.  After  which,  I  will  go  to  the  King, 
and  tell  him  that  I  have  killed  you.  Then  do  ye  travel  into  other  countries:  for 
God's  earth  is  wide.  And  know,  0  my  lords,  that  your  separation  from  me  will  be 
painful  to  me.  —  Having  said  this,  he  and  the  two  young  men  all  wept.  The  latter 
pulled  off  their  clothes,  and  the  Treasurer  clad  them  with  his  own,  and  went  to  the 
King. 

He  had  taken  the  things,  and  tied  up  the  linen  of  each  of  the  youths  in  a  wrapper 
that  he  had  with  him,  and  filled  the  two  glass  bottles  with  the  blood  of  the  lion  :  and 
he  put  the  two  wrappers  before  him  on  the  back  of  the  horse.  Then  he  bade  the 
youths  farewell,  and  departing  towards  the  city,  proceeded  until  he  went  in  to  the 
King,  and  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  And  the  King  saw  him  with  a  changed 
countenance  (for  this  change  was  occasioned  by  what  he  had  suffered  from  his  ad- 
venture with  the  lion),  and  he  imagined  that  it  was  the  consequence  of  the  slaughter 
of  his  sons;  so  he  was  glad,  and  said  to  him.  Hast  thou  accomplished  the  business! 
The  Treasurer  answered.  Yes,  0  our  lord.  And  he  handed  to  him  the  two  wrappws 
containing  the  clothes,  and  the  two  glass  bottles  filled  with  the  blood.  And  the 
King  said  to  him.  What  didst  thou  observe  in  their  conduct,  and  have  they  charged 
thee  with  aught?  He  answered,  I  found  them  patient,  contented  to  endure  their 
fate,  and  they  said  to  me.  Verily  our  father  is  excusable ;  so  convey  to  him  our  salu- 
tations, and  say  to  him,  Thou  art  absolved  of  the  guilt  of  our  slaughter  and  of  our 
blood. 


318  THE   TWO   PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD. 

And  when  the  King  heard  these  words  from  the  Treasurer,  he  hung  down  his  head 
towards  the  ground  for  a  long  time,  and  knew  that  these  words  of  his  two  sons  in- 
dicated that  they  had  been  killed  unjustly.  Then  reflecting  upon  the  fraudulence 
of  women,  and  the  calamities  occasioned  by  them,  he  took  the  two  wrappers  and 
opened  them,  and  began  to  turn  over  the  clothes  of  his  sons,  and  to  weep.  And 
when  he  opened  the  clothes  of  his  son  Assad,  he  found  in  his  pocket  a  paper  written 
in  the  hand  of  the  woman  who  had  accused  him,  together  with  the  silk  strings  of 
her  hair.  So  he  unfolded  the  paper  and  read  it,  and  understood  its  meaning,  and 
knew  that  his  son  Assad  had  been  an  object  of  injustice.  And  when  he  turned  over 
the  clothes  of  Amgiad,  he  found  in  his  pocket  a  paper  written  in  the  hand  of  the 
other  woman,  his  accuser,  with  the  sifk  strings  of  her  hair  enclosed  in  it ;  and  he 
opened  this  paper  and  read  it,  and  knew  that  he  had  also  had  been  an  object  of  in- 
justice. He  struck  his  hands  together,  and  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor 
power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  I  have  slain  my  sons  unjustly! — Then  he 
began  to  slap  his  face,  exclaiming,  Oh,  my  sons  !  Oh,  the  length  of  my  grief! — 
And  he  gave  orders  to  build  two  tombs  in  a  house,  which  he  named  the  House  of 
Lamentations,  and  inscribed  upon  the  two  tombs  the  names  of  his  two  sons:  and  he 
threw  himself  upon  the  tomb  of  Amgiad,  weeping  and  sighing  and  lamenting,  and 
reciting  verses;  and  then  in  like  manner  upon  that  of  Assad.  He  relinquished  the 
society  of  his  friends  and  intimates,  secluding  himself  in  the  House  of  Lamenta- 
tions, weeping  for  his  sons,  and  forsook  his  women  and  associates  and  familiar  ac- 
quaintances.— Such  was  his  case. 

Now  as  to  Amgiad  and  Assad,  they  proceeded  over  the  desert,  eating  of  the  herbs 
of  the  earth,  and  drinking  of  the  remains  of  the  rain.  At  night,  one  slept  while 
the  other  watched,  till  midnight ;  then  the  latter  slept  and  the  former  watched. 
Thus  they  continued  for  the  space  of  a  whole  month,  until  their  course  brought  them 
to  a  mountain  of  black  flint,  the  further  extremity  of  which  was  unknown.  At  this 
mountain  the  road  divided  into  two ;  one  road  passed  through  the  midst  of  it,  and 
the  other  ascended  to  its  summit.  And  they  pursued  the  way  to  the  summit  of  the 
mountain,  and  continued  ascending  it  five  days  ;  but  saw  no  end  to  it.  Fatigue  had 
overcome  them  ;  for  they  were  not  accustomed  to  walking  upon  the  mountains  nor 
elsewhere ;  and  when  they  despaired  of  reaching  its  end,  they  returned,  and  pur- 
sued the  way  through  the  midst  of  the  mountain.  Along  this  they  proceeded  the 
whole  of  the  same  day,  until  night;  but  Assad  was  fatigued  with  the  length  of  his 
journeying,  and  he  said  to  his  brother,  0  my  brother,  I  can  walk  no  further ;  for  I 
am  reduced  to  excessive  weakness.  Amgiad,  however,  replied,  0  my  brother,  brace 
up  thy  nerves:  perhaps  God  may  dispel  our  affliction.  They  then  proceeded  for  an 
hour  of  the  night;  but  Assad  was  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  fatigue,  and  he  said,  0 
my  brother,  I  am  tired  and  weary  with  walking.  And  he  fell  upon  the  ground  and 
wept.  His  brother  Amgiad,  therefore,  carried  him  and  walked  on  with  •him,  walking 
a  while,  and  sitting  a  while  to  rest,  until  daybreak  gleamed.  Thus  he  ascended  the 
mountain  with  him,  and  they  found  a  spring  gushing  forth,  with  a  stream  running 
from  it ;  and  by  it  was  a  pomegranate-tree,  and  a  niche  for  prayer  ;  and  they  scarcely 
believed  the  sight.  They  then  seated  themselves  by  this  fountain,  and  having  drunk 
of  its  water,  and  eaten  of  the  pomegranates  of  that  tree,  slept  there  until  the  sun 
rose  ;  when  they  sat  and  washed  themselves  at  the  spring  and  ate  again  of  the  pome- 
granates on  the  tree,  and  slept  until  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers.  After  this  they 
desired  to  continue  their  journey ;  but  Assad  was  unable  to  proceed:  his  feet  were 
swollen.  So  they  remained  there  three  days,  until  he  had  rested  himself,  when  they 
proceeded,  and  continued  many  days  their  journey  over  the  mountain,  wearied  with 
thirst,  until  a  city  appeared  before  them  at  a  distance. 

Upon  this  they  rejoiced ;  and  they  advanced  towards  it ;  and  when  they  drew  near 
to  it,  they  ofi"ered  up  thanks  to  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  Amgiad  then  said  to 
Assad,  0  my  brother,  sit  here  while  I  go  to  this  city  and  see  what  kind  of  place  it 
is,  and  inquire  respecting  its  afi^xirs,  that  we  may  know  where  we  are  in  God's  wide 


THE    TWO    PRINCES    AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD.  319 

earth,  and  know  what  countries  we  have  traversed  in  crossing  this  mountain-range. 
Had  we  not  journeyed  through  the  midst  of  it,  we  had  not  arrived  at  this  city  in  a 
whole  year.     Praise  be  to  God,  then,  for  our  safety ! — But  Assad  replied,  By  Allah, 

0  my  brother,  none  shall  go  to  the  city  but  myself:  and  may  I  be  thy  ransom  ;  for 
if  thou  leave  me  and  descend  and  be  absent  from  me,  thou  wilt  drown  me  in  anxioua 
thoughts  respecting  thee,  and  I  have  not  strength  to  endure  thine  absence  from  me. 
So  Amgiad  said  to  him,  Go,  and  loiter  not. 

Assad,  therefore,  descended  from  the  mountain,  taking  with  him  some  pieces  of 
gold;  and  left  his  brother  to  wait  for  his  return.  He  went,  and  walked  on  without 
stopping  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  until  he  entered  the  city  ;  and  as  he  passed 
through  its  streets,  there  met  him  in  his  way  an  old  man,  far  advanced  in  age; 
bis  beard  descended  over  his  breast,  and  was  parted  in  twain,  in  his  hand  was  a 
walking-staff,  he  was  clad  in  rich  garments,  and  on  his  head  was  a  large  red  tur- 
ban. So  when  Assad  saw  him,  he  wondered  at  his  dress  and  his  appearance;  and, 
advancing  towards  him,  he  saluted  him,  and  said  to  him,  Which  is  the  way  to  the 
market,  0  my  master?  The  old  man,  on  hearing  his  words,  smiled  in  his  face,  and 
said  to  him,  0  my  son,  thou  seemest  to  be  a  stranger.    Assad  therefore  replied,  Yes, 

1  am  a  stranger,  0  uncle.  And  the  old  man  said,  Thou  hast  cheered  our  country 
by  thy  presence,  0  my  son,  thou  hast  made  the  country  of  thy  family  desolate  by 
thine  absence.  And  what  dost  thou  desire  from  the  market? — 0  uncle,  answered 
Assad,  I  have  a  brother  whom  I  have  left  on  the  mountain,  and  we  are  journeying 
from  a  distant  country.  We  have  been  on  the  way  a  period  of  three  months,  and 
arrived  in  sight  of  this  city:  so  I  came  hither  to  buy  some  food  and  to  return  with 
it  to  my  brother,  that  we  may  nourish  ourselves  with  it. — And  the  old  man  replied, 
0  my  son,  receive  tidings  of  every  happiness,  and  know  that  I  huve  made  a  banquet, 
and  have  with  me  many  guests,  and  have  prepared  for  it  a  collection  of  the  best  and 
the  most  agreeable  of  dishes,  such  as  the  appetite  desireth.  Wilt  thou,  then,  ac- 
company me  to  my  abode?  If  so  I  will  give  thee  what  thou  requirest,  and  will  not 
take  from  thee  any  money  for  it.  I  will  also  acquaint  thee  with  the  affixirs  of  this 
city.  And  praise  be  to  God,  0  my  son,  that  I  have  met  with  thee,  and  that  none  but 
myself  hath  met  with  thee ! 

So  Assad  said.  Do  as  thou  art  disposed,  and  hasten  ;  for  my  brother  is  waiting  for 
me,  and  his  heart  is  intent  upon  me.  The  old  man,  therefore,  took  the  hand  of 
Assad,  and  returned  with  him  to  a  narrow  by-street,  smiling  in  his  face,  and  saying 
to  him,  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  hath  saved  thee  from  the  people  of 
this  city  1  He  walked  on  with  him  until  he  entered  a  spacious  house,  in  which  was 
a  saloon,  and  in  this  saloon  were  sitting  forty  old  men,  far  advanced  in  age,  arranged 
in  a  ring,  with  a  lighted  fire  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  old  men  were  sitting  around 
it  worshipping  it  and  prostrating  themselves  to  it.  And  when  Assad  saw  this,  his 
flesh  quaked,  though  he  knew  not  their  history.  Then  the  old  man  first  mentioned 
said  to  this  company,  0  sheikhs  of  the  Fire,  how  blessed  a  day  is  this !  And  he 
called  out,  saying,  0  Gazban  !  Whereupon  there  came  forth  to  him  a  black  slave, 
of  a  most  grim  visage,  flat-nosed,  of  bending  figure,  and  horrible  shape.  And  the 
old  man  made  a  sign  to  this  slave:  upon  which  he  bound  Assad  ;  and  after  he  had 
done  so,  the  old  man  said  to  him.  Take  him  down  into  the  subterranean  chamber, 
and  there  leave  him,  and  say  to  the  slave-girl  such-a-one.  Undertake  the  office  of 
torturing  him  by  night  and  day,  and  give  him  to  eat  a  cake  of  bread  by  night  and  a  cake 
of  bread  by  day,  until  the  period  of  the  voyage  to  the  Blue  Sea  and  the  Mountain 
of  Fire,  when  we  will  slaughter  him  upon  the  mountain  as  a  sacrifice. 

Accordingly  the  slave  took  him  down  into  that  chamber,  and  delivered  him  to  the 
girl,  who  entered  upon  her  office  of  torturing  him,  and  giving  him  one  cake  of  bread 
at  the  commencement  of  the  day,  and  one  at  the  commencement  of  the  night,  with  a 
mug  of  salt  water  between  daybreak  and  sunrise,  and  the  same  between  sunset  and 
nightfall.  Then  the  old  men  said,  one  to  another.  When  the  period  of  the  Festival 
of  the  Fire  arriveth,  we  will  sacrifice  him  upon  the  mountain,  and  by  offering  him 


320  THE    TWO    PRINCES   AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD. 

propitiate  the  Fire.  The  slave-girl  went  down  to  him,  and  inflicted  upon  him  a 
painful  beating,  so  that  the  blood  flowed  from  his  limbs,  and  he  fainted  ;  after  which, 
she  placed  at  his  head  a  cake  of  bread  and  a  mug  of  salt  water,  and  went  away  and 
left  him.  And  Assad  recovered  his  senses  at  midnight,  when  he  found  himself 
chained,  and  the  beating  tortured  him.  So  he  wept  violently,  and,  reflecting  upon 
his  former  state  of  grandeur  and  prosperity,  and  dominion  and  lordship,  he  lamented 
and  o-roaned,  Then  extending  his  hand  towards  his  head,  he  found  a  cake  of  bread, 
and  a  mug  of  salt  water.  So  he  ate  a  morsel  to  stay  his  departing  spirit,  and  drank 
a  little  of  the  water,  and  remained  sleepless  until  the  morning,  from  the  abundance 
of  bugs  and  other  vermin. 

And  when  the  morning  arrived,  the  slave-girl  came  down  to  him  again,  and  pulled 
off  his  clothes.  They  were  covered  with  blood,  and  stuck  to  his  skin,  so  that  the 
skin  came  off  with  the  shirt ;  and  he  shrieked,  and  cried  Ah  ! — and  said,  0  my  Lord, 
if  Thou  approve  of  this,  increase  it  upon  me  ;  for  Thou  art  not  unmindful  of  him 
who  hath  oppressed  me !  Avenge  me  therefore,  upon  him  ! — And  then  the  slave-girl 
betook  herself  to  beating  him  until  he  fainted,  when  she  threw  to  him  a  cake  of 
bread,  and  put  a  mug  of  salt  water ;  after  which  she  went  up  from  him  and  left  him 
in  solitude,  with  the  blood  flowing  from  his  limbs  ;  and  he  lay  chained,  far  from  his 
friends,  thinking  of  his  brother,  and  of  the  glory  in  which  he  was  before  living; 
yearning  and  lamenting,  sighing  and  complaining,  pouring  forth  tears,  and  reciting 
verses. 

Meanwhile,  his  brother  Amgiad  remained  expecting  him  till  mid-day :  and  when 
he  returned  not,  his  heart  palpitated,  the  pain  of  separation  became  intense  in  him, 
and  he  shed  copious  tears,  crying  out,  Oh  my  grief!  How  fearful  I  was  of  separa- 
tion! —  Then  descending  from  the  mountain,  with  his  tears  flowing  over  his  cheeks, 
he  entered  the  city,  and  walked  on  in  it  until  he  arrived  at  the  market,  when  he 
inquired  of  some  of  the  people  respecting  the  name  of  the  city,  and  respecting  its 
inhabitants  ;  and  they  answered  him,  This  is  called  the  city  of  the  Magians,  and  its 
inhabitants  [mostly]  worship  fire,  instead  of  the  Almighty  King.  He  then  asked 
them  respecting  the  city  of  Ebony,  and  they  said.  The  distance  between  us  and  it, 
by  land,  is  a  journey  of  a  year:  and  by  sea,  a  voyage  of  four  months:  its  King  is 
called  Armanos,  and  he  hath  taken  a  King  as  his  son-in-law,  and  put  him  in  his 
place,  and  this  King  is  called  Camaralzaman :  he  is  a  person  of  equity  and  benefi- 
cence, and  liberality  and  peace.  And  when  Amgiad  heard  the  mention  of  his  fiither, 
he  yearned  and  wept,  and  sighed  and  lamented  ;  and  he  knew  not  whither  to  repair. 
He  had  bought  and  taken  with  him  something  to  eat,  and  he  went  to  a  place  to  con- 
ceal himself  there,  and  sat  down  to  eat ;  but  remembering  his  brother,  he  wept,  and 
ate  no  more  than  enough  to  stay  his  departing  spirit ;  after  which  he  arose,  and 
walked  through  the  city,  to  obtain  tidings  of  his  brother.  And  he  found  a  Ma- 
hometan, a  tailor,  in  his  shop ;  so  he  seated  himself  by  him,  and  related  to  him  his 
story;  and  the  tailor  said  to  him.  If  he  have  fallen  into  the  hand  of  any  of  the 
Magians,  thou  wilt  not  see  him  again  without  difficulty;  but  perhaps  God  will  re- 
unite thee  with  him.  Then  he  added.  Wilt  thou,  0  my  brother,  lodge  with  me?  He 
answered,  Yes.  And  the  tailor  rejoiced  at  this.  Amgiad  remained  with  him  many 
days.  And  the  tailor  consoled  him,  and  exhorted  him  to  be  patient,  and  taught  him 
the  art  of  sewing,  so  that  he  became  an  adept. 

After  this  he  went  forth  one  day  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  washed  his  clothes. 
He  then  entered  the  bath,  and,  having  put  on  clean  clothes,  went  forth  from  the  bath 
to  amuse  himself  in  the  city.  And  he  met  on  his  way  a  woman  endowed  with  beauty 
and  loveliness,  and  justness  of  stature,  unequalled  in  beauty,  who,  when  she  beheld 
him,  raised  the  veil  from  her  face,  and  made  signs  to  him  with  her  eyebrows  and  her 
eyes,  and  ogled  him,  and  recited  some  amatory  verses.  And  when  Amgiad  heard 
her  words,  his  heart  was  gladdened  by  her,  and  moved  with  affection  for  her ;  the 
hands  of  love  sported  with  him,  and,  making  a  sign  to  her,  he  recited  a  few  verses 
in  reply.     She  then  begged  to  have  some  conversation  with  him ;  so  he  said  to  her, 


THE   TWO   PRINCES   AMQIAD   AND   ASSAD. 


321 


Wilt  thou  pay  me  a  visit,  or  shall  I  repair  to  thine   abode  ?     Whereupon   she  hung 
down  her  head  in  bashfulness  towards  the  ground,  and  repeated  the  words  of  Him 


V- 


Amgiad  washing  his  Clothes. 


whose  name  be  exalted,  —  Men  shall  have  the  pre-eminence  over  women,  because  of 
the  advantages  which  God  hath  given  to  the  one  of  them  over  the  other. 

So  Amgiad  understood  her  intimation,  and  knew  that  she  desired  to  accompany 
him  whither  he  was  going.  He  was  therefore  obliged  to  find  the  place  for  her;  and, 
being  ashamed  to  take  her  to  the  house  of  the  tailor  with  whom  he  lodged,  he 
walked  on  before  her.  She  followed  him,  and  he  continued  walking  on  with  her 
from  by-street  to  by-street,  and  from  place  to  place,  until  the  damsel  was  tired,  and 
she  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  where  is  thy  house?  He  answered,  Before  us,  and 
there  remaineth  but  a  short  distance  to  it.  Then  he  turned  a.side  with  her  into  a 
handsome  by-street,  and  continued  walking  along  it,  she  following  him,  until  he 
arrived  at  the  end  of  it,  when  he  found  that  it  was  not  a  thoroughfare.  So  he  said. 
There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the.  Great !  And  looking  to- 
wards the  upper  end  of  the  street,  he  saw  there  a  great  door  with  two  seats;  but  it 
was  locked.  Amgiad  therefore  seated  himself  upon  one  seat,  and  the  damsel  seated 
herself  on  the  other,  and  said  to  him,  O  my  master,  for  what  art  thou  waiting? 
Upon  this  he  hung  down  his  head  for  a  long  time  towards  the  ground  ;  after  which 
he  raised  it,  and  answered  her,  I  am  waiting  for  my  mamlouk  ;  for  he  hath  the  key, 
and  I  said  to  him.  Prepare  for  us  the  food  and  beverage,  and  the  flowers  for  the 
wine,  by  the  time  that  I  come  forth  from  the  bath. — He  then  said  within  himself, 
Probably  the  time  will  become  tedious  to  her,  and  so  she  will  go  her  way  and  leave 
me  here. 

But  when  the  time  seemed  long  to  her,  she  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  thy  mam- 
louk hath  been  slow  in  returning  to  us,  while  we  have  been  sitting  in  the  street 
And  she  arose  and  approached  the  wooden  lock  with  a  stone.  So  Amgiad  said  lo 
her.  Hasten  not;  but  be  patient  until  the  mamlouk  cometh.  Paying  no  attention, 
however,  to  his  words,  she  struck  the  wooden  lock  with  the  stone,  and  split  it  in  two  ; 
21 


322  THE   TWO   PRINCES   AMGHAD   AND   ASSAD. 

BO  that  the  door  opened.  He  therefore  said  to  her,  What  possesseth  thee,  that  thoo 
didst  thus? — 0  my  master,  said  she,  what  hath  happened  ?  Is  not  this  thy  house? 
— He  answered.  Yes:  but  there  was  no  necessity  for  breaking  the  lock.  The  damsel 
then  entered  the  house;  and  Amgiad  was  perplexed  in  his  mind,  fearing  the  people 
of  the  house,  and  knew  not  what  to  do.  The  damsel  said  to  him,  Wherefore  dost 
thou  not  enter,  0  my  master,  0  light  of  mine  eye,  and  vital  spirit  of  my  heart?  He 
answered  her,  I  hear  and  obey :  but  the  mamlouk  hath  been  slow  in  returning  to  me, 
and  I  know  not  whether  he  has  done  anything  of  what  I  ordered  him  or  not.  He 
then  entered  with  her  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  anxiety,  fearing  the  people  of  the 
house.  And  when  he  entered  the  house,  he  found  in  it  a  handsome  saloon,  with 
four  raised  floors  facing  one  another,  and  with  closets  and  sofas  furnished  with  stuffs 
of  silk  and  brocade,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  was  a  fountain  of  costly  construction,  by 
which  were  arranged  dishes  set  with  jewels,  and  filled  with  fruits  and  sweet-scented 
flowers ;  by  the  side  of  it  were  the  drinking-vessels,  and  there  was  a  candlestick  with 
a  candle  stuck  in  it.  The  place  was  full  of  precious  stuffs ;  in  it  were  chests,  and 
chairs  were  set  in  it,  and  on  each  chair  was  a  wrapper  of  clothes,  and  upon  each  of 
these  was  a  purse  full  of  pieces  of  gold.  The  house  attested  the  prosperity  of  its 
owner ;  for  its  floor  was  paved  with  marble. 

When  Amgiad  beheld  this,  he  was  perplexed  at  his  ease,  and  said  within  himself, 
My  life  is  lost!  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  Him  we  return  ! — But  as 
to  the  damsel,  when  she  saw  this  place,  she  was  filled  with  the  utmost  joy,  and  said, 
By  Allah,  0  my  master,  thy  mamlouk  hath  not  failed  in  the  performance  of  hia 
task  ;  for  he  hath  swept  the  place,  and  cooked  the  food,  and  prepared  the  fruit;  and 
I  have  come  at  the  best  of  times.  Amgiad,  however,  looked  not  towards  her ;  his 
mind  being  engrossed  by  fear  of  the  people  of  the  house.  So  she  said,  0  my  master, 
why  art  thou  standing  thus?  Then  heaving  a  loud  sigh,  she  gave  Amgiad  a  kiss 
that  sounded  like  the  cracking  of  a  walnut,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  if  thou 
nast  made  an  appointment  with  some  other  than  myself,  I  will  exert  my  skill  to 
serve  her.  At  this,  Amgiad  laughed  from  a  bosom  filled  with  rage ;  and  advanced 
and  seated  himself,  panting  and  saying  within  himself,  0  the  ignominious  slaughter 
that  I  shall  suffer  when  the  master  of  the  house  cometh  ! — The  damsel  had  seated 
herself  by  his  side,  and  began  to  sport  and  laugh,  while  Amgiad,  anxious  and  frown- 
ing, revolved  a  thousand  things  in  his  mind,  saying  within  himself,  the  owner  of 
this  saloon  will  certainly  come  ;  and  what  shall  I  say  to  him  ?  He  will  kill  me 
without  doubt!  The  damsel  then  arose,  tucked  up  her  sleeves,  and,  taking  a  tray, 
put  it  upon  the  table,  and  ate,  saying  to  Amgiad,  Eat,  0  my  master.  So  he  advanced 
to  eat,  but  the  doing  so  gave  him  no  pleasure:  on  the  contrary,  he  sat  looking  in  the 
direction  of  the  door  until  the  damsel  had  eaten  and  satisfied  herself,  and  removed 
the  table,  and  brought  the  dessert:  whereupon  she  commenced  eating  of  the  dried 
fruits.  Then  she  brought  forward  the  beverage,  and  opened  the  amphora,  and  filled 
a  cup,  which  she  handed  to  Amgiad  ;  and  he  took  it  from  her,  saying  within  him- 
self. Ah !  Ah  !  What  shall  I  experience  from  the  owner  of  this  house  when  he 
cometh  and  seeth  me? 

His  eyes  were  directed  towards  the  vestibule,  and  the  cup  was  in  his  hand,  and 
while  he  was  in  this  state,  lo,  the  owner  of  the  house  came.  He  was  a  mamlouk, 
one  of  the  grandees  of  the  city;  for  he  was  the  King's  Chief  Equerry;  and  he 
had  fitted  up  that  saloon  for  his  pleasure,  that  his  bosom  might  expand  in  it,  and 
that  he  might  there  enjoy  in  private  the  society  of  such  as  he  desired ;  and  on  that 
day  he  had  sent  to  a  favourite  to  come  to  him,  and  had  prepared  the  apartment  for 
him.  The  name  of  this  mamlouk  was  Bahader.  He  was  liberal-handed,  a  person 
of  generosity  and  beneficence,  and  charity  and  obligingness.  When  he  drew  near 
to  the  saloon,  he  found  the  door  open :  so  he  entered  by  little  and  little,  and,  looking 
with  stretched-forth  head,  beheld  Amgiad  and  the  damsel,  with  the  dish  of  fruit 
before  them,  and  the  wine-service.  At  that  moment,  Amgiad  was  holding  the  wine- 
cup,  with  his  eye  directed  towards  the  door ;  and  as  soon  as  his  eye  met  that  of  the 


Amgiad  and  the  Damsel   Feasting.     (Page  322.) 


323 


THE    TWO    PRINCES    AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD.  325 

owner  of  the  house,  his  countenance  turned  sallow,  and  the  muscles  of  his  side 
quivered.  But  when  Bahader  saw  that  his  countenance  turned  sallow,  and  his  con- 
dition became  changed,  he  made  a  sign  to  him  with  his  finger  upon  his  mouth,  as 
though  he  would  say  to  him.  Be  silent,  and  come  hither  to  me.  So  Amgiad  pat 
down  the  cup  from  his  hand,  and  arose  to  go  to  him.  The  damsel  said  to  him. 
Whither  goest  thou  ?  And  he  shook  his  head,  and  made  a  sign  to  her  that  he  would 
be  absent  but  a  minute.  He  then  went  forth  to  the  vestibule,  barefooted:  and  when 
he  saw  Bahader,  he  knew  that  he  was  the  master  of  the  house.  He  therefore  has- 
tened to  him,  and,  having  kissed  his  hand,  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0 
my  master,  before  thou  do  me  any  injury,  that  thou  hear  my  words.  Then  he  told 
him  his  story  from  beginning  to  end,  acquainting  him  with  the  cause  of  his  having 
left  his  country  and  royal  state,  and  assuring  him  that  he  had  not  entered  the  saloon 
by  his  own  choice,  but  that  the  damsel  was  the  person  who  had  broken  the  wooden 
lock  and  opened  the  door  and  done  all  these  deeds. 

When  Bahader,  therefore,  heard  his  words,  and  knew  that  he  was  the  son  of  a 
king,  he  was  moved  with  sympathy  for  him,  and  pitied  him,  and  said.  Hear,  0  Am- 
giad, my  words,  and  obey  me,  and  I  will  guarantee  thy  safety  from  that  which  thou 
fearest;  but  if  thou  disobey  me,  I  will  kill  thee.  So  Amgiad  replied.  Command 
me  whatsoever  thou  wilt,  and  I  will  never  disobey  thee ;  for  I  owe  my  deliverance 
to  thy  humanity.  And  Bahader  said  to  him.  Enter  this  saloon  again,  and  seat  thy- 
self in  the  place  where  thou  wast,  and  be  at  peace.  I  will  presently  come  in  to  thee. 
My  name  is  Bahader.  And  when  I  have  come  in  to  thee,  abuse  me  and  revile  me, 
and  say  to  me.  What  is  the  cause  of  thy  remaining  away  until  this  hour?  And 
accept  no  excuse  from  me  ;  but  arise  and  beat  me ;  and  if  thou  show  pity  for  me  I 
will  take  away  thy  life.  Enter,  then,  and  enjoy  thyself;  and  whatsoever  thou  de- 
sirest  of  me,  thou  wilt  find  it  ready  before  thee  immediately.  So  pass  this  night  as 
thou  wilt,  and  to-morrow  go  thy  way.  Thus  I  do  to  show  respect  to  thee  as  being  a 
stranger;  for  I  love  the  stranger,  and  respect  to  him  is  incumbent  on  me. — Amgiad, 
therefore,  kissed  his  hand,  and  entered  again.  His  face  was  now  clothed  with  red 
and  white  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  entered,  he  said  to  the  damsel,  O  my  mistress,  thou 
hast  gladdened  by  thy  company  the  place  of  thy  visitation,  and  this  is  a  blessed 
night.  The  damsel  replied.  Verily  this  is  wonderful  from  thee, — thy  now  displaying 
this  sociab'leness  to  me.  So  he  said.  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  I  believed  that  my 
mamlouk  Bahader  had  taken  from  me  some  necklaces  of  jewels,  each  of  which  was 
worth  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  :  whereupon  I  went  out  just  now,  reflecting  upon 
this,  and  searched  for  them,  and  found  them  in  their  place ;  but  I  know  not  why 
the  mamlouk  hath  remained  away  until  this  hour,  and  I  must  punish  him.  And 
the  damsel  became  appeased  by  these  words  of  Amgiad,  and  they  sported  together 
and  drank  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and  continued  making  merry  until  near  sunset. 

Bahader  then  came  in  to  them.  He  had  changed  his  clothes,  girded  himself,  and 
put  on  his  feet  a  pair  of  shoes  of  the  kind  worn  by  mamlouks ;  and,  having  saluted, 
and  kissed  the  ground,  he  placed  his  hands  across,  and  hung  down  his  head  towards 
the  ground,  as  one  acknowledging  his  guilt.  So  Amgiad  looked  at  him  with  the 
eye  of  anger,  and  said  to  him.  What  is  the  reason  of  thy  delay,  0  most  ill-omened 
of  mamlouks?  —  0  my  master,  he  answered,  I  was  busied  in  washing  my  clothes, 
and  knew  not  that  thou  wast  here ;  for  my  appointed  time,  and  thine,  is  nightfall, 
and  not  in  the  day-time.  And  upon  this,  Amgiad  cried  out  at  him  and  said  to  him. 
Thou  liest,  0  most  ill-omened  of  mamlouks  !  By  Allah,  I  must  beat  thee  !  —  Then 
rising,  he  extended  Bahader  upon  the  floor,  and  took  a  stick,  and  beat  him  gently. 
But  the  damsel  arose,  and,  having  taken  the  stick  from  his  hand,  inflicted  upon 
Bahader  so  severe  a  beating  that  his  tears  flowed,  and  he  prayed  for  relief,  and 
locked  his  teeth  together.  Amgiad  called  out  to  her,  Do  not  thus!  But  she  replied. 
Let  me  satisfy  my  anger  with  him.  Then  Amgiad  snatched  the  stick  from  her,  and 
pushed  her  away.  So  Bahader  arose,  and  wiped  away  the  tears  from  his  face,  and 
stood  awhile  waiting  upon  them;  after  which  he  swept  the  saloon,  and  lighted  tho 


326 


THE   TWO   PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND    ASSAD. 


lamps.  Meanwhile,  the  damsel,  every  time  that  Bahader  came  in  or  went  out,  re» 
viled  and  cursed  him :  and  Amgiad  was  angry  with  her,  and  said  to  her.  By  the 
requisitions  of  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  leave  my  mamlouk;  for  he  is  not 
accustomed  to  this. 


The  Damsel  beating  Bahader. 

They  continued  eating  and  drinking,  and  Bahader  remained  waiting  upon  them 
until  midnight,  when  he  became  fatigued  with  waiting,  and  by  the  beating  he  had 
suflPered,  and  slept  in  the  middle  of  the  saloon,  and  snored.  The  damsel  then,  having 
become  intoxicated,  said  to  Amgiad,  Arise ;  take  this  sword  that  is  hung  up  here, 
and  strike  off  the  head  of  this  mamlouk.  If  thou  do  it  not  I  will  employ  means  for 
thine  own  destruction. — What  hath  possessed  thee,  said  Amgiad,  that  thou  wouldst 
kill  my  mamlouk?  She  answered,  The  pleasure  will  not  be  complete  without 
putting  him  to  death  ;  and  if  thou  arise  not,  I  will  myself  arise  and  kill  him.  So 
Amgiad  said.  By  the  requisitions  of  Allah  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  do  it  not.  But 
she  replied,  I  must  do  it.  And  she  took  the  sword,  and  drew  it,  and  was  determined 
to  kill  him.  Amgiad,  therefore,  said  within  himself,  This  is  a  man  who  hath  acted 
kindly  to  us,  and  protected  us,  and  treated  us  with  beneficence,  and  hath  made  him- 
self as  a  mamlouk  to  me.  How  should  we  recompense  him  by  slaughter?  Never 
shall  that  be  done!  —  He  then  said  to  the  damsel.  If  the  killing  of  my  mamlouk  is 
indispensable,  I  am  more  fit  to  kill  him  than  thou.  And,  having  taken  the  sword 
from  her,  he  raised  his  hand,  and  struck  the  damsel  upon  her  neck,  severing  her 
head  from  her  body ;  and  her  head  fell  upon  the  owner  of  the  house :  so  he  awoke 
and  sat  up,  and  opened  his  eyes,  and  found  Amgiad  standing  with  the  blood-stained 
sword  in  his  hand.  Then  looking  towards  the  damsel,  he  found  her  slain.  He 
therefore  inquired  of  him  respecting  her  case;  and  Amgiad  repeated  her  words,  and 
said  to  him.  She  refused  to  do  anything  but  to  kill  thee :  and  this  is  her  recompense. 
Upon  this,  Bahader  arose,  and,  kissing  the  hand  of  Amgiad,  said  to  him,  0  my 
master,  would  that  thou  hadst  pardoned  her !  It  now  remaineth  only  to  take  her 
forth  immediately,  before  morning. 

Bahader  then  girded  himself,  and  took  the  damsel,  wrapped  her  in  a  cloak,  and 
put  her  in  a  large  basket  of  palm-leaves,  and  carried  her  away,  saying  to  Amgiad, 


THE  TWO    PRINCES   AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD.  327 

Thou  art  a  stranger,  and  knowest  not  anyone;  therefore  sit  in  thy  place,  and  expect 
me  back  at  sunrise.  If  I  return  to  thee,  I  must  do  thee  great  favours,  and  strive  to 
obtain  intelligence  of  thy  brother ;  but  if  the  sun  rise  and  I  have  not  returned  to 
thee,  know  that  God's  decree  hath  been  executed  upon  me  :  and  peace  be  on  thee ; 
and  this  house  shall  be  thine,  with  the  wealth  and  stuffs  that  it  containeth. — Having 
said  this,  he  carried  away  the  basket,  and,  going  forth  from  the  saloon,  passed  with 
it  through  the  market-streets,  and  went  with  it  by  the  way  that  led  to  the  sea.  But 
when  he  had  nearly  arrived  at  the  sea,  he  looked  aside,  and  saw  that  the  Judge  and 
his  chief  officers  had  surrounded  him.  On  their  recognising  him  they  wondered  ; 
and  they  opened  the  basket,  and  found  in  it  a  murdered  woman.  So  they  seized 
him,  and  put  him  in  chains  for  the  rest  of  the  night,  until  the  morning,  when  they 
went  up  with  him,  taking  with  them  the  basket  to  the  King,  and  acquainted  him 
with  the  case.  And  when  the  King  knew  it,  he  was  violently  enraged,  and  said  to 
him.  Wo  to  thee!  Thus  dost  thou  ever!  Thou  killest  persons  and  throwest  them 
into  the  sea,  and  takest  all  their  property  !  How  many  murders  hast  thou  committed 
before  this?  —  But  Bahader  hung  down  his  head  towards  the  ground  before  the 
King.  And  the  King  cried  out  at  him,  and  said  to  him.  Wo  to  thee  !  Who  killed 
this  damsel?- — 0  my  lord,  answered  Bahader,  I  killed  her;  and  there  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  And  the  King  was  enraged,  and  gave 
orders  to  hang  him.  So  the  executioner  descended  with  him  at  the  King's.command, 
and  the  Judge  went  down  with  a  crier,  who  proclaimed  through  the  streets  of  the 
city  that  the  people  should  come  to  behold  the  spectacle  of  Bahader,  the  King's 
Chief  Equerry ;  and  he  conducted  him  about  through  the  by-streets  and  market- 
streets. 

But  as  to  Amgiad,  when  daylight  came  and  the  sun  had  risen,  and  Bahader  had 
not  returned  to  him,  he  exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  tne 
High,  the  Great!  I  wonder  what  hath  happened  to  him  !  —  And  while  he  was  thus 
meditating,  lo,  the  crier  proclaimed  that  the  people  should  come  to  behold  the  spec- 
tacle of  Bahader:  for  they  were  to  hang  him  at  mid-day.  So  when  Amgiad  heard 
this,  he  wept,  and  exclaimed.  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  Him  we  re- 
turn !  He  hath  desired  his  own  destruction  on  my  account,  when  I  am  the  person 
who  killed  her !  By  Allah,  never  shall  this  be  !  —  He  then  went  forth  from  the 
saloon,  and  closed  it,  and  passed  through  the  midst  of  the  city  until  he  came  to  Ba- 
hader;  whereupon,  standing  before  the  Judge,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  lord,  slay  not 
Bahader:  for  he  is  innocent.     By  Allah,  none  killed  her  but  myself. 

When  the  Judge,  therefore,  heard  his  words,  he  took  him,  together  with  Bahader, 
and,  going  up  with  them  both  to  the  King,  acquainted  him  with  that  which  he  had 
heard  from  Amgiad.  So  the  King  looked  at  Amgiad,  and  said  to  him.  Didst  thou 
kill  the  damsel?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  the  King  said  to  him.  Tell  me  the  cause 
of  thy  killing  her,  and  inform  me  truly.  He  replied,  0  King,  a  wonderful  event 
and  extraordinary  occurrence  hath  happened  unto  me :  if  it  were  engraved  on  the 
understanding,  it  would  be  a  lesson  to  him  who  would  be  admonished.  He  then  re- 
lated to  the  King  his  story,  acquainting  him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  and 
his  brother  from  beginning  to  end.  And  the  King  was  filled  with  the  utmost  won- 
der at  hearing  it,  and  said  to  him,  I  know  thee  now  to  be  excusable.  But,  0  young 
man,  he  added,  wilt  thou  be  to  me  a  Vizier  ?  He  answered  him,  I  hear  and  obey. 
And  the  King  bestowed  upon  him  and  upon  Bahader  magnificent  robes  of  honour, 
and  gave  to  Amgiad  a  handsome  mansion,  with  servants  and  officers,  conferred  upon 
him  all  that  he  required,  appointed  him  pensions  and  supplies,  and  ordered  him  to 
search  for  his  brother  Assad.  So  Amgiad  took  his  seat  as  Vizier,  and  exercised 
authority  and  administered  equity,  and  invested  and  deposed,  and  took  and  gave. 
He  also  sent  the  crier  through  the  streets  of  the  city  to  cry  his  brother ,  and  for 
many  days  the  crier  repeated  his  proclamation  in  the  great  thoroughfare-streets  and 
market-streets ;  but  heard  no  tidings  of  him,  nor  discovered  any  trace  of  him. — 
Such  was  the  case  of  Amgiad. 


328  THE   TWO    PRINCES   AMQIAD   AND   ASSAD. 

As  to  Assad,  the  Magians  continued  to  torture  him  night  and  day,  and  evening 
and  morning,  for  a  space  of  a  whole  year,  until  the  festival  of  the  Magians  drew 
near.  -Then  Bahrain  the  Magian  [the  old  man  who  had  inveigled  Assad  into  his 
house]  prepared  himself  for  his  voyage,  and  fitted  out  for  himself  a  ship,  and, 
having  put  Assad  into  a  chest,  and  locked  it  upon  him,  transported  him  to  the 
vessel.  It  happened,  at  the  time  of  his  conveying  the  chest  to  the  ship,  that  Amgiad, 
in  accordance  with  fate  and  destiny,  was  standing  amusing  himself  by  gazing  at 
the  eea ;  and  he  looked  at  the  things  as  the  men  were  transporting  them  to  the  ship. 
His  heart  throbbed  at  the  sight,  and  he  ordered  his  young  men  to  bring  him  his 
horse,  and,  mounting  in  the  midst  of  a  company  of  his  attendants,  repaired  to  the 
sea.  There  stopping  by  the  ship  of  the  Magian,  he  commanded  those  who  were 
with  him  to  go  on  board  of  it  and  to  search  it.  So  they  went  on  board,  and  searched 
the  whole  of  the  vessel ;  but  found  in  it  nothing:  and  they  landed  from  it,  and  told 
this  to  Amgiad.  He  therefore  mounted  again,  and  returned  to  his  abode ;  and  when 
he  arrived  there,  and  entered  the  palace,  his  heart  was  contracted,  and,  turning  hia 
eyes  towards  a  part  of  the  mansion  he  saw  two  lines  inscribed  upon  a  wall ;  and 
they  were  these  two  verses : — 

0  my  friends,  if  ye  are  absent  from  mine  eye,  from  my  heart  and  my  mind  ye  are  not. 
But  ye  have  left  me  in  severe  affliction,  and  have  banished  repose  from  mine  eyelid,  while  ye 
sleep: 

And  when  Amgiad  read  them,  he  thought  upon  his  brother,  and  wept. 

Bahram  the  Magian  went  on  board  the  ship,  and  called  out  to  the  seamen,  order- 
ing them  to  make  haste  in  loosing  the  sails.  So  they  loosed  the  sails  and  departed. 
They  continued  their  voyage  days  and  nights,  every  two  days  taking  forth  Assad, 
arid  giving  him  a  scanty  supply  of  food  and  a  little  water,  until  they  drew  near  to 
the  Mountain  of  Fire.  But  a  storm  of  wind  then  arose  against  them,  and  the  sea 
became  boisterous  to  them,  so  that  the  vessel  wandered  from  her  course,  and,  pur- 
suing a  wrong  direction,  they  came  to  a  city  built  upon  the  sea-shore,  having  a  castle 
with  windows  looking  over  the  sea.  The  ruler  of  this  city  was  a  woman,  called  the 
Queen  Margiana.  And  the  captain  of  the  ship  said  to  Bahram,  O  my  master,  we 
have  wandered  from  our  course,  and  we  must  enter  the  port  of  this  city  to  take  rest, 
and  after  that,  let  God  do  what  He  willeth.  Bahram  replied.  Excellent  is  thy  coun- 
sel, and  according  to  it  I  will  act.  Then  the  captain  said  to  him.  If  the  Queen  send 
to  put  questions  to  us,  what  shall  be  our  answer?  The  Queen  Margiana  is  a  faithful 
Mahometan  ;  and  if  she  know  that  we  are  Magians,  she  will  seize  our  vessel  and  kill 
us  all. — Bahram  answered,  I  have  this  Mahometan  with  us :  so  we  will  clothe  him 
in  the  attire  of  mamlouks,  and  take  him  forth  with  us ;  and  if  the  Queen  see  him, 
she  will  imagine  him  to  be  a  maralouk ;  and  I  will  say  to  her,  I  am  an  importer  of 
mamlouks,  a  seller  and  buyer  of  them;  and  I  had  with  me  many  mamlouks;  but  I 
have  sold  them,  and  this  one  only  remaineth. — And  the  captain  replied.  This  pro- 
posal is  good. 

They  then  arrived  at  the  city,  and  slackened  the  sails,  and  cast  the  anchors ;  and 
when  the  vessels  had  stayed,  lo,  the  Queen  Margiana  came  down  to  them,  attended 
by  her  troops,  and  halting  by  the  ship,  called  out  to  the  captain.  He  therefore  went 
on  shore  to  her,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  she  said  to  him.  What  is  in 
this  thy  vessel,  and  who  is  with  thee?  —  0  Queen  of  the  age,  he  answered,  I  have 
with  me  a  merchant  who  selleth  mamlouks.  And  she  said  to  him.  Bring  him  hither 
to  me.  And  lo,  Bahram  came  forth,  with  Assad  walking  behind  him  in  the  garb  of 
a  mamlouk  ;  and  when  Bahram  came  up  to  her,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  her. 
She  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  business?  And  he  answered  her,  I  am  a  slave-merchant. 
She  then  looked  at  Assad,  imagining  him  to  be  a  mamlouk,  and  said  to  him.  What 
is  thy  name?  And,  almost  suffocated  with  weeping,  he  said,  My  name  now,  or  that 
which  I  had  formerly? — Then  hast  thou  two  names?  she  asked.  He  answered.  Yes: 
formerly  my  name  was  Assad ;  but  now  my  name  is  Motar.     And  her  heart  was 


THE   TWO    PRINCES   AMGIAD    AND   ASSAD.  329 

moved  with  affection  for  him,  and  she  said  to  him,  Art  thou  able  to  ■write?  He 
answered.  Yes.  So  she  handed  him  an  ink-case  and  a  pen  and  paper,  saying  to 
him.   Write   something,    that   I   may   see    it.      Accordingly,    he   wrote   these   two 

verses : — 

What  resource  hath  God's  servant  when  destiny  pursueth  him  unaer  every  circumstance,  0  thou 

judger  ? 
When  God  casteth  him  into  the  deep,  hand-bound,  and  saith  to  him,  Take  care,  take  care,  that 

thou  be  not  wetted. 

And  when  she  saw  the  paper,  she  had  compassion  upon  him,  and  said  to  Bahram, 
Sell  to  me  this  mamlouk.  He  replied,  0  my  mistress,  I  cannot  sell  him  ;  for  I  have 
sold  all  my  mamlouks  except  this  one.  But  the  Queen  Margiana  said,  I  will  posi- 
tively take  him  from  thee,  either  by  sale  or  as  a  gift.  He  said  to  her,  I  will  not  sell 
him  nor  give  him.  She,  however,  seized  him  and  took  him,  and,  having  gone  up 
with  him  to  the  castle,  sent  to  Bahram,  saying  to  him.  If  thou  do  not  set  sail  this 
night  from  our  city,  I  will  take  all  thy  property,  and  destroy  thy  ship.  When  the 
message,  therefore,  was  brought  to  him,  he  was  grieved  excessively,  and  said.  Verily 
this  voyage  hath  been  unfortunate  !  He  then  arose  and  prepared  himself,  and,  having 
taken  all  that  he  desired,  waited  for  the  night,  to  proceed  on  his  voyage,  and  said  to 
the  seamen,  Take  your  things,  and  fill  your  water-skins  with  water,  and  set  sail  with 
us  at  the  close  of  the  night.     So  the  seamen  betook  themselves  to  perform  their 


Meanwhile,  the  Queen  Margiana,  when  she  had  taken  Assad  and  conducted  him 
into  the  castle,  opened  the  windows  looking  over  the  sea,  and  ordered  the  female 
slaves  to  bring  the  food.  They  therefore  brought  it  to  her  and  Assad,  and  they  both 
ate.  She  then  ordered  them  to  bring  the  wine ;  and  they  brought  it,  and  she  drank 
with  Assad.  And  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted!) 
inspired  her  with  love  for  Assad  ;  and  she  began  to  fill  the  cup  and  to  give  it  to  him 
to  drink  until  his  reason  quitted  him.  After  this,  he  arose,  and  descended  from  the 
saloon,  and,  seeing  a  door  open,  he  went  through  it  and  walked  on  till  he  came  to  a 
great  garden  in  which  were  all  kinds  of  fruits  and  flowers  ;  and  he  approached  a 
fountain  that  was  in  the  garden,  and,  laying  himself  down  there  upon  his  back,  he 
slept,  and  night  overcame  him. — Bahram,  in  the  mean  time,  when  the  night  arrived, 
called  out  to  the  sailors  of  the  vessel,  saying  to  them,  Loose  your  sails,  and  proceed 
with  us  on  our  voyage.  They  replied,  We  hear  and  obey:  but  wait  until  we  have 
filled  our  water-skins,  and  then  we  will  loose.  The  seamen  then  landed  with  the 
water-skins,  and  went  round  about  the  castle,  and  finding  nothing  but  the  walls  of 
the  garden,  they  climbed  over  them,  and  descended  into  the  garden,  and  followed 
the  track  that  led  to  the  fountain  ;  and  on  their  arriving  at  it,  they  found  Assad 
lying  on  his  back.  They  immediately  recognised  him,  and  rejoiced  at  finding  him. 
So  they  carried  him  away,  after  they  had  filled  their  water-skins,  leaped  down  from 
the  wall,  and  conveyed  him  quickly  to  Bahram  the  Magian,  saying  to  him.  Receive 
glad  tidings  of  the  accomplishment  of  thy  desire,  and  of  the  satisfaction  of  thy  heart : 
thy  drum  hath  been  been  beaten,  and  thy  pipe  hath  been  sounded ;  for  thy  captive, 
whom  the  Queen  Margiana  took  from  thee  by  force,  we  have  found  and  brought  with 
us.  They  then  threw  him  down  before  him.  And  when  Bahram  beheld  him, 
his  heart  leaped  with  joy,  and  his  bosom  expanded.  He  bestowed  dresses  upon 
them,  and  ordered  them  to  loose  the  sails  quickly.  They  therefore  loosed  them,  and 
proceeded  on  their  voyage  to  the  Mountain  of  Fire,  and  continued  their  course  until 
the  morning. 

Now  as  to  the  Queen  Margiana,  after  Assad  had  gone  down  from  her,  she  remained 
a  while  expecting  his  return  ;  and  when  he  came  not  back  to  her,  she  arose  and 
searched  for  him  ;  but  found  him  not.  So  she  lighted  the  candles,  and  ordered  the 
female  slaves  to  seek  for  him.  Then  she  herself  descended,  and,  seeing  the  garden 
open,  she  knew  that  he  must  have  entered  it.     She  therefore  went  into  it,  and  found 


330  THE   TWO   PRINCES    AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD. 

his  shoes  by  the  side  of  the  fountain  ;  and  she  proceeded  to  search  for  him  through- 
out the  whole  of  the  garden  ;  but  saw  nothing  of  him.  She  continued  to  search  for 
him  about  the  borders  of  the  garden  until  the  morning,  when  she  inquired  respecting 
the  ship,  and  they  told  her  that  it  had  set  sail  in  the  first  third  of  the  night.  So  she 
knew  that  the  crew  had  taken  him  with  them,  and  the  event  grieved  her ;  she  was 
violently  enraged,  and  gave  orders  to  fit  out  immediately  ten  great  ships.  She  pre- 
pared herself,  also,  for  war,  and  embarked  in  one  of  the  ten  ships  ;  her  troops 
embarking  with  her,  equipped  with  magnificent  accoutrements  and  weapons  of  war. 
They  loosed  the  sails  ;  and  she  said  to  the  captains  of  the  ships.  When  ye  have 
overtaken  the  ship  of  the  Magian,  ye  shall  receive  from  me  robes  of  honour,  and 
wealth  ;  but  if  ye  overtake  her  not,  I  will  kill  you  every  one.  The  seamen,  there- 
fore, were  inspired  with  great  fear  and  hope.  They  proceeded  in  the  ships  that  day 
and  the  next  night,  and  the  second  day  and  the  third ;  and  on  the  fourth  day  the 
vessel  of  Bahram  the  Magian  appeared  to  them  ;  and  that  day  passed  not  until  the 
Queen's  ships  had  surrounded  the  ship  of  the  Magian.  Bahram  had  just  then  taken 
forth  Assad,  and  beaten  him,  and  was  tormenting  him,  while  Assad  cried  for  relief 
and  deliverance.  But  he  found  no  creature  to  relieve  or  deliver  him,  and  the  violent 
beating  tortured  him.  And  the  Magian,  while  he  was  tormenting  him,  looked  aside, 
and  found  that  the  Queen's  ships  had  surrounded  his  vessel,  and  encompassed  her 
as  the  white  of  the  eye  surrounds  its  black.  He  made  sure  of  his  destruction,  and 
sighed,  and  exclaimed.  Wo  to  thee,  0  Assad  !  All  this  hath  been  occasioned  by 
thee ! — Then  taking  him  by  his  hand,  he  ordered  the  sailors  to  throw  him  into  the 
sea,  saying.  By  Allah,  I  will  kill  thee  before  mine  own  death. 

Accordingly,  the  sailors  took  him  up  by  his  hands  and  feet,  and  threw  him  into 
the  midst  of  the  sea.  But  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be 
exalted!)  desiring  his  safety  and  the  prolongation  of  his  term  of  life,  permitted  that 
he  should  sink,  and  then  rise  again  ;  and  he  beat  about  with  his  hands  and  feet  until 
God  smoothed  his  difficulties.  Relief  came  to  him,  and  the  waves,  striking  him, 
bore  him  to  a  distance  from  the  ship  of  the  Magian,  and  he  reached  the  shore.  So 
he  landed,  scarcely  believing  in  his  escape,  and  when  he  was  upon  the  shore  he  took 
off  his  clothes  and  wrung  them,  and  having  spread  them  out  to  dry,  sat  down  naked, 
weeping  for  the  calamities  and  captivity  that  had  befallen  him.  After  this  he  arose, 
and  put  on  his  clothes ;  but  knew  not  whither  to  go.  He  ate  of  the  herbs  of  the 
earth  and  of  the  fruits  of  the  trees,  and  drank  of  the  water  of  the  rivers,  journeying 
by  night  and  day,  until  he  came  in  sight  of  a  city.  And  upon  this  he  rejoiced,  and 
quickened  his  pace  towards  the  city ;  but  when  he  arrived  at  it,  the  evening  had 
overtaken  him,  and  its  gate  was  shut.  It  was  the  same  city  in  which  he  had  been  a 
captive,  and  to  whose  King  his  brother  was  Vizier.  And  when  Assad  saw  that  its 
gate  was  closed,  he  returned  towards  the  burial-grounds,  where,  on  arriving,  he  found 
a  tomb  without  a  door.  So  he  entered  it,  and  laid  himself  down  to  sleep  in  it,  put- 
ting his  face  into  his  bosom. 

Now  Bahram  the  Magian,  when  the  Queen  Margiana  with  her  ships  overtook  him, 
defeated  her  by  his  artifice  and  subtlety.  He  returned  in  safety  towards  his  city, 
and  proceeded  thither  forthwith,  full  of  joy.  And  passing  by  the  burial-grounds,  he 
landed  from  the  ship,  in  accordance  with  fate  and  destiny,  and  walked  through  the 
burial-grounds,  and  saw  that  the  tomb  in  which  Assad  was  lying  was  open.  So  he 
wondered,  and  said,  I  must  look  into  this  tomb.  And  when  he  looked  into  it,  he  saw 
Assad  sleeping  there,  with  his  head  in  his  bosom.  He  therefore  looked  in  his  face, 
and  recognised  him,  whereupon  he  said  to  him.  Art  thou  still  living?  Then  he 
took  him  up,  and  conveyed  him  to  his  house.  He  had  in  his  house  a  subterranean 
cell,  prepared  for  the  torture  of  Mahometans,  and  he  had  a  daughter  named  Bos- 
tana  :  and  he  put  heavy  irons  upon  the  feet  of  Assad,  and  put  him  down  into  that 
cell,  commissioning  his  daughter  to  torture  him  night  and  day  until  he  should  die. 
Having  done  this,  he  inflicted  upon  him. a  painful  beating,  and  closed  the  cell  upon 
him,  and  gave  the  keys  to  his  daughter. 


THE   TWO    PRINCES   AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD.  331 

So  his  daughter  Bostana  went  down  to  beat  him  ;  but  finding  him  to  be  an  elegant 
young  man,  of  sweet  countenance,  with  arched  eyebrows  and  black  eyes,  affection 
for  him  entered  her  heart,  and  she  said  to  him,  What  is  thy  name?  He  answered 
her.  My  name  is  Assad.  And  she  said  to  him,  Mayest  thou  be  fortunate,  and  may 
thy  days  be  fortunate !  Thou  are  not  deserving  of  torment,  and  I  know  that  thou 
hast  been  treated  unjustly. — And  she  proceeded  to  cheer  him  by  conversation,  and 
unfastened  his  irons.  Then  she  asked  him  respecting  the  Mahometan  religion.  And 
he  informed  her  that  it  was  the  true  and  right  religion,  and  that  our  lord  Mahomet 
was  the  author  of  surpassing  miracles  and  manifest  signs,  and  that  [the  worship  of] 
Fire  injured,  instead  of  benefiting:  he  acquainted  her  also  with  the  fundamentals  of 
Mahometans ;  and  she  yielded  to  his  words.  The  love  of  the  faith  entered  her 
heart,  and  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  infused  into  her  bosom  an  affection  for 
Assad ;  so  she  pronounced  the  two  professions  of  the  faith,  and  became  one  among 
the  people  of  felicity.  She  occupied  herself  in  giving  him  food  and  drink,  con- 
versed and  prayed  with  him,  and  prepared  for  him  pottages  of  fowls,  until  he  gained 
strength,  and  his  disorders  ceased,  and  he  was  restored  to  his  former  health. 

After  this,  the  daughter  of  Bahram  went  forth  from  Assad,  and  stood  at  the  door ; 
and  lo,  the  crier  proclaimed  and  said,  Whosoever  hath  with  him  a  handsome  young 
man,  of  such  and  such  a  description,  and  produceth  him,  he  shall  have  whatever  he 
demandeth  of  wealth  ;  and  whosoever  hath  him  in  his  keeping  and  denieth  it,  he 
shall  be  hanged  at  the  door  of  his  house,  and  his  property  shall  be  plundered,  and 
his  dwelling  shall  be  demolished.  Now  Assad  had  acquainted  Bostana  the  daughter 
of  Bahram  with  all  that  had  happened  unto  him:  so  when  she  heard  this,  she  knew 
that  he  was  the  person  sought.  She  therefore  went  in  to  him,  and  related  to  him  the 
news ;  and  he  came  forth,  and  repaired  to  the  mansion  of  the  Vizier ;  and  as  soon 
as  he  saw  the  Vizier,  he  exclaimed.  By  Allah,  verily  this  Vizier  is  my  brother  Am- 
giad!  Ke  went  up  with  the  damsel  behind  him  to  the  palace;  and  on  seeing  his 
brother  Amgiad,  he  threw  himself  upon  him  ;  whereupon  Amgiad  recognised  him, 
and  in  like  manner  threw  himself  upon  him,  and  they  embraced  each  other.  The 
mamlouks  came  around  them,  and  Assad  and  Amgiad  were,  for  a  while,  senseless  ; 
and  when  they  recovered  from  their  fit,  Amgiad  took  his  brother  and  went  up  with 
him  to  the  Sultan,  and  related  to  him  his  story ;  upon  which,  the  Sultan  ordered  him 
to  plunder  the  house  of  Bahram.  So  the  Vizier  sent  a  company  of  men  to  do  this ; 
and  they  repaired  to  Bahram's  house,  and  plundered  it,  and  brought  up  hi»  daughter 
to  the  Vizier,  who  received  her  with  honour.  Assad  then  described  to  his  brother 
all  the  torture  that  he  had  suffered,  and  the  acts  of  kindness  that  the  daughter  of 
Bahram  had  done  him.  Amgiad,  therefore,  treated  her  with  increased  honour. 
And  after  this  he  related  to  Assad  all  that  had  happened  to  him  with  the  damsel, 
and  how  he  had  escaped  from  being  hanged,  and  had  become  Vizier.  And  each  of 
them  then  complained  to  the  other  of  the  distress  that  he  had  suffered  from  the 
separation  of  his  brother. 

The  Sultan  next  caused  the  Magian  to  be  brought,  and  commanded  to  strike  off 
his  head.  Bahram  said,  0  most  excellent  King,  hast  thou  determined  to  kill  me? 
He  answered.  Yes.  Then  said  Bahram,  Have  patience  with  me  a  little,  0  King. 
And  he  hung  down  his  head  towards  the  ground,  and  presently,  raising  it,  made 
profession  of  the  faith,  and  vowed  himself  a  Mahometan  to  the  Sultan.  So  they 
rejoiced  at  his  embracing  the  Mahometan  faith.  Then  Amgiad  and  Assad  related 
to  him  all  that  had  happened  to  them ;  and  he  said  to  them,  O  my  lords,  prepare 
yourselves  to  journey,  and  I  will  journey  with  you.  And  they  rejoiced  at  this,  as 
they  did  also  at  his  conversion  to  the  Mahometan  faith;  but  they  wept  violently. 
Bahram,  therefore,  said  to  them,  0  my  lords,  weep  not ;  for  ye  shall  eventually  be 
united  [with  your  family],  as  Neameh  and  Noam  were  united.  —  And  what,  they 
a  sked  him,  happened  to  Neameh  and  Noam  ?     He  replied  as  follows : — 


332  THE   STORY   OF   NEAMBH   AND   NOAM. 


THE  STORY  OF  NEAMEH  AND  NOAM. 

Persons  have  related  (but  God  is  all-knowing),  that  there  was,  in  the  city  of  Cufa, 
a  man  who  was  one  of  the  chiefs  of  its  inhabitants,  called  Rabia  the  son  of  Hatim. 
Ho  was  a  man  of  great  wealth,  and  of  prosperous  circumstances,  and  had  been 
blessed  with  a  son  whom  he  named  Neameh.  And  while  he  was  one  day  at  the 
mart  of  the  slave-brokers,  he  beheld  a  female  slave  offered  for  sale,  with  a  little  girl 
of  surprising  beauty  and  loveliness  on  her  arm.  So  Rabia  made  a  sign  to  the  slave- 
broker,  and  said  to  him,  For  how  much  are  this  female  slave  and  her  daughter  to  be 
sold?  He  answered.  For  fifty  pieces  of  gold.  And  Rabia  said,  Write  the  contract, 
and  receive  the  money,  and  deliver  it  to  her  master.  He  then  paid  to  the  slave- 
broker  the  price  of  the  slave,  and  gave  him  his  brokerage ;  and  having  received  the 
female  slave  and  her  daughter,  went  home  with  them.  And  when  his  uncle'a 
daughter  [who  was  his  wife]  beheld  the  female  slave,  she  said  to  him,  O  son  of  my 
uncle,  what  is  this  female  slave  ?  He  answered,  I  bought  her  from  a  desire  of  pos- 
sessing this  little-one  that  is  on  her  arm  ;  and  know  thou  that,  when  she  hath  grown 
up,  there  will  be  none  like  her  in  the  countries  of  the  Arabs  or  foreigners,  and  none 
more  lovely  than  she.  And  the  daughter  of  his  uncle  said  to  her,  AVhat  is  thy  name, 
0  slave-girl?  She  answered,  0  my  mistress,  my  name  is  Toufek.  And  what,  she 
asked,  is  the  name  of  thy  daughter?  She  answered,  Saad.  And  she  replied.  Thou 
hast  spoken  truly.  Thou  art  fortunate,  and  fortunate  is  he  who  hath  purchased 
thee.  —  She  then  said,  0  son  of  my  uncle,  what  name  wilt  thou  give  her? — What 
thou  choosest,  he  answered.  She  replied,  We  will  name  her  Noam.  And  Rabia 
said,  There  will  be  no  harm  in  so  naming  her. 

The  little  Noam  was  brought  up  with  Neameh'  the  son  of  Rabia  in  one  cradle, 
and  in  the  same  manner  they  were  reared  until  they  arttained  the  age  of  ten  years; 
and  each  of  them  was  more  beautiful  than  the  other.  The  boy  used  to  say  to  her, 
0  my  sister.  And  she  used  to  say  to  him,  0  my  brother.  Then  Rabia  addressed 
his  son  Neameh,  when  they  had  attained  to  this  age,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son, 
Noam  is  not  thy  sister ;  but  she  is  thy  slave ;  and  I  bought  her  for  thee  when  thou 
wast  in  the  cradle:  so  call  her  not  thy  sister  from  this  day. — Then  if  it  is  so,  replied 
Neameh  to  his  father,  I  will  marry  her.  He  then  went  in  to  his  mother,  and  ac- 
quainted her  with  this  :  and  she  said,  0  my  son,  she  is  thy  slave.  Therefore  Neameh 
the  son  of  Rabia  took  her  as  a  wife,  and  loved  her.  Four  years  passed  over  them 
while  they  thus  lived,  and  there  was  not  in  Cufa  a  maid  more  beautiful  than  Noam, 
nor  any  sweeter  or  more  elegant.  She  had  grown  up,  and  read  the  Koran  and  works 
of  science,  and  become  skilled  in  various  modes  of  playing  upon  sundry  instru- 
ments: she  was  distinguished  by  perfection  both  in  singing  and  in  instrumental 
music,  so  that  she  surpassed  all  the  people  of  her  age.  And  while  she  was  sitting 
one  day  with  her  husband  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia  in  the  drinking-chamber,  she 
took  the  lute,  and  tightened  its  chords,  and  sang  these  two  verses : — 

While  thou  art  my  lord,  on  whose  bounty  I  lire,  and  a  sword  by  which  I  may  annihilate 

adversities, 
I  shall  never  need  recourse  to  Zeyd  nor  to  Omar,  nor  any  but  thee,  if  my  ways  become  strait 

to  me. 

And  Neameh  was  greatly  delighted.     He  desired  her  to  sing  again  ;  and  when  she 
had  done  so,  the  youth  exclaimed,  Divinely  art  thou  gifted,  0  Noam. 

But  while  they  were  passing  the  most  agreeable  life,  Hejjaj,  in  his  viceregal 
mansion,  was  saying,  I  must  contrive  to  take  away  this  damsel  whose  name  is  Noam, 
and  send  her  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Marwan  ;  for 

'  In  "  Neamet  Allah"  and  similar  names,  the  latter  word  is  often  dropped.  In  this  case,  the 
final  (  in  the  former  is  changed  into  h. 


THE    STORY    OF    NEAMEH    AND    NOAM.  338 

there  existeth  not  in  his  palace  her  equal,  nor  is  sweeter  singing  than  hers  there 
hoard.  He  then  called  for  an  old  woman,  a  confidential  slave,  and  said  to  her.  Go 
to  the  house  of  Rabia,  and  obtain  an  interview  with  the  damsel  Noam,  and  contrive 
means  to  take  her  away :  for  there  existeth  not  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  her  equal. 

The  old  woman  assented  to  the  words  of  Hejjaj  ;  and  when  she  arose  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  she  put  on  her  apparel  of  wool,  hung  to  her  neck  a  rosary  of  thou- 
sands of  beads,  and,  taking  in  her  hand  a  walking-staff,  and  a  leather  water-bottle 
of  the  manufacture  of  Yemen,  proceeded  thither,  exclaiming  as  she  went.  Extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  God,  and  praise  be  to  God,  and  there  is  no  deity  but  God,  and 
God  is  most  Great,  and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the 
Great !  She  ceased  not  her  ejaculations  in  praise  of  God,  and  her  supplications, 
while  her  heart  was  full  of  artifice  and  fraud,  until  she  arrived  at  the  house  of 
Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia  at  the  time  of  noon-prayers ;  and  she  knocked  at  the  door; 
whereupon  the  doorkeeper  opened  to  her,  and  said  to  her,  What  dost  thou  desire  ? 
She  answered,  I  am  a  poor  woman,  one  of  those  who  devote  themselves  to  the  ser- 
vice of  God,  and  the  time  of  noon-prayer  hath  overtaken  me :  I  desire,  therefore,  to 
pray  in  this  blessed  place.  The  doorkeeper  replied,  0  old  woman,  this  is  the  house 
of  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia,  and  it  is  not  a  congregational  mosque  nor  a  place  of 
worship.  —  I  know,  she  rejoined,  that  there  is  not  a  congregational  mosque  nor  a 
place  of  worship  like  the  house  of  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia,  and  I  am  a  servant 
from  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  who  have  come  forth  to  worship  and 
to  travel.  The  doorkeeper,  however,  said  to  her.  It  is  impossible  for  thee  to  enter. 
Many  words  passed  between  them,  till  the  old  woman  clung  to  him,  and  said  to  him. 
Shall  such  a  person  as  myself  be  forbidden  to  enter  the  house  of  Neameh  the  son  of 
Rabia,  when  I  go  to  the  houses  of  the  Emirs  and  grandees?  And  Neameh  came 
forth,  and,  hearing  their  words,  laughed,  and  ordered  her  to  come  in  after  him. 

So  Neameh  entered,  and  the  old  woman  followed  him  until  he  went  in  with  her  to 
Noam  ;  whereupon  the  old  woman  saluted  her  with  the  best  salutation.  And  when 
she  beheld  Noam,  she  wondered  at  her  excessive  loveliness,  and  said  to  her,  0  my 
mistress,  I  commend  thee  to  the  protection  of  God,  who  hath  made  thee  and  thy  lord 
to  agree  in  beauty  and  loveliness.  Then  the  old  woman  placed  herself  at  the  niche, 
and  betook  herself  to  inclination  and  prostration  and  supplication  until  the  day  had 
passed  and  the  night  had  come  with  its  thick  darkness,  when  the  damsel  said,  0  my 
mother,  give  rest  to  thy  feet  a  while.  But  the  old  woman  replied,  0  my  mistress, 
whoso  seeketh  the  world  to  come,  wearieth  himself  in  the  present  world;  and  whoso 
wearieth  not  himself  in  the  present  world  will  not  attain  to  the  mansions  of  the  just 
in  the  world  to  come.  Then  Noam  brought  the  food  to  the  old  woman,  and  said  to 
her.  Eat  of  my  food,  and  beg  propitiousness  and  mercy  for  me.  The  old  woman, 
however,  replied.  Verily  I  am  fasting;  but  as  to  thee,  thou  art  a  young  woman,  and 
eating  and  drinking  and  mirth  are  suitable  to  thee.  God  be  propitious  to  thee ! 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  hath  said.  Except  him  who  shall  repent,  and  believe, 
and  shall  work  a  righteous  work.  —  The  damsel  continued  sitting  a  while  with  the 
old  woman,  conversing  with  her;  after  which  she  said  to  her  master,  0  my  master, 
conjure  this  old  woman  to  lodge  with  us  for  some  time,  for  the  impress  of  devotion 
is  on  her  countenance.  So  he  replied,  Appropriate  to  her  alone  a  chamber  for 
devotion,  and  let  not  any  one  go  in  to  her;  and  perhaps  God  (whose  perfection  be 
extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted  !)  may  grant  us  benefit  from  the  blessing  that 
attendeth  her,  and  not  separate  us.  And  the  old  woman  passed  thftt  night  praying, 
and  reciting  [the  Koran],  until  the  morning,  when  she  came  to  Neameh  and  Noam, 
and,  having  wished  them  good  morning,  said  to  them,  I  commend  you  both  to  the 
care  of  God.  But  Noam  said  to  her,  Whither  goest  thou,  0  my  mother  ?  My  master 
hath  ordered  me  to  appropriate  to  thee  alone  a  chamber  in  which  thou  mayest  seclude 
thyself  for  devotion. — The  old  woman  replied.  May  God  preserve  him,  and  continue 
his  favours  to  you  both  ;  but  I  desire  of  you  that  ye  charge  the  doorkeeper  not  to 
prevent  my  ingress  to  you ;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !), 


334  THE   STORY   OF  NEAMEH   AND   NOAM. 

T  will  go  about  to  the  holy  places,  and  supplicate  for  both  of  you  at  the  close  of  my 
prayer  and  devotion  every  day  and  night.  She  then  went  forth  from  the  house, 
while  the  damsel  Noam  wept  for  her  separation,  not  knowing  the  reason  for  which 
she  had  come  to  her. 

The  old  woman  repaired  to  Hejjaj  ;  and  he  said  to  her,  What  hast  thou  done? 
She  answered  him,  Verily  I  have  beheld  the  damsel,  and  seen  her  to  be  such  that 
women  have  not  given  birth  to  any  more  beautiful  than  she  in  her  age.  And  Hejjaj 
said  to  her,  If  thou  accomplish  that  which  I  have  commanded  thee,  abundant  good 
fortune  will  result  to  thee  from  me.  She  replied,  I  desire  of  thee  a  delay  of  a  whole 
month.  And  he  said  to  her,  I  grant  thee  a  month's  delay.  —  The  old  woman  then 
accustomed  herself  to  frequent  the  house  of  Neameh  and  Noam,  who  treated  her 
with  increased  respect.  She  continued  to  pass  the  morning  and  evening  with  them, 
every  one  in  the  house  welcoming  her,  until,  one  day,  being  with  the  damsel  alone, 
she  said,  0  my  mistress,  by  Allah,  when  I  visit  the  holy  places,  I  will  pray  for  thee; 
and  I  wish  that  thou  wouldst  accompany  me,  that  thou  mightest  see  the  sheikhs  that 
come  thither,  and  they  would  pray  for  any  blessing  for  thee  that  thou  desirest.  And 
the  damsel  Noam  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  mother,  take  me  with  thee.  So  the  old 
woman  said  to  her,  Ask  leave  of  thy  mother-in-law,  and  I  will  take  thee  with  me. 
The  damsel,  therefore,  said  to  her  mother-in-law,  the  mother  of  Neameh,  0  my  mis- 
tress, ask  my  master  to  let  me  and  thee  go  one  day  with  my  mother,  the  old  woman, 
to  prayer  and  supplication  with  the  poor  devotees  in  the  holy  places.  And  when 
Neameh  came,  and  sat  down,  the  old  woman  went  to  him  and  kissed  his  hand  ;  but 
he  forbade  her  doing  so :  and  she  prayed  for  him,  and  went  forth  from  the  house. 
And  on  the  following  day  she  came  again,  when  Neameh  was  not  in  the  house,  and, 
accosting  the  damsel  Noam,  said  to  her.  We  prayed  for  you  yesterday ;  but  arise 
now  and  amuse  thyself,  and  return  before  thy  master  cometh.  So  the  damsel  said 
to  her  mother-in-law,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  give  me  permission  to  go  out 
with  this  just  woman  to  enjoy  the  sight  of  the  saints  of  God  in  the  holy  places,  and 
I  will  return  quickly,  before  my  master  cometh.  The  mother  of  Neameh  replied,  I 
fear  lest  thy  master  know  of  it.  But  the  old  woman  said.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  let 
her  seat  herself  upon  the  ground ;  but  she  shall  look  while  she  standeth  upon  her 
feet,  and  shall  not  loiter. 

She  then  took  the  damsel,  by  this  stratagem,  and  repaired  with  her  to  the  palace 
of  Hejjaj,  and  acquainted  him  with  her  arrival,  after  she  had  put  her  in  a  private 
apartment.  So  Hejjaj  came  and  looked  at  her,  and  saw  her  to  be  the  most  lovely  of 
the  people  of  her  age,  and  such  as  he  had  never  seen  equalled:  but  when  Noam  be- 
held him,  she  covered  her  face.  He  loft  her  not  until  he  had  summoned  his  cham- 
berlain; and  he  mounted  with  him  fifty  horsemen,  and  commanded  him  to  take  the 
damsel  upon  an  excellent  and  swift  dromedary,  to  repair  with  her  to  Damascus,  and 
to  deliver  her  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Marwan,  to  whom 
he  wrote  a  letter.  And  he  said  to  the  chamberlain.  Give  him  this  letter,  and  bring 
from  him  an  answer,  and  make  haste  in  returning.  The  chamberlain,  therefore, 
went,  and  took  the  damsel  upon  a  dromedary,  and  journeyed  with  her,  she  remain- 
ing all  the  while  with  tearful  eye  on  account  of  the  separation  of  her  master,  until 
they  arrived  at  Damascus.  He  begged  permission  to  present  himself  to  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful,  who  gave  him  permission,  and  he  went  in  to  him,  and  acquainted 
him  with  the  affair  of  the  damsel;  whereupon  the  Caliph  appropriated  to  her  ex- 
clusively a  private  apartment. 

The  Caliph  then  went  into  his  harem,  and,  seeing  his  wife,  he  said  to  her,  Hejjaj 
hath  purchased  for  me  a  slave-girl  from  among  the  daughters  of  the  Kings  of  Cufa, 
for  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  hath  sent  to  me  this  letter  and  her  with  the 
letter.  His  wife  replied.  May  God  increase  to  thee  his  bounty!  And  after  this,  the 
sister  of  the  Caliph  went  in  to  the  damsel ;  and  when  she  beheld  her,  she  said.  By 
Allah,  he  is  not  disappointed  in  whose  abode  thou  art,  were  thy  price  a  hundred 
thousand  pieces  of  gold !     And  the  damsel  Noam  said  to  her,  0  lovely-faced,  to  whom 


THE   STORY   OF   NEAMEH   AND   NOAM.  335 

among  the  Kings  bolongeth  this  palace,  and  what  city  is  this  ?  She  answered  her, 
This  is  the  city  of  Damascus,  and  this  is  the  palace  of  my  brother,  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Marwan.  Then  she  said  to  the  damsel,  It  seemeth 
that  thou  knewest  not  this. — By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  replied  Noam,  I  had  no  know- 
ledge of  it.  The  sister  of  the  Caliph  said.  And  did  not  he  who  sold  thee  and  took 
thy  price,  acquaint  thee  that  the  Caliph  had  bought  thee  ?  And  when  the  damsel 
heard  these  words,  her  tears  flowed,  and  she  lamented,  and  said  within  herself,  The 
stratagem  hath  been  accomplished  against  me.  Then  she  said  within  herself.  If  I 
speak,  no  one  will  believe  me:  so  I  will  be  silent  and  be  patient;  for  I  know  that 
the  relief  of  God  is  near  at  hand.  And  she  hung  down  her  head  in  bashfulness,  and 
her  cheeks  were  reddened  by  her  late  travelling  and  by  the  sun.  The  sister  of  the 
Caliph  left  her  that  day,  and  came  to  her  on  the  following  day  with  linen  and  with 
necklaces  of  jewels,  and  attired  her. 

After  this,  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  came  in  to  her,  and  seated  himself  by  her 
side,  and  his  sister  said  to  him,  Look  at  this  damsel  in  whom  God  hath  united  every 
charm  of  beauty  and  loveliness.  So  the  Caliph  said  to  Noam,  Remove  the  veil  from 
thy  face.  But  she  removed  it  not,  and  he  saw  not  her  face.  He  beheld,  however, 
her  wrists,  and  love  for  her  penetrated  into  his  heart,  and  he  said  to  his  sister,  I  will 
not  visit  her  again  until  after  three  days,  that  she  may  in  the  mean  time  be  cheered 
by  thy  conversation.  He  then  arose  and  went  forth  from  her.  And  the  damsel  re- 
mained reflecting  upon  her  case,  and  sighing  for  her  separation  from  her  master 
Neameh.  And  when  the  next  night  came,  she  fell  sick  of  a  fever,  and  ate  not  nor 
drank,  and  her  countenance  and  her  charms  became  changed.  So  they  acquainted 
the  Caliph  with  this,  and  her  case  distressed  him,  and  he  brought  in  to  her  the 
physicians  and  men  of  penetration  ;  but  no  one  could  discover  a  remedy  for  her. 

Meanwhile,  her  master  Neameh  came  to  his  house,  and  seating  hims-elf  upon  his 
bed,  called  out,  0  Noam  !  But  she  answered  him  not.  So  he  arose  quickly,  and 
called  out  again  ;  but  no  one  came  in  to  him  ;  for  every  female  slave  in  the  house 
hid  herself,  in  her  fear  of  him.  He  therefore  went  to  his  mother,  and  found  her  sit- 
ting with  her  hand  upon  her  cheek ;  and  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  where  is 
Noam  ? — 0  my  son,  she  answered,  with  one  who  is  more  trustworthy  than  myself 
respecting  her;  namely,  the  just  old  woman;  for  she  went  forth  with  her  to  visit 
the  poor  devotees,  and  to  return. — And  when,  said  he,  was  she  accustomed  to  do 
this  ?  And  at  what  hour  did  she  go  forth  ? — She  answered,  She  went  forth  early  in 
the  morning. — And  how  didst  thou  give  her  permission  to  do  so?  he  asked. — 0  my 
son,  she  answered,  it  was  she  who  persuaded  me  to  it.  And  Neameh  exclaimed. 
There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  He  then  went 
forth  from  his  house,  in  a  state  of  distraction,  and,  repairing  to  the  chief  of  the 
police,  said  to  him,  Dost  thou  employ  stratagems  against  me,  and  take  my  slave-girl 
from  my  house?  I  will  assuredly  journey  and  complain  against  thee  to  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful. — So  the  chief  of  the  police  said,  And  who  took  her  ?  He  answered, 
An  old  woman  of  such  and  such  a  description,  clad  in  garments  of  wool,  and  having 
in  her  hand  a  rosary,  the  beads  of  which  were  thousands  in  number.  And  the 
chief  of  the  police  replied.  Acquaint  me  with  the  old  woman,  and  I  will  deliver  to 
thee  thy  slave-girl. — And  who  knoweth  the  old  woman?  said  Neameh. — And  who, 
said  the  chief  of  the  police,  knoweth  what  is  hidden  from  the  senses,  excepting  God, 
whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted  ?  But  he  knew  that  she 
was  an  artful  woman  employed  by  Hejjaj.  Neameh  then  said  to  him,  I  look  for 
my  slave-girl  from  none  but  thee,  and  Hejjaj  shall  decide  between  me  and  thee. 
And  he  replied,  Go  unto  whom  thou  wilt. 

So  Neameh  went  to  the  palace  of  Hejjaj.  His  father  was  one  of  the  chief  people 
of  Cufa :  therefore  when  he  arrived  at  the  residence  of  Hejjaj,  the  chamberlain 
went  in  and  informed  him  of  the  case,  and  Hejjaj  said.  Bring  him  in  unto  me.  And 
when  he  stood  before  him,  Hejjaj  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  business?  Neameh 
answprpd  him,  Such  and  such  things  have  happened  onto  me.     And  Hejjaj  said, 


336  THE  STORY  OF  NEAMEH  AND  NOAM. 

Bring  ye  to  me  the  chief  of  the  police,  and  we  will  order  him  to  search  for  the  old 
woman.  Accordingly,  when  the  chief  of  the  police  came,  he  said  to  him,  I  desire 
of  thee  that  thou  search  for  the  slave-girl  of  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia.  The  chief 
of  the  police  replied,  None  knoweth  what  is  hidden  from  the  senses  excepting  God, 
whose  name  be  exalted  !  But  Hejjaj  said  to  him.  Thou  must  take  with  thee  horse- 
men and  seek  for  the  damsel  in  the  roads,  and  look  in  the  towns.  Then  looking  to- 
wards Neameh,  he  said  to  him,  If  thy  slave-girl  return  not,  I  will  give  to  thee  ten 
slave-girls  from  my  own  mansion,  and  ten  from  the  mansion  of  the  chief  of  the 
police.  And  he  said  to  the  chief  of  the  police,  Go  forth  to  search  for  the  damsel. 
So  he  went  forth. 

Neameh  was  full  of  grief,  and  despaired  of  life.  He  had  attained  the  age  of  four- 
teen years,  and  there  was  no  hair  upon  the  sides  of  his  face.  He  wept  and  lamented, 
and  separated  himself  from  his  house,  and  ceased  not  to  weep  until  the  morning. 
And  his  father  came  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  verily  Hejjaj  hath  employed  a 
stratagem  against  the  damsel,  and  taken  her;  but  from  hour  to  hour  God  giveth  re- 
lief. Still  anxieties  increased  upon  Neameh,  and  he  knew  not  what  to  say,  nor  re- 
cognised any  who  came  in  to  him.  He  remained  in  a  state  of  infirmity  three 
months,  so  that  his  whole  condition  became  changed,  and  his  father  despaired  of 
him  ;  and  the  physicians  visited  him,  and  said,  There  is  no  cure  for  him  except  the 
damsel. 

But  while  his  father  was  sitting  one  day,  he  heard  of  a  skilful  physician,  a  Per- 
sian, whom  the  people  described  as  possessing  a  sure  knowledge  of  medicine  and 
astrology  and  geomancy.  So  Rabia  called  for  him  ;  and  when  he  came,  he  seated 
him  by  his  side,  treated  him  with  honour,  and  said  to  him.  See  the  state  of  my  son. 
And  he  said  to  Neameh,  Give  me  thy  hand.  He  therefore  gave  him  his  hand,  and 
the  physician  felt  his  joints,  and  looked  in  his  face,  and  laughed.  Then  turning  his 
eyes  towards  his  father,  he  said,  Thy  son  hath  nothing  else  than  a  disease  in  his 
heart.  And  Rabia  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truly,  0  sage:  consider,  then,  the 
case  of  my  son  with  thy  science,  and  acquaint  me  with  all  his  circumstances,  and 
hide  from  me  nothing  of  his  case.  So  the  Persian  said.  He  is  engrossed  by  love  for 
a  damsel,  and  this  damsel  is  in  Balsora  or  in  Damascus,  and  there  is  no  cure  for  thy 
son  but  his  union  with  her.  And  Rabia  said.  If  thou  bring  them  together,  thou 
shalt  receive  from  me  what  will  make  thee  happy,  and  shalt  live  all  thy  life  in 
wealth  and  delight. — Verily,  replied  the  Persian,  this  afi"air  is  soon  managed,  and 
aasy.  Then  looking  towards  Neameh,  he  said  to  him,  No  harm  will  befall  thee  ; 
therefore  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye.  And  he  said  to  Rabia,  Take  forth  from 
thy  property  four  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  He  therefore  took  them  forth,  and  de- 
livered them  to  the  Persian,  who  said  to  him,  I  desire  that  thy  son  journey  with  me 
to  Damascus,  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  I  will  not  re- 
turn but  with  the  damsel.  Then  he  looked  towards  the  youth,  and  said  to  him, 
What  is  thy  name?  He  answered,  Neameh.  And  he  said,  0  Neameh,  sit,  and  be 
in  the  care  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !):  God  hath  united  thee  with  the  dam- 
sel. And  upon  this,  he  sat  up.  And  the  Persian  said  to  him.  Fortify  thy  heart ; 
for  we  will  set  forth  on  our  journey  as  on  this  day:  eat,  therefore,  and  drink,  and 
enjoy  thyself,  that  thou  mayest  acquire  strength  for  the  journey. 

The  Persian  then  applied  himself  to  the  accomplishment  of  all  that  he  required, 
and  received  from  the  father  of  Neameh  as  much  as  made  up  the  sum  of  ten  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold,  with  the  horses  and  camels  and  other  beasts  that  he  required  to 
carry  the  burdens  on  the  way.  After  this,  Neameh  bade  farewell  to  his  father  and 
his  mother,  and  journeyed  with  the  sage  to  Aleppo.  But  he  learnt  no  tidings  of  the 
damsel.  Then  they  arrived  at  Damascus;  and  after  they  had  remained  there  three 
days,  the  Persian  took  a  shop,  and  stocked  its  shelves  with  precious  China-ware, 
and  covers,  decorated  the  shelves  with  gold  and  costly  materials,  placed  before  him 
glass  bottles  containing  all  kinds  of  ointments  and  all  kinds  of  sirops,  put  round 
the  bottles  cups  of  crystal,  and  placed  the  astrolabe  before  him.     He  clad  himself 


THE   STORY   OF   NEAMEH   AND   KOAM.  337 

in  the  apparel  of  sages  and  physicians,  and  stationed  Neameh  before  him,  having 
clad  him  in  a  shirt  and  a  garment  of  silk,  and  girded  him  with  a  siliien  kerchief 
embroidered  with  gold.  He  then  said  to  him,  0  Neameh,  thou  art  from  this  day  my 
son  ;  therefore  call  me  not  otherwise  than  thy  father,  and  I  will  not  call  thee  but  as 
son.  So  Neameh  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  The  people  of  Damascus  now  assembled 
before  the  shop  of  the  Persian,  gazing  at  the  beauty  of  Neameh  and  at  the  beauty 
of  the  shop  and  the  goods  that  it  contained;  and  the  Persian  conversed  with  Neameh 
in  the  Persian  language ;  Neameh  doing  the  same  with  him  ;  for  he  knew  that  lan- 
guage, as  was  usually  the  case  with  the  sons  of  the  great.  The  Persian  became 
celebrated  among  the  people  of  Damascus,  and  they  began  to  describe  to  him  their 
pains,  and  he  gave  them  the  remedies.  He  continued  to  relieve  the  wants  of  the 
people,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Damascus  flocked  to  him,  his  fame  spreading  through 
the  city  and  into  the  houses  of  the  great. 

And  while  he  was  sitting  one  day,  lo,  an  old  woman  approached  him,  riding  upon 
an  ass  with  a  stuflFed  saddle  of  brocade  adorned  with  jewels ;  and  she  stopped  at 
the  Persian's  shop,  and,  pulling  the  ass'  bridle,  made  a  sign  to  the  Persian,  and 
said  to  him.  Hold  my  hand.  So  he  took  her  hand,  and  she  alighted  from  the  ass, 
and  said.  Art  thou  the  Persian  physician  who  earnest  from  Irak?  He  answered.  Yes. 
And  she  said.  Know  that  I  have  a  daughter,  and  she  is  sufl"ering  from  a  disease.  She 
then  acquainted  him  with  the  symptoms,  and  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  what  is 
the  name  of  this  damsel,  that  I  may  calculate  her  star,  and  know  at  what  hour  the 
drinking  of  the  medicine  will  be  suitable  to  her? — 0  brother  of  the  Persians,  she 
answered,  her  name  is  Noam.  And  when  the  Persian  heard  the  name  of  Noam,  he 
began  to  calculate,  and  to  write  upon  his  hand  ;  and  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I 
will  not  prescribe  for  her  a  remedy  until  I  know  from  what  country  she  is,  on 
account  of  the  difference  of  air;  acquaint  me,  therefore,  in  what  country  she  was 
brought  up,  and  how  many  years  is  her  age.  So  the  old  woman  replied,  her  age  is 
fourteen  years,  and  the  place  where  she  was  reared  is  in  the  province  of  Cufa,  in 
Irak. — And  how  many  months,  said  the  Persian,  hath  she  been  in  this  country? 
The  old  woman  answered  him,  She  hath  resided  in  this  country  but  a  few  months. 
And  when  Neameh  heard  the  words  of  the  old  woman,  and  the  name  of  his  slave- 
girl,  his  heart  palpitated.  The  Persian  then  said  to  her.  Such  and  such  remedies 
will  be  suitable  to  her.  The  old  woman,  therefore,  said  to  him.  Give  me  what  thou 
hast  prescribed,  and  may  the  blessing  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  attend  it. 
And  she  threw  to  him  ten  pieces  of  gold  upon  the  seat  of  the  shop.  So  the  sage 
looked  towards  Neameh,  and  ordered  him  to  prepare  for  her  the  drugs  of  which  the 
remedy  was  to  be  composed  ;  and  the  old  woman  began  to  look  at  Neameh,  and  to 
say,  I  invoke  God's  protection  for  thee,  O  my  son  !  Verily  her  form  is  like  thine! — 
Then  she  said  to  the  Persian,  0  brother  of  the  Persians,  is  this  thy  mamlouk  or  thy 
son  ?  He  answered  her,  He  is  my  son.  Neameh  then  put  the  things  for  her  into  a 
a  small  box,  and  taking  a  paper,  wrote  upon  it  these  two  verses : — 

If  Noam  bestow  on  me  a  glance  I  care  not  if  Soada  grant  favours,  or  Jumal  confer  benefits. 
They  said  to  me,  Relinquish  her,  and  receive  twenty  like  her.    But  there  is  none  like  her,  and 
I  will  not  relinquish  her. 

He  put  the  paper  into  the  little  box,  and  sealed  it,  and  wrote  upon  its  cover,  in  the 
Cufic  character,  I  am  Neameh,  the  son  of  Rabia  of  Cufa.  Then  he  placed  the  little 
box  before  the  old  woman. 

She  therefore  took  it,  and  having  bidden  them  farewell,  departed  to  the  palace  of 
the  Caliph.  And  when  she  went  up  with  the  things  to  the  damsel,  she  placed  the 
little  box  of  medicine  before  her,  saying  to  her,  O  my  mistress,  know  that  there  hath 
come  unto  our  city  a  Persian  phj'sician,  than  whom  I  have  not  seen  one  more  ac- 
quainted with  matters  relating  to  diseases.  And  I  mentioned  to  him  thy  name,  after 
I  had  informed  him  of  the  symptoms  of  thy  complaint;  whereupon  he  knew  thy 
disease,  and  prescribed  the  remedy.  Then  he  gave  orders  to  his  son,  who  packed  up 
22 


838 


THE    STORY    OF    NEAMEH    AND    NOAM. 


for  thee  this  medicine.  And  there  is  not  in  Damascus  any  one  more  lovely,  or  more 
elegant  than  bis  son,  nor  any  more  comely  than  he  in  apparel.  Nor  hath  any  one  a 
shop  like  his  shop. — So  she  took  the  little  box,  and  saw,  written  upon  its  cover,  the 
name  of  her  master  and  the  name  of  his  father.  And  when  she  saw  this,  her  com- 
plexion changed,  and  she  said,  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  the  owner  of  the  shop  hath 
come  on  my  account.  Then  she  said  to  the  old  won)an.  Describe  to  me  this  young 
man.  And  she  replied,  His  name  is  Neameh,  and  upon  his  right  eyebrow  is  a  scar; 
he  is  clad  in  costly  apparel,  and  is  endowed  with  consummate  beauty.  The  damsel 
then  said.  Hand  me  the  medicine,  and  may  it  be  attended  with  the  blessing  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  his  aid.  And  she  took  the  medicine  and  swallowed 
it,  laughing,  and  said  to  the  old  woman.  Verily,  it  is  blessed  medicine.  And  after 
this,  she  searched  in  the  little  box,  and  saw  the  paper.  She  therefore  opened  it  and 
read  it ;  and  when  she  understood  its  meaning,  she  felt  assured  that  the  writer 
was  her  master ;  so  her  soul  was  cheered  and  she  rejoiced  ;  and  when  the  old  woman 
saw  that  she  laughed,  she  said  to  her.  Verily  this  is  a  blessed  day.    Noam  then  said, 


// 


.'4v^:S^% 


the  sight  i)f  Neanieh's  name 


0  good  friend,  I  desire  food  and  beverage.  And  the  old  woman  said  to  the  female 
slaves,  Bring  the  tables  and  the  dainty  viands  to  your  mistress.  Accordingly  they 
brought  to  her  the  viands,  and  she  sat  to  eat.  And  lo,  Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Mar- 
wan  ciime  in  to  them,  and,  seeing  the  damsel  sitting  and  eating  the  repast,  he  re- 
joiced. And  the  confidential  slave  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  may  the  health 
of  thy  slave-girl  Noam  rejoice  thee:  for  there  hath  arrived  at  this  city  a  physician, 
than  whom  I  have  seen  none  more  acquainted  with  diseases  and  their  remedies  ;  and 

1  brought  her  some  medicine  from  him,  and  after  she  had  taken  of  it  once,  health 
returned  to  her,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  Upon  this,  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful 
said,  Take  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  apply  thyself  to  means  for  her  complete 
restoration. 

He  then  went  forth,  rejoicing  at  the  damsel's  recovery;  and  the  old  woman  re- 
paired to  the  shop  of  the  Persian  with  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  gave  them 
to  him,  telling  hira  that  she  was  a  female  slave  of  the  Caliph.  And  she  handed  to 
him  a  paper  which  Noam  had  written.  So  the  Persian  took  it,  and  handed  it  to 
Neameh,  who,  as  soon  as  he  saw  it,  knew  her  handwriting,  and  fell  down  in  a 
Bwoon ;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  opened  the  paper,  and  found  written  in  it, — 

From  the  slave-girl  despoiled   of  her  happiness,  the  infatuated  in  her  mind,  the 


THE   STORY   OF   NEAMEH   AND    NOAM.  339 

separated  from  the  beloved  of  her  heart.— To  proceed.     Your  letter  hath  reached 
me,  and  expanded  the  bosom,  and  rejoiced  the  heart. 

When  Neameh  read  this  letter,  his  eyes  poured  forth  tears.  So  the  old  woman 
said  to  him.  What  maketh  thee  weep,  0  my  son  ?  May  God  never  make  thine  eye 
to  shed  tears ! — And  the  Persian  said,  0  my  mistress.  How  can  my  son  refrain  from 
weeping,  when  he  is  the  master  of  this  slave-girl,  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia  of  Cufa, 
and  when  the  health  of  this  damsel  dependeth  upon  seeing  him,  and  she  hath  no 
disease  but  the  love  that  she  beareth  him  ?  Take  thou  then,  0  my  mistress  (he  con- 
tinued), these  thousand  pieces  of  gold  for  thyself,  and  thou  shalt  receive  from  me 
more  than  that :  and  look  upon  us  with  the  eye  of  mercy ;  for  we  know  not  any 
means  of  rectifying  this  affair  but  through  thee. — So  she  said  to  Neameh,  Art  thou 
her  master?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  she  said.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth;  for  she 
ceased  not  to  mention  thee.  Neameh  therefore  acquainted  her  with  what  bad  hap- 
pened to  him  from  first  to  last ;  and  the  old  woman  said,  0  youth,  thou  canst  not 
obtain  an  interview  with  her  but  through  my  means. 

She  then  mounted,  and  returned  immediately,  and,  going  in  to  the  damsel,  looked 
in  her  face,  and  laughed,  and  said  to  her.  It  beoometh  thee,  0  my  daughter,  to  weep 
and  to  fall  sick  on  account  of  the  separation  of  thy  master,  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia 
of  Cufa.  So  Noam  said.  The  veil  hath  been  removed  unto  thee,  and  the  truth  hath 
been  revealed  to  thee.  And  the  old  woman  replied.  Let  thy  soul  be  happy  and  thy 
bosom  dilate  ;  for,  by  Allah,  I  will  unite  you  both,  though  the  loss  of  my  life  be  the 
consequence  of  it. 

Then,  returning  to  Neameh,  she  said  to  him,  I  went  back  to  the  damsel,  and  had 
an  interview  with  her,  and  found  her  to  have  a  longing  desire  for  thee,  greater  than 
that  which  thou  feelest  for  her;  for  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  desireth  to  visit  her, 
and  she  refuseth  to  receive  him.  Now  if  thou  have  a  firm  heart,  and  strength  of 
mind,  I  will  bring  you  together,  and  expose  myself  to  peril  in  your  cause,  and  con- 
trive a  stratagem  and  employ  an  artifice  by  which  to  introduce  thee  into  the  palace 
of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  thou  mayest  have  an  interview  with  the  damsel; 
for  she  cannot  go  forth. — So  Neameh  replied,  May  Allah  recompense  thee  well ! 
Then  she  bade  him  farewell,  and  repaired  to  the  damsel,  and  said  to  her.  Verily  the 
soul  of  thy  master  departeth  by  reason  of  his  love  for  thee,  and  he  desireth  an  in- 
terview with  thee.  What,  then,  sayest  thou  on  this  matter? — Noam  answered.  And 
I  am  in  the  same  state:  my  soul  departeth,  and  I  desire  an  interview  with  him. 
Upon  this,  therefore,  the  old  woman  took  a  wrapper  containing  female  ornaments 
and  a  suit  of  women's  apparel,  and,  repairing  again  to  Neameh,  said  to  him.  Come 
into  some  place  with  me  alone.  So  he  went  with  her  into  an  apartment  behind  the 
shop  ;  and  she  dyed  the  ends  of  his  fingers  with  henna,  decked  his  wrists  [with 
bracelets],  decorated  his  hair  [with  the  ornamented  strings  of  silk],  and  clad  him  in 
the  apparel  of  a  slave-girl,  adorning  him  with  the  best  of  the  things  with  which 
female  slaves  are  decked,  so  that  he  appeared  like  one  of  the  black-eyed  virgins  of 
Paradise.  And  when  the  old  woman  beheld  him  in  this  state,  she  exclaimed. 
Blessed  be  Allah,  the  best  of  Creators!  By  Allah,  thou  art  handsomer  than  the 
damsel ! — She  then  said  to  him.  Walk,  and  incline  the  left  shoulder  forward,  and 
the  right  backward,  and  move  thy  hips  fiom  side  to  side.  So  he  walked  before  her 
as  she  directed  him ;  and  when  she  saw  that  he  knew  the  gait  of  women,  she  said 
to  him.  Wait  until  I  come  to  thee  next  night,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted !),  and  then  I  will  take  thee  and  conduct  thee  into  the  palace  ;  and  when 
thou  seest  the  chamberlains  and  servants,  be  bold  and  stoop  thy  head,  and  speak  not 
with  any  one.  I  will  prevent  their  speaking  to  thee ;  and  in  God  I  trust  for 
success. 

Accordingly,  when  the  following  morning  came,  the  old  woman  returned  to  him, 
and  took  him  and  went  up  with  him  to  the  palace.  She  entered  before  him,  and  he 
followed  her  steps  ;  but  the  chamberlain  would  have  prevented  his  entering;  so  she 
said  to  him,  0  most  ill-omened  of  slaves,  she  is  the  slave-girl  of  Noam,  the  concu- 


340  THE   STORY   OF  NEAMEH   AND   NOAM. 

bine  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  how  dost  thou  presume  to  prevent  her  enter* 
ing?  She  then  said,  Enter,  0  slave-girl.  He  therefore  entered  with  the  old  woman  ; 
and  they  proceeded  without  stopping  to  the  door  which  opened  into  the  court  of  the 
palace,  when  the  old  woman  said  to  him,  0  Neameh,  strengthen  thyself,  and  fortify 
thy  heart,  and  enter  the  palace  ;  then  turn  to  thy  left,  and  count  five  doors,  and 
enter  the  sixth  door;  for  that  is  the  door  of  the  place  prepared  for  thee  ;  and  fear 
not  if  any  one  address  thee  ;  but  do  not  speak  with  him.  And  she  proceeded  with 
him  until  they  arrived  at  the  doors,  when  the  chamberlain  who  was  commissioned 
to  guard  those  doors  accosted  her,  and  said  to  her.  Who  is  this  slave-girl  ?  The  old 
woman  answered  him,  Our  mistress  desireth  to  purchase  her.  The  eunuch  replied, 
No  one  entereth  without  the  permission  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ;  return  with 
her,  therefore  ;  for  I  will  not  suffer  her  to  enter,  as  I  have  been  commanded  to  do 
thus. — 0  great  chamberlain,  rejoined  the  confidential  slave,  where  is  thy  reason  ? 
Verily  Noam,  the  Caliph's  slave-girl,  to  whom  his  heart  is  devoted,  hath  recovered 
her  health,  and  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  scarce  believeth  her  recovery,  and  she 
desireth  to  purchase  this  damsel ;  therefore  prevent  not  her  entering,  lest  it  be  told 
her  that  thou  hast  done  so,  and  she  be  enraged  against  thee ;  for  if  she  be  incensed 
against  thee  she  will  cause  thy  head  to  be  struck  off.  Then  she  said.  Enter,  0  slave- 
girl,  and  attend  not  to  his  words,  and  inform  not  thy  mistress  that  the  chamberlain 
opposed  thine  entering. 

So  Neameh  stooped  his  head,  and  entered,  and  designed  to  turn  to  his  left;  but  he 
mistook,  and  turned  to  his  right;  and  he  meant  to  count  five  doors,  and  to  enter  the 
sixth  ;  but  he  counted  six,  and  entered  the  seventh.  And  when  he  had  entered  this 
door,  he  saw  a  place  furnished  with  brocade;  its  walls  were  hung  with  curtains  of 
silk  worked  with  gold  ;  and  in  it  were  perfuming-vessels  with  aloes-wood  and  am- 
bergris and  strong-scented  musk  ;  and  he  saw  a  sofa  at  the  upper  end,  furnished  with 
brocade.  Neameh,  therefore,  seated  himself  upon  it,  not  knowing  what  was  decreed 
him  in  the  secret  purpose  of  God:  and  as  he  was  sitting  reflecting  upon  his  case,  lo, 
the  sister  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  came  in  to  him,  attended  by  her  maid. 
Seeing  the  youth  sitting  there,  she  imagined  him  to  be  a  slave-girl,  so  she  advanced 
to  him,  and  said  to  him,  Who  art  thou,  0  slave-girl,  and  what  is  thy  story,  and  what 
is  the  reason  of  thine  entering  this  place?  But  Neameh  spoke  not,  nor  returned 
her  any  answer.  She  then  said,  0  slave-girl,  if  thou  be  one  of  the  concubines  of 
my  brother,  and  he  hath  been  incensed  against  thee,  I  will  conciliate  his  favours 
towards  thee.  But  Neameh  still  returned  her  no  answer.  And  upon  this  she  said 
to  her  maid.  Stand  at  the  door  of  the  chamber,  and  suffer  no  one  to  enter.  Then  she 
approached  him,  and,  observing  his  loveliness,  said,  O  damsel,  inform  me  who  thou 
art,  and  what  is  thy  name,  and  what  is  the  reason  of  thine  entering  hither;  for  I 
have  never  before  seen  thee  in  our  palace.  Neameh,  however,  returned  her  no 
answer.  And  thereupon  the  sister  of  the  King  was  angry,  and  put  her  hand  upon 
Nearaeh's  bosom  ;  and,  finding  that  it  was  not  formed  like  that  of  a  female,  she  was 
about  to  take  off  his  outer  clothes,  that  she  might  discover  who  he  was.  So  Neameh 
said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  am  a  mamlouk,  and  do  thou  purchase  me :  I  implore 
thy  protection:  then  grant  it  me.  And  she  said,  No  harm  shall  befall  thee.  Who, 
then,  art  thou,  and  who  admitted  thee  into  this  my  chamber? — Neameh  answered 
her,  I,  0  Queen,  am  known  by  the  name  of  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia  of  Cufa,  and 
I  have  exposed  my  life  to  peril  for  the  sake  of  my  slave-girl  Noam,  whom  Hejjaj, 
having  employed  a  stratagem  against  her,  hath  taken  and  sent  hither.  And  she 
said  to  him  again.  No  harm  shall  befall  thee.  Then  calling  to  her  maid,  she  said 
to  her.  Go  to  the  private  chamber  of  Noam. 

Now  the  old  woman  had  gone  to  the  chamber  of  Noam,  and  said  to  her,  Hath  thy 
master  come  to  thee?  She  answered,  No,  by  Allah.  So  the  old  woman  said,  Pro- 
bably he  hath  made  a  mistake,  and  entered  some  other  chamber  than  thine,  and 
missed  his  way  to  thine  apartment.  And  Noam  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor 
power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great.     Our  appointed  term  hath  expired,  and  we 


THE  STORY  OF  NEAMEH  AND  NOAM.  341 

perish  ! — They  then  sat  together  reflecting,  and  while  they  were  in  this  state,  lo,  the 
maid  of  the  Caliph's  sister  came  in  to  them,  and,  having  saluted  Noam,  said  to  her, 
My  mistress  summoneth  thee  to  her  entertainment.  Noam  therefore  replied,  I  hear 
and  obey.  And  the  old  woman  said.  Perhaps  thy  master  is  with  the  sister  of  the 
Caliph,  and  the  veil  hath  been  removed.  Noam  now  rose  immediately,  and  pro- 
ceeded until  she  went  in  to  the  Caliph's  sister,  whereupon  the  latter  said  to  her. 
This  is  thy  master  who  is  sitting  with  me,  and  it  seemeth  that  he  hath  mistaken  the 
place;  but  thou  hast  nothing  to  fear,  nor  hath  he,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!).  And  when  Noam  heard  these  words  from  the  sister  of  the  Ca- 
liph, her  soul  became  tranquillized.  She  advanced  to  her  master,  Neameh,  and 
when  he  beheld  her  he  rose  to  her.  Each  of  them  pressed  the  other  to  the  bosom. 
and  they  both  fell  down  senseless.  And  when  they  recovered,  the  sister  of  the  Ca- 
liph said  to  them,  Seat  yourselves,  that  we  may  contrive  means  of  deliverance  from 
this  predicament  into  which  we  have  fallen.  So  they  both  replied,  We  hear  and 
obey;  and  it  is  thine  to  command.  And  she  said.  By  Allah,  no  evil  shall  ever  befall 
you  from  us.  Then  she  said  to  her  maid.  Bring  the  repast  and  the  beverage.  She 
therefore  brought  them.  And  they  ate  as  much  as  sufBced  them  ;  after  which,  they 
sat  drinking.  The  cups  circulated  among  them,  and  their  sorrows  quitted  them  ; 
but  Neameh  said,  Would  that  I  knew  what  will  happen  after  this !  The  sister  of 
the  Caliph  then  said  to  him,  0  Neameh,  dost  thou  love  thy  slave-girl  Noam  ?  He 
answered  her,  0  my  mistress,  verily  it  is  the  love  of  her  that  hath  placed  me  in  the 
state  of  peril  of  my  life  in  which  I  now  am.  And  she  said  to  Noam,  0  Noam,  dost 
thou  love  thy  master  Neameh  ? — 0  my  mistress,  she  answered,  verily  it  is  the  love 
of  him  that  hath  wasted  my  body,  and  changed  my  whole  condition.  And  the  Ca- 
liph's sister  replied,  By  Allah,  ye  love  each  other,  and  may  the  person  who  would 
separate  you  cease  to  exist!  Let  your  eyes,  then,  be  cheerful,  and  your  souls  be 
happy! — So  at  this  they  rejoiced. 

Then  Noam  demanded  a  lute,  and  they  brought  it  to  her,  and  she  took  it  and 
tuned  it,  and  delighted  her  hearers  with  the  sounds  she  produced.  And  she  handed 
the  lute  to  her  master  Neameh,  saying  to  him.  Sing  to  us  some  verses.  So  he  took 
the  lute  and  tuned  it,  and  having  struck  some  joy-exciting  notes,  sang.  And  when 
he  had  finished  his  song,  Noam  filled  for  him  a  cup,  and  handed  it  to  him.  He 
therefore  took  it  and  drank  it;  and  then  filled  another  cup,  which  he  handed  to  the 
sister  of  the  Caliph,  who  drank  it,  and  took  the  lute,  and,  having  tuned  its  strings, 
sang  this  couplet : — 

Sorrow  and  mourning  reside  in  my  heart,  and  violent  ardour  frequenteth  my  bosom  : 
The  wasting  of  my  body  hath  become  conspicuous,  and  my  frame  is  rendered  infirm  by  do- 
sire. 

She  then  handed  the  lute  to  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia,  who  took  it  and  tuned  its 
strings,  and  sang  this  other  couplet: — 

0  thou  to  whom  I  gave  my  soul,  and  who  hast  tortured  it,  and  from  whom  I  would  liberate  it, 

but  could  not ! 
Grant  the  lover  a  remedy  to  save  him  from  destruction,  before  he  dieth  ;  for  this  is  his  last 

breath  ! 

They  continued  singing  verses,  and  drinking  to  the  melodious  sounds  of  the  chords, 
full  of  delight  and  cheerfulness,  and  joy  and  happiness;  and  while  they  were  in  this 
state,  lo,  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  came  in  to  them.  As  soon  as  they  beheld  him, 
they  rose  to  him,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  he  looked  at  Noam,  who 
had  the  lute  in  her  hand,  and  said,  0  Noam,  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  dispelled 
from  thee  thy  affliction  and  pain  I  Then  looking  towards  Neameh,  who  was  still  in 
the  state  already  described,  he  said  [to  his  sister],  0  my  sister,  who  is  this  damsel 
that  is  by  the  side  of  Noam  ?  His  sister  answered  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
thou  hast  a  female  slave  among  those  designed  for  thy  concubines,  who  is  a  cheering 


342  THE    STOEY    OF    NEAMEH    AND    NOAM. 

companicn,  and  Noam  doth  not  eat  or  drink  unless  she  is  with  her. — By  Allah  the 
Great,  said  the  Caliph,  verily  she  is  comely  as  Noam,  and  to-morrow  I  will  appoint 
her  a  separate  apartment  by  the  side  of  Noam's,  and  send  forth  for  her  the  furniture 
and  linen,  and  I  will  send  to  her  everything  that  is  suitable  to  her,  in  honour  to 
Noam.  And  the  sister  of  the  Caliph  demanded  the  food,  and  she  placed  it  before 
her  brother,  who  ate,  and  remained  sitting  in  their  company.  He  then  filled  a  cup, 
and  made  a  sign  to  Noam  that  she  should  sing  him  some  verses ;  whereupon  she  took 
the  lute,  after  she  had  drunk  two  cups,  and  sang  this  couplet :  — 

When  my  cup-companion  hath  given  me  to  drink  again  and  again,  three  fermenting  cups, 
I  drag  my  skirts  all  the  night  in  pride,  as  though  I  were  thy  prince,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 

And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  was  delighted,  and  he  filled  another  cup,  and  handed 
it  to  Noam,  commanding  her  to  sing  again.  And  when  the  Caliph  heard  the  song 
of  Noam,  he  said  to  her,  Divinely  art  thou  gifted,  0  Noam  !  How  eloquent  is  thy 
tongue,  and  how  manifest  is  the  perspicuity  of  thy  language  ! 

They  thus  passed  their  time  in  joy  and  happiness  until  midnight,  when  the  sister 
of  the  Caliph  said.  Hear,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  I  have  seen,  in  books,  a  story 
of  a  certain  person  of  rank. — And  what  is  that  story?  said  the  Caliph.  His  sister 
answered  him,  Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  there  was  in  the  city  of  Cufa, 
a  youth  named  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia ;  and  he  had  a  slave-girl  whom  he  loved 
and  who  loved  him.  She  had  been  brought  up  with  him  in  the  same  bed  ;  and  when 
they  both  grew  up,  and  mutual  love  took  possession  of  them,  fortune  smote  them 
with  its  adversities,  and  afflicted  them  with  its  calamities,  and  decreed  their  separa- 
tion. The  slanderers  employed  a  stratagem  against  her,  until  she  came  forth  from 
his  house,  and  they  took  her  by  stealth  from  the  place  of  his  residence.  Then  the 
person  who  stole  her  sold  her  to  one  of  the  Kings  for  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 
Now  the  slave-girl  had  the  same  love  for  her  master  as  he  had  for  her:  so  he  quitted 
his  family  and  his  house,  and  journeyed  to  seek  for  her,  and  devised  means  for  ob- 
taining a  meeting  with  her,  He  continued  separated  from  his  family  and  his  home, 
and  exposed  himself  to  peril,  devoting  his  soul  to  the  cause,  until  he  obtained  an 
interview  with  his  slave-girl.  But  when  he  had  come  to  her,  they  had  scarcely  sat 
down,  when  the  King  who  had  purchased  her  from  the  person  who  stole  her  came 
in  to  them,  and  hastily  ordered  that  they  should  be  put  to  death  ;  not  acting  equi- 
tably, nor  granting  them  any  delay  in  his  sentence.  What,  then,  sayest  thou,  0 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  respecting  the  want  of  equity  in  this  King? — The  Prince  of 
the  Faithful  answered,  Verily  this  was  a  wonderful  thing,  and  it  was  fit  that  this 
King  should  pardon  when  he  was  able  to  punish  ;  for  it  was  incumbent  on  him  to 
regard,  in  his  conduct  to  them,  three  things:  the  first,  that  they  were  bound  by 
mutual  love :  and  the  second,  that  they  were  in  his  abode,  and  in  his  power  ;  and 
the  third,  that  it  becometh  the  King  to  be  deliberate  in  judging  other  people;  and 
how  much  more  so,  then,  in  the  case  in  which  he  is  himself  concerned  ?  This  King, 
therefore,  did  a  deed  not  like  the  actions  of  Kings. — Then  his  sister  said  to  him,  0 
my  brother,  by  the  King  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  I  beg  that  thou  order  Noam 
to  sing,  and  that  thou  listen  to  that  which  she  shall  sing.  So  he  said,  0  Noam,  sing 
to  me.     And,  with  charming  modulations,  she  sang  these  verses:  — 

Fortune  was  treacherous,  and  ever  hath  it  been  so,  smiting  down  hearts,  and  kindling  solici- 
tudes, 

And  separating  lovers  after  their  union,  so  that  thou  seest  the  tears  flow  in  torrents  down 
their  cheeks. 

They  were,  and  I  was  with  them,  and  my  life  was  delightful,  and  fortune  frequently  brought 
us  together. 

T  will  therefore  pour  forth  blood  with  my  tears  in  my  grief  for  thy  loss  nights  and  days. 

And  when  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  heard  these  verses,  he  was  moved  with  exces- 
Bive  delight. 


AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD.  343 

His  sister  then  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  he  who  passeth  a  sentence  upon  him- 
self must  fulfil  it,  and  act  as  he  hath  said  ;  and  thou  hast  passed  a  sentence  upon 
thyself  by  this  decision.  And  she  said,  0  Neameh,  stand  upon  thy  feet ;  and  so 
stand  thou,  0  Noam.     So  they  both  stood  up.     And  the  sister  of  the  Caliph  said, 

0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  this  person  who  is  standing  here  is  the  stolen  Noam,  whom 
Hejjaj  the  son  of  Yoosuf-el-Thakafi  stole,  and  sent  to  thee,  lying  in  that  which  he 
asserted  in  his  letter ;  namely,  that  he  had  purchased  her  for  ten  thousand  pieces  of 
gold.    And  this  person  standing  here  is  Neameh  the  son  of  Rabia,  her  master.    And 

1  beseech  thee  by  the  honour  of  thy  pure  forefathers  that  thou  forgive  them,  and 
restore  them  one  to  the  other,  that  thou  mayest  acquire  a  recompense  on  their 
account ;  for  they  are  in  thy  power,  and  have  eaten  of  thy  food  and  drunk  of  thy 
beverage.     I  am  the  intercessor  for  them,  and  beg  of  thee  the  present  of  their  lives. 

And  upon  this  the  Caliph  said,  Thou  hast  spoken  truly ;  I  passed  that  sentence, 
and  I  pass  not  a  sentence  and  revoke  it.  He  then  said,  0  Noam,  is  this  thy  master? 
She  answered  him.  Yes,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And  he  said.  No  harm  shall  be- 
fall either  of  you;  for  I  yield  you  up  one  to  another.  Then  he  said,  0  Neameh,  and 
how  knowest  thou  her  situation,  and  who  described  to  thee  this  place  ? — 0  Prince  of 
the  Faithful,  he  answered,  hear  my  story,  and  listen  to  my  tale  ;  for  by  thy  pure 
forefathers  I  will  not  conceal  from  thee  anything.  And  he  related  to  him  the  whole 
'of  his  affair,  telling  him  how  the  Persian  sage  had  acted  with  him,  and  what  the  old 
woman  had  done,  and  how  she  had  brought  him  into  the  palace,  and  he  had  mis- 
taken the  doors.  And  the  Caliph  wondered  at  this  extremely.  He  then  said,  Bring 
hither  to  me  the  Persian.  So  they  brought  him  before  him  ;  and  he  appointed  him 
to  be  of  his  chief  officers,  bestowed  upon  him  robes  of  honour,  and  commanded  that 
a  handsome  present  should  be  given  to  him,  saying.  Him  who  hath  thus  managed,  it 
is  incumbent  on  us  to  make  one  of  our  chief  officers.  The  Caliph  also  treated  with 
beneficence  Neameh  and  Noam,  bestowing  favours  upon  them  and  upon  the  confi- 
dential slave ;  and  Neameh  and  Noam  remained  with  him  seven  days  in  happiness 
and  delight,  living  a  most  pleasant  life.  Then  Neameh  begged  permission  of  him 
to  depart  with  his  slave-girl,  and  he  gave  them  permission  to  depart  to  Cufa. 
Accordingly  they  set  forth  on  their  journey,  and  Neameh  was  united  again  with  his 
father  and  his  mother,  and  they  enjoyed  the  most  happy  life,  until  they  were  visited 
by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. 


CONCLUSION  OF  THE  STORY  OF  AMGIAD  AND  ASSAD,  ETC. 

When  Amgiad  and  Assad  heard  this  story  from  Bahram,  they  wondered  at  it 
extremely.  They  passed  the  next  night,  and  when  the  following  morning  came, 
they  mounted,  and  desired  to  go  to  the  King.  So  they  asked  permission  to  enter, 
and  he  gave  it  them:  and  when  they  went  in,  he  received  them  with  honour,  and 
they  sat  conversing. 

But  while  they  were  thus  sitting,  lo,  the  people  of  the  city  cried  out,  and  vocife- 
rated, one  to  another,  calling  for  help ;  and  the  chamberlain  came  in  to  the  King,  and 
said  to  him,  Some  King  hath  alighted  with  his  troops  before  our  city,  and  they  are 
with  drawn  swords,  and  we  know  not  what  is  their  purpose.  The  King  therefore 
acquainted  his  Vizier  Amgiad  and  his  brother  Assad  with  that  which  he  had  heard 
from  the  chamberlain  ;  and  Amgiad  said,  I  will  go  forth  to  him,  and  ascertain  the 
cause  of  his  coming.  So  Amgiad  went  out  from  the  city,  and  found  the  King 
attended  by  numerous  troops  and  mounted  mamlouks.  And  when  they  saw  him, 
they  knew  that  he  was  an  envoy  from  the  King  of  the  city.  They  therefore  took 
him  and  brought  him  before  the  Sultan  ;  and  when  he  came  into  his  presence,  he 
kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  lo,  the  [supposed]  King  was  a  woman,  with  her 
face  covered  with  a  litham.  And  she  said.  Know  that  I  have  nothing  to  demand  of 
you  in  this  city  but  a  beardless  mamlouk,  and  if  I  find  him  with  you,  no  harm  shall 


344  AMGIAD   AND   ASSAD. 

befall  you,  but  if  I  find  him  not,  a  fierce  slaughter  shall  ensue  between  me  and 
you  :  for  I  have  come  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  seek  him.  Amgiad  therefore 
said,  0  Queen,  what  is  the  description  of  this  mamlouk,  and  what  is  his  story,  and 
what  is  his  name?  She  answered.  His  name  is  Assad,  and  ray  name  is  Margiana  ; 
and  this  mamlouk  came  to  me  in  the  company  of  B.ihram  the  Magian,  who  refused 
to  sell  him:  so  I  took  him  from  him  by  force;  but  he  fell  upon  him  and  took  him 
away  from  me  in  the  night  by  stealth :  and  as  to  the  description  of  his  person,  it  is 
of  such  and  such  kind.  And  when  Amgiad  heard  this,  he  knew  that  he  was  his 
brother  Assad.  He  therefore  said  to  her,  0  Queen  of  the  age,  praise  be  to  God  who 
hath  brought  us  relief!  Verily  this  mamlouk  is  my  brother. — He  then  related  to 
her  his  story,  and  told  her  what  had  happened  to  them  in  the  land  of  exile, 
acquainting  her  also  with  the  cause  of  their  departure  from  the  Ebony  Islands  ; 
whereat  the  Queen  Margiana  wondered  ;  and  she  rejoiced  at  finding  Assad,  and 
bestowed  a  robe  of  honour  upon  his  brother  Amgiad.  After  this  Amgiad  returned 
to  the  King,  and  informed  him  of  what  had  occurred  ;  whereupon  they  all  rejoiced. 
The  King  then  descended  with  Amgiad  and  Assad,  to  repair  to  the  Queen  ;  and 
when  they  went  in  to  her  they  sat  and  conversed. 

And  as  they  were  so  engaged,  lo,  the  dust  rose  until  it  covered  the  surrounding 
tracts,  and  after  a  while  it  subsided,  and  discovered  numerous  forces,  like  the  swell- 
ing sea,  equipped  with  accoutrements  and  arms  ;  and  they  approached  the  city,  and 
then  surrounding  it  as  the  ring  surrounds  the  little  finger,  they  drew  their  swords. 
Upon  this,  Amgiad  and  Assad  said.  Verily  unto  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  him 
we  return  !  What  is  this  great  army  ?  Doubtless  it  is  an  enemy  ;  and  if  we  make 
not  an  alliance  with  this  Queen  Margiana  to  contend  with  them,  they  take  the  city 
from  us  and  slay  us ;  and  we  have  no  resource  but  to  go  forth  to  them  and  ascertain 
wherefore  they  have  come. — Then  Amgiad  arose,  and  passed  from  the  gate  of  the 
city  by  the  army  of  the  Queen  Margiana:  and  when  he  came  to  the  second  army, 
be  found  it  to  be  that  of  his  grandfather  the  King  Gaiour,  the  fither  of  his  mother 
the  Queen  Badoura.  So  when  he  entered  into  his  presence,  he  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  and  delivered  to  him  the  message:  whereupon  the  King  said.  My  name 
is  the  King  Gaiour,  and  I  have  come  journeying  forth,  fortune  having  afilicted  me 
by  the  loss  of  my  daughter  Badoura;  for  she  quitted  me,  and  returned  not  to  me, 
and  I  have  heard  no  tidings  of  her,  nor  of  her  husband  Camaralzaman.  Have  ye, 
then,  any  tidings  of  them  ? — And  Amgiad,  on  hearing  this,  hung  down  his  head 
for  a  while  towards  the  ground,  reflecting,  until  he  felt  convinced  that  this  was  his 
grandfather,  the  father  of  his  mother.  Then  raising  his  head,  he  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  and  informed  him  that  he  was  the  son  of  his  daughter  Badoura.  And 
as  soon  as  the  King  heard  that  he  was  the  son  of  his  daughter,  he  threw  himself 
upon  him,  and  they  both  began  to  weep.  The  King  Gaiour  exclaimed.  Praise  be  to 
God,  O  my  son,  that  He  hath  preserved  thee,  and  that  I  have  met  with  thee!  And 
Amgiad  acquainted  him  that  his  daughter  Badoura  was  well,  and  also  his  father 
Camaralzaman,  telling  him  that  they  were  in  a  city  called  the  city  of  the  Ebony 
Island.  He  informed  him,  also,  that  Camaralzaman,  his  father,  had  been  incensed 
against  him  and  his  brother,  and  had  given  orders  to  slay  them,  and  that  the 
Treasurer  had  been  moved  with  pity  for  them,  and  left  them  without  putting  them 
to  death.  And  upon  this,  the  King  Gaiour  said,  I  will  return  with  thee  and  thy 
brother  to  thy  father,  and  reconcile  you,  and  remain  with  you.  So  Amgiad  kissed 
the  ground  before  him.  Then  the  King  Gaiour  bestowed  a  robe  of  honour  upon 
Amgiad,  his  daughter's  son  ;  and  he  returned  smiling  to  the  King  of  the  city,  and 
icquainted  him  with  the  afl^air  of  the  King  Gaiour.  And  he  wondered  at  this 
extremely.  He  sent  to  the  King  Gaiour  the  offerings  of  hospitality,  horses  and 
camels  and  sheep  and  provender  and  other  things  ;  and  the  like  he  sent  forth  to  the 
Queen  Margiana,  informing  her  of  what  had  happened  :  whereupon  she  said,  I  will 
accompany  you  with  my  troops,  and  will  endeavour  to  maintain  peace. 

And  while  they  were  thus  circumstanced,  lo,  again  a  dust  arose  until  it  overspread 


Amgiad  Approaching  the   King.     (Page  343.) 


345 


AMGIAD    AND    ASSAD.  847 

the  surrounding  tracts,  and  the  day  became  black  from  it.  They  heard  beneath  if 
cries  and  vociferations,  and  the  neighing  of  horses,  and  beheld  swords  glittering,  and 
lances  uplifted.  And  when  this  army  approached  the  city  and  saw  the  two  other 
armies,  they  beat  the  drums.  At  the  sight  of  this,  the  King  of  the  city  exclaimed, 
This  is  none  other  than  a  blessed  day  !  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  caused  us  to 
make  peace  with  these  two  armies  ;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  He  will  give  us 
peace  with  this  other  army  also. — He  then  said,  0  Amgiad,  go  forth,  thou  and  thy 
brother  Assad,  and  learn  ye  for  us  the  occasion  of  the  coming  of  these  troops  ;  for 
they  are  a  vast  army  :  I  have  never  seen  any  more  so.  Accordingly  Amgiad  and 
his  brother  Assad  went  forth.  The  King  having  closed  the  gate  of  the  city,  in  his 
fear  of  the  troops  that  surrounded  it,  they  opened  it,  and  the  two  brothers  proceeded 
until  they  arrived  at  the  army  that  had  just  come,  when  they  found  it  to  be  the  army 
of  the  King  of  the  Ebony  Islands,  and  with  it  was  their  father  Camaralzaman  [for 
he  had  been  informed  that  they  had  not  been  put  to  death].  As  soon  as  they  saw 
him,  they  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  wept;  and  when  Camaralzaman  be- 
held them,  he  threw  himself  upon  them,  weeping  violently,  and  excused  himself  to 
them,  and  pressed  them  to  his  bosom.  He  then  acquainted  them  with  the  terrible 
desolation  that  he  had  suffered  from  their  separation  ;  and  Amgiad  and  Assad  in- 
formed him  that  the  King  Gaiour  had  come  to  them.  So  Camaralzaman  mounted 
with  his  chief  oflBcers,  and,  taking  his  two  sons  with  him,  they  proceeded  until  they 
came  near  to  the  army  of  the  King  Gaiour;  when  one  of  them  went  forward  to  that 
king,  and  informed  him  that  Camaralzaman  had  arrived.  He  therefore  came  forth 
to  receive  him,  and  they  met,  and  wondered  at  these  events,  how  they  had  met  in 
that  place.  The  people  of  the  city  prepared  for  them  banquets,  with  varieties  of 
viands  and  sweetmeats,  and  presented  to  them  the  horses  and  camels  and  other 
offerings  of  hospitality,  together  with  the  provender  and  whatever  else  the  troops 
required. 

And  again,  while  they  were  thus  occupied,  a  dust  rose  until  it  overspread  the  sur- 
rounding tracts,  and  the  earth  shook  under  the  horses  ;  the  drums  sounded  like 
stormy  winds,  and  the  whole  army  was  equipped  with  weapons  and  coats  of  mail: 
all  the  soldiers  were  clad  in  black,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  was  a  very  old  man, 
whose  chin  was  depressed  to  his  bosom,  and  who  was  attired  in  black  clothing. 
When  the  people  of  the  city  beheld  these  prodigious  forces,  the  sovereign  of  the  city 
said  to  the  other  Kings,  Praise  be  to  God  that  ye  assembled,  by  the  permission  of 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted  I),  in  one  day,  and  proved  to  be  all  friends  !  What  is 
this  numerous  army  that  hath  covered  the  tracts  before  us? — The  other  kings  re- 
plied. Fear  it  not;  for  we  are  three  monarchs.  and  each  of  us  hath  numerous  troops: 
so,  if  they  be  enemies,  we  will  unite  with  thee  and  engage  them  :  and  so  would  we 
if  they  were  augmented  by  three  times  as  many  as  they  are.  And  while  they  were 
thus  conversing,  lo,  an  envoy  from  those  forces  approached  on  his  way  to  the  city. 
So  they  brought  him  before  Camaralzaman  and  the  King  Gaiour  and  the  Queen 
Margiana  and  the  King  of  the  city  ;  and  he  kissed  the  ground,  and  said.  This  King 
is  from  the  regions  of  Ajam :  he  hath  lost  his  scm  for  a  period  of  years,  and  is 
searching  about  for  him  in  the  countries:  if,  then,  he  find  him  among  you,  no  harm 
shall  befall  you  ;  but  if  he  find  him  not,  war  ensueth  between  him  and  you,  and  he 
layeth  waste  your  city.  Camaralzaman  replied.  He  will  not  attain  to  this  object. 
But  what,  he  asked,  is  he  called  in  the  regions  of  Ajam?  The  envoy  answered.  He 
is  called  the  King  Shah-Zaman,  the  lord  of  the  Islands  of  Khaledan  ;  and  he  hath 
collected  this  army  in  the  tracts  through  which  he  hath  passed  in  searching  about 
for  his  son.  And  when  Camaralzaman  heard  the  words  of  the  envoy,  he  uttered  a 
loud  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon,  and  he  remained  a  long  time  in  his  fit.  Then 
recovering,  he  wept  violently,  and  said  to  Amgiad  and  Assad  and  their  chief  officers, 
Go,  my  sons,  with  the  envoy,  and  salute  your  grandfather,  my  father  the  King  Shah- 
Zaman,  and  give  him  the  glad  tidings  of  my  being  here  ;  for  he  is  mourning  for  my 
loss   and  to  the  present  time  wearing  black  raiment  for  my  sake,     lie  then  related 


348  THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT. 

to  the  Kings  who  were  present  all  that  had  happened  to  him  in  the  days  of  his  youth ; 
and  they  all  wondered  at  it.  After  this  they  went  down  with  Camaralzaman,  and 
repaired  to  his  father.  Camaralzaman  saluted  his  father,  and  they  embraced  each 
other,  and  fell  down  senseless  from  the  excess  of  their  joy  ;  and  when  they  recovered, 
the  King  Shah-Zaman  related  to  his  son  all  that  had  happened  to  him.  Then  the 
other  Kings  saluted  him. 

They  restored  Margiana  to  her  country,  after  they  had  married  her  to  Assad,  and 
charged  her  that  she  should  not  cease  to  correspond  with  them.  They  married 
Amgiad  to  Bostana  the  daughter  of  Bahram:  and  all  of  them  journeyed  to  the  City 
of  Ebony,  where  Camaralzaman  had  a  private  interview  with  his  father-in-law,  and 
acquainted  him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him,  and  how  he  had  met  with  his 
sous,  at  which  he  rejoiced,  and  congratulated  him  on  his  safety.  Then  the  King 
Gaiour,  the  father  of  the  Queen  Badoura,  went  in  to  his  daughter,  and  saluted  her, 
and  quenched  the  ardour  of  his  longing  desire  by  her  society,  and  they  remained  in 
the  City  of  Ebony  a  whole  month  ;  after  which,  the  King  Gaiour  journeyed  with 
his  daughter  and  attendants  to  his  own  country,  taking  Amgiad  with  them.  And 
when  he  had  become  settled  again  in  his  kingdom,  he  seated  Amgiad  to  govern  in 
the  place  of  his  grandfather.  As  to  Camaralzaman,  he  seated  his  son  Assad  to 
govern  in  his  stead  in  the  city  of  his  grandfather  Armanos ;  his  grandfather  approv- 
ing it.  Then  Camaralzaman  prepared  himself,  and  journeyed  with  his  father  the 
King  Shah-Zaman  until  he  arrived  at  the  Islands  of  Khaledan.  The  city  was  de- 
corated fur  him,  and  the  drums  continued  to  beat  for  a  whole  month  in  celebration 
of  the  happy  event,  and  Camaralzaman  sat  governing  in  the  place  of  his  father, 
until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  by  the  separator  of  com- 
panions.— And  God  is  all-knowing. 

When  Sheherazade  had  finished  this  tale,  the  King  Shahriar  exclaimed,  0  She- 
herazade,  verily  this  story  is  exceedingly  wonderful ! — 0  King,  she  replied,  it  is  not 
more  wonderful  than  the  story  of  Aladdin  Abushamat.  The  King  said,  And  what 
J8  that  story  ?     And  she  related  it  thus  : — 


CHAPTER   XI. 


Commencing  with  part  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Forty-ninth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the 
Two  Hundred  and  Sixty-ninth. 


THE  STORY  OF  ALADDIN  ABUSHAMAT. 

It  hath  been  told  me,  0  happy  King,  that  there  was,  in  ancient  times,  a  merchant 
in  Cairo,  named  Shemseddin.  He  was  one  of  the  best  and  the  most  veracious  in 
speech  of  all  the  merchants,  and  was  possessor  of  servants  and  other  dependants, 
and  male  black  slaves,  and  female  slaves,  and  mamlouks,  and  of  great  wealth,  and 
was  Syndic  of  the  merchants  in  Cairo.  And  there  resided  with  him  a  wife  whom  he 
loved,  and  who  loved  him:  but  he  had  lived  with  her  forty  years,  and  had  not  been 
blessed  with  a  daughter  nor  with  a  son  by  her.  And  he  sat  one  day  in  his  shop, 
and  saw  the  other  merchants,  every  one  of  them  having  a  son,  or  two  sons,  and  the 
greater  number  of  these  sons  were  sitting  in  shops  like  their  fathers.  That  day  was 
Friday:  so  this  merchant  entered  the  bath,  and  performed  the  ablution  of  Friday; 
and  when  he  came  forth  [from  the  inner  apartment],  he  took  the  barber's  looking- 


THE   STOKY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  349 

glass,  and,  looking  at  his  face  in  it,  said,  I  testify  that  there  is  no  deity  but  God,  and 
I  testify  that  Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle.  He  then  looked  at  his  beard,  and  saw  that 
the  white  eclipsed  the  black ;  and  he  reflected  that  hoariness  was  the  monitor  of 
death. 

Now  his  wife  knew  the  time  of  his  coming,  and  she  used  to  wash  and  prepare  her- 
self to  receive  him  ;  and  when  he  came  home  to  her  that  day,  she  said  to  him.  Good 
evening: — but  he  replied,  I  have  seen  no  good.  She  had  said  to  the  slave-girl,  Bring 
the  supper-table.  So  she  brought  the  repast;  and  the  merchant's  wife  said  to  him, 
Sup,  0  my  master. — I  will  not  eat  anything,  he  replied.  And  he  turned  away  his 
face  from  the  table.  She  therefore  said  to  him,  What  is  the  reason  of  this,  and  what 
hath  grieved  thee?  He  answered  her.  Thou  art  the  cause  of  my  grief. — Wherefore? 
she  asked.  And  he  answered  her,  When  I  opened  my  shop  this  day,  I  saw  that 
every  one  of  the  merchants  had  a  son,  or  two  sons,  and  most  of  the  sons  were  sitting 
in  the  shops  like  their  fathers  ;  whereupon  I  said  within  myself,  Verily  he  who  took 
thy  father  will  not  leave  thee.  And  when  I  first  visited  thee  (he  continued),  thou 
madest  me  swear  that  I  would  not  take  another  wife  in  addition  to  thee,  nor  take  an 
Abyssinian  nor  a  Greek  nor  any  other  slave-girl  as  a  concubine:  and  thou  art  barren. 
— But  his  wife  reproved  him  in  such  a  manner  that  he  passed  the  night  and  arose 
in  the  morning  repenting  that  he  had  reproached  her,  and  she  also  repented  that  she 
had  reproached  him.  And  soon  after  this,  his  wife  informed  him  that  his  wish  was 
likely  to  be  accomplished. 

The  son  was  born,  and  the  midwife  charmed  him  by  repeating  the  names  of  Ma- 
homet and  Ali,  and  she  pronounced  in  his  ear  the  tecbir  and  the  adan,'  and  wrapped 
liim  up  and  gave  him  to  his  mother,  who  nursed  him,  and  he  took  his  nourishment 


until  he  was  satiated,  and  slept.  The  midwife  remained  with  them  three  days,  until 
they  had  made  the  sweetmeat  to  distribute  on  the  seventh  day;  and  then  they 
sprinkled  the  salt  for  the  infant.  And  the  merchant  went  in  and  congratulated  his 
wife  on  her  safety,  and  said  to  her,  Where  is  God's  deposit?  Whereupon  she  pre- 
sented to  him  an  infant  of  surprising  loveliness,  the  work  of  the  Ever-present 
Governor.  He  was  an  infant  of  seven  days  ;  but  he  who  beheld  him  would  say  that 
he  was  a  child  a  year  old ;  and  the  merchant  looked  in  his  face,  and  saw  that  it  was 
like  a  shining  full  moon,  with  moles  upon  the  cheeks.  He  said  to  his  wife,  what 
hast  thou  named  him  ?  And  she  answered,  Were  it  a  girl,  I  had  named  her ;  but 
this  is  a  boy:  so  no  one  shall  name  him  but  thyself.  The  people  of  that  age  used  to 
name  their  children  from  an  omen;  and  while  they  were  consulting  upon  the  name 

'  Pious  ejaculationa. 


350:  THE    STORY    OF   ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT. 

of  the  merchant's  son,  lo,  one  said  to  his  conipiinion,  0  my  master  Aladdin.  So  the 
merchant  said  to  his  wife.  We  will  name  him  Aladdin  Abushamat.  He  com- 
missioned the  nurses  to  rear  him,  and  the  child  drank  the  milk  for  two  years;  after 
which  they  weaned  him,  and  he  grew  up,  and  walked  upon  the  floor.  And  when  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  seven  years,  they  put  him  in  a  chamber  beneath  a  trap-door, 
fearing  the  influence  of  the  eye  upon  him,  and  his  father  said.  This  boy  shall  not 
come  forth  from  beneath  the  trap-door  until  his  beard  groweth.  The  merchant  ap- 
pointed a  slave-girl  and  a  male  black  slave  to  attend  upon  him:  the  slave-girl  pre- 
pared the  table  for  him,  and  the  black  slave  carried  it  to  him.  Then  his  father 
circumcised  him,  and  made  for  him  a  magnificent  banquet ;  and  after  this  he  brought 
to  him  a  professor  of  religion  and  law  to  teach  him  ;  and  the  professor  taught  him 
writing  and  the  Koran  and  science  until  he  became  skilful  and  leai-ned. 

But  it  happened  that  the  black  slave  took  to  him  the  table  one  day,  and  inadvert- 
ently left  the  trap-door  open  ;  whereupon  Aladdin  came  forth  from  it,  and  went  in 
to  his  mother.  There  was  with  her  a  party  of  women  of  rank  :  and  while  they  were 
conversing  with  her,  lo,  he  came  in  to  them,  resembling  an  intoxicated  mamlouk,  in 
the  excess  of  his  beauty.  So  when  the  women  saw  him,  they  covered  their  faces, 
and  said  to  his  mother,  Allah  requite  thee,  0  such-a-one  !  How  dost  thou  cause  this 
strange  mamlouk  to  come  in  to  us?  Dost  thou  not  know  that  modesty  is  one  of  the 
points  of  the  faith  ?  —  But  she  said  to  them.  Pronounce  the  name  of  Allah  !  Verily 
this  is  my  son,  and  the  darling  of  my  heart,  the  son  of  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants, 
and  the  child  of  the  nurse  and  the  necklace  and  the  crust  and  the  crumb!  —  They 
replied.  In  our  lives  we  never  saw  a  son  of  thine.  So  she  said,  Verily  his  fother 
feared  for  him  from  the  influence  of  the  eye,  and  therefore  made  as  his  nursery  a 
subterranean  chamber  under  a  trap-door ;  and  probably  the  eunuch  hath  inadvert- 
ently left  the  trap-door  open,  and  he  hath  in  consequence  cnme  up  from  it ;  but  it 
was  not  our  desire  that  he  should  come  out  from  it  until  his  beard  should  grow. 
The  women  therefore  congratulated  her  upon  this.  And  the  youth  wenj;  forth  from 
them  into  the  court  of  the  house,  and  then  ascended  into  the  upper-room,  and  there 
seated  himself;  and  while  he  was  sitting  there,  the  slaves  entered  the  house  with 
the  mule  of  his  father;  whereupon  Aladdin  said  to  them.  Where  hath  this  mule 
been  ?  They  answered  him.  We  have  conducted  thy  father  to  the  shop,  mounted 
upon  her,  and  brought  her  baclc.  And  he  asked  them.  What  is  the  trade  of  my 
father? — Thy  father,  they  answered  him,  is  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  in  the  land 
of  Egypt,  and  he  is  Sultan  of  the  Sons  of  the  Arabs. 

And  upon  this,  Aladdin  went  in  to  his  mother,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  what 
is  the  trade  of  my  father?  She  answered  him,  0  my  son,  thy  fjither  is  a  merchant, 
and  he  is  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  and  Sultan  of  the  Sons 
of  the  Arabs.  His  slaves  consult  him  not  respecting  the  sale  of  anything  excepting 
that  of  which  the  smallest  price  is  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  As  to  the  sale  of  a 
thing  for  nine  hundred  pieces  of  gold  or  less,  they  consult  him  not  respecting  it,  but 
sell  it  of  their  own  free  will.  And  there  cometh  not  merchandise  from  other  parts, 
little  or  much,  but  it  is  submitted  to  him,  and  he  disposeth  of  it  as  he  willeth  ;  and 
no  merchandise  is  packed  up  and  goeth  to  other  parts,  but  it  is  under  the  disposal 
of  thy  father.  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath  given  to  thy  father,  0  my  son. 
great  wealth,  that  cannot  be  calculated. — So  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  praise  be 
to  God  that  I  am  the  son  of  the  Sultan  of  the  Sons  of  the  Arabs,  and  that  my  father 
is  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants !  But  for  what  reason,  O  my  mother,  do  ye  put  me 
in  a  chamber  beneath  a  trap-door,  and  leave  me  there  imprisoned  ?  —  She  answered 
him,  0  my  son,  we  put  thee  not  in  the  chamber  beneath  the  trap-door  but  in  our 
fear  for  thee  from  the  influence  of  the  eyes  of  men  ;  for  the  influence  of  the  eye  is 
true,  and  most  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  graves  are  victims  of  the  eye.  But  he  said 
to  her,  0  my  mother,  and  where  is  a  place  of  refuge  from  destiny  ?  Caution  pre- 
venteth  not  fate,  and  from  that  which  is  written  there  is  no  escape.  Verily  he  who 
took  my  grandfather  will  not  leave  my  father:  so  if  he  is  alive  to-day,  he  will  not  be 


THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  351 

alive  to-morrow :  and  when  my  father  dieth,  and  I  go  forth  and  say,  I  am  Aladdin 
the  son  of  the  merchant  Shemseddin, — not  one  of  the  people  will  believe  me,  and  the 
aged  will  say,  In  our  lives  we  never  saw  a  son  nor  a  daughter  of  Shemseddin:  then 
the  officers  of  the  governmentrtreasury  will  come  down  and  take  my  father's  wealth. 
Allah  have  mercy  upon  him  who  said,  The  liberal-minded  man  dieth,  and  his 
•wealth  departeth,  and  the  meanest  of  men  taketh  his  women.  Do  thou,  then,  0 
my  mother,  speak  to  my  father,  that  he  may  take  me  with  him  to  the  market- 
street  and  open  for  me  a  shop,  and  I  will  sit  in  it  with  merchandise,  and  he  shall 
teach  me  the  art  of  selling  and  buying,  and  taking  and  giving. — She  replied,  0  my 
son,  when  thy  father  cometh  I  will  acquaint  him  with  thy  wish. 

And  when  the  merchant  returned  to  his  house,  he  found  his  son  Aladdin  Abusha- 
mat  sitting  with  his  mother:  so  he  said  to  her.  Wherefore  hast  thou  taken  him  forth 
from  beneath  the  trap-door? — 0  son  of  my  uncle,  she  answered,  I  did  not  take  him 
forth  :  but  the  servants  inadvertently  left  the  trap-door  open,  and  while  I  was  sitting 
with  a  party  of  women  of  rank,  lo,  he  came  in  to  us.  And  she  acquainted  him  with 
that  which  his  son  had  said  ;  whereupon  the  merchant  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  to- 
morrow, if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  I  will  take  thee  with  me 
to  the  market-street ;  but,  0  my  son,  sitting  in  the  market-streets  and  shops  requireth 
polite  and  accomplished  manners  under  every  circumstance. 

So  Aladdin  passed  the  next  night  full  of  joy  at  the  words  of  his  father  ;  and  when 
the  morning  came,  his  father  took  him  into  the  bath,  and  clad  him  in  a  suit  worth  a 
large  sum  of  money.  And  after  they  had  breakfasted,  and  drunk  the  sherbet,  the 
merchant  mounted  his  mule,  and  put  his  son  upon  another  mule,  and,  taking  him 
behind  him,  repaired  with  him  to  the  market-street;  and  the  people  of  the  market- 
street  saw  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  approaching,  followed  by  a  youth  whose  face 
was  like  the  moon  in  its  fourteenth  night.  It  was  customary,  when  the  Syndic  came 
from  his  house  in  the  morning  and  sat  in  his  shop,  for  the  chief  of  the  market  to 
approach  the  merchants  and  recite 'the  opening  chapter  of  the  Koran  to  them  ;  where- 
upon they  arose  and  came  with  him  to  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  and  recited  the 
chapter  to  him,  and  wished  him  good  morning:  then  each  of  them  departed  to  his 
shop.  But  when  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  seated  himself  in  his  shop  on  that 
day  according  to  his  custom,  the  merchants  came  not  to  him  as  they  were  wont  to 
do.  So  he  called  the  chief  (who  was  named  the  Sheikh  Mahomed  Simsim,  and  who 
was  a  poor  man),  and  said  to  him.  Wherefore  have  not  the  merchants  come  together 
according  to  their  custom  ?  The  chief  answered  him,  that  they  were  disputing  on 
the  subject  of  the  youth  who  was  with  him,  wondering  who  he  could  be,  and  he  said, 
la  he  thy  mamlouk,  or  is  he  related  to  thy  wife  ? — He  is  my  son,  said  the  Syndic. 
The  chief  replied,  In  our  lives  we  have  never  seen  a  son  of  thine.  The  Syndic  there- 
fore said.  In  my  fear  for  him  from  the  influence  of  the  eye,  I  reared  him  in  a  sub- 
terranean chamber  beneath  a  trap-door,  and  it  was  my  desire  that  he  should  not 
come  up  from  it  until  he  could  hold  his  beard  with  his  hand  ;  but  his  mother  would 
not  consent;  and  he  requested  me  to  open  a  shop,  and  to  give  him  merchandise,  and 
teach  him  the  art  of  selling  and  buying.  So  the  chief  went  to  the  merchants,  and 
acquainted  them  with  the  true  state  of  the  case  ;  upon  which  all  of  them  arose  and 
went  with  him  to  the  Syndic,  and,  standing  before  him,  recited  the  Koran,  and  con- 
gratulated him  on  his  having  this  youth  for  a  son,  and  said  to  him.  May  our  Lord 
preserve  the  root  and  the  branch  !  But  (they  added)  the  poor  among  us,  when  a  son 
or  a  daughter  is  born  to  him  is  required  to  make  for  his  brothers  a  saucepan  of  asida,* 
and  to  invite  his  acquaintances  and  relations,  and  yet  thou  hast  not  done  this. — So 
he  said  to  them,  I  will  give  you  the  entertainment,  and  our  meeting  shall  be  in  the 
garden. 

Accordingly,  when  the  next  morning  came,  he  sent  his  servant  to  the  saloon  and 
the  pavilion  which  were  in  the  garden,  and  desired  him  to  spread  the  furniture  in 

'  A  sort  of  custard. 


352  THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT. 

them.  He  sent  also  the  necessaries  for  cooking,  as  lambs  and  clarified  butter,  and 
such  other  things  as  the  case  required,  and  prepared  two  tables,  one  in  the  pavilion 
and  one  in  the  saloon.  The  merchant  Shemseddin  girded  himself,  and  so  did  his  son 
Aladdin,  and  the  former  said  to  the  latter,  0  my  son,  when  the  hoary  man  cometh 
in,  I  will  meet  him,  and  seat  him  at  the  table  which  is  in  the  pavilion  ;  and  thou, 
O  my  son,  when  the  beardless  youth  cometh  in,  shalt  take  him  and  conduct  him  into 
the  saloon,  and  seat  him  at  the  table  there.  His  son  said  to  him.  Wherefore,  0  my 
father?  What  is  the  reason  of  thy  preparing  two  tables,  one  for  the  men  and  one 
for  the  youths? — 0  my  son,  answered  the  merchant,  the  beardless  youth  is  ashamed 
to  eat  in  the  presence  of  men.  So  his  son  approved  of  this.  And  when  the  mer- 
chants came,  Shemseddin  met  the  men,  and  seated  them  in  the  pavilion  ;  and  his 
eon  Aladdin  met  the  youths,  and  seated  them  in  the  saloon.  Then  the  servants 
placed  the  food,  and  the  party  ate  and  drank,  and  enjoyed  themselves  and  were  de. 
lighted,  and  they  drank  the  sherbet,  and  the  servants  gave  vent  to  the  smoke  of  the 
perfume  ;  after  which,  the  aged  men  sat  conversing  upon  science  and  tradition. 

Meanwhile,  the  youths  had  seated  Aladdin  among  them  at  the  upper  end  of  the 
chamber,  and  one  of  them  said  to  his  companion,  0  my  master  Hassan,  acquaint  me 
respecting  the  capital  in  thy  possession,  by  means  of  which  thou  sellest  and  buyest, 
how  it  came  to  thee.  He  replied.  When  I  grew  up,  and  attained  to  manhood,  I  said 
to  my  father,  0  my  father,  give  me  some  merchandise ; — but  he  replied,  0  my  son,  I 
have  none ;  go,  however,  and  procure  money  from  some  merchant,  and  traffic  with 
it,  and  learn  the  art  of  selling  and  buying,  and  taking  and  giving.  So  I  repaired  to 
one  of  the  merchants,  and  borrowed  of  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and,  having 
bought  some  stuffs  with  it,  I  journeyed  with  them  to  Syria,  where  I  obtained  double 
the  cost-price.  Then  I  took  merchandise  from  Syria,  and  journeyed  with  it  to 
Bagdad,  where  I  sold  it,  and  again  obtained  double  the  cost-price  :  and  I  ceased  not 
to  traffic  until  my  capital  became  about  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold. — And  each  of 
the  youths  said  to  his  companion  the  like  of  this  until  the  turn  to  speak  came  round 
to  Aladdin  Abushamat;  when  they  said  to  him,  And  thou,  0  our  master  Aladdin. 
So  he  replied,  I  was  reared  in  a  subterranean  chamber  beneath  a  trap-door,  and 
came  forth  from  it  this  week,  and  I  go  to  the  shop  and  return  from  it  to  the  house. 
And  upon  this  they  said  to  him,  Thou  art  accustomed  to  remain  in  the  house,  and 
knowest  not  the  delight  of  travel,  and  travel  is  for  none  but  men.  He  replied,  I 
have  no  need  to  travel ;  and  is  ease  of  no  value?  And  one  of  them  said  to  his  com- 
panion. This  is  like  the  fish :  when  he  quitteth  the  water  he  dieth.  They  then  said 
to  him,  0  Aladdin,  the  glory  of  the  sons  of  the  merchants  consisteth  in  nothing  but 
travel  for  the  sake  of  gain. 

At  these  words,  Aladdin  became  enraged,  and  he  went  forth  from  among  the 
youths,  with  weeping  eye  and  sorrowful  heart,  and,  having  mounted  his  mule,  re- 
paired to  the  house.  And  his  mother  saw  him  in  a  state  of  excessive  rage  and  weep- 
ing: 80  she  said  to  him.  What  maketh  thee  weep,  0  my  son?  He  therefore  answered 
her.  All  the  sons  of  the  merchants  have  reproached  me,  and  said  to  me,  The  glory 
of  the  sons  of  the  merchants  consisteth  in  nothing  but  travel  for  the  sake  of  gain- 
ing pieces  of  silver  and  gold.  His  mother  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  dost  thou  desire 
to  travel?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  she  asked  him,  To  what  country  wouldst  thou 
travel?  —  To  the  city  of  Bagdad,  he  answered;  for  there  a  man  gaineth  double  the 
cost-price  of  his  merchandise.  His  mother  then  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  thy  father 
hath  great  wealth  ;  but  if  he  prepare  not  merchandise  for  thee  with  his  wealth,  1 
will  prepare  for  thee  some  with  mine.  And  he  replied.  The  best  of  favours  is  that 
which  is  promptly  bestowed;  and  if  there  be  kindness  to  be  shown,  this  is  the  time 
for  it.  She  therefore  summoned  the  slaves,  and  sent  them  to  the  persons  who 
packed  up  stuff's,  and,  having  opened  a  magazine,  took  from  it  some  stufi"s  for  him, 
and  they  packed  up  for  him  ten  loads. 

His  father,  in  the  meantime,  looked  around,  and  found  not  his  son  Aladdin  in  the 
garden.     So  he  inquired  respecting  him,  and  they  told  him  that  he  had  mounted  his 


THE    STORY    OF   ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  353 

mule  and  gone  to  the  house;  whereupon  he  mounted  and  went  after  him  ;  and  when 
he  entered  his  abode,  seeing  the  loads  packed  up,  he  asked  concerning  them.  His 
wife  therefore  informed  him  of  the  manner  in  which  the  sons  of  the  merchants  had 
acted  towards  his  son  Aladdin.  And  upon  this  he  said  to  him,  0  mj  son,  male- 
diction be  upon  foreign  travel !  for  the  Apostle  of  God  (may  God  favour  and  preserve 
him  !)  hath  said.  It  is  of  a  man's  good  fortune  that  he  be  sustained  in  his  own  coun- 
try ;  and  the  ancients  have  said,  Abstain  from  travel,  though  it  be  but  a  mile's 
journey.  —  Then  he  said  to  his  son.  Hast  thou  determined  to  travel,  and  wilt  thou 
not  relinquish  thy  purpose?  His  son  answered  him,  I  must  travel  to  Bagdad  with 
merchnndisc,  or  I  will  pull  off  my  clothes,  and  put  on  the  habit  of  the  dervisea,  and 
go  forth  a  wanderer  through  the  countries.  So  his  father  said  to  him,  I  am  not  in 
need,  nor  destitute  ;  but  on  the  contrary  I  have  great  wealth.  And  he  showed  him 
all  the  wealth  and  merchandise  and  stuffs  that  he  possessed,  and  said  to  him,  I  have 
stuffs  and  other  merchandise  suitable  for  every  country.  And  he  showed  him,  of 
such  goods,  forty  loads  packed  up,  upon  each  of  which  was  written  its  price,  a  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold.  He  then  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  take  the  forty  loads,  and  the 
ten  loads  which  are  given  thee  by  thy  mother,  and  journey  under  the  protection  of 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  But,  0  my  son,  I  fear  for  thee  on  account  of  a  forest 
in  thy  way,  called  the  Forest  of  the  Lion,  and  a  valley  there  called  the  Valley  of  the 
Dogs;  for  lives  are  sacrificed  in  those  two  places  without  pity.  —  How  so,  O  Iny 
father?  said  his  son.  The  merchant  answered.  By  a  Bedouin,  an  interceptor  of  the 
way,  who  is  named  Ejlan.  But  his  son  replied,  The  means  of  preservation  are  from 
God,  and  if  I  have  any  share  in  them  left,  no  harm  will  happen  to  me. 

Then  he  mounted  with  his  father,  and  went  to  the  market  of  the  beasts  of  burden  ; 
and  lo,  an  Akkam'  dismounted  from  his  mule,  and,  kissing  the  hand  of  the  Syndic 
of  the  merchants,  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  for  a  long  time,  0  my  master,  thou  hast 
not  employed  us  in  the  transaction  of  mercantile  business.  The  Syndic  replied, 
Every  time  hath  its  fortune  and  its  men.  0  my  master,  it  is  none  but  this  my  son 
who  desireth  to  travel.  —  And  the  Akkam  said,  God  preserve  him  to  thee!  The 
Syndic  then  made  a  covenant  between  his  son  and  the  Akkam,  that  the  former  should 
be  as  a  son  of  the  latter,  and  gave  the  Akkam  a  charge  respecting  Aladdin,  and  said 
to  him,  Take  these  hundred  pieces  of  gold  for  thy  young  men.  After  which  he 
bought' sixty  mules,  and  a  covering  for  the  grave  of  Abdel-Kader  Gilani,^  and  said 
to  his  son,  0  my  son,  while  I  am  absent,  this  Akkam  shall  be  thy  fitther  in  my  stead, 
and  with  whatever  hesaith  to  thee  do  thou  comply.  Then  he  returned,  with  the  mulea 
and  the  young  men,  and  the  next  night  they  caused  a  recitation  of  the  whole  of  the 
Koran  to  be  performed,  and  celebrated  a  festival  in  honour  of  the  sheikh  Abdel-Kader 
Gilani.  And  when  the  following  morning  came,  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  gave 
to  his  son  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to  him,  AVhen  thou  enterest  Bagdad, 
if  thou  find  the  stuffs  of  easy  sale,  sell  them  ;  but  if  thou  find  them  not  in  request, 
expend  of  these  pieces  of  gold.' 

They  then  loaded  the  mules,  and  bade  one  another  fixrewell,  and  the  party  went 
forth  from  the  city.  They  continued  their  way  over  the  deserts  and  wastes  until  they 
came  in  sight  of  Damascus,  and  from  Damascus  they  proceeded  until  they  entered 
Aleppo,  and  thence  they  continued  their  route  until  there  remained  between  them 
and  Bagdad  one  day's  journey.  Still  they  advanced  till  they  descended  into  a  valley, 
and  Aladdin  desired  that  they  should  halt  there  ;  but  the  Akkam  said.  Halt  ye  not 
here  ;  continue  on  your  way  and  hasten  in  your  pace  :  perhaps  we  may  reach  Bag- 
dad before  its  gates  be  closed  ;  for  the  people  open  them  not  nor  close  them  but  when 
the  sun  is  up,  in  their  fear  lest  the  Heretics  should  take  the  city  and  throw  the  books 
of  science  into  the  Tigris.  Aladdin,  however,  replied,  0  my  father,  I  came  not  with 
this  merchandise  unto  this  town  for  the  sake  of  traffic,  but  for  the  sake  of  amusing 

'  One  who  has  charge  of  camels  and  tents,  and  other  articles  required  in  travelling. 
*  A  celebrated  saint  of  Bagdad. 
23 


354  THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT. 

myself  by  the  sight  of  foreign  countries.  —  0  my  son,  rejoined  the  Akkam,  we  fear 
for  thee  and  for  thy  property  on  account  of  the  Arabs.  But  Aladdin  said,  0  man, 
art  thou  a  servant  or  a  person  served  ?  T  will  not  enter  Bagdad  but  in  the  morning, 
that  the  sons  of  Bagdad  may  see  my  merchandise,  and  may  know  me. — So  the  Akkam 
replied.  Do  what  thou  wilt;  for  I  have  advised  thee,  and  thou  canst  judge  for  thyself. 
And  Aladdin  ordered  them  to  take  down  the  burdens  from  the  backs  of  the  mules ; 
and  they  did  so,  and  pitched  the  pavilion,  and  remained  until  midnight. 

Aladdin  then  went  forth  from  the  pavilion,  and  saw  something  glittering  in  the 
distance.  So  he  said  to  the  Akkam,  0  my  master,  what  is  this  thing  that  is  glitter- 
ing? And  the  Akkam,  looking  attentively  and  with  a  scrutinizing  eye,  saw  that 
what  glittered  was  the  points  of  spears  and  the  iron  of  Bedouin  weapons  and  swords. 
And  lo,  they  were  Arabs,  whose  chief  was  named  the  sheikh  of  the  Arabs  Ejlan 
Abou  Naib  ;  and  when  these  Arabs  drew  near  them  and  saw  their  packages,  they 
said  one  to  another,  0  night  of  spoil !  As  soon  as  the  travellers  heard  them  say  this, 
Kemaleddin,  the  Akkam,  exclaimed,  Avaunt,  0  least  of  Arabs !  But  Abou  Naib 
smote  him  with  his  spear  upon  his  breast,  and  it  protruded  glittering  from  his  back  ; 
whereupon  he  fell  at  the  door  of  the  tent,  slain.  Then  the  water-carrier  exclaimed, 
Avaunt,  0  basest  of  Arabs !  And  one  of  them  struck  him  upon  his  shoulder  with 
a  sword,  and  it  passed  forth  glittering  from  his  vitals,  and  he,  also,  fell  down  slain. 
All  this  took  place  while  Aladdin  stood  looking  on.  The  Arabs  surrounded  and 
fiercely  assaulted  the  caravan,  and  killed  the  attendants  of  Aladdin,  not  sparing  one 
of  them  ;  after  which,  they  placed  the  loads  upon  the  backs  of  the  mules,  and  re- 
tired. Aladdin  then  said  to  himself.  Nothing  will  occasion  thy  slaughter  but  thy 
mule  and  this  thy  dress.  So  he  arose,  and  pulled  off  the  dress,  and  threw  it  upon 
the  back  of  his  mule,  remaining  in  the  shirt  and  drawers  alone  ;  and,  looking  before 
him,  towards  the  door  of  the  tent,  he  found  a  pool  of  blood,  flowing  from  the  slain  ; 
and  he  rolled  himself  in  it  with  the  shirt  and  the  drawers,  so  that  he  appeared  like 
one  slain,  drowned  in  his  blood. 

Meanwhile,  the  sheikh  of  the  Arabs,  Ejlan,  said  to  his  troops.  0  Arabs,  was  this 
caravan  entering  from  Egypt,  or  going  forth  from  Bagdad?  They  answered  him, 
Coming  from  Egypt  into  Bagdad.  And  he  said  to  them,  Return  to  the  slain  ;  for  I 
imagine  that  the  proprietor  of  this  caravan  hath  not  died.  So  the  Arabs  returned 
to  the  slain,  and  proceeded  to  pierce  and  strike  them  again  until  they  came  to  Alad- 
din. He  had  thrown  himself  among  the  slain  :  and  when  they  came  to  him  they 
said.  Thou  hast  feigned  thyself  to  be  dead  ;  so  we  will  complete  thy  slaughter.  And 
a  Bedouin  took  his  spear,  and  was  about  to  thrust  it  into  the  breast  of  Aladdin  ; 
whereupon  Aladdin  said,  0  thy  blessing,  0  my  lord  Abdel-K-ader  Gilani !  And  he 
saw  a  hand  turn  away  the  spear  from  his  breast  to  the  breast  of  Kemaleddin,  the 
Akkam  ;  so  that  the  Bedouin  pierced  the  latter  with  it,  and  left  Aladdin  ;  after 
which,  the  Arabs  replhced  the  burdens  on  the  backs  of  the  mules  and  departed  with 
them. 

Aladdin  then  looked,  and,  seeing  that  the  birds  had  flown  with  their  spoils,  arose 
and  ran  away.  But  lo,  the  Bedouin  Abou  Naib  said  to  his  companions,  I  saw  a 
faint  appearance  of  an  object  in  the  distance,  0  Arabs.  One  of  them,  therefore, 
came  forth,  and  beheld  Aladdin  running;  upon  which  he  said  to  him.  Flight  will 
not  profit  thee  while  we  are  behind  thee.  And  he  struck  his  mare  with  his  fist,  and 
she  hastened  after  him.  Now  Aladdin  had  seen  before  him  a  tank  containing  water, 
and  by  the  side  of  it  was  a  cistern  ;  so  he  ascended  to  a  window  of  the  cistern,  and 
there  stretching  himself  along,  feigned  himself  asleep,  and  said,  0  kind  Protector, 
cover  me  with  the  veil  of  thy  protection  that  cannot  be  removed  !  And  behold  the 
Bedouin  stopped  beneath  the  cistern,  and  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  seize  Aladdin; 
whereupon  the  latter  said,  0  thy  blessing,  0  my  lady  Nefesa !  *  This  is  thy  time! — 
And  lo,  a  scorpion  stung  the  Bedouin  in  the  palm  of  his  hand  ;  and  he  cried  out  and 


Name  of  a  celebrated  female  saint. 


THE   STORY   OP   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  355 

said,  0  Arabs,  come  to  me,  for  I  am  stung !  And  he  alighted  from  the  back  of  his 
mare,  and  his  companions,  coming  to  him,  mounted  him  again,  and  said  to  himi 
What  hath  befallen  thee?  He  answered  them,  A  scorpion  hath  stung  me.  And 
they  then  took  the  property  of  the  caravan,  and  departed. 

Aladdin  remained  a  while  sleeping  in  the  window  of  the  cistern.  Then  arising, 
he  proceeded,  and  entered  Bagdad.  The  dogs  barked  behind  him  as  he  passed 
through  the  streets,  and  in  the  evening,  while  he  was  walking  on  in  the  dark,  he  saw 
the  door  of  a  mosque,  and,  entering  its  vestibule,  he  concealed  himself  in  it.  And 
lo,  a  light  approached  him,  and  as  he  looked  attentively  at  it,  he  perceived  two  lan- 
terns in  the  hands  of  two  black  slaves,  who  were  walking  before  two  merchants. 
One  of  these  was  an  old  man  of  comely  countenance,  and  the  other  was  a  young 
man  ;  and  he  heard  the  latter  say  to  the  former.  By  Allah,  0  my  uncle,  I  conjure 
thee  to  restore  to  me  my  cousin,  thy  daughter.  To  which  the  old  man  replied.  Did 
I  not  forbid  thee  many  times,  when  thou  wast  making  divorce  thy  constant  cry? 
Then  the  old  man  looked  to  the  right,  and  saw  Aladdin,  appearing  like  a  piece  of  the 
moon  ;  and  he  said  to  him.  Peace  be  on  thee  !  Aladdin,  therefore,  returned  his  salu- 
tation, and  the  old  man  said  to  him,  0  youth,  who  art  thou  ?  He  answered  him,  I 
am  Aladdin  the  son  of  Shemseddin,  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants  in  Cairo.  I  re- 
quested my  father  to  give  me  merchandise,  and  he  prepared  for  me  fifty  loads  of 
goods,  and  gave  me  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  I  journeyed  until  I  arrived  at 
the  Forest  of  the  Lion,  when  the  Arabs  came  upon  me  and  took  my  wealth  and  my 
packages  ;  and  I  entered  this  city,  not  knowing  where  to  pass  the  night:  so,  seeing 
this  place,  I  concealed  myself  in  it. — The  old  man  then  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what 
sayest  thou  of  my  giving  thee  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  suit  of  clothing  of 
the  price  of  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ? — For  what  purpose,  said  Aladdin,  wile  thou 
give  me  these  things,  0  my  uncle?  He  answered  him.  This  young  man  who  is  with 
me  is  the  son  of  my  brother,  and  his  father  hath  no  son  but  him  ;  and  I  have  a  daugh- 
ter, and  have  none  but  her,  who  is  named  Zobeide  the  Lute-player.  She  is  endowed 
with  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  I  married  her  to  him,  and  he  loveth  her ;  but  she 
hateth  him  ;  and  he  swore  an  oath  of  triple  divorcement,  and  scarcely  had  his  wife 
heard  it  vrhen  she  separated  herself  from  him.  And  he  employed  all  the  people  of 
his  acquaintance  to  intercede  with  me,  that  I  should  restore  her  to  him :  so  I  said  to 
him,  This  will  not  be  right  unless  by  means  of  a  raustahall :' — and  I  agreed  with 
him  that  we  should  employ  some  foreigner  as  a  mustahall,  in  order  that  no  one  might 
reproach  him  on  account  of  this  affair.  Since,  then,  thou  art  a  foreigner,  come  with 
us,  that  we  may  write  thy  contract  of  marriage  to  her,  and  to-morrow  thou  shalt  di- 
vorce her,  and  we  will  give  thee  what  I  h.ave  mentioned. — So  Aladdin  said  within 
himself.  To  do  what  he  proposeth  will  be  better  than  passing  the  nights  in  the  by- 
streets and  vestibules. 

Accordingly  he  went  with  the  two  men  to  the  Cadi.  And  when  the  Cadi  saw  him, 
his  heart  was  moved  with  affection  for  him,  and  he  said  to  the  father  of  the  damsel, 
What  is  your  desire?  The  old  man  answered,  it  is  our  desire  to  employ  this  person 
as  a  mustahall  for  our  daughter ;  but  we  will  write  a  bond  against  him,  stating  that 
the  portion  of  the  dowry  to  be  paid  in  advance  is  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and 
if  he  divorce  her  to-morrow  morning,  we  will  give  him  a  dress  of  the  price  of  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  mule  of  the  same  price,  and  a  thousand  pieces  of 
gold  besides ;  but  if  he  divorce  her  not,  he  will  pay  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 
So  they  settled  the  contract  on  this  condition,  and  the  father  of  the  damsel  received 
a  bond  to  this  effect.  He  then  took  Aladdin  with  him,  clad  him  with  the  suit,  and 
proceeded  with  him  until  they  came  to  the  house  of  his  daughter,  when  he  stationed 
him  at  the  door  of  the  house,  and,  going  in  to  his  daughter,  said  to  her.  Receive  the 
bond  of  thy  dowry ;  for  I  have  written  thy  contract  of  marriage  to  a  comely  young 

'A  Mahometan  who  has  triply  divorced  his  wife  cannot  take  her  again  unless  she  be  married 
and  divorced  by  some  other  person :  this  person  is  termed  a  mustahall. 


356  THE  STORY  OF  ALADDIN  ABUSHAMAT. 

man,  named  Aladdin  Abushamat:  so  consider  thyself  under  a  most  strict  charge  re- 
specting him.     And  he  gave  her  the  bond,  and  repaired  to  his  house. 

Now  the  damsel  Zobeide  had  a  female  friend  who  frequently  visited  her,  and  her 
husband  used  to  treat  her  with  beneficence ;  and  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  if 
Zobeide  the  daughter  of  my  uncle  see  this  comely  young  man,  she  will  not  accept 
me  after;  so  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  contrive  a  stratagem  to  restrain  the  damsel 
from  him. —  By  thy  youth,  she  replied,  I  will  not  suffer  him  to  go  near  her.  She 
then  went  to  Aladdin,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  I  give  thee  good  advice  for  the 
sake  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!);  therefore  do  thou  accept  my  advice,  and 
approach  not  that  damsel,  but  let  her  remain  alone,  and  neither  touch  her  nor  draw 
near  to  her. — Wherefore?  said  he.  And  she  answered  him,  Verily  her  whole  skin 
is  affected  with  elephantiasis,  and  I  fear  for  thee  lest  she  communicate  the  disease  to 
thy  comely,  youthful  person.  So  he  replied,  I  have  no  need  of  her.  Then  she  went 
to  the  damsel,  and  said  to  her  as  she  had  said  to  Aladdin  ;  and  the  damsel  replied, 
I  have  no  need  of  him  :  on  the  contrary,  I  will  leave  him  to  remain  alone,  and  in 
the  morning  he  shall  go  his  way.  And  she  called  a  slave-girl,  and  said  to  her.  Take 
the  table  with  the  food,  and  give  it  to  him  that  he  may  sup.  The  slave-girl,  there- 
fore, carried  to  him  the  table  with  the  food,  and  placed  it  before  him,  and  he  ate 
until  he  was  satisfied,  and  then  sat  reciting  a  chapter  of  the  Koran,  with  a  charming 
voice:  and  the  damsel,  listening  to  him,  found  that  his  voice  was  like  the  sounds  of 
the  Psalms  sung  by  the  family  of  David.  So  ishe  said  within  herself,  Allah  send 
trouble  upon  this  old  woman  who  told  me  that  he  was  afflicted  with  elephantiasis ! 
for  he  who  is  in  such  a  state  hath  not  a  voice  of  this  kind.  Surely  this  assertion  is 
a  lie  against  him. —  Then  taking  in  her  hands  a  lute  of  Indian  manufacture,  she 
tuned  its  chords,  and  sang  to  it,  with  a  voice  that  would  stay  the  birds  in  the  midst 
of  the  sky.  And  when  he  heard  her  words,  after  he  had  finished  his  recitation  of 
the  chapter,  he  sang  in  reply.  And  upon  this  the  damsel's  love  for  him  increased, 
and  she  lifted  up  the  curtain,  and  advanced  with  a  graceful  gait ;  but  as  she 
approached  him  he  haid  to  her.  Retire  from  me,  lest  thou  communicate  thy  disease 
to  me.  So  she  uncovered  her  wrist,  which  was  beautifully  formed,  and  its  whiteness 
was  like  that  of  silver;  after  which  she  said  to  him.  Retire  from  me;  for  thou  art 
afflicted  with  elephantiasis,  and  perhaps  thou  wilt  communicate  the  disease  to  me. 
He  therefore  asked  her.  Who  inforriied  thee  that  I  was  afflicted  with  elephantiasis  ? 
She  answered  him.  The  old  woman  acquainted  me  with  it.  And  he  replied,  The 
old  woman  also  informed  me  that  thou  wast  afflicted  with  leprosy.  Then  he 
uncovered  to  her  his  arms,  and  she  found  that  his  skin  was  like  pure  silver.  So  she 
accepted  him  as  her  husband. 

And  on  the  following  morning  he  said  to  her,  Alas  for  joy  that  is  not  complete  I 
The  raven  hath  taken  it  and  flown  away  ! — She  therefore  said,  What  is  the  meaning 
of  these  words?  And  he  answered  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  only  this  hour  to 
remain  with  thee.  —  Who  saith  so?  she  asked.  —  Thy  father,  he  answered  her, 
wrote  a  bond  against  me,  obliging  me  to  pay  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  towards 
thy  dowry  ;  and  if  I  produce  it  not  this  day,  they  imprison  me  for  it  in  the  house 
of  the  Cadi ;  and  now  my  hand  is  unable  to  advance  a  single  half-drachma  of  the 
sum  of  ton  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  But  she  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  is  the 
matrimonial  tie  in  thy  hand,  or  in  their  hands?  He  answered  her,  The  tie  is  in  my 
hand ;  but  I  have  nothing  in  my  possession. — The  affair,  she  rejoined,  is  easy  ;  and 
fear  nothing ;  but  take  these  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  Had  I  more  I  would  give 
thee  what  thou  desirest.  This,  however,  I  cannot  do;  for  my  fother,  from  the  affec- 
tion that  he  beareth  for  the  son  of  his  brother,  hath  transferred  all  hia  property  from 
my  hands  to  his  house:  even  all  my  ornaments  he  took.  But  when  tl:ey  send  to  thee 
a  Serjeant  from  the  court  of  justice,  this  morning,  and  the  Cadi  and  my  father  say 
to  thee.  Divorce, — do  thou  say  to  them.  By  what  code  is  it  ordained  as  proper  that  I 
should  marry  at  nightfall  and  divorce  in  the  morning?  Then  thou  shalt  kiss  the 
hand  of  the  Cadi,  and  give  him  a  present;  and  in  like  manner  thou  shalt  kiss  the 


THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  357 

hand  of  each  witness,  and  give  him  ten  pieces  of  gold.  And  all  of  them  will  speak 
with  thee:  and  if  they  say  to  thee,  Wherefore  wilt  thou  not  divorce,  and  receive  a 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  the  mule  and  the  dress,  according  to  the  condition  which 
we  imposed  upon  thee  ? — do  thou  answer  them,  Every  hair  of  her  head  is  in  my  esti- 
mation worth  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  I  will  never  divorce  her,  nor  will  I 
receive  a  dress  or  anything  else.  If  the  Cadi  then  say  to  thee,  Pay  the  dowry, — 
reply,  I  am  at  present  unable  to  pay.  And  thereupon  the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses 
will  treat  thee  with  benevolence,  and  will  grant  thee  a  delay. 

Now  while  they  were  thus  conversing,  the  serjeant  o-f  the  Cadi  knocked  at  the 
door.  So  he  went  forth  to  him,  and  the  serjeant  said  to  him.  Answer  the  summons 
of  the  Effendi ;  for  thy  father-in-law  citeth  thee.  And  Aladdin  gave  to  him  five 
pieces  of  gold,  saying,  0  serjeant,  by  what  code  am  I  required  to  marry  at  nightfall 
and  to  divorce  in  the  morning?  He  answered  him.  To  do  so  is  not  held  proper  by 
us  in  any  case ;  and  if  thou  be  ignorant  of  the  law,  I  will  act  as  thy  deputy.  And 
they  proceeded  to  the  court  of  justice,  and  the  Cadi  said  to  Aladdin,  Wherefore  dost 
thou  not  divorce  the  woman,  and  receive  what  the  contract  hath  prescribed  for  thee? 
And  upon  this  he  advanced  to  the  Cadi,  and  kissing  his  hand,  put  into  it  fifty  pieces 
of  gold,  and  said  to  him,  0  our  lord  the  Cadi,  by  what  code  is  it  allowable  that  I 
should  marry  at  nightfall  and  divorce  in  the  morning  by  compulsion  ?  The  Cadi 
therefore  answered.  Divorce  by  compulsion  is  not  allowable  by  any  of  the  codes  of 
the  Mahometans.  Then  the  father  of  the  damsel  said,  If  thou  divorce  not,  pay  me 
the  dowry,  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  Aladdin  replied.  Give  me  three  days* 
delay.  But  the  Cadi  said,  Three  days  will  not  be  a  sufficient  period  of  delay  ;  he 
shall  grant  thee  ten  days.  And  to  this  they  agreed,  binding  him  after  the  ten  days, 
either  to  pay  the  dowry  or  to  divorce. 

On  this  condition,  therefore,  he  went  forth  from  them,  and,  having  procured  the  meat 
and  rice  and  clarified  butter  and  other  eatables  that  the  case  required,  returned  to  the 
house  and  went  in  to  the  damsel  and  related  to  her  all  that  had  happened  to  him. 
She  replied.  Between  night  and  day,  wonders  take  place.  She  then  arose,  prepared 
the  food,  and  brought  the  table,  and  they  ate  and  drank,  and  enjoyed  themselves, 
and  were  moved  with  merriment;  and  he  requested  her  to  perform  a  piece  of  music. 
So  she  took  the  lute,  and  performed  a  piece  in  such  a  manner  that  a  rock  would  have 
danced  at  it  as  if  with  joy,  the  sounds  of  the  chords  vying  with  the  voice  of  David ; 
and  she  began  the  more  rapid  part  of  the  performance. 

But  while  they  were  full  of  delight  and  jesting,  and  mirth  and  gladness,  the  door 
was  knocked.  She  therefore  said  to  him.  Arise,  and  see  who  is  at  the  door.  Accord- 
ingly, he  went  down,  and,  opening  the  door,  found  four  dervises  standing  there,  and 
he  said  to  them.  What  do  ye  desire? — 0  my  master,  answered  one  of  them,  we  are 
foreign  dervises  :  the  food  of  our  souls  consisteth  in  music  and  in  the  delicacies  of 
poetry,  and  we  desire  to  recreate  ourselves  with  thee  this  night,  until  the  morning, 
when  we  will  go  our  way;  and  thou  wilt  receive  thy  recompense  from  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!);  for  we  are  passionately  fond  of  music,  and  there  is  not  one 
among  us  who  doth  not  retain  in  his  memory  odes  and  other  pieces  of  poetry  and 
lyric  songs.  Aladdin  replied,  I  must  consult.  And  he  went  up,  and  informed  the 
damsel ;  and  she  said  to  him.  Open  the  door  to  them.  So  he  opened  to  them  the 
door,  and,  having  conducted  them  up,  seated  them,  and  welcomed  them,  and  brought 
them  food.  But  they  declined  eating,  and  one  of  them  said  to  him,  0  my  master, 
verily  our  victuals  are  the  commemoration  of  God  with  our  hearts,  and  the  hearing 
of  songs  with  our  ears.  We  just  now  heard  some  pleasant  music  in  thine  abode; 
but  when  we  came  up  it  ceased  ;  and  we  would  that  we  knew  whether  she  who  was 
performing  is  a  white  or  a  black  slave-girl,  or  a  lady. — Aladdin  replied.  She  is  my 
wife.  And  he  related  to  them  all  that  had  happened  to  him,  and  said  to  them.  My 
father-in-law  hath  bound  me  to  pay  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  as  her  dowry,  and 
they  have  given  me  ten  days'  delay. — Upon  this,  one  of  the  dervises  said  to  him, 
Grieve  not,  nor  anticipate  anything  but  good  fortune ;  for  I  am  the  Sheikh  of  the 


358 


THE  STORY  OF  ALADDIN  ABUSHAMAT. 


Convent,  having  under  me  forty  dervises  over  whom  I  exercise  authority,  and  I  will 
collect  for  thee  the  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  from  them,  and  thou  shalt  discharge 
the  dowry  that  thou  owest  to  thy  father-in-law.  But  desire  her  (he  added)  to  per- 
form a  piece  of  music  for  us,  that  we  may  be  rejoiced  and  enlivened ;  for  music  is 
to  some  people  like  food  ;  and  to  some,  like  a  remedy  ;  and  to  some  like  a  fan. — Now 
these  four  dervises  were  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid,  and  the  Vizier  Giaftir  the 
Barmecide,  and  Abou  Nuwas  Elhassan  the  son  of  Hani,  and  Mesrour  the  Execu- 
tioner. And  the  reason  of  their  passing  by  this  house  was,  that  the  bosom  of  the 
Caliph  was  contracted  ;  so  he  said  to  the  Vizier,  0  Vizier,  it  is  our  desire  to  descend 
and  go  about  through  the  city ;  for  I  experience  a  contraction  of  the  bosom.  They 
therefore  clad  themselves  in  the  apparel  of  dervises,  and  went  down  into  the  city, 
and,  passing  by  this  house,  they  heard  the  music,  and  desired  to  ascertain  the  cause. 
They  passed  the  night  there  in  happiness  and  good  order,  and  in  relating  stories  one 
after  another,  until  the  morning  came,  when  the  Caliph  put  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold 
beneath  the  prayer-carpet,  and  he  and  his  companions  took  leave  of  Aladdin,  and 
went  their  way. 

When  the  damsel,  therefore,  lifted  up  the  prayer-carpet,  she  saw  the  hundred 
pieces  of  gold  beneath  it.     And  she  said  to  her  husband,  Take  these  hundred  pieces 


Zi>beide  rifting  up  tlie  Prayer-carpet. 

of  gold  that  I  have  found  under  the  prayer-carpet ;  for  the  dervises  put  them  there  before 
ihey  went,  without  our  knowledge.  So  Aladdin  took  them,  and  repairing  to  the 
market,  bought  the  meat  and  the  rice  and  the  clarified  butter,  and  all  that  he  re- 
quired. And  on  the  following  night  he  lighted  the  candles,  and  said  to  his  wife. 
The  dervises  have  not  brought  the  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  which  they 
promised  me ;  but  they  are  poor  men.  While  they  were  talking,  however,  the  der- 
vises knocked  at  the  door;  and  she  said  to  him,  Go  down,  and  open  to  them.  He 
therefore  did  so,  and  they  came  up,  and  he  said  to  them.  Have  ye  brought  the  ten 
thousand  pieces  of  gold  that  ye  promised  me  ?  They  answered  him.  Nothing  of  the 
Bum  hath  been  provided ;  but  fear  no  evil  :  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted!),  to-morrow  we  will  perform  an  alohymical  process  for  thee:  and  now  do 
thou  desire  thy  wife  to  gratify  our  ears  by  an  excellent  performance  of  music,  that 
our  hearts  may  be  enlivened  by  it  •  for  we  love  music.    So  she  performed  a  piece  for 


THE    STORY   OF  ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  359 

them  upon  the  lute,  such  as  would  make  a  rock  to  dance.  And  they  passed  the 
night  in  enjoyment  and  happiness,  and  conversation,  and  cheerfulness,  until  the 
morning  came  and  diffused  its  light;  whereupon  the  Caliph  again  put  a  hundred 
pieces  of  gold  beneath  the  prayer-carpet,  and  he  and  his  companions  took  leave  of 
Aladdin,  and  departed  from  him  and  went  their  way. 

Thus  they  continued  to  do  for  a  period  of  nine  nights  ;  the  Caliph  every  night 
putting  beneath  the  prayer-carpet  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  until  the  tenth  night, 
when  they  came  not;  and  the  cause  of  their  ceasing  their  visits  was  this.  The 
Caliph  sent  to  a  great  merchant,  saying  to  him,  Make  ready  for  me  fifty  loads  of 
stuffs,  such  as  come  from  Cairo,  each  load  of  the  price  of  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
and  write  upon  each  the  amount  of  its  price  ;  and  provide  for  me  a  male  Abyssinian 
slave.  So  the  merchant  made  ready  for  him  all  that  he  ordered  him  to  provide, 
after  which  the  Caliph  committed  to  the  slave  a  basin  and  ewer  of  gold,  and  another 
present,  and  the  fifty  loads,  and  wrote  a  letter  as  from  Shemseddin  the  Syndic  of  the 
merchants  in  Cairo,  the  father  of  Aladdin,  and  said  to  the  slave,  Take  these  loads 
and  the  things  that  are  with  them,  and  repair  with  them  to  such  a  quarter,  in  which 
is  the  house  of  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants,  and  say,  Where  is  my  master  Aladdin 
Abushamat?  Then  the  people  will  direct  thee  to  the  quarter  and  to  the  house. — 
The  slave  therefore  took  the  loads  and  what  was  with  them,  and  went  as  the  Caliph 
commanded  him. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  damsel's  cousin  repaired  to  her  father,  and  said  to  him. 
Come  let  us  go  to  Aladdin,  that  we  may  effect  the  divorce  of  my  cousin.  So  the 
father  descended  and  went  with  him  to  Aladdin  ;  but  when  they  arrived  at  the  house, 
they  found  fifty  mules,  upon  which  were  fifty  loads  of  stuffs,  attended  by  a  black 
slave  upon  a  mule  ;  and  they  said  to  him;  To  whom  belong  these  loads?  He  an- 
swered, To  my  master  Aladdin  Abushamat;  for  his  father  prepared  for  him  mer- 
chandise, and  despatched  him  on  a  journey  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  and  the  Arabs 
came  upon  him,  and  took  his  wealth  and  his  loads ;  and  the  news  reached  his  father, 
wherefore  he  sent  me  to  him  with  loads  in  their  stead.  He  sent  with  me  aloo  a  mule 
laden  with  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  wrapper  of  clothes  worth  a  large  sum 
of  money,  and  a  furred  robe  of  sable,  and  a  basin  and  ewer  of  gold. — Upon  this, 
the  father  of  the  damsel  said,  This  person  is  my  son-in-law,  and  I  will  show  thee  the 
way  to  the  house. 

And  while  Aladdin  was  sitting  in  the  house  in  a  state  of  violent  grief,  the  door 
was  knocked  ;  and  he  said,  0  Zobeide,  God  is  all-knowing;  but  it  seemeth  that  thy 
father  hath  sent  to  me  a  serjeant  from  the  Cadi  or  from  the  Judge.  She  replied, 
Go  down  and  see  what  is  the  case.  So  he  went  down  and  opened  the  door  and  be- 
held his  father-in-law,  who  was  the  Syndic  of  the  merchants,  the  father  of  Zobeide  ; 
and  he  found  there  an  Abyssinian  slave  of  dark  complexion  and  of  pleasant  counte- 
nance, mounted  upon  a  mule.  And  the  slave,  having  descended  from  the  mule, 
kissed  his  hands  ;  and  he  said  to  him,  What  dost  thou  desire  ?  He  answered,  I  am 
the  slave  of  my  master  Aladdin  Abushamat,  the  son  of  Shemseddin  the  Syndic  of 
the  merchants  in  the  land  of  Egypt ;  and  his  father  hath  sent  me  to  him  with  this 
deposit.  He  then  gave  him  the  letter;  and  Aladdin  took  it,  and  opened  it  and 
read  it,  and  found  written  in  it  these  words : — 

After  perfect  salutations,  and  compliments  and  respectful  greetings,  from  Shem- 
seddin to  his  son  Aladdin  Abushamat.  —  Know,  0  my  son,  that  the  news  of  the 
slaughter  of  thy  men,  and  of  the  plunder  of  thy  wealth  and  thy  loads,  hath  reached 
me ;  and  I  have  therefore  sent  to  thee,  in  their  stead,  these  fifty  loads  of  Egyptian 
stuffs,  and  the  suit  of  dress,  and  the  furred  robe  of  sable,  and  the  basin  and  ewer 
of  gold.  And  fear  no  evil  ;  for  the  wealth  is  thy  ransom,  0  my  son  ;  and  may  grief 
never  affect  thee.  Thy  mother  and  the  people  of  the  house  are  well,  in  prosperity 
and  health  ;  and  they  greet  thee  with  abundant  salutations.  Moreover,  0  my  son, 
news  hath  reached  me  that  they  have  employed  thee  as  a  mustahall  for  the  damsel 
Zobeide  the  lute-player,  and  have  imposed  upon  thee   the  payment  of  ten  thousand 


360  THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT. 

pieces  of  gold  as  her  dowry.  Therefore  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold  will  be  brought 
to  thee  with  the  loads,  attended  by  thy  slave  Selim. 

As  soon  as  Aladdin  had  finished  reading  the  letter,  he  took  possession  of  the  loads, 
and,  looking  towards  his  father-in-law,  said  to  him,  0  my  father-in-law,  receive  the 
ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  the  amount  of  the  dowry  of  thy  daughter  Zobeide :  re- 
ceive also  the  loads,  and  dispose  of  them,  and  the  profit  shall  be  thine;  only  do  thou 
restore  to  me  the  cost  price.  But  he  replied.  Nay,  by  Allah,  I  will  take  nothing; 
and  as  to  the  dowry  of  thy  wife,  do  thou  make  an  agreement  with  her  respecting  it. 
So  Aladdin  arose,  together  with  his  father-in-law,  and  they  went  into  the  house, 
after  the  loads  had  been  brought  in.  And  Zobeide  said  to  her  father,  0  my  father, 
to  whom  belong  these  loads?  He  answered  her,  These  loads  belong  to  Aladdin,  thy 
husband.  His  father  hath  sent  them  to  him  in  the  place  of  those  which  the  Arabs 
took  from  him  ;  and  he  hath  sent  to  him  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  wrap- 
per of  clothes,  and  a  furred  rol>e  of  sable,  and  a  mule  and  a  basin  and  ewer  of 
gold:  and  as  to  thy  dowry,  it  is  for  thee  to  decide  respecting  it.  Then  Aladdin 
arose,  and,  having  opened  the  chest,  gave  her  her  dowry.  The  damsel's  cousin 
said,  0  my  uncle,  let  Aladdin  divorce  my  wife  for  me.  But  the  father  of  the  damsel 
replied.  This  is  a  thing  that  now  can  by  no  means  be,  as  the  matrimonial  tie  is  in 
his  hand.  And  upon  this  the  young  man  went  away,  grieved  and  afflicted,  and  laid 
himself  down  sick  in  his  house,  and  there  he  died. 

As  to  Aladdin,  he  went  forth  to  the  market,  after  he  had  received  the  loads,  and, 
having  procured  what  he  desired  of  food  and  drink  and  clarified  butter,  made  the 
same  regular  preparations  as  on  each  preceding  night,  and  said  to  Zobeide,  See, 
these  lying  dervises  gave  us  a  promise  and  broke  it.  She  replied,  Thou  art  the  son 
of  a  Syndic  of  the  merchants,  and  yet  thy  hand  was  unable  to  produce  a  half-drachma. 
What  then  is  the  case  of  the  poor  dervises? — God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  he  re- 
joined, hath  rendered  us  independent  of  them,  and  I  will  not  again  open  the  door 
to  them  if  they  come  to  us.  But  she  said  to  him.  Wherefore,  seeing  that  good  for- 
tune happened  not  unto  us  but  in  consequence  of  their  coming ;  for  every  night 
they  put  for  us  beneath  the  prayer-carpet  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold?  It  is  absolutely 
necessary,  then,  that  thou  open  the  door  to  them  if  they  come.  And  when  the  day 
departed  with  its  brightness,  and  the  night  came,  they  lighted  the  candles,  and 
Aladdin  said  to  his  wife,  O  Zobeide,  arise,  and  perform  a  piece  of  music  for  us. 
And  immediately  the  door  was  knocked  ;  so  she  said  to  him,  Rise,  and  see  who  is 
there.  He  descended,  therefore,  and  opened  the  door,  and  seeing  the  dervises,  he 
said.  Oh!  Welcome  to  the  liars!  Come  up.  —  Accordingly  they  went  up  with  him, 
and  he  seated  them,  and  brought  the  table  of  food  to  them  ;  and  they  ate  and  drank, 
and  enjoyed  themselves  and  were  merry.  They  then  said  to  him,  0  my  master, 
verily  our  hearts  have  been  troubled  respecting  thee.  What  hath  happened  to  thee 
with  thy  father-in-law  ?  —  God,  he  answered  them,  hath  granted  us  a  recompense 
above  our  desires.  And  they  said  to  him,  By  Allah,  we  were  in  fear  for  thee,  and 
nothing  prevented  our  coming  to  thee  again  but  the  inadequacy  of  our  means  to  pro- 
cure the  money.  He  replied.  Speedy  relief  hath  come  to  me  from  my  Lord,  and  my 
father  hath  sent  to  me  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  fifty  loads  of  stuffs,  each 
load  of  the  price  of  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  suit  of  dress,  and  a  furred  robp 
of  sable,  and  a  mule  and  a  slave,  and  a  basin  and  ewer  of  gold:  a  reconciliation 
hath  taken  place  between  me  and  my  father-in-law,  and  my  wife  hath  become  lawful 
to  me ;  and  praise  be  to  God  for  this  ! 

The  Caliph  then  arose  and  withdrew  ;  and  the  Vizier  Giafar,  inclining  towards 
Aladdin,  said  to  him.  Impose  upon  thyself  the  obligation  of  good  manners;  for  thou 
art  in  the  company  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. — What  have  I  done,  asked  Aladdin, 
inconsistotitly  with  good  manners  in  the  company  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and 
which  of  you  is  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful?  The  Vizier  answered  him,  lie  who  was 
speaking  to  you,  and  who  hath  just  now  retired,  is  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Ilaroun 
Alrashid,  and  I  am  the  Vizier  Giafar,  and  this  is  Mesrour,  the  Caliph's  executioner. 


THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT. 


361 


Tlie  Caliph  and  his  Companions  disguised  as  Dervises. 


and  this  is  Abou  Nuwas  Elliassan  the  son  of  Hani.  Reflect  then  with  thy  reason,  0 
Aladdin,  and  consider  how  many  days  are  required  for  the  journey  from  Cairo  to 
Bagdad.  He  replied.  Five  and  forty  days.  Then  said  Giafar,  Thy  loads  were  car- 
ried off  only  ten  da^'s  ago  ;  and  how  could  the  news  reach  thy  father,  and  how  could 
he  pack  up  the  other  loads  for  thee,  and  these  loads  traverse  a  space  of  live  and 
forty  days' journey  in  ten  days?  —  0  my  master,  said  Aladdin,  and  whence  came 
they  unto  me?  The  Vizier  answered  him,  From  the  Caliph,  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  on  account  of  his  excessive  affection  for  thee.  And  while  they  were  thus 
conversing,  lo,  the  Caliph  approached.  So  Aladdin  arose,  and  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  and  said  to  him,  God  preserve  thee,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  pro- 
long thy  life,  and  may  mankind  never  be  deprived  of  thy  bounty  and  beneficence ! 
And  the  Caliph  said,  0  Aladdin,  let  Zobeide  perform  for  us  a  piece  of  music,  as  a 
gratuity  for  thy  safety.  She  therefore  performed  a  piece  on  the  lute,  of  the  most 
admirable  kind,  such  as  would  make  a  rock  to  shake  as  with  joy,  and  the  sounds  of 
the  lute  vied  with  the  voice  of  David.  They  passed  the  night  in  the  happiest  man- 
ner until  the  morning,  when  the  Caliph  said  to  Aladdin,  To-morrow  come  up  to  the 
court.  And  Aladdin  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  if  it  be  the 
will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  and  mayest  thou  continue  in  prosperity. 

Then  Aladdin  took  ten  trays,  and  put  on  them  a  costly  present ;  and  on  the  follow- 
ing day  he  went  up  with  them  to  the  court.  And  while  the  Caliph  was  sitting  upon 
the  throne  in  the  council-chamber,  lo,  Aladdin  advanced  from  the  door  reciting  these 
iwo  verses : — 


362  THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT. 

May  prosperity  and  glory  attend  thee  each  morning,  and  the  nose  of  thine  envier  be  rubbed 

in  the  dust; 
And  may  the  days  never  cease  to  be  white  unto  thee,  and  the  days  of  him  who  is  thine  enemy 

be  black  ! 

The  Caliph  replied.  Welcome,  0  Aladdin.  And  Aladdin  said,  0  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  verily  the  Prophet  (God  favour  and  preserve  him!)  accepted  a  present; 
and  these  ten  trays  veith  what  is  upon  them  are  a  present  from  me  unto  thee.  And 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  accepted  them  from  him.  He  gave  orders  also  to  invest 
him  with  a  robe  of  honour,  appointed  him  Syndic  of  the  merchants,  and  seated  him 
in  the  council-chamber.  And  while  Aladdin  was  sitting  there,  lo,  his  father-in-law, 
the  father  of  Zobeide,  approached,  and,  finding  him  sitting  in  his  place,  and  wear- 
ing the  robe  of  honour,  said  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  0  King  of  the  age,  where- 
fore is  this  person  sitting  in  my  place,  and  wearing  this  robe  of  honour?  The 
Caliph  answered  him,  I  have  appointed  him  Syndic  of  the  merchants ;  and  offices 
are  conferred  by  investiture,  not  granted  for  perpetuity ;  and  thou  art  displaced. 
And  he  replied,  He  is  of  our  family  and  our  connexions,  and  excellent  is  that  which 
thou  hast  done,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  May  God  always  make  the  best  of  us  to 
preside  over  our  affairs !  And  how  many  a  small  person  hath  become  great !  —  The 
Caliph  then  wrote  a  diploma  for  Aladdin,  and  gave  it  to  the  Judge,  and  the  Judge 
gave  it  to  the  executioner,  and  he  proclaimed  in  the  court,  None  is  Syndic  of  the 
merchants  but  Aladdin  Abushamat;  and  his  word  is  to  be  heard,  and  respect  is  to 
be  paid  to  him:  he  is  entitled  to  honour  and  reverence  and  exaltation  !  — And  when 
the  court  was  dissolved,  the  Judge  descended  with  the  crier  before  Aladdin,  and  the 
crier  proclaimed.  None  is  Syndic  of  the  merchants  but  my  master  Aladdin  Abusha- 
mat! And  they  went  about  with  him  through  the  great  thoroughfare-streets  of 
Bfigdad,  the  crier  repeating  the  same  proclamation. 

On  the  following  morning,  therefore,  Aladdin  opened  a  shop  for  the  slave,  and 
seated  him  in  it  to  sell  and  buy,  while  he  rode  and  took  his  place  in  the  court  of  the 
Caliph.  And  it  happened  that  he  was  sitting  in  his  place  one  day  according  to  his 
custom,  and  as  he  sat,  lo,  a  person  said  to  the  Caliph,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  may 
thy  head  long  survive  such-a-one,  the  boon-companion  ;  for  he  hath  been  admitted  to 
the  mercy  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  may  thy  life  be  prolonged !  And 
the  Caliph  said.  Where  is  Aladdin  Abushamat?  So  he  presented  himself  before  the 
Caliph,  who.  when  he  saw  him,  bestowed  upon  him  a  magnificent  robe  of  honour, 
appointed  him  his  boon-companion,  and  assigned  him  a  monthly  salary  of  a  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  ;  and  Aladdin  continued  with  him  as  his  boon-companion.  And  it 
happened  again  that  he  was  sitting  one  day  in  his  place  according  to  his  custom,  in 
the  service  of  the  Caliph,  when  an  Emir  came  up  into  the  court  with  a  sword  and 
shield,  and  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  may  thy  head  long  survive  the  Reis-el- 
sittein  ;  for  he  hath  died  this  day.  And  the  Caliph  gave  orders  to  bring  a  robe  of 
honour  for  Aladdin  Abushamat,  and  appointed  him  Reis-el-sittein  in  the  place  of  the 
deceased.  The  latter  had  no  son  nor  daughter  nor  wife;  so  Aladdin  went  down 
and  put  his  hand  upon  his  wealth  ;  and  the  (Jaliph  said  to  him.  Inter  him,  and  take 
all  that  he  hath  left  of  wealth  and  male  slaves  and  female  slaves  and  eunuchs.  Then 
the  Caliph  shook  the  handkerchief,  and  the  court  dispersed  ;  and  Aladdin  departed, 
with  the  officer  Ahmad  El-Denef,  the  officer  of  the  right  division  of  the  Caliph's  guard, 
attended  by  his  forty  followers,  by  his  stirrup,  on  the  right;  and  on  his  left  Hassan 
Shuman,  the  officer  of  the  left  division  of  the  Caliph's  guard,  together  with  his  forty 
followers.  And  Aladdin  looked  towards  the  officer  Hassan  Shuman,  and  his  follow- 
ers, and  said  to  them.  Be  ye  intercessors  with  Ahmad  El-Denef,  that  he  may  accept 
me  as  his  son  by  a  covenant  before  God.  And  he  accepted  him,  and  said  to  him,  I 
and  my  forty  followers  will  walk  before  thee  to  the  court  every  day. 

After  this,  Aladdin  continued  in  the  service  of  the  Caliph  for  many  days.  And  it 
happened  that  he  descended  from  the  court  one  day,  and  went  to  his  house,  and, 
having  dismissed  Ahmad  El-Denef  and  his  attendants,  seated  himself  with  his  wiff 


THE    STORY    OP    ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  363 

Zobeide,  who,  after  she  had  linjhted  the  candles,  went  into  an  adjoinino;  chamber: 
and  while  he  was  sitting  in  his  place,  he  !ieard  a  great  cry.  He  therefore  arose 
quickly  to  see  who  it  was  that  cried,  and  beheld,  in  the  person  from  whom  the  sound 
proceeded,  the  form  of  his  wife  Zobeide,  lying  extended  upon  the  floor;  and  he  put 
his  hand  upon  the  bosom  of  the  prostrate  damsel,  and  found  her  dead.  Her  father's 
house  was  opposite  to  that  of  Aladdin,  and  he  (the  father)  also  heard  her  cry:  so  he 
came,  and  said  to  her  husband.  What  is  the  matter,  0  my  master  Aladdin  ?  The 
latter  replied.  May  thy  head,  0  my  father,  long  survive  thy  daughter  Zobeide:  but 
now,  0  my  father,  we  must  pay  respect  to  the  dead  by  its  burial.  And  when  the 
following  morning  came,  they  interred  the  damsel's  body;  and  Aladdin  and  the 
father  of  Zobeide  consoled  each  other.  Aladdin  put  on  the  apparel  of  mourning, 
separated  himself  from  the  court,  and  continued  with  weeping  eye  and  mourning 
heart.. 

So  the  Caliph  said  to  Giafar,  0  Vizier,  what  is  the  reason  of  Aladdin's  absenting 
himself  from  the  court?  The  Vizier  answered  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  is 
mourning  for  his  wife  Zobeide,  and  engaged  in  receiving  the  visits  of  consolation  for 
her  loss.  Upon  this  the  Caliph  said,  It  is  incumbent  on  us  to  console  him.  And  the 
Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  The  Caliph  therefore  descended  with  Giafar  and 
some  of  the  household  attendants,  and  they  mounted,  and  repaired  to  the  house  of 
Aladdin,  And  as  he  was  sitting,  lo,  the  Caliph  and  the  Vizier  and  their  attendants 
approached  him  :  whereupon  he  arose  to  meet  them,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the 
Caliph,  who  said  to  him,  May  God  compensate  thee  happily  !  Aladdin  replied.  May 
God  prolong  thy  life  to  us,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful!  And  the  Caliph  said,  0 
Aladdin,  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  separating  thyself  from  the  court?  He  answered, 
My  mourning  for  my  wife  Zobeide,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  The  Caliph  replied. 
Dispel  anxiety  from  thy  mind  ;  for  she  hath  departed  to  receive  the  mercy  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!),  and  mourning  will  never  avail  thee  aught.  But  Aladdin 
said,  I  will  not  cease  to  mourn  for  her  until  I  die  and  they  bury  me  by  her.  The 
Caliph  rejoined,  Verily  with  God  is  a  compensation  for  every  loss,  and  neither 
stratagem  nor  wealth  will  save  one  from  death.     Divinely  gifted  was  he  who  said, — 

Every  son  of  woman,  though  he  be  long  preserved,  must  one  day  be  carried  upon  the  curving 

bier. 
How  then  shall  he  on  whose  cheeks  the  dust  is  to  be  placed   find  diversion   or  delight  in 

life? 

— And  when  he  had  made  an  end  of  consoling  him,  he  charged  him  that  he  should 
not  separate  himself  from  the  court,  and  returned. 

Aladdin  then  passed  the  night,  and  when  the  morning  came,  he  mounted,  and 
repaired  to  the  court,  and,  going  in  to  the  Caliph,  kissed  the  ground  before  him. 
And  the  Caliph  raised  himself  to  him  slightly  from  the  throne,  welcoming  him  and 
saluting  him  ;  and  after  he  had  desired  him  to  take  the  place  belonging  to  him,  he 
said  to  him,  O  Aladdin,  thou  art  my  guest  this  night.  Then  the  Caliph  took  him 
into  his  palace,  and  called  a  slave-girl  named  Kout  elkuloub,  and  said  to  her, 
Aladdin  had  a  wife  whose  name  was  Zobeide,  and  she  used  to  divert  him  from 
anxiety  and  grief;  but  she  hath  departed  to  receive  the  mercy  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !),  and  I  desire  that  thou  gratify  his  ears  by  a  performance  on  the  lute 
of  the  most  admirable  kind,  in  order  that  he  may  be  diverted  from  anxiety  and 
sorrows.  So  the  damsel  performed  an  admirable  piece  of  music ;  and  the  Caliph 
said.  What  sayest  thou,  0  Aladdin,  of  the  voice  of  this  slave-girl?  —  Verily,  he 
answered,  Zobeide  had  a  better  voice  than  hers  ;  but  she  is  eminently  skilled  in 
playing  on  the  lute;  for  she  would  make  a  rock  to  dance.  And  the  Caliph  said  to 
him,  Hath  she  pleased  thee?  He  answered  him.  She  hath  pleased  me,  0  Prince  of 
the  Faithful.  Then  said  the  Caliph,  By  my  head,  and  by  the  tombs  of  my  ancestors, 
verily  she  is  a  present  from  me  unto  thee,  with  her  female  slaves  also.  And  Aladdin 
imagined  that  the  Caliph  was  jesting  with  him.     But  when  the  Caliph  arose  in  the 


364  THE   STORY  OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT. 

morning,  he  went  to  his  slave-girl  Kout  elkuloub,  and  said  to  her,  I  have  made  thee 
a  present  to  Aladdin.  And  she  rejoiced  at  this,  for  she  had  seen  him  and  loved  him. 
He  then  went  from  the  pavilion  of  the  palace  to  the  council-chamber,  and,  having 
summoned  the  porters,  said  to  them.  Remove  the  goods  of  Kout  elkuloub,  and  put 
her  in  the  litter,  and  convey  her  together  with  her  female  slaves  to  the  house  of 
Aladdin.  So  they  conveyed  her  with  her  female  slaves  and  her  goods  to  the  house, 
and  conducted  her  into  the  pavilion.  And  the  Caliph  remained  sitting  in  the  hall 
of  judgment  until  the  close  of  the  day,  when  the  court  broke  up,  and  he  retired  to 
his  pavilion. 

Now  as  to  Kout  elkuloub,  when  she  had  entered  the  pavilion  of  Aladdin  with  her 
female  slaves,  who  were  forty  in  number,  and  the  eunuchs  also,  she  said  to  two  of 
the  eunuchs.  One  of  you  two  shall  sit  on  a  chair  on  the  right  of  the  door,  and  the 
other  shall  sit  on  a  chair  on  the  left  of  it;  and  when  Aladdin  cometh,  kiss  his  hands, 
and  say  to  him,  Our  mistress  Kout  elkuloub  requesteth  thy  presence  in  the  pavilion; 
for  the  Caliph  hath  given  her  to  thee,  together  with  her  female  slaves.  And  they 
replied,  We  hear  and  obey.  They  then  did  as  she  commanded  them.  So  when 
Aladdin  arrived,  he  found  the  two  eunuchs  of  the  Caliph  sitting  at  the  door,  and  he 
wondered  at  the  event,  saying  within  himself.  Perhaps  this  is  not  my  house  ;  or  if  it 
be,  what  hath  occurred?  And  when  the  eunuchs  saw  him,  they  rose  to  him,  and 
kissed  his  hands,  and  said,  We  are  of  the  dependants  of  the  Caliph,  and  the  slaves 
of  Kout  elkuloub,  and  she  saluteth  thee,  and  saith  to  thee,  that  the  Caliph  hath 
given  her  to  thee,  together  with  her  female  slaves,  and  she  requesteth  thy  company. 
Aladdin,  however,  replied.  Say  to  her.  Thou  art  welcome  ;  but  as  long  as  thou  art  in 
his  abode,  he  will  not  enter  the  pavilion  in  which  thou  residest ;  for  it  is  not  fit  that 
what  belonged  to  the  master  should  become  the  property  of  the  servant: — and  say 
to  her,  W^hat  was  the  amount  of  thy  daily  expenditure  with  the  Caliph?  They  there- 
fore went  up  to  her,  and  said  to  her  as  he  desired  them  ;  and  she  replied,  A  hundred 
pieces  of  gold  each  day.  So  he  said  to  himself,  I  have  no  need  of  the  Caliph's  giving 
to  me  Kout  elkuloub,  that  I  should  expend  in  this  manner  upon  her ;  but  I  have  no 
means  of  avoiding  this. 

She  then  remained  in  his  abode  many  days,  he  assigning  to  her  daily  a  hundred 
pieces  of  gold,  until  he  absented  himself  one  day  from  the  court;  whereupon  the  Ca- 
liph said,  0  Vizier  Giafar,  I  gave  not  Kout  elkuloub  to  Aladdin  but  that  she  might 
divert  him  from  mourning  for  his  wife  ;  and  what  is  the  cause  of  his  absenting  himself 
from  us?  The  Vizier  answered,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  hath  spoken  truth  who 
hath  said.  Whoso  findeth  his  friends,  forgetteth  his  mere  acquaintances.  The  Ca- 
liph, however,  replied.  Probably  nothing  hath  caused  him  to  absent  himself  from  us 
save  some  event  that  hath  rendered  him  excusable  ;  but  we  will  visit  him. — Now, 
some  days  before  this,  Aladdin  had  said  to  the  Vizier,  I  complained  to  the  Caliph  of  the 
grief  that  I  suffered  for  the  loss  of  my  wife  Zobeide  the  lute-player,  and  he  gave  to 
me  Kout  elkuloub.  And  the  Vizier  said,  If  he  did  not  love  thee  he  had  not  given 
her  to  thee.  And  hast  thou  visited  her,  0  Aladdin  ? — He  answered.  No,  by  Allah  ; 
nor  do  I  know  the  difference  between  her  height  and  breadth. — And  why  so?  said 
the  Vizier.  Aladdin  answered,  0  Vizier,  what  is  suited  to  the  master  is  not  suited 
to  the  servant. — Then  the  Caliph  and  Giafar  disguised  themselves,  and  went  to  visit 
Aladdin;  and  they  proceeded  without  stopping,  until  they  went  in  to  him;  where- 
upon he  recognised  them,  and  arose,  and  kissed  the  Caliph's  hands.  And  when  the 
Caliph  saw  him,  he  saw  the  impress  of  mourning  upon  his  countenance;  so  he  said 
to  him,  0  Aladdin,  what  is  the  cause  of  this  mourning  which  thou  sufferest?  Hast 
thou  not  visited  Kout  elkuloub? — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  answered,  what  is 
suited  to  the  master  is  not  suited  to  the  servant;  and  verily  to  the  present  time  I 
have  not  visited  her,  nor  do  I  know  the  difference  between  her  height  and  her 
breadth :  therefore  quit  me  of  her.  The  Caliph  said,  I  desire  an  interview  with  her, 
that  I  may  ask  her  respecting  her  state.  And  Aladdin  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0 
Prince  of  the  Faithful.     The  Caliph  therefore  went  into  her  ;  and  when  she  bolield 


THE    STORY   'OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  365 

him,  she  arose,  and  kissed  the  gro'ind  before  him;  and  he  said  to  her.  Hath  Aladdin 
visited  thee?  She  answered.  No,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful:  I  sent  to  invite  him, 
but  he  would  not.  And  the  Caliph  gave  orders  for  her  return  to  the  palace,  and 
said  to  Aladdin,  Absent  not  thyself  from  us.     And  he  then  went  back  to  his  palace. 

So  Aladdin  passed  that  night,  and  in  the  morning  mounted  and  repaired  to  the 
court,  and  seated  himself  in  the  place  of  the  Reis-el-sittein.  And  the  Caliph  or- 
dered the  Treasurer  to  give  to  the  Vizier  Giafar  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  He 
therefore  gave  him  that  sum :  and  the  Caliph  said  to  the  Vizier,  1  require  of  thee 
that  thou  go  down  to  the  market  of  the  female  slaves,  and  that  thou  purchase  a 
slave-girl  for  Aladdin  with  the  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  And  the  Vizier  obeyed 
the  command  of  the  Caliph.  He  went  down,  taking  with  him  Aladdin,  and  pro- 
ceeded with  him  to  the  market  of  the  female  slaves. 

Now  it  happened  this  day,  that  the  Judge  of  Bagdad,  who  held  his  office  by  the 
appointment  of  the  Caliph,  and  whose  name  was  the  Emir  Kaled,  went  down  to  the 
market  for  the  purpose  of  buying  a  slave-girl  for  his  son ;  and  the  cause  was  this. 
He  had  a  wife  named  Katoun,  and  he  had  by  her  a  son  of  foul  aspect,  named  Ha- 
bazlam  Bazaza,  who  had  attained  to  the  age  of  twenty  years  and  knew  not  how  to 
ride  on  horseback.  But  his  father  was  bold,  valiant,  stout  in  defence,  one  who  was 
practiced  in  horsemanship,  and  who  waded  through  the  seas  of  night.  And  his 
mother  said  to  his  father,  I  desire  .that  we  marry  him,  for  he  is  now  of  a  fit  age. 
The  Emir,  however,  replied.  He  is  of  a  foul  aspect,  of  disgusting  odour,  filthy,  hid- 
eous ;  no  woman  will  accept  him.  So  she  said.  We  will  buy  for  him  a  slave-girl. — 
And  it  happened  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  an  event  which  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted  !)  had  decreed,  that  on  the  same  day  on  which  the  Vizier  and  Alad- 
din went  down  to  the  market,  the  Emir  Kaled,  the  Judge,  went  thither  also,  with 
his  son,  Habazlam  Bazaza.  And  while  they  were  in  the  market,  lo,  there  was  a 
slave-girl  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  justness  of  stature,  in  the  charge 
of  a  broker;  and  the  Vizier  said.  Consult,  0  broker,  respecting  a  thousand  pieces  of 
gold  for  her.  But  the  broker  passed  with  her  by  the  Judge,  and  Habazlam  Bazaza 
beholding  her,  the  sight  drew  from  him  a  thousand  sighs,  and  he  was  enamored  of 
her,  and  love  took  entire  possession  of  him  ;  so  he  said,  0  my  father,  buy  for  me  this 
slave-girl.  The  Judge  therefore  called  the  broker,  and  asked  the  slave-girl  her  name. 
She  answered  him.  My  name  is  Jasmin.  And  the  Judge  said  to  his  son,  0  my  son, 
if  she  please  thee,  bid  higher  for  her.  Accordingly  he  said,  0  broker,  what  price 
hath  been  ofi"ered  thee  ?  The  broker  answered,  A  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  And 
Habazlam  Bazaza  said,  let  her  be  mine  for  a  thousand  and  one  pieces  of  gold.  So 
the  broker  went  to  Aladdin,  and  he  bid  for  her  two  thousand :  and  every  time  that 
the  son  of  the  Judge  bid  one  piece  of  gold  more,  Aladdin  bid  a  thousand.  And  the 
son  of  the  Judge  was  enraged  at  this,  and  said,  0  broker,  who  outbiddeth  me  in 
the  price  of  the  slave-girl?  The  broker  answered  him,  The  Vizier  Giafar  desireth 
to  buy  her  for  Aladdin  Abushamat.  And  at  last,  Aladdin  bid  for  her  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  gold :  whereupon  her  master  gave  him  his  assent,  and  received  her  price ; 
and  Aladdin  took  her,  and  said  to  her,  I  emancipate  thee  for  the  sake  of  God,  whose 
name  be  exalted  !  He  then  wrote  his  contract  of  marriage  to  her,  and  repaired  with 
her  to  the  house. 

The  broker  returned  with  his  brokerage  ;  and  the  son  of  the  Judge  called  him 
and  said  to  him,  Where  is  the  slave-girl  ?  He  answered  him,  Aladdin  hatrh  pur- 
chased her  for  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  hath  emancipated  her,  and  written 
his  contract  of  marriage  to  her.  And  upon  this  the  young  man  was  incensed  ;  his 
sighs  were  many,  and  he  returned  to  the  house  in  a  state  of  infirmity  in  consequence 
of  his  love  for  the  damsel,  and  threw  himself  upon  the  bed.  He  abstained  from 
food,  and  his  love  and  desire  were  excessive.  So  when  his  mother  saw  him  in  this 
state  of  debility,  she  said  to  him,  Allah  preserve  thee,  0  my  son  I  What  is  the 
cause  of  thine  infirmity? — He  answered,  Buy  me  Jasmin,  O  my  mother.  And  his 
mother  said,  When  the  seller  of  sweet-scented  flowers  passeth  by,  I  will  buy  for  thee 


>66 


THE   STORY    OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT. 


a  pannier  full  of  jasmine.  He  replied,  What  I  mean  is  not  the  jasmine  that  people 
smell,  but  a  slave-girl  whose  name  is  Jasmin,  whom  my  father  would  not  buy  for 
me.  So  she  said  to  her  husband,  Why  didst  thou  not  buy  for  him  this  slave-girl? 
He  answered  her,  What  is  suited  to  the  master  is  not  suited  to  the  servant;  and  I 
have  no  power  to  take  her ;  for  none  purchased  her  but  Aladdin,  the  Reis-el-sittein. 
In  consequence  of  this,  the  illness  of  the  young  man  so  increased  that  he  aban- 
doned sleep  and  food  ;  and  his  mother  bound  her  head  with  the  kerchiefs  of  mourn- 
ing. And  while  she  was  sitting  in  her  house,  mourning  for  her  son,  lo,  an  old 
woman  came  in  to  her.  She  was  the  mother  of  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief; 
and  this  arch  thief  used  to  break  through  a  middle-wall,  and  to  scale  an  upper  one, 


and  steal  the  kohl  from  the  eye.  He  was  distinguished  by  these  abominable  prac- 
tices in  the  beginning  of  his  career.  Then  they  made  him  chief  of  the  watch,  and 
he  stole  a  sum  of  money,  and  was  discovered  in  consequence:  the  Judge  came  upon 
him  suddenly,  and  took  him  and  led  him  before  the  Caliph,  who  gave  orders  to  slay 
him  in  the  place  of  blood.  But  he  implored  the  protection  of  the  Vizier,  whose  inter- 
cession the  Caliph  never  rejected  ;  and  he  interceded  for  him.  The  Caliph  said  to 
him,  How  is  it  that  thou  intercedest  for  a  viper,  noxious  to  mankind?  But  he  re- 
plied, O  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  imprison  him  ;  for  he  who  built  the  first  prison  was 
a  wise  man,  since  the  prison  is  the  sepulchre  of  the  living,  and  a  cause  of  the  exul- 
tation of  the  enemies  over  those  who  are  confined  in  it.  And  upon  this  the  Caliph 
gave  orders  to  put  him  in  chains,  and  they  engraved  upon  his  chains.  Appointed  to 
remain  until  death:  they  shall  not  be  loosed  but  on  the  bench  of  the  washer  of  the  dead. 
And  they  put  him  chained  in  the  prison. 

Now  his  mother  used  to  frequent  the  house  of  the  Emir  Kaled  the  Judge,  and  to  go 
in  to  her  son  in  the  prison,  and  say  to  him.  Did  I  not  say  to  thee,  Repent  of  unlawful 
deeds?  And  lie  used  to  reply,  God  decreed  this  to  befall  me:  but,  0  my  mother,  when 
thou  goest  in  to  the  wife  of  the  Judge,  induce  her  to  intercede  for  me  with  him.  And 
when  the  old  woman  went  in  to  the  Judge's  wife,  and  found  her  with  her  head  bound 
with  the  kerchiefs  of  mourning,  she  said  to  her,  Wherefore  art  thou  mourning?  She 
answered,  For  the  loss  of  my  son,  Habazlam  Bazaza.  And  the  old  woman  said,  Allah 
preserve  thy  son  !  What  hath  befallen  him? — The  wife  of  the  Judge,  therefore,  related 
to  her  the  story.  And  upon  this  the  old  woman  said.  What  sayest  thou  of  him  who  will 
achieve  an  extraordinary  feat  by  which  thy  son  shall  be  preserved  ?  And  what  wouldst 
thou  do  ?  said  the  Judge's  wife.  The  old  woman  answered,  I  have  a  son  named 
Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief,  and  he  is  chained  in  the  prison,  and  on  his  chains 
are  engraved  the  words,  Appointed  to  remain  until  death.  Do  thou,  therefore,  attire 
thyself  in  the  most  magnificent  apparel  that  thou  hast,  and  adorn  thyself  in  the  best 
manner:  then  present  thyself  before  thy  husband  with  a  cheerful  and  smiling  coun- 


THE    STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  367 

tenance,  and  say  to  him,  When  a  man  requireth  aught  of  his  wife,  he  importuneth 
her  until  he  obtaineth  it  from  her;  but  if  the  wife  require  aught  of  her  husband,  he 
will  not  perform  it  for  her.  And  he  will  say  to  thee.  What  is  it  that  thou  wantest? 
And  do  thou  answer.  When  thou  hast  sworn,  I  will  tell  thee.  But  if  he  swear  to 
thee  by  his  head,  or  by  Allah,  say  to  him.  Swear  by  thy  divorce  from  me.  And 
when  he  hath  sworn  to  thee  by  divorce,  do  thou  say  to  him,  Thou  hast,  in  the  prison, 
a  Mukaddam  named  Ahmad  Kamakim,  and  he  hath  a  poor  mother,  who  hath  had 
recourse  to  me,  and  urged  me  to  conciliate  thee,  saying  to  me.  Induce  him  to  inter- 
cede for  my  son  with  the  Caliph,  that  my  son  may  repent,  and  thy  husband  will  be 
recompensed.     And  the  Judge's  wife  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

Accordingly,  when  the  Judge  came  to  his  wife,  she  addressed  him  with  the  words 
which  the  old  woman  had  dictated  ;  and  he  swore  to  her  by  the  oath  of  divorce. 
And  on  the  following  morning  he  performed  the  morning-prayers,  and,  going  to  the 
prison,  said,  0  Ahmad  Kamakim,  0  arch  thief,  wilt  thou  repent  of  thy  conduct? 
He  answered.  Verily  I  do  turn  unto  God  with  repentance,  and  forsake  my  sins,  and 
say  from  my  heart  and  with  my  tongue,  I  beg  forgiveness  of  God. — So  the  Judge  re- 
leased him  from  the  prison,  and  took  him  with  him  to  the  court,  still  in  his  chains. 
Then  advancing  towards  the  Caliph,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  whereupon 
the  Caliph  said  to  him,  0  Emir  Kaled,  what  dost  thou  desire?  And  he  led  forward 
Ahmad  Kamakim,  swinging  his  arms  in  the  chains  as  he  advanced,  before  the 
Caliph,  who,  on  seeing  him,  said,  0  Kamakim,  art  thou  still  alive? — 0  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  he  answered,  verily  the  life  of  the  wretch  is  protracted.  And  the  Caliph 
said,  0  Emir  Kaled,  for  what  purpose  hast  thou  brought  him  hither?  The  Judge 
answered  him,  Verily  he  hath  a  poor,  desolate  mother,  who  hath  no  son  but  him, 
and  she  hath  had  recourse  to  thy  slave,  that  he  should  intercede  with  thee,  0  Prince 
of  the  Faithful,  and  beg  thee  to  release  him  from  the  chains,  and  he  will  repent  of 
his  former  conduct ;  and  do  thou  appoint  him  head  of  the  watch,  as  he  was  at  first. 
Upon  this  the  Caliph  said  to  Ahmad  Kamakim,  Dost  thou  repent  of  thy  former  con- 
duct? And  he  answered  him,  I  do  turn  unto  God  with  repentance,  0  Prince  of 
the  Faithful.  And  the  Caliph  gave  orders  to  bring  the  blacksmith,  and  he  unfas- 
tened his  chains  upon  the  bench  of  the  washer  of  the  dead.  The  Caliph  then  ap- 
pointed him  again  head  of  the  watch,  and  charged  him  to  conduct  himself  well  and 
uprightly.  So  he  kissed  the  hands  of  the  Caliph,  and  descended  with  the  robe  of 
his  investiture  as  head  of  the  watch,  and  they  proclaimed  his  appointment. 

After  this,  when  he  had  remained  some  time  in  his  office,  his  mother  went  in  to 
the  wife  of  the  Judge,  and  the  latter  said  to  her,  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  released 
thy  son  from  the  prison,  and  that  he  is  at  present  in  health  and  safety  !  But  now, 
she  added,  why  dost  thou  not  tell  him  to  contrive  some  means  of  bringing  the  dam- 
sel Jasmin  to  my  son  Ilabazlam  Bazaza?— The  old  woman  answered,  I  will  tell  him. 
So  she  departed  from  her,  and  went  in  to  her  son,  whom  she  found  intoxicated  ;  and 
she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  no  one  was  the  cause  of  thy  release  from  the  prison  but 
the  wife  of  the  Judge,  and  she  desireth  of  thee  that  thou  contrive  some  means  of 
killing  Aladdin  Abushamat,  and  that  thou  bring  the  damsel  Jasmin  to  her  son  Ha- 
bazlam  Bazaza.  He  replied,  This  will  be  the  easiest  of  things.  I  must  contrive 
some  means  this  night.— Now  that  night  was  the  first  of  the  new  month,  and  it  was 
the  custom  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  to  pass  it  with  the  lady  Zobeide,  for  the 
purpose  of  emancipating  a  female  slave  or  a  mamlouk,  or  with  some  similiar  inten- 
tion. And  it  was  his  habit  to  take  off  the  royal  apparel,  and  to  leave  the  rosary  and 
the  dagger  and  the  royal  signet,  putting  them  all  upon  the  chair  in  the  sitting-room. 
The  Caliph  had  also  a  lamp  of  gold,  to  which  were  attached  three  jewels  disposed 
upon  a  gold  wire;  and  that  lamp  was  dear  in  his  estimation.  He  charged  the 
eunuchs  with  the  care  of  the  suit  of  apparel,  and  the  lamp,  and  the  rest  of  the 
things,  and  entered  the  private  apartment  of  the  lady  Zobeide.  Then  Ahmad  Ka- 
makim waited  until  the  night  was  half  spent,  and  Canopus  shone,  and  mankind 
Blept,  and  the  Creator  covered  them  with  the  curtain  of  darkness ;  when  he  drew 


368  THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT. 

his  sword  and  took  it  in  his  right  hand,  and  took  his  grappling  instrument  in  his 
left,  and,  approaching  the  Caliph's  sitting-room,  fixed  his  scaling-ladder.  He  threw 
his  grappling  instrument  upon  the  sitting-room,  and  it  caught  hold  upon  it,  and  he 
mounted  the  ladder,  ascended  to  the  roof,  lifted  up  the  trap-door  of  the  saloon,  and 
descended  into  it,  and  found  the  eunuchs  sleeping;  and  he  administered  some  bhang 
to  them,  took  the  Caliph's  suit  of  apparel,  with  the  rosary  and  the  dagger,  and  the 
handkerchief  and  the  signet,  and  the  lamp  that  was  adorned  with  jewels,  and  de- 
scended by  the  same  way  by  which  he  had  made  his  ascent.  He  then  repaired  to 
the  house  of  Aladdin  Abushamat,  who  was  this  night  occupied  with  the  damsel's 
wedding-festivities,  and  who  had  retired  to  her.  And  Ahmad  Kamakira  the  arch 
thief  descended  into  Aladdin's  saloon,  pulled  up  a  slab  of  marble  in  its  floor,  and, 
having  dug  a  hole  beneath  it,  deposite'd  there  some  of  the  things  that  he  had  stolen, 
retaining  the  rest  in  his  possession.  After  this,  he  cemented  the  marble  slab  with  ■ 
gypsum  as  it  was  before,  and  descended  by  the  way  he  had  ascended,  and  said 
within  himself,  I  will  sit  and  get  drunk,  and  put  the  lamp  before  me,  and  drink  the 
cup  by  its  light.     He  then  returned  to  his  house. 

Now  when  the  morning  came  the  Caliph  went  into  the  saloon  (his  sitting-room), 
and  found  the  eunuchs  stupified  with  bhang.  So  he  awoke  them,  and,  putting  his 
hand  upon  the  chair,  he  found  not  the  suit  of  apparel  nor  the  signet,  nor  the  rosary 
nor  the  dagger,  nor  the  handkerchief  nor  the  lamp:  whereupon  he  was  violently 
enraged,  and  put  on  the  apparel  of  anger,  which  was  a  suit  of  red,  and  seated  him- 
self in  the  council-chamber.  And  the  Vizier  advanced,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  said.  May  God  avert  evil  from  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  0  Vizier, 
replied  the  Caliph,  the  evil  is  enormous.  And  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  What  hath 
occurred  ?  The  Caliph  therefore  related  to  hin>  all  that  had  happened.  And,  lo, 
the  Judge  came  up,  with  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief  by  his  stirrup,  and  found 
the  Caliph  in  an  excessive  rage.  And  when  the  Caliph  saw  the  Judge  he  said  to 
him,  0  Emir  Kaled,  what  is  the  state  of  Bagdad  ?  He  answered.  Safe  and  secure. 
The  Caliph  replied.  Thou  liest. — How  so,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ?  said  the  Judge. 
And  the  Caliph  explained  to  him  the  affair,  and  said  to  him,  I  require  thee  to  bring 
to  me  all  those  things.  The  Judge  replied,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  worms  of 
the  vinegar  arc  of  it  and  in  it ;  and  a  stranger  can  never  obtain  access  to  this  place. 
But  the  Caliph  said,  If  thou  bring  me  not  these  things  I  will  put  thee  to  death.  So 
the  Judge  replied.  Before  thou  slay  me,  slay  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief;  for 
none  knoweth  the  robber  and  the  traitor  but  the  chief  of  the  watch.  And  upon 
this,  Ahmad  Kamakim  said  to  the  Caliph,  Accept  my  intercession  for  the  Judge, 
and  1  will  be  responsible  to  thee  for  the  thief,  and  I  will  trace  him  until  I  discover 
him  ;  but  give  me  two  persons  on  the  part  of  the  Cadi,  and  two  on  the  part  of  the 
Judge;  for  he  who  did  this  deed  feareth  not  thee,  nor  doth  he  fear  the  Judge  nor 
any  one  else.  And  the  Caliph  replied,  Thou  shalt  have  what  thou  hast  desired;  but 
the  search  shall  be  first  made  in  my  palace,  and  then  in  the  palace  of  the  Vizier, 
and  in  that  of  the  Reis-el-sittein. — Thou  hast  spoken  rightly,  0  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, said  Ahmad  Kamakim  ;  probably  he  who  did  this  deed  is  one  who  hath  been 
brought  up  in  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  or  in  the  palace  of  one  of 
his  chief  oflicers.  And  the  Caliph  said.  By  my  head,  whosoever  shall  appear  to 
have  done  this  deed  shall  surely  be  slain,  though  he  be  my  son  ! 

Then  Ahmad  Kamakim  took  what  he  desired,  and  received  a  written  order  au- 
thorizing him  to  force  his  entrance  into  the  houses,  and  to  search  them.  Accord- 
ingly he  went  down,  having  in  his  hand  a  rod,  one-third  of  which  was  of  bronze, 
and  one-third  of  copper,  and  one-third  of  iron  ;  and  he  searched  the  palace  of  the 
Caliph,  and  that  of  the  vizier  Giafar,  and  went  about  to  the  houses  of  the  chamber- 
lains and  lieutenants,  until  he  passed  by  the  house  of  Aladdin  Abushamat.  And 
when  Aladdin  heard  the  clamour  before  his  house,  he  arose  from  the  presence  of 
Jasmin  his  wife,  and  descending,  opened  the  door;  whereupon  he  found  the  Judge 
in  the  midst  of  a  tumult.     So  he  said  to  him,  What  is  the  matter,  0  Emir  Kalod2 


STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  369 

The  Judge  therefore  related  to  him  the  whole  affair;  and  Aladdin  said,  Enter  my 
house  and  search  it.  The  Judge  replied,  Pardon,  0  my  master:  thou  art  surnamed 
Faithful :  and  God  forbid  that  the  Faithful  should  become  treacherous.  But  Aladdin 
said,  My  house  must  be  searched.  The  Judge  therefore  entered,  and  the  Cadies  and 
the  witnesses ;  and  Ahmad  Kamakim,  advancing  to  the  floor  of  the  saloon,  came  to 
the  slab  of  marble  beneath  which  he  had  buried  the  stolen  things  ;  when  he  let  fall 
the  rod  upon  the  slab  with  violence,  and  the  marble  broke,  and  lo,  something  shone 
beneath  it;  whereupon  the  Chief  exclaimed.  In  the  name  of  Allah!  Wonderful  is 
Allah's  will!  Through  the  blessing  attendant  upon  our  coming,  a  treasure  hath 
opened  unto  us !  Let  me  descend  into  this  hoarding  place,  and  see  what  is  in  it. — 
And  the  Cadi  and  witnesses  looked  into  this  place,  and  found  the  stolen  things.  So 
they  wrote  a  paper  stating  that  they  had  found  the  things  in  the  house  of  Aladdin, 
and,  after  they  had  put  their  seals  upon  the  paper,  commanded  to  seize  Aladdin: 
and  they  took  his  turban  from  his  head,  and  registered  all  his  wealth  and  property. 

Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief  then  seized  the  damsel  Jasmin,  and  gave  her  to 
his  mother,  saying  to  her.  Deliver  her  to  Katoun,  the  wife  of  the  Judge.  The  old 
woman  therefore  took  Jasmin,  and  went  in  with  her  to  the  Judge's  wife ;  and  when 
Habazlam  Bazaza  saw  her,  vigour  returned  to  him,  and  he  arose,  instantly,  rejoicing 
excessively,  and  approached  her.  But  she  drew  a  dagger  from  her  girdle,  and  said 
to  him,  Retire  from  me,  or  I  will  kill  thee  and  kill  myself!  His  mother  Katoun  ex- 
claimed, 0  impudent  wench,  suffer  my  son  to  take  thee  as  his  wife!  0  brutish 
woman,  said  Jasmin,  by  what  code  is  it  allowed  a  woman  to  marry  two  husbands: 
and  what  shall  admit  the  dogs  to  the  abode  of  the  lions  ?  So  the  young  man's  desire 
increased,  passion  and  distraction  enfeebled  him,  and  he  again  relinquished  food, 
and  took  to  the  pillow.  The  wife  of  the  Judge  said  to  Jasmin,  0  impudent  wench, 
how  is  it  that  thou  causest  me  to  sorrow  for  my  son  ?  Thou  shalt  surely  be  punished, 
and  as  to  Aladdin,  he  will  inevitably  be  hanged. — But  Jasmin  replied,  I  will  die  in 
my  love  for  him.  And  upon  this,  the  wife  of  the  Judge  arose,  and  pulled  off  from 
her  the  ornaments  and  silken  apparel  that  were  upon  her,  and,  having  clad  her  in 
drawers  of  canvas  and  a  shirt  of  hair-cloth,  sent  her  down  into  the  kitchen,  and 
made  her  one  of  the  menial  slave-girls,  and  said  to  her.  Thy  recompense  shall  be 
that  thou  break  up  the  wood  and  peel  the  onions  and  put  the  fire  under  the  cooking- 
pots.  Jasmin  replied.  I  will  consent  to  every  kind  of  torment,  but  I  will  not  con- 
sent to  see  thy  son.  God,  however,  moved  the  hearts  of  the  female  slaves  with 
sympathy  for  her,  and  they  worked  in  her  stead  in  the  kitchen. — Such  was  the  case 
of  Jasmin. 

As  to  Aladdin,  they  took  him,  together  with  the  articles  belonging  to  the  Caliph, 
and  proceeded  with  him  until  they  arrived  at  the  council-chamber ;  and  while  the 
Caliph  was  sitting  upon  the  throne,  lo,  they  came  up  with  Aladdin  and  the  stolen 
things,  and  the  Caliph  said.  Where  did  ye  find  them?  They  answered  him.  In  the 
midst  of  the  house  of  Aladdin  Abushamat.  And  upon  this  the  Caliph  was  enraged, 
and  he  took  the  things,  but  found  not  among  them  the  lamp:  so  he  said,  0  Aladdin, 
where  is  the  lamp?  He  answered,  I  have'  not  stolen  nor  known  nor  seen,  nor  have 
1  any  information.  But  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  0  traitor,  how  is  it  that  I  draw 
thee  near  unto  me  and  thou  rejectest  me,  and  that  I  confide  in  thee  and  thou  actest 
towards  me  with  treachery?  And  he  gave  orders  to  hang  him.  The  Judge  there- 
fore descended  with  him,  and  the  crier  proclaimed  before  him.  This  is  the  recom- 
pense, and  the  smallest  recompense,  of  him  who  acteth  treacherously  towards  the 
orthodox  Caliphs  !     And  the  populace  collected  at  the  gallows. 

Meanwhile,  Ahmad  El-Denef,  the  chief  of  Aladdin,  was  sitting  with  his  followers 
in  a  garden.  And  as  they  were  seated  there  in  joy  and  happiness,  lo,  a  water-car- 
rier, one  of  those  belonging  to  the  court,  came  in  to  them,  and,  kissing  the  hand  of 
Ahmad  El-Denef,  said,  0  my  master  Ahmad,  0  Denef,  thou  art  sitting  in  enjoyment, 
with  the  water  running  beneath  thy  feet,  and  hast  thou  no  knowledge  of  that  which 
hath  happened?  So  Ahmad  El-Denef  said  to  him.  What  is  the  news?  The  water- 
24 


370  THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT. 

carrier  answered,  Verily  thy  son  by  a  covenant  before  God,  Aladdin,  they  have 
taken  down  to  the  gallows.  Upon  this  Ahmad  El-Denef  said,  What  stratagem  hast 
thou  to  propose,  0  Hassan,  0  Shuman  ?  He  answered.  Verily,  Aladdin  is  innocent, 
and  this  is  a  plot  that  hath  been  practised  against  him  by  some  enemy. — And  what 
is  thy  advice?  said  Ahmad  El-Denef.  —  His  deliverance,  he  answered,  shall  be  ac- 
complished by  ns,  if  the  Lord  will.  Then  Hassan  Shuman  repaired  to  the  prison, 
and  said  to  the  jailer.  Give  us  some  one  who  is  deserving  of  being  put  to  death. 
And  he  gave  him  one  who  was  the  nearest  of  men  in  resemblance  to  Aladdin 
Abushamat.  And  he  covered  his  head,  and  Ahmad  El-Denef  took  him  between  him 
and  AH  E!-Zebak  of  Cairo.  They  had  then  brought  forward  Aladdin  to  hang  him  ; 
and  Ahmad  El-Denef  advanced,  and  put  his  foot  upon  the  foot  of  the  executioner. 
The  latter  therefore  said  to  him,  Give  me  room,  that  I  may  perform  my  office. — And 
Ahmad  El  Denef  replied,  0  accursed,  take  this  man,  and  hang  him  in  the  place  of 
Aladdin  Abushamat;  for  he  is  unjustly  accused,  and  we  will  ransom  Ishmael  with 
the  ram.     So  the  executioner  took  that  man,  and  hanged  him  instead  of  Aladdin. 

Then  Ahmad  El-Denef  and  Ali  El-Zebak  of  Cairo  took  Aladdin  and  repaired  with 
him  to  the  saloon  of  Ahmad  El-Denef,  and  Aladdin  said  to  Ahmad,  May  God  recom- 
pense thee  well,  0  my  chief.  But  Ahmad  El-Denef  said,  0  Aladdin,  what  is  this 
deed  that  thou  hast  committed?  God  have  mercy  upon  him  who  hath  said.  Whoso 
confideth  in  thee,  act  not  treacherously  towards  him,  though  thou  be  a  traitor.  The 
Caliph  established  thee  in  his  court,  and  surnamed  thee  the  Trusty  and  the  Faithful. 
How  then  couldst  thou  act  towards  him  in  this  manner,  and  take  his  goods?  Aladdin 
replied.  By  the  Most  Great  Name,  0  my  chief  it  was  not  my  deed  :  I  am  not  guilty 
of  it:  nor  do  I  know  who  did  it.  So  Ahmad  El-Denef  said.  Verily  none  committed 
this  deed  except  a  manifest  enemy,  and  he  who  committeth  a  deed  will  be  requited 
for  it:  but  0  Aladdin,  thou  canst  no  longer  reside  in  Bagdad  ;  for  Kings  do  not  re- 
linquish one  oV)ject  for  another,  and  great  is  the  fatigue  of  him  of  whom  they  are  in 
quest.  Whither  shall  I  go,  0  my  chief?  said  Aladdin. — I  will  conduct  thee,  an- 
swered Ahmad  El-Denef,  to  Alexandria;  for  it  is  a  blessed  place,  and  its  threshold 
is  green,  and  life  there  is  agreeable.  To  this  Aladdin  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0 
my  chief  And  Ahmad  El-Denef  said  to  Hassan  Shuman,  Be  mindful,  and  if  the 
Caliph  inquire  respecting  me,  answer,  He  is  gone  to  make  a  circuit  through  the 
provinces. 

He  then  took  Aladdin,  and  went  forth  from  Bagdad,  and  they  proceeded  without 
stopping  until  they  arrived  at  the  vineyards  and  gardens,  where  they  found  two 
Jews,  of  the  Caliph's  collectors  of  the  revenue,  mounted  on  two  mules ;  and  Ahmad 
El-Denef  said  to  them,  Give  me  the  fee  for  watching. — On  what  account,  said  they, 
shall  we  give  thee  the  fee  for  watching?  He  answered  them,  I  am  the  watchman  of 
this  valley.  And  upon  this,  each  of  them  gave  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  After 
which  Ahmad  El-Denef  slew  them,  and  having  taken  the  two  mules,  he  mounted 
one  of  them,  and  Aladdin  mounted  the  other,  and  they  proceeded  to  the  city  of  Ayas 
There  they  put  the  mules  in  a  Khan,  and  passed  the  night  in  it;  and  when  the 
morning  came,  Aladdin  sold  his  mule,  and  charged  the  doorkeeper  with  the  care  of 
the  mule  of  Ahmad  El-Denef.  Then  embarking  in  a  ship  in  the  harbour  of  Ayas,  they 
proceeded  to  Alexandria.  And  Ahmad  El-Denef  landed  with  Aladdin,  and  they 
walked  to  the  market ;  and  lo,  a  broker  was  crying  for  sale  a  shop,  within  which 
was  a  suit  of  rooms,  announcing  the  sum  bidden  to  be  nine  hundred  and  fifty;  where- 
upon Aladdin  said.  Let  them  be  mine  for  a  thousand.  And  the  seller  assented  to 
his  offer  for  the  property,  which  belonged  to  the  government-treasury;  and  Aladdin 
received  the  keys,  and,  opening  the  shop  and  suit  of  rooms,  found  the  latter  spread 
with  carpets,  &c.,  and  furnished  with  cushions.  He  saw  there  also  a  magazine  con- 
taining sails  and  masts  and  ropes  and  chests,  and  leather  bags  full  of  beads  and 
shells,  and  stirrups  and  battle-axes,  and  maces,  and  knives  and  scissors,  and  other 
things;  for  its  owner  was  a  dealer  in  second-hand  goods.  So  Aladdin  seated  him- 
self in  the  shop,  and  Ahmad  El-Denef  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  the  shop  and  the  suite 


THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  371 

of  rooms  aud  what  they  contain  have  become  thy  property  :  sit  therefore  in  the  shop, 
and  sell  and  buy;  and  be  not  displeased;  for  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath 
blessed  commerce.  And  he  remained  with  him  three  days,  and  on  the  fourth  day  he 
took  leave  of  him,  saying  to  him,  Continue  in  this  place  until  I  shall  have  gone  and 
returned  to  thee  with  news  of  thy  safety  from  the  Caliph,  and  seen  who  hath  practised 
this  plot  against  thee.  He  then  set  forth  on  his  voyage,  and  proceeded  until  he 
arrived  at  Ayas,  when  he  took  the  mule  from  the  Khan,  and  went  on  to  Bagdad,  and, 
meeting  with  Hassan  Shuman  and  his  followers,  he  said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  hath  the 
Caliph  inquired  respecting  me? — No,  answered  Hassan;  nor  hast  thou  occurred  to 
his  mind. 

After  this,  Ahmad  El- Denef  continued  in  the  service  of  the  Caliph,  and  endeavoured 
to  learn  news  [respecting  the  case  of  Aladdin].  And  he  saw  the  Caliph  look  towards 
the  A^'izier  Giafar  one  day,  saying  to  him.  See,  O  Vizier,  how  Aladdin  hath  acted 
towards  me.  The  Vizier  replied,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  thou  hath  recompensed 
him  with  hanging,  and  hath  not  his  recompense  been  accomplished  upon  him?  —  0 
Vizier,  rejoined  the  Caliph,  I  desire  to  go  down  and  see  him  hanging.  And  the 
Vizier  said.  Do  as  thou  wilt,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  So  the  Caliph  went  down, 
accompanied  by  the  Vizier  Giafar,  and  proceeded  to  the  gallows,  and  raising  his 
eyes,  he  saw  that  the  body  which  was  hanging  there  was  not  that  of  Aladdin,  the 
Trusty  and  the  Faithful.  He  said,  therefore,  O  Vizier,  this  is  not  Aladdin. —  How 
knowest  thou,  said  the  Vizier,  that  it  is  not  he?  The  Caliph  answered,  Aladdin  was 
short,  and  this  is  tall.  The  Vizier  replied,  a  person  when  hanged  becomes 
lengthened.  The  Caliph  then  said,  Aladdin  was  fair,  and  the  face  of  this  person  is 
black.  But  the  Vizier  replied,  Knowest  thou  not,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that 
death  is  followed  by  blackness  ?  And  the  Caliph  gave  orders  to  take  down  the  body 
from  the  gallows ;  and  when  they  had  done  so,  he  found  written  upon  the  heels  of 
the  corpse  the  names  of  the  first  two  Caliphs  ;'  whereupon  he  said,  0  Vizier,  Aladdin 
was  a  Sunnee,  and  this  was  a  Heretic.  So  the  Vizier  replied.  Extolled  be  the  per- 
fection of  God,  who  is  omniscient  with  respect  to  the  things  that  are  hidden  from 
the  senses!  We  know  not  whether  this  be  Aladdin  or  some  other  person.  The 
Caliph  then  gave  orders  to  bury  the  body,  and  they  buried  it ;  and  Aladdin  became 
utterly  forgotten. 

Now  as  to  Habazlam  Bazaza,  the  son  of  the  Judge,  his  passion  and  desire  were 
protracted  until  he  died;  and  they  interred  him.  And  as  to  the  damsel  Jasmin, 
when  she  had  accomplished  her  time  of  nine  months  after  her  marriage  to  Aladdin, 
she  gave  birth  to  a  male  child,  like  the  moon.  The  female  slaves  said  to  her,  What 
wilt  thou  name  him  ?  And  she  answered,  Were  his  fether  living  he  had  named  him, 
but  I  will  name  him  Asian.  She  nursed  him  two  successive  years,  and  weaned  him ; 
and  he  crawled  and  walked.  And  it  happened  that  his  mother  was  occupied  with 
the  service  of  the  kitchen  one  day,  and  the  boy  walked  forth,  and  seeing  the  stairs 
of  the  upper  rooms,  he  went  up  them.  The  Emir  Kaled,  the  Judge,  was  sitting 
there;  and  he  took  him,  and  seated  him  upon  his  lap,  extolling  the  perfection  of  his 
Lord  in  respect  of  that  which  He  had  created  and  formed  ;  and  he  looked  at  his  face, 
and  saw  he  was  the  nearest  of  beings  in  resemblance  to  Aladdin  Abushamat.  Then 
his  mother  Jasmin  searched  for  him,  but  found  him  not;  so  she  went  up  into  the 
upper  room,  and  beheld  the  Emir  Kaled  sitting  with  the  child  playing  in  his  lap; 
God  having  instilled  an  affection  for  the  boy  into  the  heart  of  the  Emir.  And  the 
child  looked  aside,  and,  seeing  his  mother,  would  have  thrown  himself  upon  her ; 
but  the  Emir  Kaled  held  him  tightly  in  his  lap,  and  said  to  his  mother.  Come  hither, 
0  slave-girl.  And  when  she  had  come,  he  said  to  her.  Whose  son  is  this  child?  She 
answered  him,  This  is  my  son,  and  the  darling  of  my  heart. — And  who,  said  he,  is 
his  father?  She  answered,  his  father  was  Aladdin  Abushamat;  but  now  he  hath 
become  thy  son.     The  Emir  replied,  Aladdin  was  a  traitor.     But  she  said,  Allah 

'  The  Shiaks,  who  were  considered  as  Heretics  by  the  Sunnees,  are  said  to  write  the  names  of 
the  first  Caliphs  under  their  feet,  that  they  may  be  trodden  upon,  in  token  of  detestation. 


372  THE   STORY    OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT. 

preserve  him  from  the  imputation  of  treachery  !  AUah  forbid  that  it  should  ever  be 
sa'id  that  the  Faithful  was  a  traitor!  And  he  said  to  her,  When  this  boy  groweth 
up,  and  saith  to  thee,  Who  is  my  father? — do  thou  ansvrer  him,  Thou  art  the  son  of 
the  Emir  Kaled,  the  Judge,  the  Chief  of  the  Police.  So  she  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey. — Then  the  Emir  Kaled  circumcised  the  boy,  and  educated  him  carefully,  and 
brought  him  a  professor  of  religion  and  law,  skilled  in  caligraphy,  who  taught  him 
the  arts  of  writing  and  reading ;  and  he  read  the  Koran  the  first  and  the  second 
times,  and  recited  the  whole  of  it ;  and  as.  he  grew  up  he  used  to  say  to  the  Emir 
Kaled,  0  my  father.  The  Judge  also  used  to  exercise  his  followers  in  the  horse- 
course,  collect  the  horsemen,  and  descend  and  teach  the  youth  the  different  modes 
of  battle,  and  thrusting  and  striking,  until  he  became  accomplished  in  horseman- 
ship, acquired  courage,  attained  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  and  gained  the  rank  of 
an  Emir. 

After  this  it  happened  that  Asian  met  one  day  with  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch 
thief,  and  they  became  companions.  And  Asian  followed  him  to  the  tavern,  and  lo, 
Ahmad  Kamakim  took  forth  the  lamp  ornamented  with  jewels,  which  he  had  taken 
from  the  things  belonging  to  the  Caliph,  and,  placing  it  before  him,  drank  the  cup 
by  its  light,  and  intoxicated  himself;  and  Asian  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  give  me 
this  lamp.  He  replied,  I  cannot  give  it  thee. — Why  so?  said  Asian.  He  answered, 
Because  lives  have  been  lost  on  account  of  it?  Asian  therefore  said.  What  life  hath 
been  lost  on  account  of  it?  And  Ahmad  Kamakim  answered  him,  There  was  a 
pecson  who  came  to  us  here  and  was  made  Reis-el-sittein,  named  Aladdin  Abusha- 
mat,  and  he  died  on  account  of  this  lamp — And  what  is  his  story  ?  said  Asian,  and 
what  was  the  cause  of  his  death  ?  Thou  hadst  a  brother,  answered  Ahmad  Kama- 
kim, named  Habazlam  Bazaza ;  and  when  he  attained  a  fit  age  for  marriage,  his 
father  desired  to  purchase  for  him  a  slave-girl. — Then  Ahmad  Kamakim  proceeded, 
and  acquainted  him  with  the  story  from  beginning  to  end,  informing  him  of  the  ill- 
ness of  Habazlam  Bazaza,  and  of  the  unmerited  fixte  of  Aladdin.  So  Asian  said 
within  himself,  Probably  that  damsel  is  Jasmin,  my  mother,  and  none  was  my  father 
but  Aladdin  Abushamat.  And  the  youth  Asian  went  forth  from  him  sorrowful,  and 
he  met  Ahmad  El-Denef,  who,  when  he  saw  him,  exclaimed.  Extolled  be  the  perfec- 
tion of  Him  unto  whom  none  is  like!  Upon  this,  Hassan  Shuman  (being  with  him) 
said  to  him,  O  my  chief,  at  what  dost  thou  wonder  ?  He  answered.  At  the  form  of 
this  youth  Asian  ;  for  he  is  the  nearest  of  mankind  in  resemblance  to  Aladdin 
Abushamat.  And  he  called  him,  saying,  0  Asian  !  And  Asian  having  answered 
him,  he  said.  What  is  the  name  of  thy  mother?  He  answered,  She  is  named  the 
slave-girl  Jasmin.  So  Ahmad  El-Denef  said  to  him,  0  Asian,  be  of  good  heart  and 
cheerful  eye  ;  for  none  was  thy  father  but  Aladdin  Abushamat :  but,  0  my  son,  go 
into  thy  mother  and  ask  her  respecting  thy  father.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey.  Accordingly  he  went  into  his  mother  and  asked  her,  and  she  answered  him, 
Thy  father  is  the  Emir  Kaled.  But  he  replied,  None  was  my  father  but  Aladdin 
Abushamat.  And  his  mother  wept,  and  said  to  him,  Who  acquainted  thee  with  this, 
0  my  son?  He  answered.  The  Chief  Ahmad  El-Denef.  She  therefore  related  to 
him  all  that  had  happened,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  the  truth  hath  appeared, 
and  falsity  is  withdrawn  ;  and  know  that  thy  father  was  Aladdin  Abushamat. 
None,  however,  reared  thee  but  the  Emir  Kaled,  and  he  adopted  thee.  And  now, 
0  my  sfrti,  when  thou  meetest  with  Ahmad  El-Denef,  say  to  him,  0  my  chief,  I  con- 
jure thee  by  Allah  that  thou  take  my  revenge  for  me  upon  him  who  killed  my  fother, 
Aladdin  Abushamat. 

So  he  went  forth  from  her  to  Ahmad  El-Denef,  and  kissed  his  hand  ;  and  Ahmad 
El-Denef  said,  What  dost  thou  want,  0  Asian?  He  answered,  I  have  known  of  a 
certainty  that  my  father  was  Aladdin  Abushamat,  and  I  request  of  thee  that  thou 
take  my  revenge  for  me  upon  him  who  killed  him.  Ahmad  El-Denef  said.  Who 
killed  thy  father?  And  Asian  answered  him,  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief. — 
And  who,  said  Ahmad  El-Denef,  acquainted  thee  with   this?     The  youth  answered. 


Asian  Meeting  Ahmad   Kamakim  the  Thief.     (Page  872.) 

373 


THE    STOKY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  375 

I  saw  in  his  possession  the  lamp  ornamented  with  jewels  that  was  lost  with  thfl 
other  things  belonging  to  the  Caliph,  and  I  said  to  him,  Give  me  this  lamp: — but  he 
would  not;  and  he  replied,  Lives  have  been  lost  on  account  of  this.  lie  told  me  also 
that  he  was  the  person  who  descended  into  the  chamber  of  the  Caliph  and  stole  the 
things,  and  that  he  deposited  them  in  the  house  of  my  father. — Upon  this  Ahmad 
El-Denef  said  to  him,  When  thou  seest  the  Emir  Kaled  attiring  himself  in  the  ap- 
parel of  war,  say  to  him,  Clothe  me  like  thyself.  And  when  thou  goest  up  with 
him,  and  performest  some  feat  of  valour  before  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the 
Caliph  will  say  to  thee.  Request  of  me  what  thou  desirest,  0  Asian.  Thou  shalt 
then  reply,  I  request  of  thee  that  thou  avenge  my  father  for  me  upon  him  who 
killed  him.  The  Caliph  thereupon  will  say  to  thee,  Thy  father  is  living,  and  he  is 
the  Emir  Kaled  the  Judge.  And  thou  shalt  repl}',  Verily  my  father  was  Aladdin 
Abushamat;  and  Kaled  the  Judge  hath  a  claim  upon  me  only  for  his  having  reared 
me.  Acquaint  him  also  with  all  that  hath  happened  between  thee  and  Ahmad  Ka- 
makim  the  arch  thief;  and  say  to  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  give  orders  to 
search  him,  and  I  will  produce  the  lamp  from  his  pocket. — So  Asian  replied,  I  hear 
end  obey. 

He  then  went  forth,  and  found  the  Emir  Kaled  preparing  himself  to  go  up  to  the 
court  of  the  Caliph,  and  he  said  to  him,  I  would  that  thou  clothe  me  with  the  ap- 
parel of  war  like  thyself,  and  take  me  with  thee  to  the  Caliph's  court.  And  he  clad 
him,  and  took  him  to  the  court.  The  Caliph  then  went  down  with  the  troops,  with- 
out the  city,  and  they  pitched  the  pavilions  and  tents,  and  the  ranks  were  formed, 
and  they  proceeded  to  play  with  the  ball  and  the  go£F-stick,  one  of  the  horsemen 
striking  the  ball  wMth  the  goff-stick  and  another  striking  it  back  to  him.  Now  there 
was  among  the  troops  a  spy,  who  had  been  incited  to  kill  the  Caliph  ;  and  he  took 
the  ball  and  struck  it  with  the  goff-stick,  aiming  it  at  the  face  of  the  Caliph.  But 
lo,  Asian  warded  it  off  from  the  Caliph,  and  smote  with  it  him  who  had  impelled  it, 
and  it  struck  him  between  the  shoulders;  whereupon  he  fell  on  the  ground;  and  the 
Caliph  exclaimed,  God  bless  thee,  0  Asian  I  They  then  alighted  from  the  backs  of 
their  horses,  and  seated  themselves  upon  the  chairs,  and  the  Caliph  gave  orders  to 
bring  the  man  who  had  struck  the  ball  at  him.  And  when  he  was  brought  before 
him,  he  said  to  him,  Who  incited  thee  to  do  this  deed  ;  and  art  thou  an  enemy  or  a 
friend?  He  answered,  I  am  an  enemy,  and  I  was  purposing  to  kill  thee. — For  what 
reason  ?  said  the  Caliph.  Art  thou  not  a  Mahometan  ? — No,  he  answered  ;  but  I  am 
a  Heretic.     So  the  Caliph  gave  the  order  to  put  him  to  death. 

And  he  said  to  Asian,  Request  of  me  what  thou  desirest.  He  therefore  replied,  I 
request  of  thee  that  thou  avenge  my  father  for  me  upon  him  who  killed  him.  The 
Caliph  said  to  him.  Thy  father  is  living,  and  he  is  standing  upon  his  feet. — 
"Who  is  my  father?  said  Asian.  The  Caliph  answered  him,  the  Emir  Kaled,  the 
Judge. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  replied  Asian,  he  is  not  my  father  save  in  having 
reared  me  ;  and  none  was  my  father  but  Aladdin  Abushamat.  The  Caliph  said. 
Thy  father  was  a  traitor.  But  Asian  replied,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  God  forbid 
it  should  be  said  that  the  Faithful  was  a  traitor!  And  in  what,  said  he,  did  he  act 
treacherously  towards  thee !  The  Caliph  answered.  He  stole  my  suit  of  apparel,  and 
the  things  that  were  with  it. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  replied  Asian,  God  forbid  it 
should  be  said  that  my  fother  was  a  traitor!  But  O  my  lord,  he  added,  when  thy 
suit  of  apparel  was  lost  and  returned  to  thee,  didst  thou  see  the  lamp  brought  back 
to  thee  also? — The  Caliph  answered,  We  found  it  not.  Then  said  Asian,  I  saw  it 
in  the  possession  of  Ahmad  Kamakim,  and  begged  it  of  him  ;  but  he  would  not 
give  it  me ;  and  he  said.  Lives  have  been  lost  on  account  of  this.  And  he  told  me 
of  the  illness  of  Habazlam  Bazaza,  the  son  of  the  Emir  Kaled,  and  his  passion  for 
the  damsel  Jasmin,  and  his  own  release  from  the  chains,  and  informed  me  that  he 
was  the  person  who  stole  the  suit  of  apparel,  and  the  lamp.  Do  thou,  therefore,  0 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  avenge  my  father  for  me  upon  him  who  killed  him. — So  the 
Caliph  said.  Seize  Ahmad  Kamakim.     And  they  did  so.     And  he  said,  Where  is 


376  THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT, 

the  chief  Ahmad  El-Denef  ?  He  therefore  came  before  him  ;  and  the  Caliph  said  to 
him,  Search  Kamakim.  And  he  put  his  hands  into  his  pocket,  and  took  forth  from 
it  the  lamp  ornamented  with  jewels:  whereupon  the  Caliph  said,  Come  hither,  0 
traitor.  Whence  came  to  thee  this  lamp  ? — He  answered  I  bought  it,  0  Prince  of 
the  Faithful.  But  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  Whence  didst  thou  buy  it ;  and  who  could 
possess  himself  of  such  a  thing,  that  he  should  sell  it  to  thee  ?  They  then  beat 
him  ;  and  he  confessed  that  he  was  the  person  who  stole  the  suit  of  apparel  and  the 
lamp.  And  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  Wherefore  didst  thou  these  deeds,  to  destroy 
Aladdin  Abushamat,  who  was  the  Trusty  and  Faithful  ?  And  he  commanded  to 
seize  him,  and  the  Judge  also.  But  the  Judge  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  am 
injured.  Thou  gavest  me  the  order  to  hang  him,  and  I  had  no  knowledge  of  this 
plot;  for  the  thing  was  contrived  by  the  old  woman  and  Ahmad  Kamakim  and 
my  wife,  and  I  had  no  information  of  it.  I  implore  thy  protection,  0  Asian ! — So 
Asian  interceded  for  him  with  the  Caliph.  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful  then  said, 
What  hath  God  done  with  the  mother  of  this  youth?  The  Judge  answered.  She  is 
in  my  house.  And  the  Caliph  said,  I  command  that  thou  order  thy  wife  to  attire 
her  in  her  apparel  and  ornaments,  and  to  restore  her  to  her  rank  of  a  lady,  and  that 
thou  take  off  the  seals  that  are  upon  the  house  of  Aladdin,  and  give  to  his  son  his 
possessions  and  wealth.  The  Judge  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  descended, 
and  gave  the  orders  to  his  wife,  who  attired  Jasmin  in  her  apparel  ;  and  he  took  off 
the  seals  from  the  house  of  Aladdin,  and  gave  Asian  the  keys. 

The  Caliph  then  said,  Request  of  me  what  thou  desirest,  0  Asian.  Asian  replied, 
I  request  that  thou  unite  me  with  my  father.  And  the  Caliph  wept,  and  said.  It  is 
most  probable  that  thy  father  was  the  person  who  was  hanged,  and  died  ;  but,  by 
my  ancestors,  whosoever  bringeth  me  the  good  news  of  his  being  alive,  I  will  give 
him  all  that  he  shall  require.  So  upon  this,  Ahmad  El-Denef  advanced,  and  having 
kissed  the  ground  before  him,  said  to  him.  Grant  me  indemnity,  0  Prince  of  the 
Faithful.  The  Caliph  replied,  Thou  hast  indemnity.  And  Ahmad  El-Denef  said,  1 
give  thee  the  good  news  that  Aladdin  Abushamat,  the  Trusty  and  Faithful,  is  well, 
and  still  living.  The  Caliph  then  said  to  him.  What  is  it  thou  assertest?  He  an- 
swered. By  thy  head,  my  words  are  true ;  for  I  ransomed  him  by  substituting 
another,  from  among  such  as  deserved  to  be  put  to  death,  and  conducted  him  to 
Alexandria,  where  I  opened  for  him  a  shop  of  a  dealer  in  second-hand  goods.  So 
the  Caliph  said,  I  require  thee  to  bring  him.  He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And 
the  Caliph  commanded  to  give  him  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  he  departed  on 
his  way  to  Alexandria. 

But  as  to  Aladdin  Abushamat,  he  sold  all  that  he  had  in  the  shop,  excepting  a 
few  articles,  and  a  leathern  bag.  And  he  shook  this  bag,  and  there  dropped  from 
it  a  bead  large  enough  to  fill  the  hand,  attached  to  a  chain  of  gold,  and  having  five 
faces,  whereon  were  names  and  talismans  like  the  tracks  made  by  the  creeping  of 
ants.  And  he  rubbed  the  five  faces  ;  but  no  one  answered  him.  So  he  said  within 
himself.  Probably  it  is  a  bead  of  onyx.  He  then  hung  it  up  in  the  shop.  And  lo, 
a  Consul  passed  along  the  street,  and,  raising  his  eyes,  saw  the  bead  hung  up ; 
whereupon  he  seated  himself  at  Aladdin's  shop,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  is 
this  bead  for  sale?  Aladdin  answered  him.  All  that  I  have  is  for  sale.  And  the 
Consul  said  to  him  Wilt  thou  sell  it  to  me  for  eighty  thousand  pieces  of  gold? 
Aladdin  answered,  May  God  open  a  better  way  to  dispose  of  it.  The  Consul  then 
said.  Wilt  thou  sell  it  for  a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ?  And  he  answered,  I 
sell  it  thee  for  a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold  :  so  pay  me  the  coin.  But  the 
Consul  replied,  I  cannot  carry  the  sum;  and  in  Alexandria  are  robbers  and 
sharpers:  do  thou  therefore  come  with  me  to  my  ship,  and  I  will  give  thee  the  price, 
together  with  a  bale  of  Angora  wool,  and  a  bale  of  satin,  and  a  bale  of  velvet,  and 
a  bale  of  broad-cloth.  So  Aladdin  arose,  and  closed  the  shop,  after  he  had  deli- 
vered to  him  the  bead  ;  and  he  gave  the  keys  to  his  neighbour,  saying  to  him,  Keep 
these  keys  in  thy  charge  while  I  go  to  the  ship  with  this  Consul  and  bring  the  price 


THE    STORY    OF    ALADDIN    ABUSHAMAT.  377 

of  my  bead:  but  if  I  remain  long  away  from  thee,  and  the  chief  Ahmad  El-Denef 
who  established  me  in  this  place  come  to  thee,  give  him  the  keys,  and  acquaint  him 
with  this  circumstance. 

He  then  repaired  with  the  Consul  to  the  ship :  and  when  he  went  on  board  with 
him,  the  Consul  put  him  a  chair,  and  seated  him  upon  it,  and  said.  Bring  the  money. 
And  having  paid  him  the  price,  and  given  him  the  four  bales  which  he  had  promised 
him,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  I  desire  that  thou  refresh  my  heart  by  taking  a 
mouthful  of  food,  or  a  draught  of  water.  Aladdin  replied.  If  thou  have  water,  give 
me  to  drink.  And  the  Consul  gave  orders  to  bring  sherbet ;  and  there  was  bhang  in 
it.  So  when  he  had  drunk,  he  fell  down  on  his  back.  And  they  took  away  the 
chairs,  and  put  by  the  poles,  and  loosed  the  sails,  and  the  wind  favoured  them  until 
they  advanced  into  the  midst  of  the  sea.  The  Captain  then  gave  orders  to  bring  up 
Aladdin  from  the  cabin  ;  and  they  brought  him  up,  and  made  him  smell  the  antidote 
of  bhang:  so  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  said.  Where  am  I?  The  Captain  answered. 
Thou  art  here  with  me,  bound  and  in  custody  ;  and  hadst  thou  said  again.  May  God 
open  abetter  way  to  dispose  of  it, — I  had  increased  my  offer  to  thee. — And  what, 
said  Aladdin,  is  thy  occupation  ? — He  answered,  I  am  a  captain,  and  I  desire  to  take 
thee  to  the  beloved  of  my  heart. 

Now  while  they  were  talking,  there  appeared  a  ship,  on  board  of  which  were  forty 
Mahometan  merchants ;  and  the  Captain  attacked  them,  fixed  the  grappling  irons  in 
their  ship,  and,  boarding  her  with  his  men,  they  plundered  her  and  took  her,  and 
proceeded  with  her  to  the  city  of  Genoa.  The  Captain  with  whom  Aladdin  was  a 
prisoner  then  went  to  a  door  of  a  palace,  opening  upon  the  sea ;  and  lo,  a  damsel 
came  down,  drawing  a  veil  before  her  face,  and  said  to  him.  Hast  thou  brought  the 
bead  and  its  owner!  He  answered  her,  I  have  brought  both.  And  she  said  to  him. 
Give  me  the  bead.  So  he  gave  it  to  her.  And  after  this,  he  returned  to  the  port 
and  fired  the  guns  to  announce  his  safe  return  ;  and  the  King  of  the  city  becoming 
acquainted  with  his  arrival,  came  forth  to  welcome  him,  and  said  to  him.  How  hath 
been  thy  voyage  ?  He  answered,  It  hath  been  very  prosperous,  and  I  have  captured, 
in  the  course  of  it,  a  ship  contaitnng  forty-one  Mahometan  merchants.  The  King 
then  said  to  him.  Bring  them  forth  into  the  port.  And  he  brought  them  forth  in 
irons,  with  Aladdin  among  them  ;  and  the  King  and  the  Captain  mounted  and  made 
the  prisoners  walk  before  them  until  they  arrived  at  the  council-chamber,  when  they 
seated  themselves,  and  caused  the  first  of  the  prisoners  to  be  led  forward  ;  and  the 
King  said  to  him.  Whence  art  thou,  0  Mahometan  ?  He  answered,  from  Alexandria. 
And  the  King  said,  0  executioner,  slay  him.  The  executioner  therefore  struck  him 
with  the  sword,  and  severed  his  head  from  his  body.  Thus  was  done  to  the  second 
also  and  the  third,  and  to  their  companions  successively,  until  forty  had  been  put  to 
death.  Aladdin  remained  to  the  last:  so  he  drank  their  sighs,  and  he  said  to  him- 
self. The  mercy  of  God  be  on  thee,  O  Aladdin  !  Thy  life  hath  expired  !  —  Then  the 
King  said.  And  from  what  country  art  thou?  He  answered,  From  Alexandria.  And 
the  King  said,  O  executioner,  strike  off  his  head! 

The  executioner  accordingly  raised  his  hand  with  the  sword,  and  was  about  to 
strike  off  the  head  of  Aladdin;  but  lo,  an  old  woman,  of  venerable  appearance,  ad- 
vanced before  the  King  ;  whereupon  he  rose  to  her,  to  show  her  honour;  and  she  said, 
O  King,  did  I  not  say  to  thee,  When  the  Captain  cometh  with  the  captives  remember 
to  supply  the  convent  with  a  captive  or  two  to  serve  in  the  chur«h?  —  O  my  mother, 
he  answered,  would  that  thou  hadst  come  a  little  earlier:  but  take  this  captive  that 
remaineth.  And  the  old  woman,  looking  towards  Aladdin,  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou 
serve  in  the  church,  or  shall  I  suffer  the  King  to  slay  thee  ?  He  answered  her,  I 
-will  serve  in  the  church.  So  she  took  him,  and  going  forth  with  him  from  the 
council-chamVjer,  repaired  to  the  church  ;  and  Aladdin  said  to  her.  What  service 
am  I  to  perform?  She  answered.  Thou  shalt  arise  early  in  the  morning,  and  take 
five  mules,  and  repair  with  them  to  the  forest,  cut  dry  fire-wood,  and  break  it  up, 
*nd  bring  it  to  the  kitchen   of  the  convent.     After  that,  thou   shalt  take  up  the 


378  THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIX    ABUSHAMAT. 

carpets,  and  sweep  and  wipe  the  stone  and  marble  pavements,  and  spread  the  carpeti 
again  as  they  were.  And  thou  shalt  take  half  an  ardebb  of  wheat,  and  sift  it,  and 
grind  it,  and  knead  it,  and  make  it  into  cakes  for  the  convent ;  and  thou  shalt  take 
a  bushel  of  lentils,  and  grind  them  with  the  hand-mill,  and  cook  them.  Then  thou 
shalt  fill  the  tanks  of  the  four  fountains  with  water,  and  convey  it  in  barrels,  and 
fill  three  hundred  and  sixty-six  wooden  bowls,  and  crumble  the  cakes  into  them,  and 
pour  into  them  some  of  the  lentil-porridge,  and  take  in  to  each  monk  or  patriarch 
his  bowl.  —  To  this,  Aladdin  replied.  Return  me  to  the  King  and  let  him  slay  me; 
for  death  will  be  easier  to  me  than  this  work.  She  said  to  him.  If  thou  work,  and 
perform  the  service  that  is  required  of  thee,  thou  wilt  escape  slaughter ;  and  if  thou 
perform  it  not,  I  will  cause  the  King  to  put  thee  to  death.  So  Aladdin  sat  full  of 
trouble.  And  there  were  in  the  church  ten  blind  and  impotent  men,  who  employed 
him  in  the  most  degraded  of  services.  Then  the  old  woman  came,  and  said  to  him. 
Wherefore  hast  thou  not  done  the  work  in  the  church? — How  many  hands  have  I, 
said  he,  that  I  should  be  able  to  accomplish  this  work?  —  Thou  fool,  she  replied.  I 
brought  thee  not  but  to  work.  She  then  said.  Take,  0  my  son,  this  rod  (and  it  was 
of  brass,  with  a  cross  at  the  top),  and  go  forth  into  the  great  thoroughfare-street; 
and  when  the  Judge  of  the  town  approaches  thee,  say  to  him,  I  summon  thee  to  the 
service  of  the  church.  And  he  will  not  disobey  thee.  So  make  him  take  the  wheat, 
and  sift  it  and  grind  it,  and  pass  it  through  the  second  sieve,  and  knead  it,  and  bake 
cakes  of  it ;  and  whoever  shall  disobey  thee,  beat  him,  and  fear  not  any  one. — So  he 
replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  did  as  she  had  told  him,  and  ceased  not  to  compel 
great  and  small  to  work,  gratuiotusly,  for  the  space  of  seventeen  years. 

After  this,  as  he  was  sitting  in  the  church,  lo,  the  old  woman  came  in  to  him,  and 
said  to  him.  Go  without  the  convent.  —  "Whither  shall  I  go  ?  said  he.  She  answered 
him,  Pass  this  night  in  a  tavern,  or  in  the  house  of  one  of  thy  companions.  He  said. 
Wherefore  dost  thou  send  me  away  from  the  church  ?  And  she  answered.  The 
beautiful  Mary,  the  daughter  of  the  King  John,  the  King  of  this  city,  desireth  to  pay 
a  visit  to  the  church,  and  it  is  not  proper  that  any  one  should  be  in  her  way.  So  he 
professed  his  assent  to  her  order,  and  arose,  pretending  to  her  that  he  was  going  out 
from  the  church  ;  but  he  said  within  himself,  I  wonder  whether  the  daughter  of  the 
King  is  like  our  women,  or  more  beautiful  than  they.  I  will  not  go,  therefore,  until 
I  have  gratified  myself  by  the  sight  of  her. — Accordingly  he  concealed  himself  in  a 
closet  which  had  a  window  looking  into  the  church.  And  while  he  was  looking 
thence  into  the  church,  lo,  the  daughter  of  the  King  approached,  and  he  directed  at 
her  a  glance  which  occasioned  him  a  thousand  sighs  ;  for  he  found  her  to  be  like  the 
full  moon  when  it  appeareth  from  behind  the  clouds ;  and  with  her  was  a  damsel,  to 
whom  she  was  saying,  Thou  hast  cheered  me  by  thy  society,  0  Zobeide.  And 
Aladdin,  looking  intently  at  that  damsel,  saw  that  she  was  his  wife  Zobeide  the  lute- 
player,  who  (as  he  supposed)  had  died.  The  King's  daughter  then  said  to  Zobeide, 
Perform  for  us  now  a  piece  of  music  on  the  lute.  But  Zobeide  replied,  I  will  not 
perform  it  for  thee  until  thou  accomplish  for  me  my  desire,  and  fulfil  thy  promise  to 
me. — What  have  I  promised  thee  ?  said  the  daughter  of  the  King.  Zobeide  answered 
her.  Thou  promisedst  me  to  reunite  me  with  my  husband  Aladdin  Abushamat,  the 
Trusty  and  the  Faithful.  And  the  King's  daughter  said  to  her,  0  Zobeide,  be  of 
good  heart  and  cheerful  eye,  and  perform  for  us  a  piece  of  music  as  a  gratuity  for 
our  union  with  thy  husband  Aladdin.  So  Zobeide  said.  And  where  is  he? — Verily, 
answered  the  King's  daughter,  he  is  in  this  closet,  hearing  our  words.  And  upon 
this,  Zobeide  performed  a  piece  of  music  upon  the  lute,  such  as  would  make  a  rock 
to  dance  ;  and  when  Aladdin  heard  it,  longing  desires  were  excited  in  his  heart,  and 
he  went  forth  from  the  closet,  and,  rushing  upon  them,  took  his  wife  Zobeide  in  his 
bosom,  and  she  recognised  him. 

They  embraced  each  other,  and  fell  down  upon  the  floor  senseless ;  and  the 
Princess  Mary  came,  and  sprinkled  some  rose-water  upon  them,  and  recovered 
them,  and  said,  God  hath  united  you  !     Aladdin  replied.  Through  thy  kindness,  0 


THE   STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  379 

my  mistress.  Then  looking  towards  his  wife,  he  said  to  her,  Thou  wast  dead,  0 
Zobeide,  and  we  buried  thee  in  the  grave.  How  then  didst  thou  return  to  life,  and 
come  unto  this  place?  —  0  my  master,  she  answered,  I  died  not;  but  one  of  the 
Genii  carried  me  off,  and  flew  with  me  to  this  place ;  and  as  to  her  whom  ye  buried, 
she  was  a  Fairy,  who  assumed  my  form  and  feigned  herself  dead,  and  after  ye  had 
buried  her  she  clove  open  the  grave  and  came  forth  from  it,  and  betook  herself  to  the 
service  of  her  mistress  Mary,  the  daughter  of  the  King.  But  as  to  myself,  I  was 
possessed,  and,  opening  my  eyes,  I  saw  that  I  was  with  Mary,  the  King's  daughter, 
who  is  this  lady ;  and  I  said  to  her.  Wherefore  hast  thou  brought  me  hither?  She 
answered  me,  I  am  predestined  to  marry  thy  husband  Aladdin  Abushamat.  And 
she  said,  Wilt  thou  accept  me,  0  Zobeide,  as  thy  fellow-wife  ?  I  answered  her,  I 
hear  and  obey,  0  my  mistress  :  but  where,  said  I,  is  my  husband  ?  And  she  said, 
Upon  his  forehead  is  written  what  God  hath  decreed  to  happen  unto  him,  and  when 
he  hath  experienced  the  accomplishment  of  events  that  are  written  upon  his  forehead, 
he  cannot  fail  to  come  unto  this  place  ;  but  thou  shalt  console  thyself  for  this  sepa- 
ration by  melodious  sounds,  and  playing  upon  musical  instruments,  until  God  unite 
us  with  him.  So  I  remained  with  her  during  this  period,  till  God  united  me  with 
thee  in  this  church. 

Then  the  beautiful  Mary  looked  towards  him  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master  Alad- 
din, wilt  thou  accept  me  as  a  wife,  and  be  to  me  a  husband  ? — 0  my  mistress,  said 
he,  I  am  a  Mahometan,  and  thou  art  a  Christian  :  how  then  should  I  marry  thee? 
But  she  replied,  God  forbid  that  I  should  be  an  infidel !  Nay,  I  am  a  Mahometan, 
and  for  eighteen  years  I  have  held  fixst  the  religion  of  the  prophet,  and  I  am  guilt- 
less of  following  any  religion  that  is  at  variance  with  his. —  He  then  said  to  her,  0 
my  mistress,  I  desire  to  return  to  my  country.  And  she  replied,  Know  that  I  have 
seen  written  upon  thy  forehead  events  of  which  thou  must  experience  the  accomplish- 
ment, and  thou  shalt  attain  thy  wish.  Be  rejoiced,  also,  0  Aladdin,  by  the  informa- 
tion that  a  son  of  thine  hath  made  his  appearance,  whose  name  is  Asian,  and  he  is 
now  sitting  in  thy  place  in  the  court  of  the  Caliph,  and  hath  attained  the  age  of 
eighteen  years.  Know,  too,  that  the  truth  hath  appeared,  and  falsity  is  withdrawn, 
and  our  lord  hath  removed  the  veil  of  his  protection  from  him  who  stole  the  goods 
of  the  Caliph :  he  is  Ahmad  Kamakim  the  arch  thief  and  traitor ;  and  he  is  now  in 
prison,  confined  and  chained.  Know,  moreover,  that  I  am  the  person  that  sent  to 
thee  the  bead,  and  caused  it  to  be  put  for  thee  in  the  leather  bag  in  the  shop ;  and  I 
am  the  person  who  sent  to  thee  the  Captain  who  brought  thee  and  the  bead.  And 
know  that  this  Captain  is  enamoured  of  me,  and  desireth  to  possess  me ;  but  I 
would  not  yield  to  him,  and  I  said  to  him,  I  will  not  grant  thy  request  unless  thou 
bring  to  me  the  bead  and  its  owner.  And  I  gave  him  a  hundred  purses,  and  sent 
him  in  the  garb  of  a  merchant,  though  he  was  a  captain.  Then,  when  they  had 
brought  thee  forward  to  slay  thee,  after  the  slaughter  of  the  forty  captives  with  whom 
thou  wast,  I  sent  unto  thee  the  old  woman. —  So  Aladdin  said  to  her,  May  God 
recompense  thee  for  me  with  every  blessing ! — Then  the  beautiful  Mary  renewed  to 
him  her  profession  of  conversion  to  the  Mahometan  faith  ;  and  when  he  was  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  of  her  avowal,  he  said  to  her,  Acquaint  me  with  the  virtue  of  this 
bead,  and  tell  me  whence  it  came. 

She  replied.  This  bead  is  from  a  charmed  treasure,  and  possesseth  five  virtues, 
which  will  profit  us  in  the  time  when  we  need  them.  My  grandmother,  the  mother 
of  my  father,  was  an  enchantress,  who  solved  mysteries,  and  carried  off  treasures, 
and  from  a  treasure  this  bead  came  into  her  possession.  And  when  I  had  grown  up, 
and  attained  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  I  read  the  Gospels  and  other  books,  and  saw 
the  name  of  Mahomet  (God  favour  and  preserve  him  !)  in  the  four  books,  the  Penta- 
teuch and  the  Gospels  and  the  Psalms  and  the  Koran:  so  I  believed  in  Mahomet, 
and  became  a  Mahometan,  and  was  convinced  in  my  mind  that  none  is  to  be 
worshipped  in  truth  but  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  and  that  the  Lord  of  man- 
kind approveth  of  no  faith  but  that  of  Mahomet.     My  grandmother,  when  she  fell 


380  THE  STORY  OF  ALADDIN  ABUSHAMAT. 

sick,  made  me  a  present  of  this  bead,  and  acquainted  me  with  the  five  virtues  that 
it  possesseth.  And  before  my  grandmother  died,  my  father  said  to  her,  Perform  for 
me  an  operation  of  geomancy,  and  see  the  end  of  my  history,  and  what  will  happen 
to  me.  And  she  said  to  him.  Verily  thou  wilt  die  slain  by  a  captive  who  will  come 
from  Alexandria.  So  my  father  swore  that  he  would  put  to  death  every  captive  that 
should  come  from  that  city,  and  acquainted  the  Captain  with  his  vow,  and  said  to 
him,  Thou  must  attack  the  vessels  of  the  Mahometans,  and  whomsoever  thou  seest 
from  Alexandria  thou  must  kill  him,  or  bring  him  unto  me.  The  Captain  therefore 
complied  with  his  command  until  he  had  slain  a  number  as  many  as  the  hairs  of 
his  head.  Then  my  grandmother  perished  :  and  I  performed  an  operation  of  geo- 
mancy, considering  in  my  mind  and  saying,  I  would  know  who  will  marry  me.  And 
it  was  revealed  to  me  that  none  would  marry  me  but  one  named  Aladdin  Abushamat, 
the  Trusty  and  Faithful ;  whereat  I  wondered  ;  and  I  waited  until  the  time  came,  and 
I  met  with  thee. 

Aladdin  then  married  her,  and  said  to  her,  I  desire  to  return  to  my  country.  She 
replied,  If  the  case  is  so,  come  with  me.  And  she  took  him  and  concealed  him  in 
a  closet  in  her  palace,  and  went  in  to  her  father,  who  said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  I 
am  to-day  suffering  from  excessive  oppression  of  spirits :  and  sit  therefore  that  I 
may  intoxicate  myself  with  thee.  So  she  sat ;  and  he  called  for  the  wine-table  ;  and 
she  proceeded  to  fill  and  to  hand  to  him  until  he  became  insensible,  when  she  put 
some  bhang  into  his  cup,  and  he  drank  the  cup,  and  fell  down  upon  his  back.  She 
then  came  to  Aladdin,  and,  taking  him  forth  from  the  closet,  said  to  him,  Thine 
adversary  is  laid  prostrate  upon  his  back  ;  so  do  with  him  what  thou  wilt ;  for  I  have 
intoxicated  him,  and  stupified  him  with  bhang.  Aladdin  therefore  went  in  and 
beheld  him  stupified  with  bhang  ;  and  he  bound  his  hands  tightly  behind  him,  and 
chained  him;  after  which  he  gave  him  the  antidote  of  bhang,  and  he  recovered  his 
senses  and  found  Aladdin  and  his  daughter  sitting  on  his  bosom.  So  he  said,  0  my 
daughter,  dost  thou  act  thus  towards  me?  She  replied,  If  I  am  thy  daughter, 
embrace  the  Mahometan  faith ;  for  I  have  done  so.  The  truth  hath  become  manifest 
to  me,  and  I  have  followed  it,  and  falsity  I  have  abandoned ;  and  I  have  humbled 
my  face  unto  God,  the  Lord  of  all  creatures,  and  am  guiltless  of  following  any  reli- 
gion that  is  at  variance  with  the  religion  of  Mahomet  in  this  world  and  in  that  which 
is  to  come.  If  then  thou  become  a  Mahometan,  we  will  treat  thee  with  affection  and 
honour ;  but  if  not,  thy  slaughter  will  be  better  than  thy  life. — Then  Aladdin  also 
admonished  him.  But  he  refused  and  was  obstinate:  so  Aladdin  drew  forth  a 
dagger,  and  cut  his  throat  from  one  jugular  vein  to  the  other,  and,  having  written  a 
paper  stating  what  had  happened,  put  it  upon  his  forehead. 

After  this,  they  took  what  was  light  to  carry  and  great  in  value,  and  went  forth 
from  the  palace,  and  repaired  to  the  church.  She  then  brought  out  the  bead,  and, 
putting  her  hand  upon  one  of  the  faces  of  it,  whereupon  was  engraved  a  couch,  she 
rubbed  it ;  and  lo,  a  couch  was  placed  before  her.  And  she  mounted  with  Aladdin 
and  his  wife  Zobeide,  the  lute-player,  upon  this  couch,  and  said.  By  virtue  of  the 
names  and  talismans  and  scientific  characters  that  are  inscribed  upon  this  bead,  rise 
with  us,  0  couch !  And  the  couch  rose  with  them,  and  conveyed  them  to  a  valley 
wherein  was  no  vegetation.  Then  she  turned  up  the  other  four  faces  of  the  bead 
towards  the  sky,  turning  downwards  the  foce  whereon  the  couch  was  figured,  and  it 
descended  with  them  to  the  earth.  And  she  turned  round  a  face  upon  which  was 
figured  the  form  of  a  pavilion,  and  rubbed  it,  saying.  Let  a  pavilion  be  set  up  in 
this  valley.  AVhereupon  the  pavilion  was  set  up,  and  they  seated  themselves  in  it. 
Now  that  valley  was  a  waste,  destitute  alike  of  vegetation  and  water:  so  she  turned 
four  faces  of  the  bead  towards  the  sky,  and  said,  By  virtue  of  the  names  of  God,  let 
trees  spring  up  here,  with  a  large  river  by  their  side  !  And  the  trees  sprang  up 
immediately,  and  by  them  ran  a  large  murmuring  river,  agitated  with  waves  ;  and 
they  performed  the  ablution  with  its  water,  and  prayed  and  drank.  The  King's 
daughter  then  turned  round  the  three  fiices  yet  undescribed,  until  she  came  to  a  fivce 


THE    STORY   OF   ALADDIN   ABUSHAMAT.  381 

upon  which  was  represented  a  table  of  viands,  and  said,  By  virtue  of  the  names  of 
God,  let  the  table  be  spread !  And  lo,  a  table  was  spread,  whereon  were  all  kinds 
of  rich  viands ;  and  they  ate  and  drank,  and  were  full  of  joy  and  merriment. 

Meanwhile,  the  King's  son  went  in  to  wake  his  father,  and  found  him  slain  ;  and 
he  found  also  the  paper  which  Aladdin  had  written :  so  he  read  it,  and  became 
acquainted  with  its  contents.  He  then  searched  for  his  sister,  and,  not  finding 
her,  he  repaired  to  the  old  woman  in  the  church,  and  inquired  of  her  respecting 
her:  and  she  answered.  Since  yesterday  I  have  not  seen  her.  He  therefore  re- 
turned and  betook  himself  to  the  troops,  and  said  to  them,  To  horse,  0  riders! 
And  he  acquainted  them  with  that  which  had  happened :  whereupon  they  mounted 
their  horses,  and  proceeded  until  they  drew  near  to  the  pavilion,  when  the  Princess 
Mary  turned  her  eyes,  and  saw  that  the  dust  had  obstructed  the  view  of  the 
adjacent  tracts  ;  and  after  it  had  risen  high  and  spread,  it  dispersed,  and  there 
appeared  beneath  it  her  brother  and  the  troops,  who  were  calling  out.  Whither  will 
ye  go  when  we  are  behind  you?  So  the  damsel  said  to  Aladdin,  How  is  thy  sta- 
bility in  war  and  combat?  And  he  answered  her.  As  that  of  the  stake  in  bran  ;  for 
I  am  not  acquainted  with  war  and  battle,  nor  with  swords  and  spears.  She  therefore 
took  forth  the  bead,  and  rubbed  a  face  upon  which  were  figured  a  horse  and  rider; 
and  lo,  a  horseman  appeared  from  the  desert,  and  ceased  not  to  smite  with  the  sword 
among  them  until  he  had  routed  and  repelled  them. 

The  King's  daughter  then  said  to  Aladdin,  Wilt  thou  journey  to  Cairo  or  to  Alex- 
andria? He  answered,  To  Alexandria.  So  they  mounted  the  couch,  and  after  she 
had  pronounced  a  spell  upon  it,  it  conveyed  them  to  Alexandria  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye;  and  Aladdin,  having  taken  them  into  a  cavern,  went  to  the  city,  and  brought 
them  thence  apparel,  with  which  he  clad  them.  He  then  conducted  them  to  the  shop 
and  the  suite  of  rooms,  and  went  forth  to  procure  dinner  fi)r  them;  and  lo,  the  chief 
Ahmad  El-Denef  approached,  arriving  from  Bagdad.  Aladdin  saw  him  in  the 
street,  and  he  met  him  with  open  arms,  saluting  him  and  welcoming  him  ;  and  Ah- 
mad El-Denef  gave  him  good  news  of  his  son  Asian,  telling  him  that  he  had  attained 
the  age  of  twenty  years ;  after  which  Aladdin  related  to  him  all  that  had  happened 
to  him  from  first  to  last,  and  took  him  to  the  shop  and  the  suite  of  rooms ;  and  Ah- 
mad El-Denef  wondered  extremely  at  his  story.  They  passed  the  next  night,  and 
when  they  arose  in  the  morning,  Aladdin  sold  the  shop,  and  put  its  price  with  the 
rest  of  his  money.  Then  Ahmad  El-Denef  informed  him  that  the  Caliph  desired  his 
presence.  But  Aladdin  replied,  I  am  going  to  Cairo,  to  salute  my  father  and  mother 
and  the  other  members  of  my  family.  So  they  mounted  the  couch,  all  together,  and 
repaired  to  the  fortunate  city  of  Cairo,  and  alighted  in  the  Darbel-.\8far ;  for  the 
house  of  Aladdin's  family  was  in  that  quarter;  and  he  knocked  at  the  door;  where- 
upon his  mother  said.  Who  is  at  the  door  after  the  loss  of  the  beloved?  He  answered 
her,  I  am  Aladdin.  And  on  hearing  this,  the  family  came  down  and  embraced  him. 
He  then  sent  his  two  wives, "and  the  property  that  he  had  brought  with  him,  into 
the  house,  and  entered  himself,  accompanied  by  Ahmad  El-Denef,  and  they  rested 
three  days  ;  after  which  he  desired  to  depart  to  Bagdad.  His  father  said  to  him,  0 
my  son,  remain  with  me.  But  he  replied,  1  cannot  endure  the  separation  from  my 
Bon  Asian.  And  he  took  his  father  and  his  mother  with  him,  and  they  journeyed  to 
Bagdad. 

Then  Ahmad  El-Denef  went  in  to  the  Caliph,  and  imparted  to  him  the  happy 
news  of  the  arrival  of  Aladdin  ;  on  hearing  which,  the  Caliph  went  forth  to  meet 
him,  taking  with  him  his  son  Asian,  and  they  met  and  embraced  him.  And  the 
Caliph  gave  orders  to  bring  Ahmad  Kamakim,  the  arch  thief,  and,  when  he  came 
before  him,  said,  0  Aladdin,  avenge  thyself  upon  thine  adversary.  So  Aladdin 
drew  bis  sword,  and,  smiting  Ahmad  Kamakim,  severed  his  head.  The  Caliph  then 
made  a  magnificent  entertainment  for  Aladdin,  after  he  had  summoned  the  Cadies 
and  witnesses,  and  written  Aladdin's  contract  of  marriage  to  the  Princess  Mary. 


382  ABON-HASSAN  THE   WAG, 

He  also  appointed  his  son  Asian  to  the  oflBce  of  Reis-el-sittein,  and  bestowed  upon 
both  of  them  sumptuous  robes  of  honour ;  and  they  passed  a  most  comfortable  and 
agreeable  life  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights,  and  the  separator 
of  companions. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


Chiefly  from  the  Edition  of  Breslau,  commencing  with  part  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Seventy- 
first  night,  and  ending  with  the  Two  Hundred  and  Ninetieth. 


THE    STORY  OF   ABON-HASSAN   THE   WAG,   OR   THE   SLEEPER 
AWAKENED. 

There  was  a  merchant  of  Bagdad,  in  the  reign  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid, 
and  he  had  a  son  named  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag.  And  this  merchant  died,  leaving 
to  his  son  vast  wealth  ;  whereupon  Abon-Hassan  divided  his  property  into  two  equal 
portions,  one  of  which  he  laid  aside,  and  of  the  other  he  expended.  He  took  as  his 
familiar  friends  a  number  of  the  sons  of  the  merchants,  and  others,  and  gave  him- 
self up  to  the  delights  of  good  drinking  and  good  eating,  until  all  the  wealth  he  had 
appropiated  to  this  purpose  was  consumed.  And  upon  this  he  repaired  to  his  asso- 
ciates and  relations  and  boon-companions,  and  exposed  to  them  his  case,  showing 
them  how  little  property  remained  in  his  possession  ;  but  none  of  them  paid  any 
regard  to  him,  or  uttered  a  word  in  reply.  So  he  returned  to  his  mother  with  a 
broken  heart,  and  told  her  of  the  treatment  that  he  had  experienced  from  his  asso- 
ciates, that  they  would  neither  do  him  justice  nor  even  reply  to  him.  But  she  said, 
0  Abon-Hassan,  thus  are  the  sons  of  this  age  :  as  long  as  thou  hast  anything,  they 
draw  thee  near  to  them  ;  and  when  thou  hast  nothing,  they  cast  thee  off.  She  was 
grieved  for  him,  and  he  sighed  and  wept. 

He  then  sprang  up,  and  went  to  the  place  in  which  wag  deposited  the  other  half 
of  his  wealth,  and  upon  this  he  lived  agreeably.  He  took  an  oath  that  he  would  not 
thenceforth  associate  with  any  one  of  those  whom  he  knew,  but  only  with  the  stran- 
ger, and  that  he  would  not  associate  with  any  person  but  for  one  night,  and  on  the 
following  morning  would  not  recognize  him.  Accordingly,  every  night  he  went 
forth  and  seated  himself  on  the  bridge,  and  when  a  stranger  passed  by  him,  he  in- 
vited him  to  an  entertainment,  and  took  him  to  his  house,  where  he  caroused  with 
him  that  night,  until  the  morning ;  he  then  dismissed  him  ;  and  after  that  he  would 
not  salute  him  if  he  saw  him. 

Thus  he  continued  to  do  for  a  whole  year;  after  which,  as  he  was  sitting  one  day 
upon  the  bridge  as  usual,  to  see  who  might  come  towards  him,  Alrashid  and  certain 
of  his  domestics  passed  by  in  disguise ;  for  the  Caliph  had  experienced  a  contraction 
)f  the  bosom,  and  come  forth  to  amuse  himself  among  the  people.  So  Abon-Hassan 
laid  hold  upon  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  hast  thou  any  desire  for  a  repast 
and  beverage?  And  Alrashid  complied  with  his  request,  saying  to  him,  Conduct 
us.  And  Abon-Hassan  knew  not  who  was  his  guest.  The  Caliph  proceeded  with 
him  until  they  arrived  at  Abon-Hassan's  house:  and  when  Alrashid  entered,  he 
found  in  it  a  saloon,  such  that  if  thou  beheldest  it,  and  lookedst  towards  its  walls, 
thou  wouldst  behold  wonders:  and  if  thou  observedst  its  conduits  of  water,  thou 
wouldst  see  a  fountain  encased  with  gold.  And  after  he  had  seated  himself  there, 
Abcm-Hassan  called  for  a  slave-girl,  like  a  twiji  of  the  Oriental  willow,  who  took   a 


OR    THE    SLEEPER    AWAKENED.  383 

lute  and  sang.  And  when  Alrashid  heard  her  verses,  he  said  to  her,  Thou  hast 
performed  well.  God  bless  thee  ! — Her  eloquence  pleased  him,  and  he  wondered  at 
Abon-Hassan  and  his  entertainment. 

He  then  said  to  Abon-Hassan,  0  young  man,  who  art  thou?  Acquaint  me  with 
thy  history,  that  I  may  requite  thee  for  thy  kindness.  —  But  Abon-Hassan  smiled, 
and  replied,  0  my  master,  far  be  it  from  me  that  what  hath  happened  should  recur, 
and  that  I  should  be  in  thy  company  again  after  this  time.  —  And  why  so?  said  the 
Caliph,  and  why  wilt  thou  not  acquaint  me  with  thy  case? — So  Abon-Hassan  told 
him  his  story,  and  when  the  Caliph  heard  it,  he  laughed  violently,  and  said.  By 
Allah,  0  my  brother,  thou  art  excusable  in  this  matter.  Then  a  dish  of  roast  goose 
was  placed  before  him,  and  a  cake  of  fine  bread  ;  and  Abon-Hassan  sat,  and  cut  off 
the  meat,  and  put  morsels  into  the  mouth  of  the  Caliph,  and  they  continued  eating 
until  they  were  satisfied  ;  when  the  basin  and  ewer  were  brought,  with  the  kali ;  and 
they  washed  their  hands.  After  this  Abon-Hassan  lighted  for  his  guest  three  candles 
and  three  lamps,  spread  the  wine-cloth,  and  brought  clear,  strained,  old,  perfumed 
wine,  the  odour  of  which  was  like  fragrant  musk,  and,  having  filled  the  first  cup, 
said,  0  my  boon-companion,  bashfulness  is  dismissed  from  us,  with  thy  permission. 
Thy  slave  is  by  thee.  May  I  never  be  afflicted  by  the  loss  of  thee ! — And  he  drank 
the  cup,  and  filled  the  second,  which  he  handed  to  the  Caliph,  waiting  upon  him  as 
a  servant.  And  the  Caliph  was  pleased  with  his  actions,  and  the  politeness  of  his 
words,  and  said  within  himself.  By  Allah,  I  will  certainly  requite  him  for  this! 
Abon-Hassan  then,  after  he  had  kissed  the  cup,  handed  it  to  the  Caliph,  who  ac- 
cepted it  from  his  hand,  kissed  it  and  drank  it,  and  handed  it  back  to  him.  Abon- 
Hassan  still  continued  serving  him.  He  filled  and  drank,  and  filled  again  and 
handed  the  cup  to  the  Caliph,  after  he  had  kissed  it  three  times.  Drink,  he  said, 
and  may  it  be  attended  with  health  and  vigour. — And  they  drank  and  caroused  until 
midnight. 

After  this,  the  Caliph  said  to  his  host,  0  Abon-Hassan,  is  there  any  service  that 
thou  wouldst  have  performed,  or  any  desire  that  thou  wouldst  have  accomplished? 
And  Abon-Hassan  answered,  In  our  neighbourhood  is  a  mosque,  to  which  belong  an 
Imam  and  four  sheikhs,  and  whenever  they  hear  music  or  any  sport,  they  incite  the 
Judge  against  me,  and  impose  fines  upon  me,  and  trouble  my  life,  so  that  I  suffer 
torment  from  them.  If  I  had  them  in  my  power,  therefore,  I  would  give  each  of 
them  a  thousand  lashes,  that  I  might  be  relieved  from  their  excessive  annoyance. 

Alrashid  replied.  May  Allah  grant  thee  the  accomplishment  of  thy  wish  !  And 
without  his  being  aware  of  it,  he  put  into  a  cup  a  lozenge  of  bhang,  and  handed  it 
to  him  ;  and  as  soon  as  it  had  settled  in  his  stomach,  he  fell  asleep  immediately. 
Alrashid  then  arose  and  went  to  the  door,  where  he  found  his  young  men  waiting 
for  him,  and  he  ordered  them  to  convey  Abon-Hassan  upon  a  mule,  and  returned  to 
the  palace ;  Abon-Hassan  being  intoxicated  and  insensible.  And  when  the  Caliph 
had  rested  himself  in  the  palace,  he  called  for  his  Vizier  Giaf\ir,  and  Abdallah  the 
son  of  Tahir,  the  Judge  of  Bagdad,  and  certain  of  his  chief  attendants,  and  said  to 
them  all,  In  the  morning  when  ye  see  this  young  man  (pointing  to  Abon-Hassan) 
seated  on  the  royal  couch,  pay  obedience  to  him,  and  salute  him  as  Caliph,  and 
whatsoever  he  commandeth  you,  do  it  Then  going  in  to  his  female  slaves,  he 
directed  them  to  wait  upon  Abon-Hassan,  and  to  address  him  as  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  ;  after  which  he  entered  a  private  closet,  and,  having  let  down  a  curtain 
over  the  entrance,  slept. 

So  when  Abon-Hassan  awoke,  he  found  himself  upon  the  royal  couch,  with  the 
attendants  standing  around,  and  kissing  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  a  maid  said  to 
him,  0  our  lord,  it  is  the  time  for  morning-prayer.  Upon  which  he  laughed,  and, 
looking  round  about  him,  he  beheld  a  pavilion  whose  walls  were  adorned  with  gold 
and  ultra-marine,  and  the  roof  bespotted  with  red  gold,  surrounded  by  chambers 
with  curtains  of  embroidered  silk  hanging  before  their  doors ;  and  he  saw  vessels 
of  gold  and  Chinaware  and  crystal,  and  furniture  and  carpets  spread,  and  lighted 


384  ABON-HASSAN   THE   WAG, 

lamps,  and  female  slaves  and  eunuchs  and  other  attendants;  whereat  he  was  per 
plexed  in  his  mind  and  said,  By  Allah,  either  I  am  dreaming,  or  this  is  Paradise, 
and  the  abode  of  Peace.  And  he  closed  his  eyes.  So  a  eunuch  said  to  him,  0  my 
lord,  this  is  not  thy  usual  custom,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And  he  was  perplexed, 
at  his  case,  and  put  his  head  into  his  bosom,  and  then  began  to  open  his  eyes  by 
little  and  little,  laughing,  and  saying.  What  is  this  state  in  which  I  find  myself? 
And  he  bit  his  finger;  and  when  he  found  that  the  bite  pained  him,  he  cried,  Ah  ! — 
and  was  angry.  Then  raising  his  head,  he  called  one  of  the  female  slaves,  who  an- 
swered him,  At  thy  service,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful!  And  he  said  to  her.  What 
is  thy  name?  She  answered,  Cluster  of  Pearls.  And  he  said,  knowest  thou  in 
what  place  I  am,  and  who  I  am  ? — Thou  art  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  answered, 
sitting  in  thy  palace,  upon  the  royal  couch.  He  replied,  I  am  perplexed  at  my  case  ; 
my  reason  hath  departed,  and  it  seemeth  that  I  am  asleep  ;  but  what  shall  I  say  of 
my  yesterday's  guest?  I  imagine  nothing  but  that  he  is  a  devil,  or  an  enchanter, 
who  hath  sported  with  my  reason. 

All  this  time,  the  Caliph  was  observing  him  from  a  place  where  Abon-Hassan 
could  not  see  him.  And  Abon-Hassan  looked  towards  the  chief  eunuch,  and  called 
to  him.  So  he  came,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  saying  to  him.  Yes,  0  Prince 
of  the  Faithful.  And  Abon-Hassan  said  to  him.  Who  is  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ? 
— Thou,  he  answered.  Abon-Hassan  replied.  Thou  liest.  And  addressing  another 
eunuch,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  chief,  as  thou  hopest  for  Allah's  protection,  tell  me, 
am  I  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ? — Yea,  by  Allah,  answered  the  eunuch  ;  thou  art 
at  this  present  time  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  the  Caliph  of  the  Lord  of  all 
creatures.  And  Abon-Hassan,  perplexed  at  all  that  he  beheld,  said.  In  one  night  do 
I  become  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  Was  I  not  yesterday  Abon-Hassan  ;  and  to-day 
am  I  Prince  of  the  Faithful?  —  He  remained  perplexed  and  confounded  until  the 
morning,  when  a  eunuch  advanced  to  him  and  said  to  him.  May  Allah  grant  a  happy 
morning  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  And  he  handed  to  him  a  pair  of  shoes  of 
gold  stufi",  reticulated  with  precious  stones  and  rubies ;  and  Abon-Hassan  took  them, 
and  after  examining  them  a  long  time,  put  them  into  his  sleeve.  So  the  eunuch  said 
to  him,  These  are  shoes  to  walk  in.  And  Abon-Hassan  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken 
truth.  I  put  them  not  into  my  sleeve  but  in  my  fear  lest  they  should  be  soiled. — He 
therefore  took  them  forth,  and  put  them  on  his  feet.  And  shortly  after,  the  female 
slaves  brought  him  a  basin  of  gold  and  a  ewer  of  silver,  and  poured  the  water  upon 
his  hands ;  and  when  he  had  performed  the  ablution,  they  spread  for  him  a  prayer- 
carpet  ;  and  he  prayed,  but  knew  not  how  to  do  so.  He  continued  his  inclinations 
and  prostrations  until  he  had  performed  twenty  rekahs  ;  meditating  and  saying 
within  himself.  By  Allah,  I  am  none  other  than  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  in  truth  ; 
or  else  this  is  a  dream,  and  all  these  things  occur  not  in  a  dream.  He  therefore 
convinced  himself,  and  determined  in  his  mind  that  he  was  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful; and  he  pi-onounced  the  salutations,  and  finished  his  prayers.  They  then  brought 
him  a  magnificent  dress,  and,  looking  at  himself  as  he  sat  upon  the  couch,  he  re- 
tracted, and  said.  All  this  is  an  illusion,  and  a  machination  of  the  Genii  ! 

And  while  he  was  in  this  state,  lo,  one  of  the  mamlouks  came  in  and  said  to  him, 
0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  chamberlain  is  at  the  door,  requesting  permission  to 
enter. — Let  him  enter,  replied  Abon-Hassan.  So  he  came  in,  and,  having  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  said.  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  And  Abon- 
Hassan  rose,  and  descended  from  the  couch  to  the  floor ;  whereupon  the  chamberlain 
exclaimed,  Allah  !  Allah  !  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful  !  Knowest  thou  not  that  all  men 
are  thy  servants,  and  under  thy  authority,  and  that  it  is  not  proper  for  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful  to  rise  to  any  one  ? — Abon-Hassan  was  then  told  that  Giafar  the  Bar- 
mecide, and  Abdallah  the  son  of  Tahir,  and  the  chief?  of  the  mamlouks,  begged 
permission  to  enter.  And  he  gave  them  permission.  So  they  entered,  and  kissed 
the  ground  before  him,  each  of  them  addressing  him  as  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And 
he  was  delighted  at  this,  and  returned  their  salutation  ;  after  which,  he  called  the 


OR   THE    SLEEPER   AWAKENED.  885 


Abon  Hissan  idniirins  his  majnifirem  Dress 

fudge,  who  approached  him,  and  said.  At  thy  service,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  And 
Abon-IIassan  said  to  him.  Repair  immediately  to  such  a  street,  and  give  a  hundred 
pieces  of  gold  to  the  mother  of  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag,  with  my  salutation  :  then 
take  the  Imam  of  the  mosque,  and  the  four  sheikhs,  inflict  upon  each  of  them  a 
thousand  lashes ;  and  when  thou  hast  done  that,  write  a  bond  against  them,  con- 
firmed by  oath,  that  they  shall  not  reside  in  the  street,  after  thou  shalt  have  paraded 
them  through  the  city  mounted  on  beasts,  with  their  faces  to  the  tails,  and  hast  pro- 
claimed before  them.  This  is  the  recompense  of  those  who  annoy  their  neighbours  ; 
and  beware  of  neglecting  that  which  I  have  commanded  thee  to  do.  —  So  the  Judge 
did  as  he  was  ordered.  And  when  Abon-Hassan  had  exercised  his  authority  until 
the  close  of  the  day,  he  looked  towards  the  chamberlain  and  the  rest  of  the  attendants, 
and  said  to  them.  Depart. 

He  then  called  for  a  eunuch  who  was  near  at  hand,  and  said  to  him,  I  am  hungry, 
and  desire  something  to  eat.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey : — and  led  him  by  the 
hand  into  the  eating-chamber,  where  the  attendants  placed  before  him  a  table  of  rich 
viands  ;  and  ten  slave-girls,  high-bosomed  virgins,  stood  behind  his  head.  Abon- 
Hassan,  looking  at  one  of  these,  said  to  her.  What  is  thy  name?  She  answered, 
Branch  of  Willow.  And  he  said  to  her,  0  Branch  of  Willow,  who  am  I? — Thou  art 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  answered.  But  he  replied,  Thou  liest,  by  Allah,  thou 
slut!  Ye  girls  are  laughing  at  me. — So  she  said,  Fear  Allah,  O  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful :  this  is  thy  palace,  and  the  female  slaves  are  thine.  And  upon  this  he  said 
within  himself.  It  is  no  great  matter  to  be  effected  by  God,  to  whom  be  ascribed 
might  and  glory  !  Then  the  slave-girls  led  him  by  the  hand  to  the  drinking-chamber, 
where  he  saw  what  astonished  the  mind ;  and  he  continued  to  say  within  himself, 
No  doubt  these  are  of  the  Genii,  and  this  person  who  was  my  guest  is  one  of  the 
Kings  of  the  Genii,  who  saw  no  way  of  requiting  and  compensating  me  for  my 
kindness  to  him  but  by  ordering  his  slaves  to  address  me  as  Prince  of  the  Faithful 
All  these  are  of  the  Genii.  May  Allah  then  deliver  me  from  them  happily  !  —  And 
while  he  was  thus  talking  to  himself,  lo,  one  of  the  slave-girls  filled  for  him  a  cup 
of  wine  ;  and  he  took  it  from  her  hand  and  drank  it ;  after  which,  the  slave-girla 
25 


386  ABON-HASSAN   THE   WAG, 

plied  him  with  wine  in  abundance ;  and  one  of  them  threw  into  his  cup  a  lozcngo 
of  bhang  ;  and  wnen  it  had  settled  in  his  stomach,  he  fell  down  senseless. 

Alrashid  then  gave  orders  to  convey  him  to  his  house;  and  the  servants  did  so, 
and  laid  him  on  his  bed,  still  in  a  state  of  insensibility.  So  when  he  recovered  from  his 
intoxication,  in  the  latter  part  of  the  night,  he  found  himself  in  the  dark;  and  he 
called  out,  Branch  of  Willow!  Cluster  of  Pearls! — But  no  one  answered  him.  His 
mother,  however,  heard  him  shouting  these  names,  and  arose  and  came,  and  said  to 
him.  What  hath  happened  to  thee,  0  my  son,  and  what  hath  befallen  thee  ?  Art 
thou  mad? — And  when  he  heard  the  words  of  his  mother,  he  said  to  her,  Who  art 
thou,  0  ill-omened  old  woman,  that  thou  addressest  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  with 
these  expressions?  She  answered,  I  am  thy  mother,  0  my  son.  But  he  replied, 
Thou  liest:  I  am  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  lord  of  the  countries  and  the  peo- 
ple.—  Be  silent,  she  said,  or  else  thy  life  will  be  lost.  And  she  began  to  pro- 
nounce spells  and  to  recite  charms  over  him,  and  said  to  him.  It  seemeth,  0  my  son, 
that  thou  hast  seen  this  in  a  dream,  and  all  this  is  one  of  the  ideas  suggested  by  the 
Devil.  She  then  said  to  him,  I  give  thee  good  news,  at  which  thou  wilt  be  rejoiced. 
— And  what  is  it?  said  he.  She  answered,  The  Caliph  gave  orders  yesterday  to  beat 
*ihe  Imam  and  the  four  sheikhs,  and  caused  a  bond  to  be  written  against  them,  con- 
firmed by  oath,  that  they  shall  not  transgress  henceforth  against  any  one  by  their 
impertinent  meddling;  and  he  sent  me  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  with  his  salutation. 
And  when  Abon-Hassan  heard  these  words  from  his  mother,  he  uttered  a  loud  cry, 
with  which  his  soul  almost  quitted  the  world  ;  and  he  exclaimed,  I  am  he  who  gave 
orders  to  beat  the  sheikhs,  and  who  sent  thee  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  with  my 
salutation,  and  I  am  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 

Having  said  this,  he  rose  up  against  his  mother,  and  beat  her  with  an  almond 
stick,  until  she  cried  out,  0  ye  faithful.  And  he  beat  her  with  increased  violence 
until  the  neighbours  heard  her  cries,  and  came  to  her  relief.  He  was  still  beating 
her,  and  saying  to  her,  0  ill-omened  old  woman,  am  I  not  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ? 
Thou  hast  enchanted  me  ! — And  when  the  people  heard  his  words,  they  said.  This 
man  hath  become  mad.  And  not  doubting  his  insanity,  they  came  in  and  laid  hold 
upon  him,  bound  his  hands  behind  him,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  madhouse.  There 
every  day  they  punished  him,  dosing  him  with  abominable  medicines,  and  flogging 
him  with  whips,  making  him  a  madman  in  spite  of  himself.  Thus  he  continued, 
stripped  of  his  clothing,  and  chained  by  the  neck  to  a  high  window,  for  the  space  of 
ten  days  ;  after  which,  his  mother  came  to  salute  him.  And  he  complained  to  her 
of  his  case.  So  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  fear  God  in  thy  conduct:  if  thou  wert 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  thou  wouldst  not  be  in  this  predicament.  And  when  he 
heard  what  his  mother  said,  he  replied.  By  Allah,  thou  hast  spoken  truth.  It 
seemeth  that  I  was  only  asleep,  and  dreamt  that  they  made  me  Caliph,  and  assigned 
me  servants  and  female  slaves.— So  his  mother  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  verily  Satan 
doeth  more  than  this.  And  he  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  and  I  beg  forgive- 
ness of  God  for  the  actions  committed  by  me. 

They  therefore  took  him  forth  from  the  madhouse,  and  conducted  him  into  the 
bath  ;  and  when  he  recovered  his  health,  he  prepared  food  and  drink,  and  began  to 
eat.  But  eating  by  himself  was  not  pleasant  to  him  ;  and  he  said  to  his  mother,  0 
my  mother,  neither  life  nor  eating,  by  myself,  is  pleasant  to  me.  She  replied,  If 
thou  desire  to  do  according  to  thy  will,  thy  return  to  the  madhouse  is  most  probable. 
Paying  no  attention,  however,  to  her  advice,  he  walked  to  the  bridge,  to  seek  for 
himself  a  cup-companion.  And  while  he  was  sitting  there,  lo,  Alrashid  came  to  him, 
in  the  garb  of  a  merchant:  for,  from  the  time  of  his  parting  with  him,  he  came  every 
day  to  the  bridge,  but  found  him  not  till  now.  As  soon  as  Abon-Hassan  saw  him, 
he  said  to  him,  A  friendly  welcome  to  thee,  0  King  of  the  Genii !  So  Alrashid  said, 
What  have  I  done  to  thee? — What  more  couldst  thou  do,  said  Abon-IIasaan,  than 
thou  hast  done  unto  me,  0  filthiest  of  the  Genii?  I  have  suffered  beating,  and 
entered  the  madhouse,  and  they  pronounced  mo  a  madman.    All  this  was  occasioned 


OR   THE    SLEEPER   AWAKENED.  387 

by  thee.  I  brought  thee  to  my  abode,  and  fed  thee  with  the  best  of  my  food :  and 
after  that,  thou  gavest  thy  Devils  and  thy  slaves  entire  power  over  me,  to  make  sport 
with  my  reason  from  morning  to  evening.  Depart  from  me,  therefore,  and  go  thy 
way. 

The  Caliph  smiled  at  this,  and,  seating  himself  by  his  side,  addressed  him  in 
courteous  language,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  when  I  went  forth  from  thee,  I 
inadvertently  left  the  door  open,  and  probably  the  Devil  went  in  to  thee.  Abon- 
Hassan  replied,  Inquire  not  respecting  that  which  happened  to  me.  And  what  pos- 
sessed thee,  he  added,  that  thou  leftest  the  door  open,  so  that  the  Devil  came  in  to 
me,  and  that  such  and  such  things  befell  me? — And  he  related  to  the  Caliph  all  that 
had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last,  while  Alrashid  laughed,  but  concealed  his 
laughter:  after  which,  the  Caliph  said  to  him.  Praise  be  to  God  that  he  hath  dis- 
pelled from  thee  that  which  thou  hatest,  and  that  I  have  seen  thee  again  in  pros- 
perity!  But  Abon-IIassan  replied,  I  will  not  take  thee  again  as  my  boon-compa- 
nion, nor  as  an  associate  to  sit  with  me  ;  for  the  proverb  saith,  He  who  stumblcth 
against  a  stone  and  returneth  to  it,  is  to  be  blamed  and  reproached : — and  with  thee, 
O  my  brother,  I  will  not  carouse,  nor  will  I  keep  company  with  thee  ;  since  I  have 
not  found  thy  visit  to  be  followed  by  good  fortune  to  me. — The  Caliph,  however, 
said,  I  have  been  the  means  of  the  accomplishment  of  thy  desire  with  regard  to  the 
Imam  and  the  sheikhs. — Yes,  replied  Abon-Hassan.  And  Alrashid  added,  Perhaps 
something  will  happen  to  thee  that  will  rejoice  thy  heart  more  than  that. — Then  what 
dost  thou  desire  of  me?  said  Abon-Hassan. — My  desire,  answered  Alrashid,  is  to 
be  thy  guest  this  night.  And  at  length  Abon-Hassan  said.  On  the  condition  that 
thou  swear  to  me  by  the  inscription  on  the  seal  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on 
both  of  whom  be  peace!)  that  thou  wilt  not  suffer  thy  Afrites  to  make  sport  with 
me.     And  Alrashid  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

So  Abon-Hassan  took  him  to  his  abode,  and  put  the  food  before  him  and  his  at- 
tendants, and  they  ate  as  much  as  satisfied  them ;  and  when  they  had  finished 
eating,  the  servants  placed  before  them  the  wine  and  exhilarating  beverage,  and 
they  continued  drinking  and  carousing  until  the  wine  rose  into  their  heads.  Abon- 
Hassan  then  said  to  the  Caliph,  0  my  boon-companion,  in  truth  I  am  perplexed  re- 
specting my  case.  It  seemeth  that  I  was  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  that  I  exercised 
authority  and  gave  and  bestowed:  and  truly,  0  my  brother,  it  was  not  a. vision  of 
sleep. — But  the  Caliph  replied.  This  was  the  result  of  confused  dreams.  And  having 
said  this,  he  put  a  piece  of  bhang  into  the  cup,  and  said.  By  my  life,  drink  this  cup. 
— Verily  I  will  drink  it  from  thy  hand,  replied  Abon-Hassan.  So  he  took  the  cup. 
and  when  he  had  drunk  it,  his  head  fell  before  his  feet.  The  Caliph  then  arose  im- 
mediately, and  ordered  his  young  men  to  convey  Abon-Hassan  to  the  palace,  and  to 
lay  him  upon  his  couch,  and  commanded  the  female  slaves  to  stand  around  him  ; 
after  which  he  concealed  himself  in  a  place  where  Abon-Hassan  could  not  see  him, 
and  ordered  a  slave-girl  to  take  her  lute  and  strike  its  chords  over  Abon-Hassan's 
head,  and  desired  the  other  slave-girls  to  play  upon  their  instruments. 

It  was  then  the  close  of  the  night,  and  Abon-Hassan,  awaking,  and  hearing  the 
sounds  of  the  lutes  and  tambourines  and  flutes^,.  and  the  singing  of  the  slave-girls, 
cried  out,  0  my  mother  !  Whereupon  the  slave-girls  answered,  At  thy  service,  0 
Prince  of  the  Faithful !  And  when  he  heard  this,  he  exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High  !  the  Great !  Come  to  my  help  this  night;  for  this 
night  is  more  unlucky  than  the  former ! — He  reflected  upon  all  that  had  happened 
to  him  with  his  mother,  and  how  he  had  beaten  her,  and  how  he  had  been  taken 
into  the  madhouse,  and  he  saw  the  marks  of  the  beating  that  he  had  suffered  there. 
Then  looking  at  the  scene  that  surrounded  him,  he  said.  These  are  all  of  them  of 
the  Genii,  in  the  shapes  of  human  beings  !  I  commit  my  affair  unto  Allah  ! — And 
looking  towards  a  mamlouk  by  his  side,  he  said  to  him.  Bite  my  ear,  that  I  may 
know  if  I  be  asleep  or  awake.  The  mamlouk  said,  How  shall  I  bite  thine  ear,  when 
thou  art  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful?     But  Abon-Hassan  answered,  Do  aa  I  have 


388  ABON-HASSAN   THE   WAG, 

commanded  thee,  or  I  will  strike  off  thy  head.  So  he  bit  it  until  his  teeth  met  to- 
gether, and  Abon-Hassan  uttered  a  loud  shriek.— Alrashid  (who  was  behind  a  cur- 
tain in  a  closet),  and  all  who  were  present,  fell  down  with  laughter,  and  they  said  to 
the  mamlouk.  Art  thou  mad,  that  thou  bitest  the  ear  of  the  Caliph  ?  And  Abon- 
Hassan  said  to  them.  Is  it  not  enough,  0  ye  wretches  of  Genii,  that  hath  befallen 
me?  But  ye  are  not  in  fault:  the  fault  is  your  chief's,  who  transformed  you  from 
the  shapes  of  Genii  into  the  shapes  of  human  beings.  I  implore  help  against  you 
this  night  by  the  Verse  of  the  Throne,  and  the  Chapter  of  Sincerity,  and  the  Two 
Preventives ! — Upon  this  Alrashid  exclaimed  from  behind  the  curtain.  Thou  hast 
killed  us,  0  Abon-Hassan  !  And  Abon-Hassan  recognised  him,  and  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  greeting  him  with  a  prayer  for  the  increase  of  his  glory,  and  the  pro- 
longation of  his  life.  Alrashid  then  clad  him  in  a  rich  dress,  gave  him  a  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold,  and  made  him  one  of  his  chief  boon-companions. 

Abon-Hassan,  after  this,  became  a  greater  favourite  with  the  Caliph  than  all  the 
other  boon-companions,  so  that  he  sat  with  the  Caliph  and  his  wife  the  lady  Zobeide, 
the  daughter  of  Kasim,  and  he  married  her  female  Treasurer,  whose  name  was 
Nouzatalfuad.  With  this  wife  he  resided,  eating  and  drinking  and  enjoying  a 
delightful  life,  until  all  the  money  that  they  possessed  had  gone  ;  whereupon  he  said 
to  her,  0  Nouzatalfuad  !  And  she  answered,  At  thy  service. — I  desire,  said  he,  to 
practise  a  trick  upon  the  Caliph,  and  thou  shalt  practise  a  trick  upon  the  lady 
Zobeide,  and  we  will  obtain  from  them  immediately  two  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and 
two  pieces  of  silk.  Do  what  thou  desirest,  replied  she:  and  what,  she  asked,  is  it? 
He  answered,  We  will  feign  ourselves  dead.  I  will  die  before  thee,  and  lay  myself 
out:  then  do  thou  spread  over  me  a  napkin  of  silk,  and  unfold  my  turban  over  me, 
and  tie  my  toes,  and  put  upon  my  stomach  a  knife  and  a  little  salt ;  after  which, 
dishevel  thy  hair,  and  go  to  thy  lady  Zobeide,  and  tear  thy  vest  and  slap  thy  face, 
and  shriek.  So  she  will  say  to  thee.  What  is  the  matter  with  thee?  And  do  thou 
answer  her.  May  thy  head  long  survive  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag ;  for  he  is  dead ! 
Whereupon  she  will  mourn  for  me,  and  weep,  and  will  order  her  female  Treasurer 
to  give  thee  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  piece  of  silk,  and  will  say  to  thee.  Go, 
prepare  his  corpse  for  burial,  and  convey  it  forth  to  the  grave.  So  thou  shalt  receive 
from  her  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  the  piece  of  silk,  and  come  hither.  And 
when  thou  comest  to  me,  I  will  rise,  and  thou  shalt  lay  thyself  down  in  my  place, 
and  I  will  go  to  the  Caliph,  and  say  to  him.  May  thy  head  long  survive  Nouzatal- 
fuad !  And  I  will  tear  my  vest,  and  pluck  my  beard  ;  upon  which  he  will  mourn 
for  thee,  and  will  say  to  his  Treasurer,  Give  to  Abon-Hassan  a  hundred  pieces  of 
gold,  and  a  piece  of  silk: — and  he  will  say  to  me.  Go,  prepare  her  corpse  for  burial, 
and  convey  it  forth  to  the  grave.  So  I  will  come  to  thee.  —  And  Nouzatalfuad  was 
delighted  with  this,  and  replied.  Truly  this  is  an  excellent  stratagem  ! 

She  forthwith  closed  his  eyes,  and  tied  his  feet,  covered  him  with  the  napkin,  and 
did  all  that  her  master  told  her ;  after  which,  she  tore  her  vest,  uncovered  her  head, 
and  dishevelled  her  hair,  and  went  in  to  the  lady  Zobeide,  shrieking  and  weeping. 
When  the  lady  Zobeide,  therefore,  beheld  her  in  this  condition,  she  said  to  her.  What 
is  this  state  in  which  I  see  thee,  and  what  hath  happened  unto  thee,  and  what  hath 
caused  thee  to  weep?  And  Nouzatalfuad  wept  and  shrieked,  and  said,  0  my  mis- 
tress, may  thy  head  long  survive  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag;  for  he  is  dead.  And  the 
lady  Zobeide  mourned  for  him,  and  said,  Poor  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag!  Then  after 
weeping  for  him  a  while,  she  ordered  the  female  Treasurer  to  give  to  Nouzatalfuad  a 
hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  piece  of  silk,  and  said,  0  Nouzatalfuad,  Go,  prepare 
his  body  for  burial,  and  convey  it  forth.  So  she  took  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold, 
and  the  piece  of  silk,  and,  returning  to  her  abode,  full  of  joy  went  in  to  Abon-Has- 
san, and  acquainted  him  with  what  had  happened  to  her;  upon  which  he  arose  and 
rejoiced,  and  girded  his  waist  and  danced,  and  took  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  with 
the  piece  of  silk,  and  laid  them  up. 

He  then  extended  Nouzatalfuad,  and  did  with  her  as  she  had  done  with  him ;  after 


OR   THE   SLEEPER   AWAKENED. 


389 


Nouzatalfuad  telling  her  story  to  the  Lady  Zobeide. 

which,  he  tore  his  vest  and  plucked  his  beard  and  disordered  his  turban,  and  ran 
without  stopping  until  he  went  in  to  the  Caliph,  who  was  in  his  hall  of  judgment; 
and  in  the  condition  above  described,  he  beat  his  bosom.  So  the  Caliph  said  to  him, 
What  hath  befallen  thee,  0  Abon-Hassan  ?  And  he  wept,  and  said,  Would  that  thy 
boon-companion  had  never  been,  nor  his  hour  come  to  pass!  The  Caliph  therefore 
said  to  him.  Tell  me.  He  replied,  May  thy  head  long  survive,  O  my  lord,  Nouza- 
talfuad!  And  the  Caliph  exclaimed.  There  is  no  deity  but  God! — and  struck  his 
hands  together.  He  then  consoled  Abon-Hassan,  and  said  to  him.  Mourn  not:  I 
will  give  to  thee  a  concubine  in  her  stead.  And  he  ordered  his  Treasurer  to  give 
him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  piece  of  silk.  The  Treasurer  therefore  did  as 
he  was  commanded,  and  the  Caliph  said  to  Abon-Hassan,  Go  prepare  her  corpse  for 
burial,  and  convey  it  forth,  and  make  a  handsome  funeral  for  her.  And  he  took 
what  the  Caliph  gave  him,  and  went  to  his  abode  joyful,  and  going  in  to  Nouzatal- 
fuad,  said  to  her.  Arise ;  for  our  desire  is  accomplished.  She  therefore  arose,  and 
he  put  before  her  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  the  piece  of  silk.  So  she  rejoiced  ; 
and  they  put  these  pieces  of  gold  on  the  other  pieces,  and  the  piece  of  silk  on  the 
former  one,  and  sat  conversing,  and  laughing  at  each  other. 

But  as  to  the  Caliph,  when  Abon-Hassan  parted  from  him,  and  went  with  the  pre- 
tence of  preparing  the  corpse  of  Nouzatalfuad  for  burial,  he  mourned  for  her,  and, 
having  dismissed  the  council,  arose  and  went  in,  leaning  upon  Mesrour  his  Execu- 
tioner, to  console  the  lady  Zobeide  for  the  loss  of  her  slave-girl.  He  found  her,  how- 
ever, sitting  weeping,  and  waiting  for  his  arrival,  that  she  might  console  him  for  the 
loss  of  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag.  The  Caliph  said.  May  thy  head  long  survive  thy 
slave-girl  Nouzatalfuad  !  But  she  replied,  0  my  lord,  Allah  preserve  my  slave-girl ! 
Mayest  thou  long  survive  thy  boon-companion  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag  ;  for  he  is 
dead ! — And  the  Caliph  smiled,  and  said  to  his  eunuch,  0  Mesrour,  verily  women 
are  of  little  sense.  By  Allah,  was  not  Abon-Hassan  just  now  with  me? — Upon  this, 
the  lady  Zobeide  said,  after  uttering  a  laugh  from  an  angry  bosom.  Wilt  thou  not 
give  over  thy  jesting?  Is  not  the  death  of  Abon-Hassan  enough,  but  thou  must 
make  my  slave-girl  to  be  dead,  as  though  we  had  lost  them  both,  and  thou  must  pro- 
nounce me  of  little  sense? — The  Caliph  replied.  Verily,  Nouzatalfuad  is  the  person 
who  is  dead.  And  the  lady  Zobeide  rejoined.  In  truth  he  was  not  with  thee,  nor 
didst  thou  see  him  ;  and  none  was  with  me  just  now  but  Nouzatalfuad,  who  was 
mourning  and  weeping,  with  her  clothes  rent  in  pieces ;  and  I  exhorted  her  to  have 
patience,  and  gave  her  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  a  piece  of  silk ;  and  I  was 
waiting  for  thee  that  I  might  console  thee  for  the  loss  of  thy  boon-companion,  Abon- 
Hassan  the  Wag ;  and  I  was  going  to  send  for  thee.  On  hearing  this,  the  Caliph 
laughed,  and  said,  None  is  dead  but  Nouzatalfuad.  And  the  lady  Zobeide  said.  No 
no,  0  my  lord :  none  is  dead  but  Abon-Hassan.  But  the  Caliph  now  became  en 
raged;  the  vein  between  his  eyes,  which  was  remarkable  in  members  of  the  family 
of  Hashim,  throbbed;  and  he  called  out  to  Mesrour  the  Executioner,  saying  to  him, 


390  ABON-HASSAN   THE   WAG, 

Go  forth  and  repair  to  the  house  of  Abon-IIassan  the  Wag,  and  see  which  of  th* 
two  is  dead. 

Mesrour,  therefore,  went  forth  running.  And  the  Caliph  said  to  the  lady  Zobeide, 
Wilt  thou  lay  me  a  wager?  She  answered,  Yes,  I  will,  and  I  say  that  Abon-IIassan 
is  dead. — And  I,  replied  the  Caliph,  lay  a  wager,  and  say  that  none  is  dead  but 
Nouzatalfuad ;  and  our  wager  shall  be,  that  I  stake  the  Garden  of  Delight  against 
thy  pavilion,  the  Pavilion  of  the  Pictures.  And  they  sat  waiting  for  Mesrour  to  re- 
turn with  the  information. — Now  as  to  Mesrour,  he  ran  without  ceasing  until  he  en- 
tered the  by-street  in  -which  -was  the  house  of  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag.  Abon-Hassan 
•was  sitting  reclining  against  the  window,  and,  turning  his  eyes,  he  saw  Mesrour 
running  along  the  street.  So  he  said  to  Nouzatalfuad,  It  seemeth  that  the  Caliph, 
after  I  went  forth  from  him,  dismissed  the  court,  and  hath  gone  in  to  the  lady  Zo- 
beide to  console  her,  and  that  she,  on  his  arrival,  hath  arisen  and  consoled  him,  and 
said  to  him.  May  God  largely  compensate  thee  for  the  loss  of  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag  t 
— whereupon  the  Caliph  hath  said  to  her.  None  is  dead  but  Nouzatalfuad.  May 
thy  head  long  survive  her! — And  she  hath  replied.  None  is  dead  but  Abon-Hassan 
the  Wag,  thy  boon-companion.  And  he  hath  said  to  her.  None  is  dead  but  Nouzat- 
alfuad. So  they  have  become  obstinate,  and  the  Caliph  hath  been  enraged,  and  they 
have  laid  a  wager,  in  consequence  of  which  Mesrour  the  Executioner  hath  been 
sent  to  see  who  is  dead.  It  is  therefore  the  more  proper  that  thou  lay  thyself  down, 
that -he  may  see  thee,  and  go  and  inform  the  Caliph,  who  will  therefore  believe  my 
assertion. 

Accordingly  Nouzatalfuad  extended  herself ;  Abon-Hassan  covered  her  with  her 
veil,  and  seated  himself  at  her  head,  weeping.  And  lo,  Mesrour  the  eunuch  came 
up  into  the  house  of  Abon-Hassan,  and  saluted  him,  and  saw  Nouzatalfuad  stretched 
out ;  upon  which  he  uncovered  her  face,  and  exclaimed.  There  is  no  deity  but  God ! 
Our  sister  Nouzatalfuad  is  dead  !  How  speedy  was  the  stroke  of  fate  !  May  Allah 
have  mercy  upon  her,  and  acquit  thee  of  responsibility! — He  then  returned,  and  re- 
lated what  had  happened  before  the  Caliph  and  the  lady  Zobeide,  laughing  as  he 
spoke.  So  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  0  thou  accursed,  this  is  not  a  time  for  laughing. 
Tell  us  which  of  them  is  dead. — He  therefore  replied,  By  Allah,  0  my  lord,  verily 
Abon-Hassan  is  well,  and  none  is  dead  but  Nouzatalfuad.  And  upon  this  the  Ca- 
liph said  to  Zobeide,  thou  hast  lost  thy  pavilion  in  thy  play.  And  he  laughed  at 
her,  and  said,  0  Mesrour  relate  to  her  what  thou  sawest.  So  Mesrour  said  to  her, 
In  truth,  0  my  mistress,  I  ran  incessantly  until  I  went  in  to  Abon-Hassan  in  his 
house — whereupon  I  found  Nouzatalfuad  lying  dead,  and  Abon-Hassan  sitting  at  her 
head,  weeping;  and  I  saluted  him  and  consoled  him,  and  seated  myself  by  his  side; 
and,  uncovering  the  face  of  Nouzatalfuad,  I  beheld  her  dead,  with  her  face  swollen, 
I  therefore  said  to  him.  Convey  her  forth  presently  to  the  grave,  that  we  may  pray 
over  her.  And  he  replied.  Yes.  And  I  came,  leaving  him  to  prepare  her  corpse  for 
burial,  in  order  to  inform  you. — Upon  this,  the  Caliph  laughed,  and  said,  Tell  it 
again  and  again  to  thy  mistress,  the  person  of  little  sense.  But  when  the  lady  Zo- 
beide heard  the  words  of  Mesrour,  she  was  enraged,  and  said.  None  is  deficient  in 
sense  but  he  who  believeth  a  slave.  And  she  abused  Mesrour,  while  the  Caliph 
continued  laughing ;  and  Mesrour  was  displeased,  and  said  to  the  Caliph,  He  spoke 
truth  who  said,  that  women  are  deficient  in  sense  and  religion. 

The  lady  Zobeide  then  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  thou  sportest  and  jesteat 
with  me,  and  this  slave  deceiveth  me  fur  the  purpose  of  pleasing  thee ;  but  I  will 
send,  and  see  which  of  them  is  dead.  The  Caliph  replied.  Do  so.  And  she  called  to 
an  old  woman,  a  confidential  slave,  and  said  to  her.  Repair  quickly  to  the  house  of 
Nouzatalfuad,  and  see  who  is  dead,  and  delay  not  thy  return.  And  she  threw  money 
to  her.  So  the  old  woman  went  forth  running;  the  Caliph  and  Mesrour  laughing. 
The  old  woman  ran  without  ceasing  until  she  entered  the  street,  when  Abon-Hassan 
saw  her  and  knew  her;  and  he  said  to  his  wife,  0  Nouzatalfuad,  it  seemeth  that  the 
lady  Zobeide  hath  sent  to  us  to  see  who  is  dead,  and  hath  not  believed  what  Mesrour 


OR   THE    SLEEPER    AWAKENED.  391 

hath  said  respecting  thy  death  ;  wherefore  she  hath  sent  the  old  woman  to  ascertain 
the  truth  of  the  matter.  It  is  therefore  more  proper  now  for  me  to  be  dead,  that  the 
lady  Zobeide  may  believe  thee. 

Then  Abon-Hassan  laid  himself  along,  and  Nouzatalfuad  covered  him,  and  bound 
his  eyes  and  his  feet,  and  seated  herself  at  his  head,  weeping.  And  the  old  woman 
came  in  to  Nouzatalfuad,  and  saw  her  sitting  at  the  head  of  Abon-Hassan,  weeping, 
and  enumerating  his  merits  ;  and  when  Nouzatalfuad  saw  the  old  woman,  she  shrieked, 
and  said  to  her.  See  what  hath  befiillen  me  !  Abon-IIassan  hath  died,  and  left  me 
single  and  solitary!  —  Then  she  shrieked  again,  and  tore  her  clothes  in  pieces,  and 
said  to  the  old  woman,  0  my  mother,  how  good  he  was  !  The  old  woman  replied. 
Truly  thou  art  excusable ;  for  thou  hadst  become  habituated  to  him,  and  he  had  be- 
come habituated  to  thee. — And  knowing  how  Mesrour  had  acted  to  the  Caliph  and 
the  lady  Zobeide,  she  said  to  Neuzatalfuad,  Mesrour  is  about  to  cause  a  quarrel  be- 
tween the  Caliph  and  the  lady  Zobeide. — And  what  is  this  cause  of  quarrel,  0  my 
mother?  said  Nouzatalfuad.  The  old  woman  answered,  0  my  daughter,  Mesrour 
hath  come  to  them  and  told  them  that  thou  wast  dead,  and  that  Abon-IIassan  was 
well. — 0  my  aunt,  replied  Nouzatalfuad,  I  was  just  now  with  my  lady,  and  she  gave 
me  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  piece  of  silk:  and  see  thou  my  condition,  and 
what  hath  befallen  me.  I  am  perplexed  ;  and  what  shall  I  do,  single  and  solitary? 
Would  that  I  had  died,  and  that  he  had  lived  ! — Then  she  wept,  and  the  old  woman 
wept  with  her,  and  advancing,  and  uncovering  the  face  of  Abon-Hassan,  saw  his 
eyes  bound,  and  swollen  from  the  bandage.     And  she  covered  him,  and  said.  Truly, 

0  Nouzatalfuad,  thou  hast  been  afflicted  for  Abon-IIassan.  And  she  consoled  her, 
and  went  forth  from  her,  running  until  she  went  in  to  the  lady  Zobeide,  when  she 
related  to  her  the  story;  on  hearing  which,  the  lady  Zobeide  laughed,  and  said.  Tell 
it  to  the  Caliph,  who  hath  pronounced  me  of  little  sense,  and  caused  this  ill-omened, 
lying  slave  to  behave  arrogantly  towards  me.  But  Mesrour  said.  Verily  this  old 
woman  lieth  ;  for  I  saw  Abon-Hassan  in  good  health,  and  it  was  Nouzatalfuad  who 
was  lying  dead.  The  old  woman  replied.  It  is  thou  who  liest,  and  thou  desirest  to 
excite  a  quarrel  between  the  Caliph  and  the  lady  Zobeide.  Mesrour  rejoined,  None 
lieth  but  thee,  O  ill-omened  old  woman,  and  thy  lady  believeth  thee,  for  she  is  dis- 
ordered in  mind.  And  upon  this,  the  lady  Zobeide  cried  out  at  him,  enraged  at  him 
and  at  his  words  ;  and  she  wept. 

At  length  the  Caliph  said  to  her,  I  lie,  and  my  eunuch  lieth,  and  thou  liest,  and 
thy  female  slave  lieth.  The  right  course,  in  my  opinion,  is  this,  that  we  four  go 
together  to  see  who  among  us  speaketh  truth.     So  Mesrour  said,  Arise  with  us,  that 

1  may  bring  misfortunes  upon  this  ill-omened  old  woman,  and  bastinade  her  for  her 
lying. — 0  thou  imbecile  in  mind  !  exclaimed  the  old  woman :  Is  thy  sense  like  mine  ? 
Nay,  thy  sense  is  like  that  of  the  hen. — And  Mesrour  was  enraged  at  her  words, 
and  would  have  laid  violent  hands  upon  her  ;  but  the  lady  Zobeide,  having  pushed 
him  away  from  her,  said  to  him.  Immediately  will  her  veracity  be  distinguished 
from  thine,  and  her  lying  from  thine.  They  all  four  arose,  laying  wagers  with  each 
other,  and  went  forth,  and  walked  from  the  gate  of  the  palace  until  they  entered  the 
gate  of  the  street  in  which  dwelt  Abon-Hassan  the  Wag,  when  Abon-Hassan  saw 
them,  and  said  to  his  wife  Nouzatalfuad,  In  truth,  everything  that  is  slippery  is  not 
a  pancake,  and  not  every  time  that  the  jar  is  struck  doth  it  escape  unbroken.  It 
seemeth  that  the  old  woman  hath  gone  and  related  the  story  to  her  lady,  and  ac- 
quainted her  with  our  case,  and  that  she  hath  contended  with  Mesrour  the  eunuch, 
and  they  have  laid  wagers  respecting  our  death :  so  that  the  Caliph  and  the  eunuch 
and  the  lady  Zobeide  and  the  old  woman  have  all  four  come  to  us. — And  upon  this 
Nouzatalfuad  arose  from  her  extended  position,  and  said,  What  is  to  be  done  ?  Abon- 
IIassan  answered  her.  We  will  both  feign  ourselves  dead,  and  lay  ourselves  out,  and 
hold  in  our  breath.     And  she  assented  to  his  proposal. 

They  both  stretched  themselves  along,  bound  their  feet,  closed  their  eyes,  and  held 
in  their  breath,  lying  with   their  heads  in   the  direction  of  the  Kebla,  and  covered 


392  ABON-HASSAN   THE    WAfl. 

themselves  with  the  veil.  Then  the  Caliph  and  Zobeide  and  Mesrour  and  the  old 
woman  entered  the  house  of  Abon-IIassan  the  Wag,  and  found  him  and  his  wife 
extended  as  if  they  were  dead.  And  when  the  lady  Zobeide  saw  them,  she  wept, 
and  said,  They  continued  to  assert  the  death  of  my  female  slave  until  she  actually 
died  ;  but  I  imagine  that  the  death  of  Abon-Hassan  so  grieved  her  that  she  died 
after  him  in  consequence  of  it.  The  Caliph,  however,  said.  Do  not  prevent  me  with 
thy  talk  and  assertions  ;  for  she  died  before  Abon-Hassan,  because  Abon-Hassan 
came  to  me  with  his  clothes  torn  in  pieces,  and  with  his  beard  plucked,  and  striking 
his  bosom  with  two  clods;  and  I  gave  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  with  a  piece 
of  silk,  and  said  to  him,  Go,  prepare  her  body  for  burial,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  con- 
cubine better  than  her,  and  she  shall  serve  in  her  stead  :  —  and  it  appears  that  her 
loss  was  insupportable  to  him  ;  so  he  died  after  her.  I  have  therefore  overcome  thee, 
and  gained  thy  stake. —  But  the  lady  Zobeide  replied  in  many  words,  and  a  long 
dispute  ensued  between  them. 

The  Caliph  then  seated  himself  at  the  heads  of  the  two  pretended  corpses,  and 
said,  By  the  tomb  of  the  Apostle  of  Alhih  (God  favour  and  preserve  him  !),  and  by 
the  tombs  of  my  ancestors,  if  any  one  would  acquaint  me  which  of  them  died  before 
the  other,  I  would  give  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  And  when  Abon-Hassan 
heard  these  words  of  the  Caliph,  he  quickly  rose  and  sprang  up,  and  said.  It  was  I 
who  died  first,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  Give  me  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and 
so  acquit  thyself  of  the  oath  that  thou  hast  sworn. — Then  Nouzatalfuad  arose  and 
sat  up  before  the  Caliph  and  the  lady  Zobeide,  who  rejoiced  at  their  safety.  But 
Zobeide  chid  her  female  slave.  The  Caliph  and  the  lady  Zobeide  congratulated  them 
both  on  their  safety,  and  knew  that  this  pretended  death  was  a  stratagem  for  the 
purpose  of  obtaining  the  gold  :  so  the  lady  Zobeide  said  to  Nouzatalfuad,  Thou 
shouldst  have  asked  of  me  what  thou  desiredst  without  this  proceeding,  and  not  have 
tortured  my  heart  on  thine  account. — I  was  ashamed,  0  my  mistress,  replied  Nouzat- 
alfuad.— But  as  to  the  Caliph,  he  was  almost  senseless  from  laughing,  and  said,  0 
Abon-Hassan,  thou  hast  not  ceased  to  be  a  wag,  and  to  do  wonders  and  strange  acts. 
Abon-Hassan  replied,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  this  stratagem  I  practised  in  conse- 
quence of  the  dissipation  of  the  wealth  that  I  received  from  thy  hand ;  for  I  was 
ashamed  to  ask  of  thee  a  second  time.  When  I  was  alone,  I  was  tenacious  of  wealth 
but  since  thou  hast  married  me  to  this  female  slave  who  is  with  me,  if  I  possessed 
all  thy  wealth  I  should  make  an  end  of  it.  And  when  all  that  was  in  my  possession 
was  exhausted,  I  practised  this  stratagem,  by  means  of  which  I  obtained  from  thee 
these  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  piece  of  silk,  all  of  which  are  an  alms  of  our 
lord.  And  now  make  haste  in  giving  me  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  acquit 
thyself  of  thine  oath. 

At  this  the  Caliph  and  the  lady  Zobeide  both  laughed,  and  after  they  had  returned 
to  the  palace,  the  Caliph  gave  to  Abon-Hassan  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  saying 
to  him,  Receive  them  as  a  gratuity  on  account  of  thy  safety  from  death.  In  like 
manner  also  the  lady  Zobeide  gave  to  Nouzatalfuad  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  saying 
to  her  the  same  words.  Then  the  Caliph  allotted  to  Abon-Hassan  an  ample  salary 
and  ample  supplies,  and  he  ceased  not  to  live  with  his  wife  in  joy  and  happiness, 
until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights,  and  the  separator  of  com- 
panions, the  devastator  of  palaces  and  houses,  and  the  replenisher  of  the  graves. 


MAHOMED  ALI   THE  JEWELLER.  393 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Eighty-fifth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the 
Two  Hundred  and  Ninety-fourth. 


THE  STORY  OF  MAHOMED  ALI  THE  JEWELLER,  OR  THE  FALSE 
CALIPH. 

It  is  related  that  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  was  troubled  one  night  with  an 
exceeding  restlessness,  in  consequence  of  which  he  summoned  his  Vizier  Giafar  the 
Barmecide,  and  said  to  him.  My  bosom  is  contracted,  and  I  desire  this  night  to 
amuse  myself  in  the  streets  of  Bagdad,  and  to  observe  the  employments  of  the 
people ;  but  on  the  condition  that  we  disguise  ourselves  in  the  garb  of  merchants,  so 
that  no  one  may  know  us.  And  the  Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  They  arose 
immediately,  and  having  pulled  off  the  magnificent  apparel  with  which  they  were 
then  clad,  put  on  the  attire  of  merchants.  And  they  were  three ;  the  Caliph,  and 
Giafar,  and  Mesrour  the  Executioner. 

They  walked  from  place  to  place  until  they  arrived  at  the  Tigris,  when  they  saw 
an  old  man  sitting  in  a  boat ;  and  approaching  him,  they  saluted  him,  and  said  to 
him,  0  sheikh,  we  desire  of  thy  favour  and  kindness  that  thou  wouldst  amuse  us  in 
this  thy  boat,  and  take  this  piece  of  gold  as  thy  hire.  But  the  sheikh  said,  "Who  is 
he  that  can  amuse  himself  here?  For  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  embarketh  every 
night  on  the  river  Tigris  on  board  a  small  vessel,  attended  by  a  crier,  who  pro- 
claimeth  and  saith,  0  all  ye  companies  of  men,  great  and  small,  noble  and  plebeian, 
young  men  and  youths,  whosoever  embarketh  in  a  vessel  and  traverseth  the  Tigris, 
I  will  strike  off  his  head,  or  hang  him  upon  the  mast  of  his  vessel ! — Ye  have  now 
almost  encountered  him :  for  his  bark  is  approaching.  —  So  the  Caliph  and  Giafar 
said,  0  sheikh,  take  these  two  pieces  of  gold,  and  convey  us  into  one  of  those  arches, 
that  we  may  remain  there  until  the  bark  of  the  Caliph  hath  passed.  And  the  sheikh 
replied,  Give  me  the  gold,  and  our  reliance  be  upon  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 
He  took  the  gold,  set  his  boat  afloat  with  them,  and  proceeded  a  little  way  ;  and  lo, 
the  bark  approached  from  the  bosom  of  the  Tigris,  and  in  it  were  lighted  candles 
and  cressets.  The  sheikh  therefore  said  to  them.  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  the  Caliph 
passed  along  the  river  every  night?  Then  he  began  to  say,  0  excellent  Protector, 
remove  not  the  veils  of  thy  protection  !  He  conveyed  them  into  an  arch,  and  spread 
a  black  cloth  over  them  ;  and  they  gratified  their  curiosity  by  gazing  at  the  spectacle 
from  beneath  the  cloth.  They  beheld  at  the  head  of  the  bark  a  man  having  in  his 
hand  a  cresset  of  red  gold,  in  which  he  was  burning  aloes-wood :  he  wore  a  vest  of 
red  satin  ;  upon  one  of  his  shoulders  was  a  piece  of  yellow  embroidered  stuff;  upon 
his  head  a  muslin  turban  ;  and  upon  his  other  shoulder  a  bag  of  green  silk  full  of 
aloes-wood,  from  which  he  supplied  the  cresset  with  fuel  instead  of  using  common 
rirewood.  They  saw  likewise  another  man,  at  the  stern  of  the  bark,  clad  as  the 
former  one,  and  having  in  his  hand  a  similar  cresset.  And  there  were  also  in  the 
bark  two  hundred  mamlouks,  standing  on  the  right  and  left;  and  in  it  was  placed  a 
throne  of  red  gold,  upon  which  was  sitting  a  handsome  young  man,  like  the  moon, 
clad  in  a  dress  of  black,  with  embroidery  of  yellow  gold.     Before  him  was  a  man 


394  MAHOMED    ALI   THE   JEWELLER. 

resembling  tne  Vizier  Giafar,  and  at  his  head  stood  a  eunuch  like  Mesrour,  with  a 
drawn  sword  in  his  hand.     And  they  saw  moreover  twenty  boon-companions. 

Now  when  the  Caliph  beheld  this,  he  said,  0  Giafar.  The  Vizier  replied,  At  thy 
service,  O  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And  the  Caliph  said,  Probably  this  is  one  of  my 
sons;  either  Mamoun,  or  Emin.  Then  gazing  at  the  young  man  as  he  sat  on  the 
throne,  he  beheld  him  to  be  of  consummate  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  justness  of 
stature;  and  after  attentively  observing  him,  he  looked  towards  the  Vizier,  and  said, 

0  Vizier. — At  thy  service,  replied  Giafar.  And  the  Caliph  said.  By  Allah,  this 
person  sitting  on  the  throne  hath  not  omitted  anything  appertaining  to  the  distinc- 
tions of  the  Caliph  :  and  he  who  is  before  him  is  as  though  he  were  thyself,  0  Giafar; 
and  the  eunuch  who  is  standing  at  his  head,  as  though  he  were  Mesrour ;  and  these 
boon-companions  are  as  though  they  were  my  boon-companions.  My  reason  is  con- 
founded at  this  affair !    By  Allah,  I  am  full  of  wonder  at  this  event,  0  Giafar ! — And 

1  also,  by  Allah,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  replied  the  Vizier. — The  bark  then  passed 
on  until  it  disappeared  from  before  their  eyes  ;  whereupon  the  sheikh  put  forth  with 
his  boat,  and  said,  Praise  be  to  God  for  our  safety,  and  that  no  one  hath  fallen  in 
■with  lis!  And  the  Caliph  said,  0  sheikh,  doth  the  Caliph  every  night  embark  on 
the  Tigris  ?  The  sheikh  answered.  Yes,  0  my  master  ;  and  for  a  whole  year  he  hath 
continued  to  do  so.  And  the  Caliph  said,  0  sheikh,  we  desire  of  thy  favour  that 
thou  wouldst  wait  for  us  here  next  night,  and  we  will  give  thee  five  pieces  of  gold  ; 
for  we  are  strangers,  and  wish  to  amuse  ourselves,  and  we  are  lodging  in  [the 
quarter  of]  Khandak.     The  sheikh  replied,  I  am  entirely  at  your  service. 

Then  the  Caliph  and  Giafar  and  Mesrour  departed  from  the  sheikh  and  returned 
to  the  palace,  and  having  taken  off  their  merchants'  attire,  and  put  on  the  apparel 
of  state,  each  seated  himself  in  his  place.  The  Emirs  and  Viziers  came  in,  and  the 
chamberlains  and  lieutenants,  and  the  council  was  fully  attended.  And  when  the 
day  closed,  and  all  ranks  of  the  people  had  dispersed,  each  having  gone  his  way,  the 
Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  said,  0  Giafar,  arise  with  us  that  we  may  amuse  ourselves 
with  the  sight  of  the  other  Caliph.     Whereupon  Giafar  and  Mesrour  laughed. 

They  clad  themselves  again  in  the  attire  of  merchants,  and  pursued  their  way 
through  the  city,  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  hilarity.  They  went  out  from  a  private 
door;  and  when  they  arrived  at  the  Tigris,  they  found  the  sheikh,  the  owner  of  the 
boat,  sitting  waiting  for  them.  So  they  embarked  with  him  in  the  boat;  and  they 
had  not  long  sat  with  him  when  the  bark  of  the  False  Caliph  approached  them  ;  and 
looking  attentively  at  it,  they  saw  in  it  two  hundred  mamlouks.  different  from  those 
of  the  preceding  night,  and  the  bearers  of  cressets  proclaiming  as  usual.  And  the 
Caliph  said,  0  Vizier,  this  is  such  a  thing  that  if  I  heard  of  it  I  could  not  believe  it; 
but  1  have  beheld  it  with  my  eyes.  He  then  said  to  the  owner  of  the  boat  in  which 
they  were  sitting.  Take,  0  sheikh,  these  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and  convey  us  towards 
them,  for  they  are  in  the  light,  and  we  are  in  the  dark  ;  so  we  shall  see  them,  and 
amuse  ourselves  by  observing  them,  and  they  will  not  see  us.  The  sheikh  therefore 
took  the  ten  pieces  of  gold,  and,  steering  his  boat  towards  them,  proceeded  in  the 
gloom  that  surrounded  the  bark  of  the  False  Caliph,  until  they  arrived  at  the 
gardens,  where  they  beheld  a  walled  enclosure.  At  this  enclosure  the  bark  of  the 
False  Caliph  anchored  :  and  lo,  young  men  were  standing  there,  with  a  mule  saddled 
and  bridled  ;  and  the  False  Caliph,  having  landed,  mounted  the  mule,  and  proceeded 
in  the  midst  of  the  boon-companions  ;  the  cresset-bearers  vociferating,  and  the  house- 
hold attendants  busying  themselves  in  performing  their  several  services  for  the  False 
Caliph. 

Haroun  Alrashid  then  landed,  together  with  Giafar  and  Mesrour,  and  they  made 
their  way  through  the  midst  of  the  mamlouks,  and  walked  on  before  them.  But  the 
cresset-bearers,  looking  towards  them,  and  beholding  three  persons,  whose  dress  was 
that  of  the  merchants,  and  who  appeared  to  be  strangers,  were  displeased  with  them, 
and  they  made  a  sign,  and  caused  them  to  he  brought  before  the  False  Caliph,  who, 
when  he  saw  them,  said  to  them,  How  came  ye  to  this  place,  and  what  brought  you 


MAHOMED    ALI    THE    JEWELLER.  395 

at  this  time  ?  So  they  answered,  0  our  lord,  we  are  a  party  of  foreign  merchants . 
we  arrived  this  day,  and  came  forth  to-night  to  walk,  and  lo,  ye  approached,  and 
these  persons  came  and  laid  hold  upon  us,  and  placed  us  before  thee.  This  is  our 
story. —  And  the  False  Caliph  replied.  No  harm  shall  befall  you,  as  ye  are 
strangers  :  but  had  ye  been  of  Bagdad  I  had  struck  off  your  heads.  Then  looking 
towards  his  Vizier,  he  said  to  him.  Take  these  persons  with  thee  ;  for  they  are  our 
guests  this  night.  And  the  Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0  our  lord.  After  this,  the 
False  Caliph  proceeded,  and  they  with  him,  until  they  arrived  at  a  lofty  and  grand 
palace,  strongly  constructed,  such  as  no  Sultan  hath  possessed,  rising  from  the  dust, 
and  reaching  to  the  skirts  of  the  clouds.  Its  door  was  of  Indian  wood,  adorned  with 
brilliant  gold;  and  through  this  door  one  passed  into  a  saloon  with  a  fountain  and 
slightly  elevated  platform,  and  carpets,  and  cushions  covered  with  brocade,  and  small 
pillows,  and  long  mattrasses.  In  it  a  curtain  was  hung ;  and  there  was  furniture 
that  astonished  the  minds  of  the  spectators,  and  that  one  would  fail  to  describe. 

The  False  Caliph,  having  entered,  together  with  the  company,  proceeded  and  seated 
himself  upon  a  throne  of  jewelled  gold,  upon  which  was  a  prayer-carpet  of  yellow 
silk  :  and  when  the  boon-companions  had  taken  their  seats,  and  the  executioner  had 
stationed  himself  before  his  master,  the  servants  spread  the  table,  and  the  party  ate. 
The  dishes  were  then  removed,  and  the  hands  were  washed,  and  the  attendants 
brought  the  wine  service.  The  bottles  and  the  cups  were  arranged,  and  the  wine 
circulated  until  it  came  to  the  Caliph  Ilaroun  Alrashid  ;  but  he  refused  to  drink; 
whereupon  the  False  Caliph  said  to  Giafar,  Wherefore  doth  not  thy  companion  drink  ? 

0  my  lord,  answered  the  Vizier,  for  a  long  time  he  hath  not  drunk  of  this  beverage. 
The  False  Caliph  therefore  said,  I  have  another  beverage,  suitable  to  thy  companion  ; 
it  is  a  kind  of  cider.  And  he  gave  orders  to  bring  it.  So  they  brought  it  imme- 
diately:  and  the  False  Caliph,  advancing  towards  Haroun  Alrashid,  and  standing 
before  him,  said  to  him.  Whenever  the  turn  cometh  round  to  thee,  drink  of  this 
beverage.  They  then  continued  merrily  taking  the  cups  of  wine,  until  it  rose  into 
their  heads  and  overpowered,  their  reason  ;  when  the  Caliph  Ilaroun  Alrashid  said 
to  his  Vizier,  0  Giafar,  by  Allah,  we  have  not  vessels  like  these.     Would,  then,  that 

1  knew  the  history  of  this  young  man!  —  But  while  they  were  talking  together 
privately,  the  young  man  cast  a  glance  towards  them,  and  found  the  Vizier  whisper- 
ing to  the  Caliph  ;  so  he  said.  Whispering  is  an  act  of  rudeness.  The  Vizier  there- 
fore replied.  No  rudeness  is  committed  here  :  but  this  my  companion  saith.  Verily 
I  have  travelled  into  most  countries,  and  caroused  with  the  greatest  of  Kings,  and 
associated  with  the  warriors,  yet  I  have  not  witnessed  an  entertainment  better  con- 
ducted than  this,  nor  experienced  a  more  joyous  night  than  the  present;  save  that 
the  people  of  Bagdad  say.  Drink  without  music  sometimes  occasioneth  the  headache. 

And  when  the  False  Caliph  heard  these  words,  he  smiled,  and  became  cheerful. 
He  had  in  his  hand  a  rod,  and  he  struck  a  round  cushion  with  it;  whereupon  a  door 
opened,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  a  eunuch  bearing  a  throne  of  ivory  inlaid  with 
brilliant  gold,  and  followed  by  a  damsel  of  surpassing  beauty  and  loveliness  and 
elegance  and  consummate  grace.  The  eunuch  placed  the  throne,  and  the  damsel 
seated  herself  upon  it,  resembling  the  sun  shining  forth  in  the  clear  sky.  In  her 
hand  was  a  lute  of  Indian  manufacture,  and  she  placed  it  in  her  lap,  and  leaning 
over  it  as  the  mother  leaneth  over  her  child,  sang  to  it.  But  first,  with  emotion,  she 
played  over  four-and-twenty  airs,  so  that  she  astonished  the  minds  of  her  hearers. 

And  when  the  False  Caliph  heard  the  verses  sung  by  the  damsel,  he  uttered  a 
great  cry,  and  rent  the  dress  that  was  upon  him  to  the  skirt;  whereupon  a  curtain 
was  let  down  over  him,  and  the  attendants  brought  him  another  dress,  more  hand- 
some than  the  former  one,  and  he  put  it  on. 

He  then  sat  as  before;  and  when  the  cup  came  to  him,  he  again  struck  the  rod 
upon  the  round  cushion  ;  and  lo,  a  door  opened,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  a 
eunuch  bearing  a  throne  of  gold,  and  behind  him  was  a  damsel  more  beautiful  than 
the  first  damsel.     And  she  seated  herself  upon  the  throne,  having  in  her  hand  a  lute 


396  MAHOMED    ALI   THE    JEWELLER. 

that  would  sadden  the  heart  of  the  envious  ;  and  she  sang  to  it.  And  the  young 
man  on  hearing  her  song,  again  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  tore  the  clothes  that  were 
upon  him  to  the  skirt ;  and  the  curtain  was  let  down  over  him,  and  they  brought  him 
another  suit,  which  he  put  on. 

Then  composing  himself  upon  his  seat,  he  resumed  his  former  state,  entering 
cheerfully  into  conversation  ;  and  when  the  cup  came  to  him,  he  struck  the  round 
cushion,  and  there  came  forth  a  eunuch  followed  by  a  damsel  handsomer  than  the 
one  who  had  just  preceded  her.  The  eunuch  had  with  him  a  throne,  and  the  dam- 
sel seated  herself  upon  it,  with  a  lute  in  her  hand,  and  sang.  And  again,  when  the 
young  man  heard  her  song,  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  rending  the  clothes  that  were 
upon  him,  and  they  let  down  the  curtain  over  him,  and  brought  him  other  clothes. 

After  this,  he  resumed  his  former  state  with  his  boon-companions,  and  the  cupa 
circulated  ;  and  when  the  cup  came  to  him,  he  struck  the  round  cushion  as  before ; 
whereupon  the  door  opened  and  a  page  came  forth  from  it  with  a  throne,  and  be- 
hind him  was  a  damsel.  He  set  the  throne  for  her,  and  she  seated  herself  upon  it, 
and,  taking  the  lute,  tuned  it,  and  again  sang.  And  the  False  Caliph,  when  he  had 
heard  the  damsel's  song,  again  uttered  a  great  cry,  tore  the  clothes  that  were  upon 
him,  and  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  upon  which  the  attendants  would  have  let  fall  the  cur- 
tain over  him  as  usual ;  but  its  cords  were  immovable  ;  and  Haroun  Alrashid, 
looking  towards  the  young  man,  beheld  upon  his  body  the  marks  of  beating  with 
sticks.  So  after  he  had  looked,  and  certified  himself  of  the  fact,  he  said  to  his 
Vizier,  0  Giafar,  by  Allah,  he  is  a  comely  young  man,  but  an  abominable  thief. — 
How,  said  Giafar,  hast  thou  discovered  that,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful  ?  The  Caliph 
rejoined,  Didst  thou  not  see  upon  his  sides  the  scars  occasioned  by  whips? 

Then  the  attendants  let  down  the  curtain  over  their  master,  and  brought  him 
another  suit  of  clothing;  and  after  he  had  put  it  on,  he  composed  himself  on  his  seat 
as  at  first,  with  his  boon-companions  ;  but  looking  towards  the  Caliph  and  Giafar, 
he  saw  them  conversing  together  privately  ;  whereupon  he  said  to  them,  What  is  the 
news,  0  ye  two  young  men  ?  So  Giafar  answered,  0  our  lord,  good  news ;  save  that 
it  is  a  fact  not  concealed  from  thee  that  this  my  companion  is  of  the  merchants,  and 
he  hath  journeyed  to  all  the  great  cities  and  the  regions  of  the  earth,  and  hath  as- 
sociated with  the  Kings  and  with  the  best  of  men,  and  he  saith  to  me.  Verily  that 
which  hath  been  done  by  our  lord  the  Caliph  this  night  is  excessive  extravagance, 
and  I  have  not  seen  any  one  do  as  he  hath  done  in  all  the  countries  of  the  earth  ; 
for  he  hath  rent  such  and  such  suits  of  apparel ;  each  suit  of  the  value  of  a  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold ;  and  this  is  exceeding  extravagance. — But  the  False  Caliph  re- 
plied. What  is  this?  Verily  the  wealth  is  mine,  and  the  stufi"  is  mine  ;  and  this  is 
one  of  the  means  of  bestowing  presents  upon  the  servants  and  other  attendants  ;  for 
every  suit  of  apparel  that  I  have  rent  is  for  one  of  the  boon-companions  who  are 
present,  and  I  have  assigned  to  them  with  each  suit  of  apparel,  five  hundred  pieces 
of  gold.     The  Vizier  therefore  said,  Excellently  hast  thou  done,  0  our  lord. 

The  cups  then  circulated  among  them  again,  and  the  wine  was  pleasant  to  them, 
and  Alrashid,  addressing  his  Vizier,  said,  0  Giafar,  inquire  of  him  respecting  the 
marks  of  the  beating  upon  his  sides,  that  we  may  see  what  he  will  say  in  his 
answer.  Giafar  replied.  Hasten  not,  0  our  lord,  but  soothe  thy  mind ;  for  patience 
is  more  becoming.  The  Caliph,  however,  said,  By  my  head,  and  by  the  tomb  of 
Abbas,  if  thou  ask  him  not,  I  will  assuredly  stop  thy  breath.  And  upon  this,  the 
young  man  looked  towards  the  Vizier  and  said,  What  is  the  matter  with  thee  and 
thy  companion,  that  ye  are  whispering  together?  Acquaint  me  with  the  subject  of 
your  conversation. — Giafar  answered.  It  is  good.  But  the  young  man  replied,  I  con- 
jure thee  by  Allah  that  you  tell  me  your  story,  and  conceal  from  me  nothing  of 
your  affair.  So  the  Vizier  said,  0  ray  lord,  he  saw  upon  thy  sides  the  marks  occa- 
sioned by  whips  and  sticks,  and  he  wondered  thereat  extremely,  and  said,  How  can 
the  Caliph  be  beaten  ?  And  he  desireth  to  know  the  cause. — And  when  the  young 
man  heard  this,  he  smiled,  and  said.  Know  that  my  story  is  extraordinary,  and  my 


MAHOMED    ALI    THE    JEWELLER. 


397 


case  is  wonderful ;  if  it  were  engraved  upon  the  understanding,  it  would  be  a  lesson 
to  him  who  would  be  admonished.     Then  he  groaned,  and  said: — 

My  story  is  wonderful,  surpassing  all  wonders.  I  swear  by  love  that  my  ways 
have  become  strait  to  me.  If  then  ye  desire  to  hear  me,  listen  ;  and  let  every  one 
in  this  assembly  be  silent.  Attend  to  my  words  ;  for  they  are  significant,  and  my 
speech  is  true  ;  it  is  not  false.  I  am  a  victim  of  desire,  and  of  ardent  passion,  and 
my  murderess  surpasseth  all  the  high-bosomed  damsels.  She  hath  a  deep  black  eye, 
like  an  Indian  sword,  and  she  shooteth  arrows  from  the  bows  of  her  eyebrows.  Now 
my  heart  feeleth  that  among  you  is  our  Imam,  the  Caliph  of  this  age,  and  of  excel- 
lent descent;  and  that  the  second  of  you  is  he  who  is  called  Giafar,  his  Vizier,  a  lord 
and  the  son  of  a  lord  ;  and  that  the  third  of  you  is  Mesrour,  his  Executioner :  then 
if  this  my  assertion  be  not  false,  I  have  attained  the  whole  of  what  I  wish  by  this 
occurrence ;  and  in  every  respect  my  heart  is  rejoiced.  But  when  they  heard  these 
words  from  his  mouth,  Giafar  swore  to  him,  making.use  of  an  ambiguous  oath,  that 
they  were  not  the  persons  whom  he  had  mentioned.  And  upon  this,  the  young  man 
laughed,  and  said, 

Know,  O  my  lords,  that  I  am  not  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  but  that  I  have  only 
called  myself  by  this  title  to  obtain  what  I  desire  from  the  sons  of  the  city.  In 
truth,  my  name  is  Mahomed  Ali  the  son  of  Ali  the  jeweller.  My  father  was  of  the 
higher  order  of  society,  and  he  died,  and  left  to  me  great  wealth,  in  gold  and  silver, 
and  pearls  and  coral,  and  rubies  and  chrysolites  and  other  jewels,  as  well  as  landed 
property,  baths  and  fields,  and  gardens,  and  shops  and  ovens,  and  male  black  slaves, 
and  female  slaves  and  pages.  And  it  happened  one  day,  that  I  was  sitting  in  my 
shop,  with  my  servants  and  dependants  around  me,  and  lo,  a  damsel  approached, 
mounted  upon  a  mule,  and  attended  by  three  other  damsels,  like  moons ;  and  when 
she  came  up  to  me,  she  alighted  at  my  shop,  and  seating  herself  with  me,  said  to 
me.  Art  thou  Mahomed  the  Jeweller?  I  answered  her.  Yes,  I  am  he,  thy  mamlouk 
and  thy  slave.  And  she  said.  Hast  thou  a  necklace  of  jewels  suitable  to  me? — 0  my 
mistress,  I  answered,  what  I  have  I  will  exhibit  to  thee  and  place  before  thee ;  and 
if  any  of  them  please  thee,  it  will  be  of  the  good  fortune  of  the  mamlouk  ;  and  if 
none  of  them  please  thee,  of  his  ill  luck.  I  had  a  hundred  necklaces  of  jewels,  and 
I  exhibited  to  her  all  of  them:  but  none  of  those  pleased  her,  and  she  said,  I  desire 
better  than  I  have  seen.     Now  I  had  a  small  necklace  which  my  father  had  bought 


The  la-Jjr  Dunm  examining  the  Necklace. 


398  MAHOMED   ALI   THE   JEWELLER. 

for  a  hundted  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  the  like  of  it  existed  not  in  the  possession 
of  any  one  among  the  great  Sultans :  so  I  said  to  her,  I  have  yet  a  necklace  of  fine 
stones  and  jewels,  the  like  of  which  no  one  of  the  great  or  of  the  small  possesseth. 
And  she  replied,  Show  it  to  me.  And  when  she  saw  it,  she  said,  This  is  the  thing 
that  I  desire,  and  it  is  what  I  have  wished  for  all  my  life.  Then  she  said  to  me, 
What  is  its  price?  1  answered  her,  Its  price  to  my  father  was  a  hundred  thousand 
pieces  of  gold.  And  she  replied.  And  thou  shalt  have  five  thousand  pieces  of  gold 
as  profit.  I  said,  0  my  mistress,  the  necklace  and  its  owner  are  at  thy  service,  and 
there  is  no  opposition  on  my  part.  But  she  replied,  Thou  must  receive  a  profit,  and 
thou  wilt  still  be  entitled  to  abundant  thanks.  She  then  immediately  arose,  quickly 
mounted  the  mule,  and  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  in  the  name  of  Allah,  do  me  the 
favour  to  accompany  us,  that  thou  mayest  receive  the  price  ;  for  this  day  is  to  us  like 
milk. 

I  therefore  arose,  and,  having  closed  the  shop,  proceeded  with  her  in  security  un- 
til we  arrived  at  the  house  ;  and  I  found  it  to  be  a  mansion  displaying  evident  signs 
of  prosperity  :  its  door  was  adorned  with  gold  and  silver  and  ultramarine.  The  dam- 
sel alighted,  and  entered  the  house,  ordering  me  to  seat  myself  upon  the  bench  at 
the  door,  until  the  money-changer  should  come.  So  I  sat  awhile  at  the  door ;  and 
lo,  a  damsel  came  forth  to  me,  and  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  enter  the  vestibule,  for 
thy  sitting  at  the  door  is  dishonourable.  I  arose,  therefore,  and  entered  the  vesti- 
bule, where  1  seated  myself  upon  the  wooden  sofa;  and  while  I  was  sitting  there,  a 
damsel  came  forth  and  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  my  mistress  saith  to  thee,  Enter, 
and  seat  thyself  at  the  door  of  the  saloon,  to  receive  thy  money.  Accordingly  I 
arose,  and  entered  the  house,  and  when  I  had  sat  a  moment,  I  beheld  a  throne  of 
gold,  with  a  silk  curtain  over  it,  and  the  curtain  was  raised,  and  there  appeared  be- 
neath it  the  damsel  who  had  purchased  of  me  the  necklace.  She  had  displayed  a 
face  like  the  disk  of  the  moon,  and  the  necklace  was  upon  her  neck.  My  reason 
was  disturbed,  and  my  mind  was  confounded  at  the  sight  of  that  damsel,  by  reason 
of  her  excessive  beauty  and  loveliness.  And  when  she  beheld  me,  she  rose  from 
the  throne,  and  came  towards  me,  saying  to  me,  0  light  of  my  eye,  is  every  one  who 
is  comely  like  thee  without  sympathy  for  his  beloved  ? — 0  my  mistress,  I  replied,  all 
beauty  is  centred  in  thee,  and  is  one  of  thy  charms.  And  she  said,  0  Jeweller, 
know  that  I  love  thee,  and  I  did  not  believe  that  I  could  bring  thee  into  my  abode. 
Then  she  bent  over  me,  and  I  kissed  her,  and  she  kissed  me;  after  which  she  said 
to  me,  I  am  a  viro-in  whom  no  man  hath  approached,  and  I  am  not  unknown  in  the 
city.  Knowest  thou  who  I  am  ? — I  answered.  No,  by  Allah,  0  my  mistress.  And 
she  rejoined,  I  am  the  lady  Dunia,  the  daughter  of  Yahya  the  son  of  Kaled  the 
Barmecide,  and  my  brother  is  Giafar,  the  Vizier  of  the  Caliph.  So  when  I  heard 
these  her  words,  I  drew  back  from  her,  saying  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  am  not  in 
fault  in  making  advances  towards  thee.  Thou  excitedst  my  desire. — But  she  re- 
plied. No  harm  shall  befall  thee  ;  and  thou  must  attain  thy  wish  by  the  means  that 
God  approveth  ;  for  the  disposal  of  myself  is  in  my  own  power,  and  the  Cadi  shall 
officiate  for  me  in  performing  the  ceremony  of  my  contract.  I  desire  to  be  unto  thee 
a  wife,  and  that  thou  be  to  me  a  husband 

She  then  called  for  the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses,  and  busily  occupied  herself  in  pre- 
paring; and  when  they  came,  she  said  to  them,  Mahomed  Ali  the  son  of  AH  the 
Jeweller  hath  demanded  me  in  marriage,  and  given  me  this  necklace  as  my  dowry ; 
and  I  have  accepted  his  proposal,  and  consented.  So  they  performed  the  contract 
of  my  marriage  to  her,  and  T  took  her  as  my  wife.  And  after  this  she  caused  the 
wine  vessels  to  be  brought,  and  the  cups  circulated  in  the  most  agreeable  and  per- 
fect order ;  and  when  the  wine  penetrated  into  our  heads,  she  ordered  a  damsel,  a 
lute-player,  to  sing.  She  therefore  did  so,  and  others  sang  after  her,  one  after 
another,  until  ten  damsels  had  sung. 

1  resided  with  her  a  whole  month,  abandoning  my  shop  and  family  and  home: 
and  she  said  to  me  one  day,  0  light  of  the  eye,  0  my  master  Mahomed,  1  have  de- 


MAHOMED   ALI   THE   JEWELLER. 


399 


Cadi  perfdrming  the  Marriage  Contract. 


termined  to-day  to  visit  the  bath,  and  do  thou  remain  upon  this  couch,  and  not  move 
from  thy  place  until  I  return  to  thee.  She  conjured  me  to  do  so,  and  I  replied,  I 
hear  and  obey.  Then  she  made  me  swear  that  I  would  not  move  from  my  place, 
and,  taking  her  female  slaves  with  her,  went  to  the  bath.  And  by  Allah,  0  my  bro- 
thers, she  had  not  arrived  at  the  end  of  the  street  when  the  door  was  opened,  and 
there  came  in  through  it  an  old  woman,  who  said,  0  my  master  Mahomed,  the  lady 
Zobeide  summoneth  thee;  for  she  hath  heard  of  thy  polite  accomplishments  and 
elegance,  and  of  the  excellence  of  thy  singing.  I  replied.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  rise 
from  my  place  until  the  lady  Dunia  cometh.  But  the  old  woman  rejoined,  0  my 
master,  cause  not  the  lady  Zobeide  to  be  incensed  against  thee,  and  to  become  thine 
enemy.  Arise  then,  and  answer  her  summons,  and  return  to  thy  place.  So  I  arose 
immediately  and  repaired  to  her,  the  old  woman  preceding  me,  until  she  conducted 
me  to  the  lady  Zobeide  ;  and  when  I  came  to  her,  she  said  to  me,  0  light  of  the  eye, 
art  thou  the  beloved  of  the  lady  Dunia?  I  answered,  I  am  thy  mamlouk  and  thy 
slave.  And  she  said.  He  hath  spoken  truth  who  hath  described  thee  as  distinguished 
by  beauty  and  loveliness  and  good  breeding  and  every  charming  quality;  for  thou 
surpasseth  the  description  ;  but  sing  to  me,  that  I  may  hear  thee.  So  I  replied,  I 
hear  and  obey.  And  she  gave  me  the  lute,  and  I  sang  to  it.  —  And  when  I  had 
finished  the  song,  she  said  to  me,  Allah  give  health  to  thy  body,  and  sweetness  to 
thy  voice !  for  thou  art  perfect  in  comeliness  and  polite  accomplishments  and  in 
singing.  And  now  arise,  and  repair  to  thy  place  before  the  lady  Dunia  cometh  ; 
lest  she  find  thee  not,  and  be  incensed  against  thee. 

So  I  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  went  forth,  and  proceeded  with  the  old 
woman  before  me  until  1  arrived  at  the  door  from  which  I  had  come  out.  But  when 
I  entered  and  came  to  the  couch,  I  found  that  the  lady  Dunia  had  returned  from  the 
bath,  and  she  was  sleeping  upon  the  couch.  I  therefore  seated  myself  at  her  feet, 
and  pressed  them  with  my  hands  ;  whereupon  she  opened  her  eyes,  and,  seeing  me, 
drew  up  her  feet,  and  kicked  me  down  from  the  couch,  and  said,  0  traitor,  thou  hast 
violated  thine  oath,  and  perjured  thyself.  Thou  gavest  me  a  promise  that  thou 
wouldSt  not  move  from  thy  place,  and  thou  hast  broken  thy  promise,  and  gone  to  the 
lady  Zobeide.  By  Allah,  were  it  not  for  my  fear  of  disgracing  myself,  I  would  de- 
molish her  palace  over  her  head  ! — She  then  said  to  her  black  slave,  0  Sawab,  arise, 


400  MAHOMED   ALI   THE   JEWELLER. 

and  strike  off  the  head  of  this  lying  traitor ;  for  we  have  no  further  need  of  him. 
So  the  slave  advanced,  and  having  torn  a  strip  from  his  skirt,  bound  my  eyes  vrith 
it,  and  veas  about  to  strike  off  my  head.  But  the  female  slaves,  great  and  small, 
came  to  her  and  said,  0  our  mistress,  this  is  not  the  first  who  hath  been  guilty  of  a 
fault,  and  he  knoweth  not  thy  temper,  nor  hath  he  committed  an  offence  that  re- 
quireth  his  slaughter.  And  upon  this  she  said.  By  Allah,  I  must  cause  him  to  bear 
some  mark  of  my  resentment.  Accordingly  she  gave  orders  to  beat  me,  whereupon 
they  beat  me  on  my  sides,  and  these  scars  which  ye  have  beheld  are  the  result. 
After  that,  she  commanded  that  I  should  be  turned  out;  and  they  took  me  forth  to 
a  distance  from  the  mansion,  and  threw  me  down. 

I  raised  myself,  and  walked  on  by  a  few  steps  at  a  time  until  I  arrived  at  my 
abode,  when  I  caused  a  surgeon  to  be  brought,  and  showed  him  the  wounds  occa- 
sioned by  the  beating;  and  he  treated  me  with  kindness,  and  applied  himself  to  my 
cure.  And  when  I  recovered,  and  had  entered  the  bath,  and  my  pains  and  disorders 
had  ceased,  I  went  to  the  shop,  and,  taking  all  the  goods  that  it  contained,  sold  them, 
and  with  their  united  price  I  bought  for  myself  four  hundred  mamlouks,  such  as  no 
King  ever  collected  ;  and  every  day  two  hundred  of  them  rode  forth  with  me.  I 
also  made  this  bark,  for  the  construction  of  which  I  expended  five  thousand  pieces 
of  gold ;  and  I  called  myself  the  Caliph,  appointing  each  of  my  servants  to  the 
office  of  some  one  of  the  dependants  of  the  Caliph,  and  equipping  him  in  his  costume, 
and  proclaimed.  Whosoever  amuseth  himself  upon  the  Tigris,  I  will  strike  off  hia 
head  without  delay.  Thus  I  have  continued  to  do  for  a  whole  year;  but  I  have 
heard  no  tidings  of  the  damsel,  nor  seen  any  trace  of  her. 

Then  the  young  man  lamented,  and  poured  forth  tears,  and  recited  verses.  And 
when  Haroun  Alrashid  heard  his  words  and  knew  his  transport  and  ardour  and  desire, 
his  mind  was  disturbed  with  sorrow  for  him,  he  was  lost  in  wonder,  and  he  said. 
Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God,  who  appointeth  for  everything  a  cause  !  —  Then 
they  begged  leave  of  the  young  man  to  depart ;  and  he  gave  them  permission  ; 
Alrashid  determining  to  do  him  justice,  and  to  treat  him  with  the  utmost  munifi- 
cence. 

They  departed  from  him,  proceeding  to  the  palace  ;  and  when  they  had  remained 
sitting  there  a  while,  and  changed  their  clothes,  and  put  on  the  robes  of  state,  Mes- 
rour  the  Executioner  stood  before  the  Caliph  and  Giafar,  and  the  Caliph  said  to 
Giafar,  0  Vizier,  bring  hither  to  me  the  young  man  with  whom  we  were  last  night. 
The  Vizier  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  repaired  to  him,  and  saluted  him,  and 
said  to  him,  Answer  the  summons  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  Caliph  Haroun 
Alrashid.  So  the  young  man  went  with  him  to  the  palace,  with  a  heart  contracted 
in  consequence  of  the  summons  :  and  when  he  went  in  to  the  Caliph,  he  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  greeted  him  with  a  prayer  for  the  endurance  of  his  glory  and 
prosperity,  and  for  the  attainment  of  his  desires,  the  continuance  of  his  beneficence, 
and  the  cessation  of  evil  and  punishments,  and,  addressing  him  in  the  best  manner 
he  was  able,  said.  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  Protector  of  the 
congregation  of  the  believers  !  And  the  Caliph  smiled  in  his  face,  returned  his  salu- 
tation, and  looking  at  him  with  the  eye  of  respect,  caused  him  to  draw  near  and  to 
seat  himself  before  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  Mahomed  Ali,  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou 
relate  to  me  what  happened  to  thee  this  last  night;  for  it  was  of  a  wonderful 
and  surprising  kind.  The  young  man  replied.  Pardon,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful ! 
Give  me  the  handkerchief  of  indemnity,  that  my  terror  may  subside,  and  my  heart 
be  appeased.     And  the  Caliph  said.  Thou  hast  security  from  fear  and  sorrows. 

Su  the  young  man  began  to  relate  to  him  the  events  which  had  happened  to  him 
from  first  to  last.  And  the  Caliph,  knowing  that  the  young  man  was  enamoured, 
and  parted  from  the  object  of  his  passion,  said  to  him.  Dost  thou  desire  me  to  restore 
her  to  thee? — This,  answered  the  young  man,  will  be  an  instance  of  the  abundant 
beneficence  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And  thereupon  the  Caliph,  looking 
towards  the  Vizier,  said  to  him,  0  Giafar,  bring  to  me  thy  sister,  the  lady  Dunia,  the 


The  Caliph  Gives  the  Lady  Dunia  to  her  Lover.    (Page  403.) 
26  401 


ABOU   MAHOMED   THE   LAZY.  403 

daughter  of  the  Vizier  Tahya  the  son  of  Kaled.  So  Giafar  replied,  T  hear  and 
obey.  He  brought  her  immediately  ;  and  when  she  stood  before  him,  the  Caliph 
said  to  her,  Knowest  thou  who  is  this?  —  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  said,  how 
should  women  have  knowledge  of  men  ?  And  the  Caliph  smiled,  and  said  to  her,  0 
Dunia,  this  is  thy  lover,  Mahomed  Ali  the  son  of  the  Jeweller :  we  have  become 
acquainted  with  the  case,  and  heard  the  story  from  its  beginning  to  its  end,  and 
understood  what  was  public  and  what  was  private  of  it ;  and  the  thing  is  not  con- 
cealed, though  it  was  veiled. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  she  replied,  it  was  written 
in  the  book  [of  God's  decrees],  and  I  beg  forgiveness  of  God  the  Great  for  the  actions 
committed  by  me,  and  request  of  thy  goodness  that  thou  wilt  pardon  me.  And 
upon  this  the  Caliph  laughed,  and,  having  summoned  the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses, 
renewed  the  contract  of  her  marriage  to  her  husband  Mahomed  Ali  the  son  of  the 
Jeweller;  and  there  resulted  to  them  the  utmost  felicity  ;  and  to  the  envious,  morti- 
fication. The  Caliph  also  made  the  young  man  one  of  his  boon-companions ;  and  he 
and  his  wife  continued  in  happiness  and  delight  and  cheerfulness  until  they  were 
visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Two  Hundred  and  Ninety-ninth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  ( 
Three  Hundred  and  Fifth. 


THE  STORY  OF  ABOU  MAHOMED   THE   LAZY. 

Haroun  Alrashid  was  sitting  one  day  upon  the  imperial  throne,  when  there 
came  in  to  him  a  young  man  of  the  eunuchs,  with  a  crown  of  red  gold  set  with 
pearls  and  jewels,  comprising  all  kinds  of  jacinths  and  jewels  such  as  no  money 
would  suffice  to  purchase.  This  young  man  kissed  the  ground  before  the  Caliph,  and 
said  to  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  the  lady  Zobeide  kisseth  the  ground  before 
thee,  and  saith  to  thee,  Thou  knowest  that  she  hath  made  this  crown,  and  it  wanteth 
a  large  jewel  to  be  affixed  to  its  summit ;  and  she  hath  searched  among  her  trea- 
sures, but  found  not  among  them  a  large  jewel  such  as  she  desireth.  So  the  Caliph 
said  to  the  chamberlains  and  lieutenants.  Search  for  a  large  jewel  such  as  Zobeide 
desireth.  They  therefore  searched,  but  found  nothing  that  suited  her  ;  and  they 
acquainted  the  Caliph  with  this;  in  consequence  of  which,  his  bosom  became  con- 
tracted, and  he  said.  How  is  it  that  I  ara  Caliph,  and  King  of  the  Kings  of  the 
earth,  and  am  unable  to  procure  a  jewel?  Wo  unto  you  !  Inquire  of  the  merchants 
— And  they  inquired  of  the  merchants  :  but  the  merchants  answered  them.  Our 
Lord  the  Caliph  will  not  find  the  jewel  save  with  a  man  of  Balsora,  named  Abou 
Mahomed  the  Lazy.  So  they  informed  the  Caliph  of  this  ;  and  he  ordered  his 
Vizier  Giafar  to  send  a  note  to  the  Emir  Mahomed  Zobeidi,  the  Governor  of  Balsora, 
desiring  him  to  fit  out  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  and  bring  him  before  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful.  The  Vizier,  therefore,  wrote  a  note  to  that  effect,  and  sent  it  by 
Mesrour. 

Mesrour  immediately  repaired  with  it  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  and  went  in  to  the 
Emir  Mahomed  Zobeidi,  who  rejoiced  at  seeing  him,  and  treated  him  with  the 
utmost  honour.  He  then  read  to  him  the  note  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Haroun 
Alrashid,  and  he  said,  I  hear  and  obey.     He  forthwith  sent  Mesrour  with  a  number 


404  ABOU    MAHOMED   THE   LAZY. 

(»f  his  retinue  to  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  and  they  repaired  to  him,  and  knocked 
at  his  door ;  whereupon  one  of  the  pages  came  forth  to  them,  and  Mesrour  said  to 
him.  Say  to  thy  master,  The  Prince  of  the  Faithful  summoneth  thee.  So  the  page 
went  in  and  acquainted  him  with  this  ;  and  he  came  forth,  and  found  Mesrour,  the 
chamberlain  of  the  Caliph,  attended  by  the  retinue  of  the  Emir  Mahomed  Zobeidi ; 
upon  which  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  said,  I  hear  and  obey  the  com- 
mand of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ;  but  enter  ye  our  abode.  They  replied,  AVe 
cannot  do  so,  unless  to  pay  a  hasty  visit,  as  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  hath  com- 
manded us;  for  he  is  expecting  thine  arrival.  But  he  said.  Have  patience  with  me 
a  little,  that  I  may  arrange  my  business.  And  they  entered  the  house  with  him, 
after  excessive  persuasion  ;  and  they  beheld,  in  the  passage,  curtains  of  blue  brocade 
embroidered  with  red  gold.  Then  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  ordered  some  of  his 
pages  to  conduct  Mesrour  into  the  batli  which  was  in  the  house  ;  and  they  did  so. 
And  he  saw  its  walls  and  its  marble  pavements  to  be  of  extraordinary  construction : 
it  was  decorated  with  gold  and  silver,  and  its  water  was  mixed  with  rose-water. 
The  pages  paid  all  attention  to  Mesrour  and  those  who  were  with  him,  and  served 
them  in  the  most  perfect  manner ;  and  when  they  came  forth  from  the  bath,  they 
clad  them  with  honorary  dresses  of  brocade  interwoven  with  gold ;  after  which, 
Mesrour  and  his  companions  entered  and  found  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  sitting  in 
his  pavilion.  Over  his  head  were  hung  curtains  of  brocade  interwoven  with  gold 
and  adorned  with  pearls  and  jewels ;  the  pavilion  was  furnished  with  cushions  em- 
broidered with  red  gold  ;  and  he  was  sitting  upon  his  mattrass,  which  was  upon  a 
couch  set  with  jewels.  When  Mesrour  came  in  to  him,  he  welcomed  him  and  met 
him,  and,  having  seated  him  by  his  side,  gave  orders  to  bring  the  table  ;  and  when 
Mesrour  beheld  that  table,  he  said,  By  Allah,  I  have  never  seen  the  like  of  this  in 
the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  It  comprised  varieties  of  viands,  all  placed 
in  dishes  of  gilt  China-ware. — We  ate,  says  Mesrour,  and  drank,  and  enjoyed  our- 
selves until  the  close  of  the  day,  when  he  gave  to  each  of  us  five  thousand  pieces  of 
gold.  And  on  the  following  day,  they  clad  us  in  green  dresses  of  honour,  em- 
broidered with  gold,  and  treated  us  with  the  utmost  honour.  —  Mesrour  then  said  to 
Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  It  is  impossible  for  us  to  remain  longer  than  this  period, 
from  our  fear  of  the  Caliph.  But  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  replied,  0  our  lord, 
have  patience  with  us  until  to-morrow,  that  we  may  prepare  ourselves,  and  then  we 
will  proceed  with  you.  So  they  remained  that  day,  and  passed  the  night  until  the 
morning;  when  the  pages  equipped  a  mule  for  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  with  a 
saddle  of  gold  adorned  with  varieties  of  pearls  and  jewels  ;  whereupon  Mesrour  said 
within  himself.  When  Abou  Mahomed  presenteth  himself  before  the  Caliph  with  this 
equipage,  I  wonder  whether  he  will  ask  him  how  he  obtained  such  wealth. 

After  that,  they  took  leave  of  Mahomed  Zobeidi,  and,  going  forth  from  Balsora, 
journeyed  on  until  they  arrived  at  the  city  of  Bagdad  ;  and  when  they  went  in  to 
the  Caliph,  and  stood  before  him,  he  ordered  Abou  Mahomed  to  seat  himself.  So 
he  sat,  and,  addressing  the  Caliph  with  politeness,  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I 
have  brought  with  me  a  present  in  token  of  service:  then  may  I  produce  it,  with 
thy  permission?  Alrashid  answered,  There  will  be  no  harm  in  that.  Accordingly 
Abou  Mahomed  gave  orders  to  bring  a  chest,  which  he  opened,  and  he  took  forth 
from  it  some  rarities,  among  which  were  trees  of  gold,  the  leaves  whereof  were 
formed  of  brilliant  emeralds,  and  its  fruits  of  red  and  yellow  jacinths,  and  white 
pearls  ;  whereat  the  Caliph  wondered.  Then  he  caused  a  second  chest  to  be  brought, 
and  took  forth  from  it  a  tent  of  brocade,  adorned  with  pearls  and  jacinths,  and 
emeralds  and  chrysolites,  and  varieties  of  other  jewels :  its  poles  were  of  new  Indian 
aloes-wood;  its  skirts  were  adorned  with  emeralds;  and  upon  it  were  represented 
the  forms  of  all  living  creatures,  as  birds  and  wild  beasts  ;  all  these  designs  being 
adorned  with  jewels,  jacinths  and  emeralds,  and  chrysolites  and  balass  rub.es  and 
all  kinds  of  minerals.  And  when  Alrashid  beheld  it,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly. 
Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  then  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  imagine  not  that  I 


ABOU   MAHOMED   THE   LAZY.  405 

have  brought  to  thee  this,  fearing  anything,  or  coveting  aught;  for  the  truth  is,  that 
I  saw  myself  to  be  a  man  of  the  common  people,  and  saw  that  this  was  not  suitable 
to  any  one  but  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful ;  and  if  thou  give  me  permission,  I  will 
gratify  thee  with  the  sight  of  some  of  the  feats  that  I  am  able  to  accomplish.  To 
this,  Alrashid  replied.  Do  what  thou  wilt,  that  we  may  see.  And  Abou  Mahomed 
said,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then  he  moved  his  lips,  and  made  a  sign  to  the  battlements 
of  the  palace,  whereupon  they  inclined  towards  him  ;  and  he  made  another  sign  to 
them,  and  they  resumed  their  proper  position.  After  this,  he  made  a  sign  with  his 
eye,  and  there  appeared  before  him  private  chambers  with  closed  doors  ;  and  he  ad- 
dressed some  words  towards  them,  whereat  the  voices  of  birds  replied  to  him.  And 
Alrashid  wondered  at  this  extremely,  and  said  to  him.  Whence  obtainedst  thou  all 
this  power,  when  thou  art  not  known  otherwise  than  by  the  appellation  of  Abou 
Mahomed  the  Lazy,  and  they  have  informed  me  that  thy  fotherwas  a  cupper  serving 
in  a  public  bath,  and  that  he  left  thee  nothing?  —  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  an- 
swered, hear  my  story;  for  it  is  wonderful  and  extraordinary:  if  it  were  engraved 
on  the  understanding,  it  would  be  a  lesson  to  him  who  would  be  admonished. 
Alrashid  said,  Relate  what  thou  hast  to  tell,  and  acquaint  me  with  it,  0  Abou  Ma- 
homed.    So  he  said — 

Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful  (may  God  continue  thy  glory  and  power!),  that 
the  account  of  the  people,  that  I  am  known  by  the  surname  of  the  Lazy,  and  that 
my  father  left  me  not  any  property,  is  true  ;  for  my  father  was  no  other  than  thou 
hast  said:  he  was  a  cupper  in  a  public  bath.  In  my  youth  I  was  the  laziest  of  all 
beings  existing  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  My  laziness  was  so  great  that  when  I 
was  sleeping  in  the  hot  season  and  the  sun  came  upon  me,  I  was  too  sluggish  to  rise 
and  remove  from  the  sun  to  the  shade.  Thus  I  remained  fifteen  years,  at  the  ex- 
piration of  which  period  my  f\ither  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !),  and  left  me  nothing.  But  my  mother  used  to  act  as  a  servant  to  some 
people,  and  feed  me  and  give  me  drink,  while  I  lay  upon  my  side.  And  it  happened 
that  my  mother  came  in  to  me  one  day,  bringing  five  pieces  of  silver ;  and  she  said 
to  me,  0  my  son,  I  have  been  told  that  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  hath  determined 
to  make  a  voyage  to  China.  This  sheikh  loved  the  poor,  and  was  one  of  the  virtuous. 
And  my  mother  said,  0  my  son,  take  these  five  pieces  of  silver,  and  repair  with  us 
to  him,  and  we  will  request  him  to  buy  for  thee  with  it  something  from  the  land  of 
China :  perhaps  a  profit  may  thence  accrue  to  thee,  of  the  bounty  of  God,  whose 
name  be  exalted !  But  I  was  too  lazy  to  arise  and  go  with  her.  And  upon  this  she 
swore  by  Allah  that  if  I  did  not  arise  and  accompany  her  she  would  not  feed  me  nor 
give  me  to  drink  nor  come  in  to  me,  but  would  leave  me  to  die  of  hunger  and  thirst. 
So  when  I  heard  her  words,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  knew  that  she  would  do  so 
on  account  of  her  knowledge  of  my  laziness.  I  therefore  said  to  her,  Seat  me. 
And  she  did  so,  while  I  wept. — Bring  me  my  shoes,  said  I.  And  she  brought  them  ; 
and  I  said.  Put  them  on  my  feet.  And  she  put  them  on.  I  then  said.  Lift  me  up 
from  the  ground.  And  when  she  had  done  this,  I  said.  Support  me,  that  I  may 
walk.  So  she  supported  me,  and  I  continued  walking,  and  stumbling  upon  my 
skirts,  until  we  arrived  at  the  bank  of  the  river,  when  we  saluted  the  sheikh,  and  I 
said  to  him,  0  uncle,  art  thou  Muzaffar?  He  answered.  At  thy  service.  And  I 
said,  Take  these  pieces  of  silver,  and  buy  with  them  for  me  something  from  the  land 
of  China:  perhaps  God  may  give  me  a  profit  from  it.  And  the  sheikh  Aboul 
Muzaffar  said  to  his  companions.  Do  ye  know  this  young  man?  They  answered. 
Yes:  this  person  is  known  by  the  name  of  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy  ;  and  we  have 
never  seen  him  to  have  come  forth  from  his  house  excepting  on  this  occasion.  The 
sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffiir  then  said,  0  my  son,  give  me  the  money,  and  may  the  bles- 
sing of  God  (whose  name.be  exalted!)  attend  it.  And  he  received  the  money  from 
me,  saying,  In  the  name  of  God.  After  which,  I  returned  with  my  mother  to  the 
house. 

The  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  set  forth  on  the  voyage  and  with  him  a  company  of 


406  ABOU   MAHOMED    THE   LAZY. 

merchants,  and  they  proceeded  without  interruption  until  they  arrived  at  the  land 
of  China;  when  the  sheikh  sold  and  bought,  and  set  forth  to  return,  he  and  those 
who  were  with  him,  after  they  had  accomplished  their  desires.  But  when  they  had 
continued  out  at  sea  for  three  days,  the  sheikh  said  to  his  campanions,  Stay  the  ves- 
vel !  The  merchants  asked,  What  dost  thou  want?  And  he  answered.  Know  that 
the  deposit  committed  to  me,  belonging  to  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy,  I  have  for- 
gotten;  so  return  with  us,  that  we  may  buy  for  him  with  it  something  by  which  he 
may  profit.  But  they  replied.  We  conjure  thee  by  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!) 
that  thou  take  us  not  back  ;  for  we  have  traversed  a  very  long  distance,  and  in  doing 
so  we  have  experienced  great  terrors  and  exceeding  trouble.  Still  he  said.  We  must 
return.  They  therefore  said,  Receive  from  us  several  times  as  much  as  the  profit  of 
the  five  pieces  of  silver,  and  take  us  not  back.  So  he  assented  to  their  proposal ; 
and  they  collected  for  him  a  large  sum  of  money. 

Then  they  proceeded  until  they  came  in  sight  of  an  island,  containing  a  numer- 
ous population,  where  they  cast  anchor ;  and  the  merchants  landed  to  purchase 
thence  merchandise,  consisting  of  minerals  and  jewels  and  pearls  and  other  things. 
And  Aboul  Muzafi'ar  saw  a  man  sitting,  with  a  great  number  of  apes  before  him  ; 
and  among  these  was  an  ape  whose  hair  was  plucked  off.  The  other  apes,  whenever 
their  master  was  inadvertent,  laid  hold  upon  this  plucked  ape,  and  beat  him,  and 
threw  him  upon  their  master ;  who  arose  thereat,  and  beat  them,  and  chained  and 
tormented  them,  for  doing  this;  and  all  these  apes  became  enraged  in  consequence 
against  the  other,  and  beat  him  again.  Now,  when  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  saw 
this  ape,  he  grieved  for  him,  and  showed  kindness  to  him,  and  said  to  his  owner, 
Wilt  thou  sell  me  this  ape  ?  The  man  answered.  Buy.  And  the  sheikh  said,  I  have 
with  me,  belonging  to  a  lad  who  is  an  orphan,  five  pieces  of  silver.  Wilt  thou  sell 
him  to  me  for  that  sum? — He  answered,  I  sell  him  to  thee.  May  God  bless  thee  in 
him  ! — Then  the  sheikh  took  possession  of  him,  and  paid  the  money  to  his  owner  ; 
and  the  slaves  of  the  sheikh  took  the  ape,  and  tied  him  in  the  ship. 

After  this,  they  loosed  the  sails,  and  proceeded  to  another  island,  where  they 
cast  anchor.  And  the  divers  who  dived  for  minerals  and  pearls  and  jewels  and 
other  things  came  down  ;  and  the  merchants  gave  them  money  as  their  hire  for 
diving.  So  they  dived  ;  and  the  ape,  seeing  them  do  this,  loosed  himself  from  his 
cord,  leaped  from  the  vessel,  and  dived  with  them  ;  whereupon  Aboul  Muzaffar 
exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great.  We 
have  lost  the  ape,  with  the  luck  of  this  poor  youth  for  whom  we  bought  him! — 
They  despaired  of  the  ape  ;  but  when  the  party  of  divers  came  up,  lo,  the  ape  came 
up  with  them,  having  in  his  hands  precious  jewels:  and  he  threw  them  down  before 
Aboul  Muzaffar,  who  wondered  at  this,  and  said.  Verily  there  is  a  great  mystery  in 
this  ape! 

Then  they  loosed,  and  proceeded  to  an  island  called  the  Island  of  the  Ethiops, 
who  are  a  people  of  the  blacks  that  eat  the  flesh  of  the  sons  of  Adam.  And  when 
the  blacks  beheld  them,  they  came  to  them  in  boats,  and,  taking  all  that  were  in  the 
ship,  bound  their  hands  behind  them,  and  conducted  them  to  the  King,  who  ordered 
them  to  slaughter  a  number  of  the  merchants.  So  they  slaughtered  them,  and  ate 
their  flesh.  The  rest  of  the  merchants  passed  the  night,  imprisoned  in  great  misery ; 
but  in  the  night  the  ape  arose  and  came  to  Aboul  MuzaSiir,  and  loosed  his  chains. 
And  when  the  merchants  beheld  Aboul  Muzaffar  loosed,  they  said,  God  grant  that 
our  liberation  may  be  effected  by  thy'hands,  O  Aboul  Muzaffar  !  But  he  replied. 
Know  ye  that  none  liberated  me,  by  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  but 
this  ape ;  and  I  have  bought  my  liberty  of  him  for  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  So 
the  merchants  said.  And  we  in  like  manner:  each  of  us  buyeth  his  liberty  of  him 
for  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  if  he  release  us.  The  ape  therefore  arose  and  went 
to  them,  and  began  to  loose  one  after  another,  until  he  had  loosed  them  all  from 
their  chains;  and  they  repaired  to  the  ship,  and  embarked  in  it,  and  found  it  sufe, 
nothing  being  lost  from  it. 


ABOU    MAHOMED    THE    LAZY.  407 

They  loosed  immediately,  and  continued  their  voyage,  and  Aboul  Muzaffar  said,  0 
merchants,  fulfil  the  promise  that  ye  have  given  to  the  ape.  They  replied,  We  hear 
and  obey.  And  each  of  them  paid  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  Aboul  Muzaffar 
also  took  forth  from  his  property  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  a  great  sum  of 
money  was  thus  collected  for  the  ape.  They  then  continued  their  voyage  until  they 
arrived  at  the  city  of  Balsora ;  whereupon  their  companions  came  to  meet  them  ; 
and  when  they  had  landed,  Aboul  Muzaffar  said,  Where  is  Abou  Mahomed  the 
Lazy?  The  news  therefore  reached  my  mother,  and  while  I  was  lying  asleep,  my 
mother  came  to  me  and  said,  0  my  son,  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar  hath  arrived,  and 
come  to  the  city:  arise  then  and  repair  to  him  and  salute  him,  and  ask  him  what  he 
hath  brought  for  thee :  perhaps  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath  blessed  thee 
with  something.  So  I  replied.  Lift  me  from  the  ground,  and  support  me,  that  I  may 
go  forth  and  walk  to  the  bank  of  the  river.  I  walked  on,  stumbling  upon  my  skirts, 
until  I  came  to  the  sheikh  Aboul  Muzaffar ;  and  when  he  beheld  me,  he  said  to  me. 
Welcome  to  him  whose  money  wasthe  means  of  my  liberation  and  the  liberation  of 
these  merchants,  by  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  He  then  said  to  me. 
Take  this  ape ;  for  I  bought  him  for  thee  ;  go  with  him  to  thy  house,  and  wait  until 
I  come  to  thee.  I  therefore  took  the  ape  before  me,  and  went,  saying  within  myself, 
By  Allah,  this  is  none  other  than  magnificent  merchandise  !  I  entered  my  house, 
and  said  to  my  mother.  Every  time  that  I  lie  down  to  sleep,  thou  desirost  me  to  arise 
to  traffic  ;  see  then  M'ith  thine  eye  this  merchandise.  Then  I  sat  down  ;  and  while 
I  was  sitting,  lo,  the  slaves  of  Aboul  Muzaffar  approached  me,  and  said  to  me,  Art 
thou  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy?  I  answered  them.  Yes.  And  behold,  Aboul 
Muzaffar  approached,  following  them.  I  rose  to  him,  and  kissed  his  hands,  and  he 
said  to  me.  Come  with  me  to  my  house.  So  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  I  proceeded 
with  him  until  I  entered  the  house,  when  he  ordered  his  slaves  to  bring  the  money  ; 
and  they  brought  it,  and  he  said,  0  my  son,  God  hath  blessed  thee  with  this  wealth 
as  the  profit  of  the  five  pieces  of  silver.  They  then  carried  it  in  the  chests  upon 
their  heads,  and  he  gave  me  the  keys  of  those  chests,  saying  to  me,  Walk  before  the 
slaves  to  thy  house;  for  all  this  wealth  is  thine. 

I  therefore  went  to  my  mother,  and  she  rejoiced  at  this,  and  said,  0  my  son,  God 
hath  blessed  thee  with  this  abundant  wealth;  so  give  over  this  laziness,  and  go  down 
into  the  marketrstreet,  and  sell  and  buy.  Accordingly,  I  relinquished  my  lazy 
habits,  and  opened  a  shop  in  the  market-street,  and  the  ape  sat  with  me  upon  my 
niattrass:  when  I  ate  he  ate  with  me:  and  when  I  drank,  he  drank  with  me;  and 
every  day  he  absented  himself  from  me  from  morning  until  noon,  when  he  came, 
bringing  with  him  a  purse  containing  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  he  put  it  by  my 
side,  and  sat  down.  Thus  he  ceased  not  to  do  for  a  long  time,  until  abundant  wealth 
had  accrued  to  me ;  whereupon  I  bought,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  possessions  and 
houses,  and  planted  gardens,  and  purchased  mamlouks  and  male  black  slaves  and 
female  slaves. 

And  it  happened  one  day  that  I  was  sitting,  and  the  ape  was  sitting  with  me  upon 
the  mattrass,  and  lo,  he  looked  to  the  right  and  left ;  whereat  I  said  within  myself. 
What  is  the  matter  with  this  ape?  And  God  caused  the  ape  to  speak  with  an  elo- 
quent tongue,  and  he  said,  0  Abou  Mahomed !  On  hearing  this  I  was  violently 
terrified ;  but  he  said.  Fear  not.  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  my  condition.  I  am 
a  Marid  of  the  Genii ;  but  I  came  to  thee  on  account  of  thy  poverty,  and  now  thou 
knowest  not  the  amount  of  thy  wealth  ;  and  I  have  a  want  for  thee  to  perform,  the 
accomplishment  of  which  will  be  productive  of  good  to  thee. — What  is  it?  I  asked. 
He  answered,  I  desire  to  marry  thee  to  a  damsel  like  the  full  moon. — And  how  so? 
said  I.  —  To-morrow,  he  answered,  attire  thyself  in  thy  rich  clothing,  mount  thy 
mule  with  the  saddle  of  gold,  and  repair  with  me  to  the  market  of  the  sellers  of 
fodder:  there  inquire  for  the  shop  of  the  Shereef,  and  seat  thyself  by  him,  and  say 
to  him,  I  have  come  to  thee  as  a  suitor,  desiring  thy  daughter.  And  if  he  say  to 
thee,  Thou  hast  not  wealth  nor  rank  nor  descent, — Give  him  a  thousand  pieces  of 


408  ABOU    MAHOMED   THE   LAZY. 

gold,  and  if  he  say  to  thee,  Give  me  more, —  do  so,  and  excite  his  cupidity  for 
money. — So  I  replied  I  hear  and  obey :  to-morrow  I  will  do  this,  if  it  be  the  will  of 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 

Accordingly,  when  I  arose  in  the  morning,  I  put  on  the  richest  of  my  apparel, 
mounted  the  mule  with  the  saddle  of  gold,  and  having  gone  to  the  market  of  the 
sellers  of  fodder,  inquired  for  the  shop  of  the  Shereef,  and  found  him  sitting  in  his 
shop.  I  therefore  alighted  and  saluted  him,  and  seated  myself  with  him.  I  had 
with  me  ten  of  my  black  slaves  and  mamlouks ;  and  the  Shereef  said.  Perhaps  thou 
bast  some  business  with  us  which  we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  performing.  So  I 
replied,  Yes:  I  have  some  business  with  thee.  —  And  what  is  it?  he  asked.  I 
answered,  I  have  come  unto  thee  as  a  suitor,  desiring  thy  daughter.  He  replied, 
thou  hast  not  wealth  nor  rank  nor  descent.  And  upon  this  I  took  forth  and  pre- 
sented to  him  a  purse  containing  a  thousand  pieces  of  red  gold,  saying  to  him.  This 
is  my  rank  and  descent ;  and  he  whom  may  God  favour  and  preserve  hath  said.  An 
excellent  rank  is  [that  conferred  by]  wealth. 

And  when  the  Shereef  heard  these  words,  he  hung  down  his  head  for  a  while 
toward  the  ground  ;  after  which,  he  raised  his  head,  and  said  to  me,  If  it  must  be, 
I  desire  of  thee  three  thousand  pieces  of  gold  besides.  So  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 
I  immediately  sent  one  of  the  mamlouks  to  my  house,  and  he  brought  me  the 
money  that  the  Shereef  had  demanded  ;  and  when  the  Shereef  saw  this  come  to  him, 
he  arose  from  the  shop,  and  said  to  his  young  men,  Close  it.  Then  he  invited  his 
companions  from  the  market  to  his  house,  and,  having  performed  the  contract  of  my 
marriage  to  his  daughter,  said  to  me.  After  ten  days  I  will  introduce  thee  to  her. 

I  returned  to  my  house,  full  of  joy,  and  in  privacy  informed  the  ape  of  that  which 
had  happened  to  me ;  whereupon  he  said.  Excellently  hast  thou  done.  And  when 
the  time  appointed  by  the  Shereef  approached,  the  ape  said  to  me,  I  have  a  want  for 
thee  to  perform :  if  thou  accomplish  it  for  me,  thou  shalt  obtain  of  me  what  thou 
wilt. — And  what  is  thy  want?  said  I.  He  answered,  At  the  upper  end  of  the  saloon 
in  which  thou  will  pay  thy  first  visit  to  the  daughter  of  the  Shereef,  is  a  closet,  upon 
the  door  of  which  is  a  ring  of  brass,  and  the  keys  are  beneath  the  ring.  Take  them, 
and  open  the  door.  Thou  wilt  find  a  chest  of  iron,  at  the  corners  of  which  are  four 
talismanic  flags ;  in  the  midst  is  a  basin  filled  with  money,  and  by  its  side  are  eleven 
serpents,  and  in  the  basin  is  tied  a  white  cock  with  a  cleft  comb ;  and  there  is  also 
a  knife  by  the  side  of  the  chest.  Take  the  knife,  and  kill  with  it  the  cock,  tear  in 
pieces  the  flags,  and  empty  the  chest;  and  after  that,  go  forth  to  the  bride.  This  is 
what  I  require  of  thee. — And  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

I  then  went  to  the  house  of  the  Shereef,  and,  entering  the  saloon,  I  looked  towards 
the  closet  which  the  ape  had  described  to  me.  And  when  I  was  left  alone  with  the 
bride,  I  wondered  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  her  justness  of  stature  and  form; 
for  she  was  such  that  the  tongue  cannot  describe  her  beauty  and  loveliness.  I  was 
exceedingly  delighted  with  her;  and  when  midnight  came,  and  the  bride  slept,  I 
arose,  took  the  keys,  and  opened  the  closet,  and,  taking  the  knife,  I  killed  the  cock, 
threw  down  the  flags,  and  overturned  the  chest;  whereupon  the  damsel  awoke,  and 
saw  that  the  closet  was  opened,  and  the  cock  killed  ;  and  she  exclaimed.  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  The  Marid  hath  taken  me! — 
And  her  words  were  not  ended  when  the  Marid  encompassed  the  house,  and  snatched 
away  the  bride.  Upon  this,  a  clamour  ensued  ;  and  lo,  the  Shereef  approached, 
slapping  his  face,  and  said,  0  Abou  Mahomed,  what  is  this  deed  that  thou  hast  done 
unto  us?  Is  this  the  recompense  that  we  receive  from  thee?  I  made  this  talisman 
in  this  closet  through  my  fear  for  my  daughter  from  this  accursed  wretch  ;  for 
he  was  desirous  of  taking  this  damsel  during  a  period  of  six  years,  and  could  not  do 
so.     But  thou  shalt  no  longer  remain  with  us :  so  go  thy  way. 

I  therefore  went  forth  from  the  house  of  the  Shereef,  and,  having  returned  to  my 
own  abode,  searched  for  the  ape ;  but  I  found  him  not,  nor  saw  any  trace  of  him :  so 
I  knew  that  he  was  the  Marid  who  had  taken  my  wife,  and  that  he  had  practised  a 


ABOU    MAHOMED   THE   LAZY.  409 

stratagem  against  me,  so  that  I  had  acted  thus  with  the  talisman  and  the  cock  which 
prevented  his  taking  her.  I  repented,  and  tore  my  clothes  in  pieces,  and  slapped 
my  face.  No  region  was  wide  enough  for  me ;  so  I  went  forth  immediately,  seeking 
the  desert,  and  stopped  not  until  the  evening  overtook  me  :  and  I  knew  not  whither 
to  go.  But  while  I  was  absorbed  in  meditation,  lo,  two  serpents  approached  me ; 
one  tawny-coloured,  and  the  other  white  ;  and  they  were  contending  together.  I 
therefore  took  up  a  stone  from  the  ground,  and  struck  with  it  the  tawny  serpent,  and 
killed  her;  for  she  was  oppressing  the  white  one.  Then  the  white  serpent  departed, 
and  was  absent  for  a  while  ;  after  which  she  returned,  accompanied  by  ten  other 
white  serpents ;  and  they  came  to  the  dead  serpent,  and  tore  her  in  pieces,  so  that 
there  remained  only  her  head  ;  which  having  done  they  went  their  way. 

Thereupon  I  laid  myself  prostrate  on  my  bosom  in  that  place,  through  weariness; 
and  while  I  was  so  lying,  meditating  upon  my  case,  a  being  whose  voice  I  heard, 
but  whose  form  I  saw  not,  uttered  these  two  verses  : — 

Let  destinx  run  with  slackened  reins,  and  pass  not  the  night  but  with  careless  mind  ; 
For  between  the  closing  of  an  eye  and  its  opening,  God  effecteth  a  change  in  the  state  of 
affairs. 

On  hearing  this,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  was  vehemently  affected,  and  inspired 
with  the  utmost  trouble  of  mind;  and  I  heard  a  voice  behind  me  reciting  this 
couplet: — 

0  Faithful,  whose  guide  is  the  Koran,  rejoice  in  it;  for  safety  hath  come  to  thee; 

And  fear  not  what  Satan  hath  suggested  ;  for  we  are  a  people  whose  religion  is  the  true  one. 

So  I  said  to  the  person  who  addressed  me.  By  the  Object  of  thy  worship,  acquaint 
me  who  thou  art  I  Whereupon  the  invisible  speaker, assumed  the  form  of  a  man, 
and  replied.  Fear  not ;  for  thy  kind  conduct  hath  become  known  to  us,  and  we  are 
a  tribe  of  the  believing  Genii  ;  if  then  thou  hast  any  want,  acquaint  us  with  it,  that 
we  may  have  the  pleasure  of  performing  it.  I  therefore  said  to  him.  Verily  I  have  a 
great  want;  for  I  have  been  afflicted  with  a  heavy  calamity.  And  unto  whom  hath 
happened  the  like  of  my  calamity? — And  he  said.  Perhaps  thou  art  Abou  Mahomed 
the  Lazy.  I  replied.  Yes.  And  he  said,  0  Abou  Mahomed,  I  am  a  brother  of  the 
white  serpent,  whose  enemy  thou  killedst.  We  are  four  brothers  by  the  same  father 
and  mother,  and  we  are  all  thankful  for  thy  kindness.  And  know  that  he  who  was 
in  the  form  of  an  ape,  and  who  practised  this  artifice  with  thee,  is  one  of  the  Marids 
of  the  Genii:  and  had  he  not  employed  this  stratagem,  he  had  never  been  able  to 
take  the  damsel ;  for  of  a  long  time  he  hath  been  desirous  of  taking  her,  and  this 
talisman  prevented  him;  and  had  the  talisman  remained,  he  could  not  have  obtained 
access  to  her.  But  fear  not  on  account  of  this  affiiir:  we  will  convey  thee  to  her, 
and  we  will  slay  the  Marid  ;  for  thy  kindness  is  not  lost  upon  us. — He  then  ut- 
tered a  great  cry,  with  a  terrible  voice;  and  lo,  a  troop  approached  him,  and  he  in- 
quired of  them  respecting  the  ape  ;  upon  which  one  of  them  answered,  I  know  his 
abode.  He  said  where  is  his  abode  ?  And  he  answered.  In  the  City  of  Brass,  upon 
which  the  sun  riseth  not.  And  he  said,  0  Abou  Mahomed,  take  one  of  our  slaves, 
and  he  will  carry  thee  on  his  back,  and  will  instruct  thee  how  thou  shalt  take  the 
damsel.  But  know  that  the  slave  is  one  of  the  Marids,  and  when  he  carrieth  thee 
mention  not  the  name  of  God  while  he  beareth  thee:  for  if  thou  mention  it,  he 
will  fly  from  thee,  and  thou  wilt  fall  and  perish. — So  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

1  took  one  of  their  slaves,  and  he  stooped,  and  said.  Mount.  And  I  mounted. 
He  then  soared  with  me  into  the  sky  until  he  had  ascended  out  of  sight  of  the  world; 
and  I  saw  the  stars  resembling  the  firm  mountains,  and  heard  the  Angels  extolling 
the  perfection  of  God  in  Heaven.  All  this  while  the  Marid  was  conversing  with  me 
and  amusing  me,  and  diverting  me  from  mentioning  God,  whose  uame  be  exalted  ! 
But  while  I  was  in  this  state,  lo,  a  person  clad  in  green  garments,  and  having  long 
locks  of  hair,  and  a  resplendent  countenance,  and  in  his  hand  a  spear  from  which 


410  ABOU    MAHOMED   THE   LAZY. 

sparks  flew  forth,  approached  and  said  to  me,  0  Abou  Mahomed,  say.  There  is  no 
deity  but  God :  Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle — or  I  will  smite  thee  with  this  spear.  My 
heart  was  already  rent  in  pieces  by  my  abstaininor  from  mentioning  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!):  so  I  said,  There  is  no  deity  but  God  :  Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle. 
And  immediately  that  person  smote  the  Marid  with  the  spear;  whereupon  he  dis- 
solved, and  became  ashes  ;  and  I  fell  from  his  back,  and  continued  descending  to 
the  earth  until  I  dropped  into  a  roaring  sea,  agitated  with  waves. 

But  lo,  there  was  a  ship,  containing  five  sailors  ;  and  when  they  saw  me,  they 
came  to  me,  and  took  me  up  into  the  vessel,  and  began  to  speak  to  me  in  a  language 
which  I  knew  not.  I  therefore  made  a  sign  to  them  that  I  knew  not  their  language. 
And  they  proceeded  on  their  voyage  until  the  close  of  the  day,  when  they  cast  a  net, 
and  caught  a  large  fish,  which  they  broiled  ;  and  they  gave  me  to  eat.  They  con- 
tinued their  voyage  until  they  had  conveyed  me  to  their  city  ;  upon  which  they  took 
me  in  to  their  King,  and  placed  me  before  him  ;  and  I  kissed  the  ground,  and  he  be- 
■towed  upon  me  a  dress  of  honour.  Now  this  King  was  acquainted  with  Arabic, 
and  he  said,  I  appoint  thee  to  be  one  of  my  guards.  And  I  said  to  him,  What  is 
the  name  of  this  city  ?  He  answered.  Its  name  is  Henad,  and  it  is  in  the  land  of 
China.  Then  the  King  delivered  me  to  the  Vizier  of  the  city,  commanding  him  to 
show  me  the  city.  The  inhabitants  of  this  city  were  originally  infidels  ;  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  God  (whose  name  bo  exalted  !)  had  turned  them  into  stones.  I 
amused  myself  by  taking  a  view  of  it ;  and  have  beheld  nowhere  a  greater  abun- 
dance of  trees  and  fruits  than  it  possessed. 

I  resided  there  for  the  space  of  a  month,  after  which  I  went  to  a  river,  and  seated 
myself  upon  its  banks  ;  and  while  I  was  sitting,  lo,  a  horseman  came  and  said,  Art 
thou  Abou  Mahomed  the  Lazy?  I  answered  him,  Yes.  And  be  said.  Fear  not;  for 
thy  kind  conduct  hath  become  known  unto  us.  So  I  asked  him.  Who  art  thou? 
And  he  answered,  I  am  a  brother  of  the  serpent,  and  thou  art  near  unto  the  place 
of  the  damsel  to  whom  thou  desirest  to  obtain  access.  Then  he  took  off  his  clothes, 
and,  having  clad  me  with  them,  said  to  me.  Fear  not ;  for  the  slave  who  perished 
beneath  thee  was  one  of  our  slaves.  And  after  this  the  horseman  took  me  up  behind 
him,  and  conveyed  me  to  a  desert,  where  he  said  to  me,  Alight  from  behind  me,  and 
proceed  between  these  two  mountains  until  thou  seest  the  City  of  Brass:  then  stop 
at  a  distance  from  it,  and  enter  it  not  till  I  return  to  thee,  and  instruct  thee  how  to 
act.  So  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  I  alighted  from  behind  him,  and  walked  on 
until  I  arrived  at  the  city,  when  I  saw  that  its  wall  was  of  brass ;  and  I  went  round 
about  it,  hoping  to  find  a  gate  to  it:  but  I  found  none.  And  while  I  was  going 
round  it,  lo,  the  brother  of  the  serpent  approached  me,  and  gave  me  a  talismanic 
sword  that  would  prevent  any  one  from  seeing  me.  He  then  went  his  way  ;  and  he 
had  been  but  a  short  time  absent  from  me  when  cries  arose,  and  I  beheld  a  number 
of  persons  whose  eyes  were  in  their  breasts  ;  and  when  they  saw  me,  they  said,  Who 
art  thou,  and  what  cast  thee  into  this  place?  So  I  acquainted  them  with  the 
occurrence  ;  and  they  replied.  The  damsel  whom  thou  hast  mentioned  is  with  the 
Marid  in  this  city,  and  we  know  not  what  he  hath  done  with  her;  and  we  are 
brothers  of  the  serpent.  Then  they  added.  Go  to  that  spring,  see  by  what  channel 
the  water  entereth,  and  enter  thou  with  it ;  for  it  will  convey  thee  into  the  city. 

I  therefore  did  so.  I  entered  with  the  water  into  a  grotto  beneath  the  earth,  and, 
rising  thence,  beheld  myself  in  the  midst  of  the  city,  and  found  the  damsel  sitting 
upon  a  couch  of  gold,  with  a  canopy  of  brocade  over  her,  and  round  the  canopy  was 
a  garden  containing  trees  of  gold,  the  fruits  of  which  were  of  precious  jewels,  such 
as  rubies  and  chrysolites,  and  pearls  and  coral.  And  when  the  damsel  saw  me,  she 
knew  me  ;  and,  having  saluted  me  first,  she  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  who  brought 
thee  to  this  place?  So  I  informed  her  of  the  events  that  had  happened  ;  and  she 
replied.  Know  that  this  accursed  wretch,  from  the  excess  of  his  affection  for  me,  hath 
acquainted  me  with  that  which  will  injure  him  and  that  which  will  profit  him,  and 
hath  informed  me  that  there  is  in  this  city  a  talisman  with  which,  if  he  desired  to 


ABOU    MAHOMED   THE   LAZY.  411 

destroy  all  who  are  in  the  city,  he  could  destroy  them  ;  and  whatsoever  he  should 
order  his  Afrites  to  do,  they  would  comply  with  his  command  ;  and  that  talisman  is 
upon  a  pillar. — And  where,  said  I,  is  the  pillar?  She  answered,  In  such  a  place. — 
And  what  is  that  talisman  ?  I  asked.  She  answered.  It  is  the  figure  of  an  eagle, 
and  upon  it  is  an  inscription  which  I  know  not.  Take  it  and  place  it  before  thee, 
and  take  a  censer  with  fire,  and  throw  into  it  a  little  musk,  whereupon  there  will 
arise  from  it  a  smoke  which  will  attract  the  Afrites.  If  thou  do  so,  they  will  all 
present  themselves  before  thee  ;  not  one  of  them  will  remain  absent ;  and  they  will 
obey  thy  command,  and  do  whatsoever  thou  shalt  order  them.  Arise,  therefore,  and 
do  that,  and  may  the  blessing  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  attend  the  act. — So 
I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

I  arose,  and  went  to  that  pillar,  and  did  all  that  she  desired  me  to  do,  and  the 
Afrites  came  and  presented  themselves  before  me,  each  of  them  saying,  At  thy 
service,  0  my  master?  Whatsoever  thou  commandest  us  to  do,  we  will  do  it.  —  I 
therefore  said  to  them.  Chain  the  Marid  who  brought  this  damsel  from  her  abode. 
And  they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey.  They  repaired  immediately  to  that  Marid, 
and  chained  him,  making  his  bonds  tight;  and  returned  to  me,  saying,  We  have 
done  what  thou  hast  commanded  us.  And  I  ordered  them  to  return.  I  then  went 
back  to  the  damsel,  and  having  acquainted  her  with  what  had  happened,  said,  0  my 
wife,  wilt  thou  go  with  me  !  She  answered,  Yes.  And  I  went  forth  with  her  by 
the  subterranean  grotto  by  which  I  had  entered:  and  we  proceeded  until  we  came 
to  the  party  who  had  directed  me  to  her ;  when  I  said  to  them.  Direct  me  to  a  route 
that  shall  lead  me  to  my  country. 

Accordingly  they  guided  me  and  walked  with  me  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and 
placed  us  on  board  a  ship ;  and  the  wind  was  favourable,  and  the  ship  conveyed  us 
on  until  we  arrived  at  the  city  of  Balsora.  And  when  the  damsel  entered  the  house 
of  her  father,  her  family  saw  her,  and  rejoiced  exceedingly  at  her  return.  I  then 
fumigated  the  eagle  with  musk,  and  lo,  the  Afrites  approached  me  from  every 
quarter,  saying,  At  thy  service,  and  what  dost  thou  desire  us  to  do?  And  I  com- 
manded them  to  transport  all  that  was  in  the  City  of  Brass,  of  money  and  minerals 
and  jewels,  to  my  house  which  was  in  Balsora ;  and  they  did  so.  After  that,  I 
commanded  them  to  bring  the  ape ;  and  they  brought  him  in  an  abject  and  despi- 
cable state :  whereupon  I  said  to  him,  0  accursed,  why  didst  thou  act  perfidiously  to 
me?  And  I  ordered  them  to  put  him  into  a  bottle  of  brass.  So  they  put  him  into 
a  narrow  bottle  of  brass,  and  stopped  it  over  him  with  lead.  And  I  resided  with  my 
wife  in  joy  and  happiness.  I  have  now,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  of  precious  trea- 
sures, and  extraordinary  jewels,  and  abundant  wealth,  what  cannot  be  expressed  by 
numbers,  nor  confined  by  limits ;  and  if  thou  desire  anything,  of  wealth  or  aught 
else,  I  will  command  tlie  Genii  to  bring  it  to  thee  immediately.  All  this  I  have 
received  from  the  bounty  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 

And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  wondered  at  this  story  extremely.  He  gave  him 
imperial  presents  in  return  for  his  gift,  and  treated  him  with  the  favour  that  was 
suitable  to  him. 


412  ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROTJD. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Eighth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  tbo 
Three  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh. 


THE  STORY  OF  ALI  SHIR  AND  ZUMROUD. 

There  was,  in  ancient  times,  a  certain  merchant  in  the  land  of  Khorassan,  whose 
name  was  Majdal-din,  and  he  had  great  wealth,  and  black  slaves  and  mamlouks  and 
pages  ;  but  he  had  attained  to  the  age  of  sixty  years,  and  had  not  been  blessed  with 
a  son.  After  this,  however,  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  blessed  him  with  a  son, 
and  he  named  him  All  Shir. 

When  this  boy  grew  up,  he  became  like  the  full  moon  ;  and  when  he  had  attained 
to  manhood,  and  was  endowed  with  every  charm,  his  father  fell  sick  of  a  fatal 
disease.  So  he  called  his  son  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  the  period  of  death  hath 
drawn  near,  and  I  desire  to  give  thee  a  charge. — And  what  is  it,  0  my  father?  said 
the  young  man.  He  answered,  I  charge  thee  that  thou  be  not  familiar  with  any  one 
among  mankind,  and  that  thou  shun  what  may  bring  injury  and  misfortune. 
Beware  of  the  evil  associate ;  for  he  is  like  the  blacksmith  :  if  his  fire  burn  thee  not, 
his  smoke  will  annoy  thee. 

The  young  man  replied,  0  my  father,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then  what  next  dost  thou 
counsel  me  to  do  ? — His  father  answered,  Do  good  when  thou  art  able ;  persevere  in 
comely  conduct  towards  men,  and  avail  thyself  of  opportunities  to  dispense  kind 
actions  ;  for  a  wish  is  not  always  of  easy  accomplishment. 

And  the  son  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then  what  more?  —  0  my  son,  answered 
the  father.  Be  mindful  of  God :  He  will  then  be  mindful  of  thee.  Guard  also  thy 
wealth,  and  be  not  prodigal  of  it;  for  if  thou  be  prodigal  of  it,  thou  wilt  become  in 
need  of  the  assistance  of  the  least  of  mankind :  and  know  that  the  estimation  in 
which  a  man  is  held  is  according  to  that  which  his  right  hand  possesseth. 

And  what  besides?  said  the  young  man.  His  father  answered,  0  my  son,  consult 
him  who  is  older  than  thyself,  and  hasten  not  to  perform  a  thing  that  thou  desirest 
to  do:  have  compassion  also  upon  him  who  is  thine  inferior;  then  he  who  is  thy 
superior  will  have  compassion  upon  thee  ;  and  oppress  not  any,  lest  God  give  power 
over  thee  to  one  who  will  oppress  thee. 

Beware  of  drinking  wine  ;  for  it  is  the  chief  of  every  evil  :  it  dispelleth  the  reason, 
and  bringeth  contempt  upon  the  drinker. 

This  is  my  charge  to  thee,  and  do  thou  keep  it  before  thine  eyes ;  and  may  God 
supply  my  place  to  thee! — Then  he  fainted,  and  remained  awhile  silent;  after  which 
he  recovered  his  senses,  and  begged  forgiveness  of  God,  pronounced  the  professions 
of  the  faith,  and  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted. 

His  son  wept  for  him  and  lamented.  He  made  becoming  preparations  for  his 
burial ;  great  and  small  walked  in  his  funeral-procession,  the  reciters  of  the  Koran 
recited  around  his  bier,  and  his  son  omitted  not  the  performance  of  any  honour  that 
was  due  to  the  deceased.     They  then  prayed  over  him  and  interred  him. 

His  son  Ali  Shir  grieved  for  him  violently,  and  observed  the  ceremonies  of  mourn- 
ing for  him  in  the  manner  usual  at  the  death  of  persona  of  distinction.     He  remained 


ALI    SHIR    AND    ZUMROUD.  413 

mourning  for  his  father  until  his  mother  died  a  short  time  after  him  ;  when  he  did 
with  the  corpse  of  his  mother  as  he  had  done  with  that  of  his  father.  And  after 
this,  he  sat  in  the  shop  to  sell  and  buy,  and  associated  with  no  one  of  the  creatures 
of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  conforming  to  the  charge  of  his  father. 

Thus  he  continued  to  do  for  the  space  of  a  year;  but  after  the  expiration  of  the 
year,  the  sons  of  the  licentious  women  obtained  access  to  him  by  stratagems,  and 
became  his  companions,  so  that  he  inclined  with  them  unto  wickedness,  and  declined 
from  the  path  of  rectitude;  he  drank  wine  by  cupfuls,  and  to  the  beauties  morning 
and  evening  he  repaired;  and  he  said  within  himself.  My  father  hath  amassed  for 
me  this  wealth,  and  if  I  dispose  not  of  it,  to  whom  shall  I  leave  it? 

He  ceased  not  to  squander  his  wealth  night  and  day  until  he  had  expended  the 
whole  of  it  and  was  reduced  to  poverty.  Evil  was  his  condition,  and  disturbed  was 
his  mind,  and  he  sold  the  shop  and  the  dwellings  and  other  possessions ;  and  after 
that,  he  sold  his  clothes,  not  leaving  fur  himself  more  than  one  suit. 

Now  when  intoxication  had  quitted  him  and  reflection  had  come,  he  fell  into  grief; 
and  he  sat  one  day  from  dawn  until  the  time  of  afternoon  prayers  without  breaking 
fast;  whereupon  he  said  within  himself,  I  will  go  round  to  those  upon  whom  I  spent 
my  wealth  :  perhaps  one  of  them  will  feed  me  this  day.  He  therefore  went  round 
to  all  of  them  ;  but  on  each  occasion  of  his  knocking  at  the  door  of  one  of  them,  the 
man  denied  himself,  and  hid  himself  from  him;  so  hunger  tortured  him.  And  he 
went  to  the  market  of  the  merchants,  and  found  there  a  ring  of  persons  crowding 
together,  and  the  people  flocking  thither;  upon  which  he  said  within  himself.  What 
can  be  the  reason  of  the  assembling  of  these  people?  By  Allah,  I  will  not  remove 
from  this  place  until  I  have  gratified  myself  with  a  sight  of  this  ring.  — Then  ad- 
vancing to  it,  he  found  there  a  damsel  of  quinary  stature,  of  just  figure,  rosy- 
cheeked,  high-bosomed  ;  she  surpassed  the  people  of  her  age  in  beauty  and  loveli- 
ness, and  in  elegance  and  in  every  charm.  The  name  of  this  damsel  was  Zumroud : 
and  when  Ali  Shir  beheld  her,  he  wondered  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  said. 
By  Allah,  I  will  not  depart  until  I  see  to  what  sum  the  price  of  this  damsel  will 
amount,  and  know  who  will  purchase  her.  So  he  stood  among  the  merchants,  and 
they  imagined  that  he  would  buy,  as  they  knew  the  abundance  of  wealth  that  he 
had  inherited  from  his  parents. 

The  broker  having  stationed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  damsel,  then  said,  0  mer- 
chants ;  0  possessors  of  wealth  !  who  will  open  the  bidding  for  this  damsel,  the  mis- 
tress of  moon-like  Vjeauties,  the  precious  pearl,  Zumroud  the  curtain-maker,  the 
object  of  the  seeker's  wishes,  and  the  delight  of  the  desirer?  Open  the  bidding; 
for  the  opener  is  not  obnoxious  to  blame  or  reproach  !  — And  one  of  the  merchants 
said.  Let  her  be  mine  for  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  Another  said.  And  ten.  And 
a  sheikh,  named  Rashideddin,  who  had  blue  eyes,  and  a  foul  aspect,  said.  And  a 
hundred.  Another  then  said.  And  ten.  And  the  sheikh  said.  For  a  thousand  pieces 
of  gold.  And  upon  this  the  tongues  of  the  merchants  were  tied,  and  they  were 
silent.  The  broker  therefore  consulted  the  damsel's  owner ;  but  he  said,  I  am  under 
an  oath  that  I  will  not  sell  her  save  unto  him  whom  she  will  choose:  so  consult  her. 
The  broker  accordingly  came  to  her  and  said,  0  mistress  of  moon-like  beauties,  this 
merchant  desireth  to  purchase  thee.  And  she  looked  at  him,  and,  seeing  him  to  be 
as  we  have  described,  she  said  to  the  broker,  I  will  not  be  sold  to  a  sheikh  whom  old 
age  hath  reduced  to  a  most  evil  condition. 

And  when  the  broker  heard  her  words,  he  said  to  her.  By  Allah  thou  art  excused, 
and  thy  value  is  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  Then  he  informed  her  owner  that  she 
approved  not  of  that  sheikh;  and  he  replied,  Consult  her  respecting  another.  And 
another  man  advanced  and  said.  Let  her  be  mine  for  the  sum  that  the  sheikh  of 
whom  she  approved  not  oflfered  for  her.  But  the  damsel,  looking  at  that  man,  found 
that  he  had  a  dyed  beard  ;  whereupon  she  said,  What  is  this  disgrace,  and  this  du- 
bious conduct,  and  blackening  of  hoary  hairs ! 

And  the  broker,  when  he  heard  her  words,  said  to  her,  By  Allah,  thou  hast  spoken 


414  ALI   SHIR    AND   ZUMROUD. 

truth.  The  merchant  who  had  bidden  for  her  asked,  What  was  it  that  she  said? 
So  the  broker  repeated  the  words  to  him  ;  and  he  knew  that  he  was  in  fault,  and 
gave  up  the  idea  of  purchasing  her.  Then  another  merchant  advanced  and  said. 
Ask  her  if  she  will  consent  to  be  mine  for  the  sum  that  thou  hast  heard.  He  there 
fore  consulted  her  for  him  ;  and  she  looked  at  him,  and  saw  that  he  was  one-eyed, 
and  replied,  This  man  is  one-eyed,  and  it  is  said  with  truth  of  such  a  person, — 
Keep  not  company  with  the  one-eyed  for  a  single  day ;  but  beware  of  his  malig- 
nity and  falsehood.  For  had  there  been  any  good  in  him,  God  had  not  caused  the 
blindness  in  his  eye.— The  broker  then  [pointing  to  another]  said  to  her.  Wilt  thou 
be  sold  to  that  merchant  ?  And  she  looked  at  him,  and,  seeing  that  he  was  a  short 
man,  with  a  beard  descending  to  his  girdle,  she  answered.  This  is  he  of  whom  it 
hath  been  said, — I  have  a  friend  with  a  beard  which  God  hath  made  to  grow  to  a 
useless  length.  It  is  like  unto  one  of  the  nights  of  winter,  long  and  dark  and  cold. 
The  broker  therefore  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  see  who  among  the  persons  here 
present  pleaseth  thee,  and  say  which  he  is,  that  I  may  s«ll  thee  to  him.  So  she 
looked  at  the  ring  of  merchants,  and  as  she  examined  their  physiognomies,  one  after 
another,  her  eye  fell  upon  Ali  Shir.  The  sight  of  him  occasioned  her  a  thousand 
sighs,  and  her  heart  became  enamoured  of  him  ;  for  he  was  of  surprising  loveliness, 
and  more  bland  than  the  Northern  zephyr;  and  she  said,  0  broker,  I  will  not  be 
sold  to  any  but  to  this  my  master,  with  the  comely  face  and  surpassing  figure,  and 
commanding  and  graceful  bearing,  of  whom  one  of  his  describers  hath  thus  said: — 
Thev  displayed  thy  lovely  face,  and  then  blamed  the  person  who  was  tempted.  If 
they  had  desired  to  protect  me,  they  had  veiled  thy  beautiful  countenance. — None 
then  shall  possess  me  but  he ;  for  his  cheek  is  smooth,  and  the  moisture  of  his  mouth 
is  like  the  fountain  of  Paradise,  a  cure  for  the  sick,  and  his  charms  perplex  the  poet 
and  the  prose-writer.  The  person  with  the  curling  hair,  and  the  rosy  cheek,  and  the 
enchanting  glance,  of  whom  the  poet  hath  said, — 

Oft  a  fawn-like  person  hath  promised  me  a  meeting,  and  my  heart  hath  heen  restless  and  mine 

eye  expectant. 
His  eyelids  assured  me  of  the  truth  of  his  promise;  hut  how  can  they,  languishing  as  they 

are,  fulfil  it  ? 

— And  when  the  broker  heard  the  verses  that  she  recited  on  the  charms  of  Ali  Shir, 
he  wondered  at  her  eloquence,  as  well  as  at  the  splendour  of  her  beauty.  But  her 
owner  said  to  him,  Wonder  not  at  her  beauty,  that  putteth  to  shame  the  sun  of  day, 
nor  at  her  having  her  memory  stored  with  the  elegant  effusions  of  the  poets ;  for  she 
also  reciteth  the  glorious  Koran  according  to  the  seven  readings,  and  relateth  the 
noble  traditions  as  authentically  transmitted,  and  writeth  the  seven  different  hands, 
and  knoweth  of  the  sciences  what  the  very  learned  sage  knoweth  not,  and  her  hands 
are  better  than  gold  and  silver ;  for  she  maketh  curtains  of  silk,  and  selleth  them, 
gaining  by  every  one  fifty  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  she  worketh  a  curtain  in  eight  days. 
So  the  broker  said,  0  the  good  fortune  of  him  in  whose  house  this  damsel  shall  be, 
and  who  includeth  her  among  his  choice  treasures!  Iler  owner  then  said  to  him, 
Sell  her  to  whomsoever  she  chooseth. 

Accordingly  the  broker  returned  to  Ali  Shir,  and,  having  kissed  his  hands,  said,  0 
my  master,  purchase  this  damsel !  for  she  hath  made  choice  of  thee.  And  he  de- 
scribed her  to  him,  telling  him  what  she  knew,  and  said  to  him,  Happy  will  be  thy 
lot  if  thou  purchase  her  ;  for  He  who  is  not  sparing  of  his  gift  hath  bestowed  her 
upon  thee.  So  Ali  Shir  hung  down  his  head  for  a  while  towards  the  ground,  laugh- 
ing at  his  case,  and  saying  within  himself,  I  am  to  the  present  hour  without  break- 
fast;  but  I  am  ashamed  before  the  merchants  to  say  that  I  have  no  money  where- 
with to  purchase  her.  And  the  damsel  seeing  him  hanging  down  his  head,  said  to 
the  broker,  Take  me  by  the  hand  and  lead  me  to  him,  that  I  may  display  myself  to 
him,  and  excite  his  desire  to  possess  me;  for  1  will  not  be  sold  to  any  but  him.  The 
broker  therefore,  took  her  and  stationed  her  before  Ali  Shir,  saying  to  him,  What  is 


ALT    SHIR    AND    ZUMROUD. 


415 


thy  good  pleasure,  0  tny  master?  But  he  returned  him  no  answer.  So  the  damsel 
said,  0  my  master,  and  beloved  of  my  heart,  wherefore  wilt  thou  not  purchase  me? 
Purchase  me  for  what  thou  wilt,  and  I  will  be  a  means  of  good  fortune  to  thee. — 
And  he  raised  his  head  towards  her,  and  said,  Is  a  person  to  be  made  by  force  to 
purchase?  Thou  art  dear  at  the  price  of  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold. — She  replied, 
0  my  master,  purchase  me  for  nine  hundred.  He  said.  No. — For  eight  hundred,  she 
rejoined.  He  said.  No.  And  she  ceased  not  to  abate  the  price  until  she  said  to 
him.  For  one  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  But  he  said,  I  have  not  a  hundred  complete. 
And  she  laughed,  and  said  to  him,  How  much  dost  thou  want  of  a  hundred?  He 
answered  I  have  not  a  hundred  nor  less  than  a  hundred.  By  Allah,  I  possess  not 
either  white  or  red,  either  a  piece  of  silver  or  a  piece  of  gold.  So  see  for  thyself 
some  other  desirous  customer.  And  when  she  knew  that  he  had  nothing,  she  said 
to  him,  Take  my  hand,  as  though  thou  wouldst  examine  me  in  a  by-lane.  He  there- 
fore did  so  ;  and  she  took  forth  from  her  pocket  a  purse  containing  a  thousand  pieces 
of  gold,  and  said  to  him,  Weigh  out  from  it  nine  hundred  as  my  price,  and  retain 
the  remaining  hundred  in  thy  possession,  as  it  will  be  of  use  to  us. 

So  he  did  as  she  desired  him.  He  purchased  her  for  nine  hundred  pieces  of  gold, 
and  having  paid  her  price  from  that  purse,  repaired  with  her  to  the  house.  And 
when  she  arrived  there,  she  found  that  the  house  presented  plain,  clear  floors  ;  hav- 
ing neither  furniture  nor  utensils  in  it.  She  therefore  gave  him  a  thousand  pieces 
of  gold,  saying  to  him,  Go  to  the  market,  ancf  buy  for  us  with  three  hundred  pieces 
of  gold,  furniture  and  utensils  for  the  house.  And  he  did  so.  Then  she  said  to  him, 
Buy  for  us  food  and  beverage  with  three  pieces  of  gold.  And  he  did  this.  Next  she 
said  to  him,  Buy  for  us  a  piece  of  silk,  as  much  as  will  suffice  for  a  curtain,  and  buy 
gold  and  silver  thread,  and  silk  thread  of  seven  different  colours.  And  this  also  he 
did.  She  then  spread  the  furniture  in  the  house,  and  lighted  the  candles,  and  sat 
eating  and  drinking  with  him  ;  after  which,  they  embraced  each  other. 

The  love  of  each  became  fixed  in   the  heart  of  the  other,  and  on  the  following 


Zumroud  Embroidering. 

morning  the  damsel  took  the  curtain,  and  embroidered  it  with  coloured  silks,  and 
ornamented  it  with  the  gold  and  silver  thread.  She  worked  a  border  to  it,  with  the 
figures  of  birds,  and  represented  around  it  the  figures  of  wild  beasts,  and  there  was 
not  a  wild  beast  in  the  world  that  she  omitted  to  portray  upon  it.  She  continued 
working  upon  it  for  eight  days  ;  and  when  it  was  finished,  she  cut  it  and  glazed  it, 


416  ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROUD. 

und  then  gave  it  to  her  master,  saying  to  him,  Repair  with  it  to  the  market,  and  sell 
it  for  fifty  pieces  of  gold  to  a  merchant,  and  beware  of  selling  it  to  any  one  passing 
along  the  street,  because  that  would  be  a  cause  of  separation  between  me  and  thee ; 
for  we  have  enemies  who  are  not  unmindful  of  us.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 
He  repaired  with  it  to  the  market,  and  sold  it  to  a  merchant  as  she  had  desired  him  : 
after  which  he  bought  another  piece  of  silk,  together  with  the  silk  thread,  and  the 
gold  and  silver  thread  as  before,  and  what  they  required  of  food,  and,  having  brought 
these  things  to  her,  gave  her  the  rest  of  the  money.  And  every  eight  days  she  gave 
him  a  curtain  to  sell  for  fifty  pieces  of  gold. 

Thus  she  continued  to  do  for  the  space  of  a  whole  year.  And  after  the  expiration 
of  the  year,  he  went  to  the  market  with  the  curtain  as  usual,  and  gave  it  to  the 
broker;  and  there  met  him  a  Christian,  who  offered  him  sixty  pieces  of  gold.  He 
refused  to  sell  it  to  him  ;  but  the  Christian  ceased  not  to  increase  the  sum  until  he 
offered  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  he  bribed  the  broker  with  ten  pieces  of 
gold.  So  the  broker  returned  to  Ali  Shir,  informed  him  of  the  price  that  had  been 
offered,  and  made  use  of  artifice  to  induce  him  to  sell  the  curtain  to  the  Christian 
for  that  sum,  saying  to  him,  O  my  master,  fear  not  this  Christian  ;  for  no  harm  shall 
befall  thee  from  him.  The  merchants  also  arose  and  urged  him.  So  he  sold  it  to 
the  Christian,  though  his  heart  was  full  of  fear,  and,  having  taken  the  price,  returned 
to  the  house.  But  he  found  the  Christian  walking  behind  him  ;  and  he  said,  O 
Christian,  wherefore  art  thou  walking  behind  me?  —  0  my  master,  he  answered,  I 
have  a  want  at  the  upper  end  of  the  street :  may  God  never  cause  thee  to  have  any 
want!  And  Ali  Shir  arrived  not  at  his  abode  without  the  Christian's  overtaking 
him  :  so  he  said  to  him,  0  accursed,  wherefore  dost  thou  follow  me  whithersoever  I 
go?  The  (Christian  replied,  0  my  master,  give  me  a  draught  of  water,  for  I  am 
thirsty,  and  thou  wilt  receive  thy  recompense  from  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 
Ali  Shir  therefore  said  within  himself.  This  is  a  tributary,  and  he  hath  demanded  of 
me  a  draught  of  water:  so  by  Allah  I  will  not  disappoint  him. 

Then  he  entered  the  house,  and  took  a  mug  of  water;  and  his  slave-girl  Zumroud, 
seeing  him,  said  to  him,  0  my  beloved,  hast  thou  sold  the  curtain  ?  He  answered, 
Yes.  And  she  said,  To  a  merchant  or  a  passenger?  For  my  heart  is  impressedwith 
a  presentiment  of  separation. — He  answered,  I  sold  it  not  but  to  a  merchant.  But 
she  said.  Acquaint  me  with  the  truth  of  the  matter,  that  I  may  provide  against  my 
case.  And  wherefore,  she  added,  tookest  thou  the  mug  of  water? — To  give  drink  to 
the  broker,  he  answered.  And  she  exclaimed.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but 
in  God,  the  High,  the  Great! 

He  then  went  forth  with  the  mug,  and  found  the  Christian  within  the  passage  of 
the  house.  So  he  said.  Hast  thou  come  in  hither,  0  dog?  How  is  it  that  thou 
enterest  my  abode  without  my  permission  ? — 0  my  master,  he  answered,  there  is  no 
difference  between  the  door  and  the  passage;  and  I  shall  not  move  from  this  my 
place  but  to  go  forth :  yet  thanks  are  due  to  thee  for  bounty  and  kindness,  and 
liberality  and  obliging  conduct.  Then  he  took  the  mug  of  water,  and  drank  what  it 
contained  ;  after  which  he  handed  it  to  Ali  Shir,  who  took  it,  and  expected  that  he 
would  rise:  but  he  rose  not.  So  Ali  Shir  said  to  him.  Wherefore  dost  thou  not  arise 
and  go  thy  way  ?  The  Christian  answered,  0  my  lord,  be  not  of  those  who  confer 
favour  and  then  make  it  a  subject  of  reproach. 

O  mv  lord,  he  added,  I  have  drunk  ;  but  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  give  me  to  eat 
of  anything  that  is  in  the  house ;  it  will  be  equal  to  me  if  it  be  a  morsel  of  bread  or 
a  biscuit  and  an  onion.  —  Ali  Shir  replied.  Arise,  M-ithout  contention.  There  is 
nothing  in  the  house. — But  the  Christian  rejoined,  O  my  lord,  if  there  be  nothing  in 
the  house,  take  these  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  bring  us  something  from  the 
market,  though  it  be  but  a  single  cake  of  bread,  that  the  bond  of  bread  and  salt  may 
be  established  between  me  and  thee.  So  Ali  Shir  said  within  himself,  Verily  this 
Christian  is  mad:  I  will  therefore  take  of  him  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  bring 
him  something  worth  two  pieces  of  silver,  and  laugh  at  him.     And  the  Christian 


ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROUD.  417 

said  to  him,  O  my  master,  I  only  desire  something  that  will  banish  hunger,  though 
it  be  but  a  stale  cake  of  bread  and  an  onion  ;  for  the  best  of  provision  is  that  which 
dispelleth  hunger;  not  rich  food. 

AH  Shir  therefore  said  to  him,  Wait  here  while  I  lock  the  saloon  and  bring  thee 
something  from  the  market.  And  the  Christian  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then 
Ali  Shir  went  away  from  him,  and  locked  the  saloon,  putting  a  padlock  upon  it ; 
and  taking  the  key  with  him,  repaired  to  the  market,  bought  some  fried  cheese,  and 
honey  and  bananas  and  bread,  and  brought  them  to  him.  And  when  the  Christian 
saw  this,  he  said,  0  my  lord,  this  is  a  great  quantity,  sufficient  for  ten  men,  and  I 
am  alone ;  perhaps  then  thou  wilt  eat  with  me.  Ali  Shir  replied,  Eat  thou  alone  ; 
for  I  am  satiated.  But  the  Christian  rejoined,  0  my  lord,  the  sages  have  said.  He 
who  eateth  not  with  his  guest  is  baseborn.  So  when  Ali  Shir  heard  these  words,  he 
sat  and  ate  with  him  a  little  ;  and  was  about  to  take  up  his  hand,  when  the  Christian 
took  a  banana,  peeled  it,  and  divided  it  in  two,  and  put  into  one  half  of  it  some 
refined  bhang,  mixed  with  opium,  a  dram  of  which  would  make  an  elephant  to  fall 
down.  Then  he  dipped  this  half  of  the  banana  into  the  honey,  and  said  to  Ali  Shir, 
0  my  lord,  by  thy  religion  thou  shalt  take  this.  And  Ali  Shir  was  ashamed  to 
make  him  swear  falsely:  he  therefore  took  it  from  him,  and  swallowed  it,  and 
scarcely  had  it  settled  in  his  stomach  when  his  head  fell  before  his  feet,  and  he 
became  as  though  he  had  been  a  year  asleep. 

So  when  the  Christian  beheld  this,  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  as  though  he  were  a  bald 
wolf,  or  empowered  fate  ;  he  took  with  him  the  key  of  the  saloon,  and,  leaving  Ali 
Shir  prostrate,  went  running  to  his  brother,  and  acquainted  him  with  what  he  had 
done,  And  the  cause  of  his  conduct  was  this.  —  The  brother  of  this  Christian  was 
the  decrepit  old  man  who  had  desired  to  purchase  Zumroud  for  a  thousand  pieces  of 
gold,  and  she  accepted  him  not,  but  lampooned  him  with  verses.  He  was  an  infidel 
in  his  heart,  but  a  Mahometan  externally,  and  he  named  himself  Rashideddin.  And 
when  Zumroud  lampooned  him,  and  accepted  him  not  as  her  master,  he  complained 
to  his  brother,  the  Christian,  who  employed  this  stratagem  to  take  her  from  her 
master  Ali  Shir,  and  whose  name  was  Barsum  ;  and  he  replied.  Grieve  not  on 
account  of  this  afi"air ;  for  I  will  employ  a  stratagem  to  take  her  without  a  piece  of 
silver  or  of  gold :  —  because  he  was  a  skilful,  crafty,  wicked  magician.  Then  he 
ceased  not  to  devise  plots  and  stratagems  until  he  practised  the  stratagem  which  we 
have  described  ;  and  having  taken  the  key,  he  repaired  to  his  brother,  and  acquainted 
him  with  what  had  happened. 

Upon  this,  Rashideddin  mounted  his  mule,  took  his  young  men,  and  repaired  with 
his  brother  to  the  house  of  Ali  Shir,  taking  with  him  also  a  purse  containing  a  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold,  that  if  the  Judge  met  him  he  might  give  it  to  him.  He  opened 
the  saloon,  and  the  men  who  were  with  him  rushed  upon  Zumroud,  and  took  her  by 
force,  threatening  her  with  slaughter  if  she  should  speak  ;  but  the  house  they  left 
as  they  found  it,  taking  nothing  from  it,  and  they  left  Ali  Shir  lying  in  the  passage. 
Then  they  closed  the  door  upon  him,  having  put  the  key  of  the  saloon  by  his  side ; 
and  the  Christian  Rashideddin  took  the  damsel  to  his  pavilion,  where  he  put  her 
among  his  female  slaves  and  concubines,  and  said  to  her,  0  impudent  wench,  I  am 
the  sheikh  whom  thou  wouldst  not  accept  as  thy  master,  and  whom  thou  lampoonedst, 
and  I  have  taken  thee  without  expending  a  piece  of  silver  or  of  gold.  She  replied, 
with  her  eyes  filled  with  tears,  God  will  sufficiently  requite  thee,  O  wicked  old  man, 
for  thy  separating  me  from  my  master.  —  0  impudent  wench!  he  rejoined,  0  thou 
inflamed  with  love  !  thou  shalt  see  what  torture  I  will  inflict  upon  thee.  By  my  faith, 
if  thou  do  not  comply  with  my  command,  and  adopt  my  religion,  I  will  inflict  upon 
thee  varieties  of  torture  !  —  But  she  said,  If  thou  cut  my  flesh  in  pieces,  I  will  not 
abandon  the  Mahometan  faith  :  and  perhaps  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  will  send 
me  speedy  relief;  for  He  is  able  to  do  whatsoever  He  willeth  ;  and  the  wise  have 
said.  An  evil  in  the  body  rather  than  an  evil  in  religion.  And  upon  this  he  called* 
out  to  the  eunuchs  and  female  slaves,  saying  to  tbem,.  Throw  ber  dowD,  So  tbey 
27 


418  ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROUD. 

threw  her  down.  And  he  ceased  not  to  inflict  upon  her  cruel  blows,  while  she  called 
for  aid ;  but  she  was  not  aided.  Then  she  abstained  from  imploring  aid,  and  began 
to  say,  God  is  my  sufficiency,  and  He  is  indeed  sufficient!  —  until  her  voice  failed, 
and  her  groaning  became  inaudible.  And  when  his  heart  was  satisfied  with  punish- 
ing her,  he  said  to  the  eunuchs,  Drag  her  by  her  feet,  and  throw  her  into  the  kitchen, 
and  give  her  nothing  to  eat.  The  accursed  wretch  then  passed  that  night,  and  on 
the  following  morning  he  desired  that  she  should  be  brought,  and  he  repeated  the 
beating ;  after  which  he  ordered  the  eunuchs  to  throw  her  in  her  place  ;  and  they 
did  so.  And  when  the  pain  occasioned  by  the  beating  became  alleviated,  she  said, 
There  is  no  deity  but  God  ;  Mahomet  is  God's  Apostle  !  God  is  my  sufficiency,  and 
excellent  is  the  Guardian  !  —  Then  she  implored  aid  of  our  lord  Mahomet,  may  God 
favour  and  preserve  him  ! — Such  was  her  case. 

Now  as  to  Ali  Shir,  he  continued  lying  asleep  until  the  following  day,  when  the 
intoxication  occasioned  by  the  bhang  quitted  his  head,  and  he  opened  his  eyes,  and 
called  out,  saying,  0  Zumroud  !  But  no  one  answered  him.  He  therefore  entered 
the  saloon,  and  found  the  interior  desolate,  and  the  place  of  visitation  distant:  so  be 
knew  that  this  event  had  not  happened  unto  him  but  through  the  Christian  ;  and  he 
yearned  and  wept,  and  sighed  and  complained,  and  recited  verses.  He  repented 
when  repentance  was  of  no  avail,  weeping,  and  tearing  his  clothes  ;  and  he  took  two 
stones  and  went  round  about  the  city,  beating  his  bosom  with  them,  and  crying,  0 
Zumroud  !  The  children  therefore  surrounded  him,  and  said,  A  madman  !  A  mad- 
man! —  And  every  one  who  knew  him  wept  for  him,  and  said,  This  is  such-a-one. 
What  hath  befallen  him? — Thus  he  continued  to  do  until  the  close  of  the  day;  and 
when  the  darkness  of  night  came  over  him,  he  slept  in  one  of  the  by-streets  until  the 
morning.  And  he  went  round  about  the  city  again  with  the  stones  till  the  evening, 
when  he  returned  to  his  saloon  to  pass  the  night  there. 

Then  a  female  neighbour  of  his,  who  was  an  old  woman,  one  of  the  virtuous,  said 
to  him,  0  my  son,  may  God  preserve  thee!  When  becamest  thou  mad?  —  And  he 
answered  her  thus:  They  said.  Thou  ravest  upon  the  person  thou  lovest.  And  I 
replied,  The  sweets  of  life  are  only  for  the  mad.  Drop  the  subject  of  my  madness, 
and  bring  her  upon  whom  I  rave.  If  she  cure  my  madness  do  not  blame  me.  So 
his  neighbour,  the  old  woman,  knew  that  he  was  a  lover  separated  from  his  beloved; 
and  she  said,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  0  my 
son,  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  relate  to  me  the  story  of  thy  calamity.  Perhaps  God 
may  enable  me  to  assist  thee  to  overcome  it,  with  his  good  pleasure.  —  He  therefore 
told  her  all  that  had  befallen  him  with  Barsum  the  Christian,  the  brother  of  the 
magician  who  called  himself  Rashideddin  ;  and  when  she  knew  that,  she  said  to  him, 
0  my  son,  verily  thou  art  excused.  Then  she  poured  forth  tears,  and  said  to  him,  O 
my  son,  arise  now,  and  buy  a  crate,  like  the  crates  used  by  the  goldsmiths,  and  buy 
bracelets  and  seal-rings  and  ear-rings,  and  other  ornaments  suited  to  women  ;  and 
be  not  sparing  of  money.  Put  all  those  things  into  the  crate ;  then  bring  the  crate, 
and  I  will  put  it  on  my  head,  as  a  female  broker,  and  I  will  go  about  and  search  for 
her  in  the  houses  until  I  obtain  tidings  of  her,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name 
be  exalted ! 

Ali  Shir  rejoiced  at  her  words,  and  kissed  her  hands.  He  then  went  quickly,  and 
brought  her  what  she  desired  ;  and  when  the  things  were  made  ready  for  her,  she 
arose  and  attired  herself  in  a  patched  gown,  put  over  her  head  a  honey-coloured 
kerchief,  and  taking  in  her  hand  a  walking-staff,  bore  the  crate  about  through  the 
by-lanes,  and  to  the  houses,  and  ceased  not  to  go  about  from  place  to  place,  and 
from  quarter  .to  quarter,  and  from  by-street  to  by-street,  until  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted!)  guided  her  to  the  pavilion  of  the  accursed  Rashideddin  the  Christian, 
within  which  she  heard  a  groaning.  So  she  knocked  at  the  door;  whereupon  a 
slave-girl  came  down  and  opened  to  her  the  door,  and  saluted  her.  And  the  old 
woman  said  to  her,  I  have  with  me  these  trifles  for  sale.  Is  there  among  you  any 
one  who  will  buy  aught  of  them  ?  —  The  girl  answered  her.  Yes : — and  she  took  her 


ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROUD.  419 

into  the  house,  and  seated  her.  The  female  slaves  then  seated  themselves  aiound 
her,  and  each  of  them  took  something  from  her;  and  the  old  woman  began  to  ad- 
dress them  with  courtesy,  and  to  make  the  prices  of  the  goods  easy  to  them  ;  so  that 
they  were  delighted  with  her,  on  account  of  her  kindness  and  the  gentleness  of  her 
speech.  Meanwhile,  she  looked  round  narrowly  at  the  different  quarters  of  the 
place,  to  discover  the  female  whose  groaning  she  had  heard,  and  her  eye  fell  upon 
her:  so  she  treated  the  female  slaves  with  additional  favour  and  kindness;  and, 
looking  at  thS  damsel  whom  she  had  heard  groaning,  she  found  her  to  be  Zumroud, 
laid  prostrate.  She  recognised  her,  and  wept,  and  said  to  the  female  slaves,  0  my 
children,  wherefore  is  this  damsel  in  this  condition?  And  they  related  to  her  the 
whole  story,  adding,  This  affair  is  not  of  our  choice ;  but  our  master  commanded  us 
to  do  thus;  and  he  is  now  on  a  journey.  And  she  said,  0  my  children,  I  desire  of 
you  a  favour,  which  is,  that  ye  loose  this  poor  damsel  from  her  bonds,  and  leave  her 
BO  until  ye  know  of  the  return  of  your  master,  when  ye  shall  bind  her  again  as  she 
was;  and  ye  will  gain  a  recompense  from  the  Lord  of  all  creatures.  They  replied. 
We  hear  and  obey.  And  they  loosed  her,  and  fed  her,  and  gave  her  to  drink.  The 
old  woman  then  said.  Would  that  my  leg  had  broken,  and  that  I  had  not  entered 
your  abode !  And  after  that,  she  went  to  Zumroud,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  daughter, 
God  preserve  thee!  God  will  dispel  from  thee  thine  affliction.  —  And  she  told  her 
that  she  had  come  from  her  master  Ali  Shir,  and  made  an  agreement  with  her,  that 
she  (Zumroud)  should,  in  the  following  night,  listen  for  a  sound  ;  saying.  Thy  master 
will  come  to  thee  and  stand  by  the  stone  seat  of  the  pavilion,  and  will  whistle  to  thee ; 
and  when  thou  hearest  him,  do  thou  whistle  to  him,  and  let  thyself  down  to  him  by 
a  rope,  and  he  will  take  thee  and  go.     So  the  damsel  thanked  her  for  this. 

The  old  woman  then  went  forth,  and,  returning  to  Ali  Shir,  informed  him  of  what 
she  had  done,  and  said  to  him.  Repair  this  next  night,  at  midnight,  to  such  a  quarter ; 
for  the  house  of  the  accursed  is  there,  and  its  appearance  is  of  such  and  such  a 
description.  Station  thyself  beneath  his  pavilion,  and  whistle :  she  will  thereupon 
let  herself  down  to  thee,  and  do  thou  take  her  and  depart  whither  thou  wilt.  He 
therefore  thanked  her  for  this ;  and  having  waited  till  the  night  became  dark,  and 
the  appointed  time  arrived,  he  went  to  that  quarter  which  she  had  described  to  him, 
where  he  saw  the  pavilion,  and  he  knew  it.  And  he  seated  himself  upon  a  bench 
beneath  it;  but  sleep  overcame  him,  and  he  slept.  —  Glory  be  to  Him  who  sleepeth 
not !  —  For  a  long  time  he  had  not  slept,  from  the  ecstacy  of  his  passion :  so  he  be- 
came like  one  intoxicated. 

And  while  he  was  asleep,  lo,  a  certain  robber  came  forth  that  night,  and  went 
about  the  skirts  of  the  city,  to  steal  something ;  and  destiny  cast  him  beneath  the 
pavilion  of  that  Christian.  So  he  went  around  it,  but  found  no  way  of  ascending 
and  entering  it ;  and  he  continued  walking  round  it  until  he  came  to  the  bench, 
when  he  beheld  Ali  Shir  asleep.  And  he  took  his  turban  :  and  when  he  had  done 
so,  immediately  Zumroud  looked  forth,  and,  seeing  him  standing  in  the  dark,  ima- 
gined him  to  be  her  master.  She  therefore  whistled  to,  him,  and  the  robber  whistled 
to  her  ;  and  she  let  herself  down  to  him  by  the  rope,  having  with  her  a  pair  of  saddle- 
bags full  of  gold.  So  when  the  robber  saw  this,  he  said  within  himself.  This  is  no 
other  than  a  wonderful  thing,  occasioned  by  an  extraordinary  cause.  He  then  took 
up  the  saddle-bags,  and  took  Zumroud  upon  his  shoulders,  and  went  away  with  both 
like  the  blinding  lightning;  whereupon  the  damsel  said  to  him,  The  old  woman  told 
me  that  thou  wast  infirm  on  my  account ;  but  lo,  thou  art  stronger  than  the  horse. 
And  he  returned  her  no  answer.  So  she  felt  his  face,  and  found  that  his  beard  was 
like  the  broom  of  the  public  bath  ;  as  though  he  were  a  hog  that  had  swallowed 
feathers,  and  their  down  had  come  forth  from  his  throat.  And  she  was  terrified  at 
him  and  said  to  him.  What  art  thou?  He  answered  her,  0  wench,  I  am  the  sharper 
Jawan  the  Kurd,  of  the  gang  of  Ahmad  El-Denef :  we  are  forty  sharpers,  all  of  whom 
will  this  night  receive  thee  as  their  slave.  And  when  she  beard  his  words,  she  wept, 
and  slapped  her  face,  knowing  that  fate  had  overcome  her,  and  that  she  had  no 


420  ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROUD. 

resource  but  that  of  resignation  to  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  She 
therefore  endured  with  patience,  and  committed  herself  to  the  disposal  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!),  and  said,  There  is  no  deity  but  God!  Each  time  that  we  are 
delivered  from  anxiety,  we  fall  into  greater  anxiety. 

Now  the  cause  of  Jawan's  coming  to  the  place  above  mentioned  was  this. — He  had 
said  to  Ahmad  El-Denef,  O  sharper,  I  entered  this  place  before  the  present  time,  and 
know  a  cavern  without  the  town,  affording  room  for  forty  persons ;  and  I  desire  to 
go  before  you  to  it,  and  to  place  my  mother  in  that  cavern.  Then  I  will  return  to 
the  city,  and  steal  from  it  something  for  your  luck,  and  keep  it  for  you  until  ye  come  ; 
80  your  entertainment  on  that  day  shall  be  of  my  supplying. — And  Ahmad  El-Denef 
replied.  Do  what  thou  desirest.  Accordingly  he  went  before  them  to  that  place,  and 
put  his  mother  in  the  cavern  ;  and  when  he  went  forth  from  it,  he  found  a  trooper 
lying  asleep,  with  a  horse  picketed  by  him  ;  so  he  slaughtered  him,  and  took  his 
clothes,  and  his  horse  and  arms,  and  hid  them  in  the  cavern  with  his  mother,  pick- 
eting the  horse  there.  He  then  returned  to  the  city,  and  walked  on  till  he  came  to 
the  pavilion  of  the  Christian,  where  he  did  what  we  have  described. 

He  ran  on  with  the  damsel  without  stopping  until  he  deposited  her  with  his 
mother,  to  whom  he  said.  Take  care  of  her  till  I  return  to  thee  in  the  morning.  And 
having  said  this,  he  departed.  So  Zumroud  said  within  herself.  Why  am  I  thus 
careless  about  liberating  myself  by  some  stratagem  ?  Wherefore  should  I  wait  until 
these  forty  men  arrive? — Then  she  looked  towards  the  old  woman,  the  mother  of 
Jawan  the  Kurd,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  aunt,  wilt  thou  not  arise  and  go  with  me 
without  the  cavern,  that  I  may  dress  thy  hair  in  the  sun  ?  —  Yea,  by  Allah,  0  my 
daughter,  answered  the  old  woman  ;  for  of  a  long  time  I  have  been  far  from  the 
public  bath  ;  these  hogs  incessantly  taking  me  about  from  place  to  place.  So  Zum- 
roud went  forth  with  her,  and  continued  the  operation  until  the  old  woman  fell 
asleep ;  whereupon  Zumroud  arose,  and  clad  herself  in  the  clothes  of  the  trooper 
whom  Jawan  the  Kurd  had  killed,  and,  having  bound  his  sword  at  her  waist,  and 
put  on  his  turban,  so  that  she  appeared  like  a  man,  mounted  the  horse,  and  took  the 
saddle-bags  full  of  gold  with  her,  saying,  0  kind  Protector,  protect  me,  I  conjure  thee 
by  the  dignity  of  Mahomet ;  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !  Then  she  said  within 
herself,  If  I  go  to  the  city,  perhaps  some  one  of  the  family  of  the  trooper  may  see  me, 
and  no  good  will  happen  unto  me.  So  she  refrained  from  entering  the  city,  and 
proceeded  over  the  bare  desert,  with  the  saddle-bags  and  the  horse,  eating  of  the 
herbs  of  the  earth,  and  feeding  the  horse  of  the  same,  and  drinking  and  giving  him 
to  drink  of  the  waters  of  the  rivers  for  the  space  of  ten  days. 

And  on  the  eleventh  day  she  approached  a  pleasant  and  secure  city,  established  in 
prosperity  ;  the  winter  had  departed  from  it  with  its  cold,  and  the  spring  had  come 
with  its  flowers  and  its  roses  ;  its  flowers  were  gay  and  charming  to  the  sight,  its 
rivers  were  flowing,  and  its  birds  were  warbling.  Now  when  she  came  to  this  city, 
and  approached  its  gate,  she  found  there  the  troops  and  the  Emirs  and  the  chiefs  of 
its  inhabitants ;  and  she  wondered  when  she  saw  them  thus  collected,  and  said 
within  herself,  The  people  of  this  city  are  assembled  at  its  gate,  and  there  must  be 
some  cause  for  this.  She  then  proceeded  towards  them  ;  and  when  she  drew  near  to 
them,  the  troops  hastened  forward  to  meet  her,  and,  having  alighted,  kissed  the 
ground  before  her,  and  said,  God  aid  thee,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan  !  The  great  officers 
arranged  themselves  in  ranks  before  her,  and  the  troops  ranged  the  people  in  order, 
and  exclaimed,  God  aid  thee,  and  make  thine  arrival  a  blessing  to  the  Mahometans, 
0  Sultan  of  all  creatures  !  God  establish  thee,  0  King  of  the  age,  and  incomparable 
one  of  the  age  and  time  ! — So  Zumroud  said  to  them.  What  is  your  story,  0  ye  people 
of  this  city  ?  The  chamberlain  answered.  Verily  he  who  is  not  sparing  of  his  bene- 
fits hath  bestowed  favour  upon  thee,  and  made  thee  Sultan  over  this  city,  and  ruler 
over  the  necks  of  all  whom  it  containeth.  Know  that  it  is  the  custom  of  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  city,  when  their  King  dieth,  and  hath  left  no  son,  for  the  troofe  to  go 
forth  without  the  city,  and  to  remain  three  days  ;  and  whatsoever  man  arriveth  by 


ALI    SHIR   AND    ZUMROUD.  421 

the  way  by  which  thou  hast  come,  they  make  him  Sultan  over  them.  And  praise  be 
to  God  who  hath  directed  unto  us  a  man  of  the  sons  of  the  Turks,  of  comely  counte 
nance ;  for  had  one  of  less  consideration  than  thyself  come  unto  us,  he  had  been 
Sultan. 

Now  Zumroud  was  a  person  of  judgment  in  all  her  actions ;  so  she  said,  Think 
me  not  one  of  the  common  people  among  the  Turks :  nay,  I  am  of  the  sons  of  the 
great;  but  I  was  incensed  against  my  family,  and  went  forth  from  them  and  left 
them  ;  and  look  ye  at  this  pair  of  saddle-bags  full  of  gold  that  I  have  brought  beneath 
me,  to  give  alms  out  of  it  to  the  poor  and  needy  all  the  way.  And  on  hearing  this, 
they  prayed  for  her,  and  were  extremely  rejoiced  at  her  arrival ;  and  she  was  also 
pleased  with  them.  She  then  said  within  herself.  Since  I  have  attained  to  this,  per- 
haps God  will  unite  me  with  my  master  in  this  place  ;  for  He  is  able  to  do  whatso- 
ever he  willeth  !  And  she  proceeded,  accompanied  by  the  troops,  until  they  entered 
the  city,  when  the  troops  alighted  and  walked  before  her  till  they  had  conducted  her 
into  the  palace.  She  there  alighted,  and  the  Emirs  and  grandees  conveyed  her,  with 
their  hands  beneath  her  arm-pits,  and  seated  her  upon  the  throne.  Then  all  of  them 
kissed  the  ground  before  her.  And  when  she  was  seated  on  the  throne,  she  gave 
orders  to  open  the  treasuries  ;  and  they  were  opened,  and  she  bestowed  presents 
upon  all  the  troops ;  whereupon  they  offered  up  prayers  for  the  continuance  of  her 
reign  ;  and  the  people,  and  all  the  inhabitants  of  the  provinces,  acknowledged  her 
authority 

She  remained  thus  for  some  time,  commanding  and  forbidding,  and  the  hearts  of 
the  people  were  impresed  with  exceeding  respect  for  her,  on  account  of  her  gene- 
rosity, and  her  abstinence  from  what  is  forbidden.  She  abolished  the  custom-taxes, 
liberated  the  persons  confined  in  the  prisons,  and  redressed  the  grievances  of  her 
subjects  ;  so  that  all  the  people  loved  her.  But  whenever  she  thought  upon  her 
master,  she  wept,  and  supplicated  God  to  effect  her  union  with  him.  And  thinking 
upon  him  one  night,  and  upon  her  days  that  had  passed,  she  poured  forth  tears,  -and 
recited  some  verses. 

And  when  she  had  ended,  she  wiped  away  her  tears,  and  went  up  into  the  pavi- 
lion. Then  she  entered  the  harem,  and  assigned  separate  apartments  for  the  female 
slaves  and  concubines,  appointing  them  allowances  and  supplies,  and  asserted  that 
she  desired  to  remain  in  a  place  a.lone,  for  the  purpose  of  assiduously  employing 
herself  in  devotion  ;  and  she  betook  herself  to  fasting  and  praying,  so  that  the 
Emirs  said,  Verily  this  Sultan  is  of  exceeding  piety.  She  retained  of  the  eunuchs 
only  two  lads  to  serve  her. 

For  a  year  she  sat  upon  the  throne  of  her  kingdom,  and  heard  no  tidings  of  her 
master,  nor  discovered  any  trace  of  him.  And  upon  this  she  was  disquieted,  and  her 
disquietude  becoming  excessive,  she  summoned  the  Viziers  and  Chamberlains,  and 
commanded  them  to  bring  to  her  the  geometricians  and  builders,  and  gave  orders 
that  they  should  make  for  her,  beneath  the  palace,  a  horse-course  a  league  in  length 
and  a  league  in  breadth.  So  they  did  as  she  commanded  them  in  the  shortest  time, 
and  the  horse-course  was  agreeable  to  her  desire.  And  when  it  was  finished,  she  de- 
scended into  it.  A  great  pavilion  was  pitched  for  her  in  it,  chairs  were  arranged 
for  the  Emirs,  and  she  gave  orders  to  spread  in  that  horse-course  a  long  table 
covered  with  all  kinds  of  rich  viands ;  and  they  did  as  she  commanded.  Then  she 
ordered  the  lords  of  the  empire  to  eat;  and  they  ate;  after  which  she  said  to  the 
Emirs,  I  desire  when  the  new  month  commenceth,  that  ye  do  thus,  and  proclaim  in 
the  city,  that  no  one  shall  open  his  shop,  but  that  all  the  people  shall  come  and  eat 
of  the  King's  banquet ;  and  whosoever  of  them  acteth  contrary  to  this  order  shall 
be  hanged  at  the  door  of  his  house.  So  when  the  new  month  commenced,  they  did 
as  she  commanded  them ;  and  they  continued  to  observe  this  custom  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  first  month  of  the  second  year ;  when  Zumroud  descended  into 
the  horse-course,  and  the  crier  proclaimed,  0  all  ye  companies  of  men,  whosoever 
openeth  his  shop  or  his  magazine  or  his  house  shall  be  hanged  immediately  at  the 


422  ALI  SHIR    AND   ZUMROUD. 

door  of  his  abode :  for  it  is  incumbent  on  you  that  ye  all  come  to  eat  of  the  King's 
banquet !  And  when  the  proclamation  was  ended,  the  table  having  been  prepared, 
the  people  came  in  companies,  and  she  ordered  them  to  seat  themselves  at  the  table, 
to  eat  until  they  were  satisfied  of  all  the  dishes.  Accordingly,  they  sat  and  ate  as 
she  had  commanded  them,  while  she  sat  upon  the  throne  of  her  kingdom  looking  at 
them  ;  and  every  one  at  the  table  said  within  himself.  The  King  is  looking  at  none 
but  me.  They  continued  eating,  and  the  Emirs  said  to  the  people,  Eat  ye,  and  be 
not  ashamed  ;  for  the  King  liketh  your  doing  so.  They  therefore  ate  until  they 
were  satisfied,  and  departed  praying  for  the  King  ;  and  some  of  them  said  to  others, 
In  our  lives  we  have  not  seen  a  Sultan  that  loveth  the  poor  like  this  Sultan.  They 
prayed  for  length  of  life  for  her ;  and  she  returned  to  her  palace,  full  of  joy  at  the 
plan  which  she  had  devised,  and  said  within  herself.  If  it  be  the  will  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!),  by  this  means  I  shall  obtain  tidings  of  my  master  Ali 
Shir. 

And  when  the  second  month  commenced,  she  did  the  same,  as  usual.  They  pre- 
pared the  table,  and  Zumroud  descended  and  seated  herself  upon  her  throne,  and 
ordered  the  people  to  sit  and  eat.  And  while  she  was  sitting  at  the  head  of  the  table, 
and  the  people  were  seating  themselves  at  it,  company  after  company,  and  person 
after  person,  her  eye  fell  upon  Barsum  the  Christian,  who  had  bought  the  curtain  of 
her  master;  and  she  knew  him,  and  said.  This  is  the  commencement  of  the  dispel- 
ling of  my  afiliction,  and  the  attainment  of  my  desire.  Then  Barsum  advanced,  and 
seated  himself  among  the  people  to  eat ;  and  he  looked  at  a  dish  of  rice  sweetened 
with  sugar  sprinkled  over  it;  but  it  was  far  from  him;  so  he  pressed  towards  it, 
and,  stretching  forth  his  hand  to  it,  reached  it  and  put  it  before  him.  Upon  this,  a 
man  by  his  side  said  to  him.  Why  dost  thou  not  eat  of  that  which  is  before  thee  ? 
Is  not  this  a  disgrace  to  thee  ?  How  is  it  that  thou  stretchest  forth  thy  hand  to  a 
thing  that  is  distant  from  thee  ?  Art  thou  not  ashamed  ? — But  Barsum  replied,  I 
will  eat  of  none  but  it.  So  the  man  rejoined.  Eat ;  may  God  not  give  thee  enjoy- 
ment in  it !  And  a  man  who  was  a  drunkard  said.  Let  him  eat  of  it,  that  I  too  may 
eat  with  him.  The  man  before  mentioned,  however,  said  to  him,  0  most  ill-omened 
of  drunkards,  that  is  not  yonr  food,  but  it  is  the  food  of  the  Emirs  ;  therefore  leave 
it,  that  it  may  return  to  those  to  whom  it  belongeth,  that  they  may  eat  it.  But 
Barsum  disobeyed  him  :  he  took  from  it  a  mouthful,  and  put  it  into  his  mouth,  and 
was  about  to  take  the  second,  when  Zumroud,  observing  him,  called  out  to  certain 
of  the  soldiers,  and  said  to  them,  Bring  this  man  before  whom  is  the  dish  of  sweet 
rice,  and  let  him  not  eat  the  mouthful  that  is  in  his  hand  ;  but  throw  it  duwu  from 
his  hand.  So  four  of  the  soldiers  came  to  him,  and  dragged  him  along  upon  his 
face,  after  they  had  thrown  down  the  mouthful  from  his  hand ;  and  they  stationed 
him  before  Zumroud.  Upon  this,  the  people  refrained  from  eating;  one  of  them 
saying  to  another,  By  Allah,  he  was  unjust;  for  he  would  not  eat  of  the  food  suited 
to  persons  of  his  own  class.  Another  said,  I  was  content  with  this  pottage  that  is 
before  me.  And  the  drunkard  said,  Praise  be  to  God,  who  prevented  my  eating 
aught  of  this  dish  of  sweet  rice ;  for  I  was  waiting  for  it  to  stop  before  him  and  for 
him  to  enjoy  it,  when  I  would  have  eaten  with  him  ;  but  what  we  have  witnessed 
befell  him.  And  the  people  said,  one  to  another,  Wait,  that  we  may  see  what  will 
happen  to  him. 

Now  when  they  brought  him  before  the  Queen  Zumroud,  she  said  to  him.  Wo  to 
thee,  O  blue-eyed!  What  is  thy  name,  and  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  coming  to  our 
country? — And  the  accursed  refused  to  give  his  true  name,  and,  having  a  white  tur- 
ban, he  answered,  0  King,  my  name  is  Ali,  and  my  business  is  that  of  a  weaver, 
and  I  have  come  to  this  city  for  the  sake  of  traffic.  Zumroud  said.  Bring  ye  to  me 
a  geomantic  tablet,  and  a  pen  of  brass.  And  they  brought  her  what  she  demanded 
immediately  ;  and  she  took  the  geomantic  tablet  and  the  pen,  and  performed  an 
operation  of  geomancy,  designing  with  the  pen  a  figure  like  that  of  an  ape;  after 
which  she  raised  her  head,  and  looked  attentively  at  Barsum  for  a  long  time,  and 


ALI   SHIR    AND   ZUMROUD.  423 

said  to  him,  0  dog,  how  is  it  that  thou  liest  unto  Kings?  Art  thou  not  a  Christian, 
and  is  not  thy  name  Barsum,  and  hast  thou  not  come  to  search  for  something?  Tell 
me  then  the  truth,  or,  by  the  glory  of  the  Deity,  I  will  strike  off  thy  head! — And 
the  Christian  was  agitated:  and  the  Emirs  and  others  who  were  present  said,  This 
King  is  acquainted  with  geomancy.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  hath 
endowed  him  with  this  knowledge  ! — Then  she  called  out  to  the  Christian,  saying  to 
him.  Tell  me  the  truth,  or  I  destroy  thee !  And  the  Christian  replied.  Pardon,  0 
King  of  the  age !  Thou  art  right  in  thy  geomantic  divination  ;  for  thy  slave  is  a 
Christian.  So  the  Emirs  and  others  who  were  present  wondered  at  the  King's  ex- 
actness in  discovering  the  truth  by  geomancy,  saying,  Verily  this  King  is  an  astro- 
loger of  whom  there  is  not  the  like  in  the  world !  The  Queen  then  ordered  that  the 
Christian  should  be  flayed,  that  his  skin  should  be  stuffed  with  straw,  and  hung 
over  the  gate  of  the  horse-course,  and  that  a  pit  should  be  dug  without  the  city,  and 
his  flesh  and  his  bones  should  be  burnt  in  it,  and  dirt  and  filth  thrown  upon  hia 
ashes.  They  replied.  We  hear  and  obey: — and  did  all  that  she  had  commanded 
them.  And  when  the  people  saw  what  had  befallen  the  Christian,  they  said.  His 
recompense  was  that  which  hath  befallen  him;  and  what  an  unlucky  mouthful  was 
that  unto  him  !  One  of  them  said.  Divorcement  shall  be  incumbent  on  the  remote 
[if  I  break  this  vow]  :  in  my  life  henceforth  I  will  never  eat  of  sweet  rice !  And 
the  drunkard  said.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  saved  me  from  that  which  hath  be- 
fallen this  man,  by  his  preserving  me  from  eating  that  rice!  Then  all  the  people 
went  forth  ;  and  they  had  become  prohibited  from  sitting  opposite  to  the  sweet  rice, 
in  the  place  of  that  Christian. 

Again,  when  the  third  month  commenced,  they  spread  the  table  as  usual,  and  co- 
vered it  with  the  dishes,  and  the  Queen  Zumroud  sat  upon  the  throne,  the  troops 
standing  in  the  customary  manner,  but  fearing  her  awful  power.  The  people  of  the 
city  then  entered  as  they  were  wont,  and  went  around  the  table,  looking  for  the 
place  of  the  dish  of  rice ;  and  one  of  them  said  to  another,  0  hadgi  Kalaf !  The 
other  replied,  At  thy  service,  0  hadgi  Kaled,  And  the  former  said,  Avoid  the  dish 
of  sweet  rice,  and  beware  of  eating  of  it ;  for  if  thou  eat  of  it,  thou  wilt  be  hanged. 
Then  they  seated  themselves  around  the  table  to  eat;  and  while  they  were  eating, 
and  the  Queen  Zumroud  was  sitting  on  the  throne,  a  glance  of  her  eye  fell  upon  a 
man  entering  with  a  hurried  pace  from  the  gate  of  the  horse-course,  and,  looking  at- 
tentively at  him,  she  found  that  he  was  Jawan  the  Kurd,  the  robber  who  murdered 
the  trooper ;  and  the  cause  of  his  coming  was  this. — He  had  left  his  mother,  and 
gone  to  his  companions,  and  said  to  them,  I  obtained  yesterday  excellent  booty:  I 
murdered  a  trooper,  and  took  his  horse ;  and  there  fell  to  my  lot  the  same  night  a 
pair  of  saddle-bags  full  of  gold,  and  a  damsel  whose  value  is  greater  than  the  gold 
in  the  saddle-bags;  and  I  have  put  all  this  booty  in  the  cavern,  with  my  mother.  So 
they  rejoiced  at  this,  and  repaired  to  the  cavern  at  the  close  of  the  day.  Jawan  the 
Kurd  entered  before  them,  and  they  followed  him  ;  and  he  desired  to  bring  to  them 
the  things  of  which  he  had  told  them  ;  but  he  found  the  place  desolate.  He  there- 
fore inquired  of  his  mother  the  truth  of  the  matter,  and  she  acquainted  him  with  all 
that  had  happened  ;  on  hearing  which,  he  bit  his  hands  in  repentance,  and  said.  By 
Allah,  I  will  search  about  for  this  impudent  wench,  and  take  her  from  the  place  in 
which  she  is,  though  she  be  within  the  shell  of  a  pistachio-nut,  and  I  will  satisfy 
my  malice  upon  her !  Accordingly,  he  went  forth  to  search  for  her,  and  ceased  not 
to  go  about  the  surrounding  districts  until  he  came  to  the  city  of  the  Queen  Zumroud. 
And  when  he  entered  the  city,  he  found  no  man  in  it:  he  therefore  inquired  of 
some  of  the  women  who  were  looking  out  from  the  windows,  and  they  informed  him 
that  on  the  first  day  of  every  month  the  Sultan  made  a  banquet,  and  the  people  went 
and  ate  of  it;  and  they  directed  him  to  the  horse-course  in  which  the  table  was 
spread. 

So  he  came  hurrying  on,  and,  not  finding  a  vacant  place  in  which  to  seat  himself 
excepting  opposite  the  dish  above  mentioned,  he  seated  himself  there,  and,  as  the 


424  ALI   SHIR   AND   ZUMROUD. 

dish  was  before  him,  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  it.  Upon  this,  the  people  called  to 
him,  saying,  0  our  brother,  what  dost  thou  desire  to  do  ?  He  answered,  I  desire  to 
eat  of  this  dish  until  I  am  satiated.  And  one  of  them  said  to  him.  If  thou  eat  of  it 
thou  wilt  be  hanged.  But  he  replied,  Be  silent,  and  utter  not  these  words.  Then 
he  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  the  dish,  and  drew  it  before  him.  The  drunkard 
before  mentioned  was  sitting  by  his  side,  and  when  he  saw  Jawan  draw  the  dish 
before  him,  he  fled  from  his  place  ;  the  effect  of  the  intoxicating  drug  instantly 
passed  away  from  his  head,  and  he  seated  himself  afar  off,  saying,  I  have  nothing  to 
do  with  this  dish.  Jawan  the  Kurd  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  the  dish,  and  it  re- 
sembled the  foot  of  a  raven  ;  and  he  ladled  the  rice  with  it,  and  took  it  forth  resem- 
bling the  foot  of  a  camel.  Then  he  compressed  the  handful  into  the  form  of  a  ball, 
80  that  it  was  like  a  great  orange ;  he  threw  it  rapidly  into  his  mouth,  and  it  de- 
scended into  his  throat  making  a  noise  like  thunder ;  and  the  bottom  of  the  dish  ap- 
peared in  the  place  from  which  it  was  taken.  So  a  man  by  his  side  said  to  him, 
Praise  be  to  God,  who  hath  not  made  me  to  be  a  dish  of  meat  before  thee :  for  thou 
hast  exhausted  the  dish  by  a  single  mouthful!  And  the  drunkard  said.  Let  him 
eat;  for  I  imagine  that  I  behold  in  him  the  figure  of  the  hanged.  Then  looking  to- 
wards him,  he  said  to  him,  Eat:  may  God  not  give  thee  enjoyment!  And  Jawan 
stretched  forth  his  hand  to  take  the  second  mouthful,  and  was  about  to  press  it  into 
the  form  of  a  ball  like  the  first  mouthful,  when  the  Queen  called  to  some  of  the  sol- 
diers, saying  to  them.  Bring  that  man  quickly,  and  suffer  him  not  to  eat  the  mouth- 
ful that  is  in  his  hand. 

The  soldiers  therefore  ran  to  him,  while  he  was  bending  his  head  over  the  dish, 
and  tliey  seized  him  and  took  him  and  placed  him  before  the  Queen  Zumroud.  Upon 
this,  the  people  exulted  over  him,  saying  one  to  another.  Verily  he  deserveth  it;  for 
we  gave  him  good  advice,  and  he  would  not  follow  it.  This  place  is  predestined  to 
occasion  the  slaughter  of  him  who  sitteth  in  it,  and  that  rice  is  unfortunate  to  every 
one  who  eateth  of  it. — Then  the  Queen  Zumroud  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  name, 
and  what  is  thine  occupation,  and  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  coming  to  our  city? — 0 
our  lord  the  Sultan,  he  answered,  my  name  is  Osman,  and  my  occupation  is  that 
of  a  gardener,  and  the  reason  of  my  coming  to  this  city  is,  that  I  am  going  about 
searching  for  a  thing  that  I  have  lost.  And  the  Queen  said.  Bring  me  the  geomantic 
tablet.  So  they  placed  it  before  her  ;  and  she  took  the  pen,  and,  having  performed 
an  operation  of  geomancy,  meditated  upon  it  a  while  ;  after  which  she  raised  her 
head,  and  said  to  him.  Wo  to  thee,  0  wicked  wretch!  How  is  it  that  thou  liest  unto 
Kings?  This  geomantic  experiment  acquainteth  me  that  thy  name  is  Jawan  the 
Kurd,  and  thine  occupation  is  that  of  a  robber,  that  thou  takest  the  property  of  men 
by  iniquitous  means,  and  slayest  the  soul  that  God  hath  forbidden  to  be  slain  unless 
for  a  just  cause. — Then  she  called  out  to  him  and  said,  0  hog,  tell  me  thy  true  story, 
or  I  will  cut  off  thy  head  !  And  when  he  heard  her  words,  his  complexion  became 
sallow,  and  his  teeth  appeared,  and,  imagining  that  if  he  spoke  the  truth  he  would 
save  himself,  he  replied,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  King;  but  I  vow  repentance 
unto  thee  from  this  time,  and  return  unto  God,  whoss  name  be  exalted!  The  Queen, 
however,  said  to  him.  It  is  not  lawful  unto  me  to  leave  a  viper  in  the  path  of  the 
Faithful.  And  she  said  to  some  of  her  attendants,  Take  him  and  flay  him,  and  do 
unto  him  as  ye  did  unto  the  like  of  him  last  month.  So  they  did  as  she  commanded 
them.  And  when  the  drunkard  saw  the  soldiers  seize  that  man,  he  turned  his  back 
to  the  dish  of  rice,  and  said.  Verily,  to  present  my  face  unto  thee  is  unlawful !  And 
as  soon  as  they  had  finished  eating,  they  dispersed,  and  went  to  their  abodes:  the 
Queen  also  went  up  into  her  palace  and  gave  permission  to  the  mamlouks  to 
disperse. 

And  when  the  fourth  month  commenced,  they  descended  into  the  horse-course  as 
usual,  and  made  ready  the  banquet,  and  the  people  sat  waiting  for  permission.  The 
Queen  then  approached,  and  sat  upon  the  throne,  looking  at  them;  and  she  observed 
that  the  place  opposite  the  dish  of  rice,  affording  room  for  four  persons,  was  vacant; 


ALI   SHIR   AND    ZUMROUD.  425 

whereat  she  wondered.  And  while  she  was  looking  about,  she  beheld  a  man  enter- 
ing from  the  gate  of  the  horse-course,  with  a  quick  pace,  and  he  ceased  not  to  hurry 
on  until  he  stopped  over  the  table,  where  he  found  no  place  vacant  but  that  opposite 
the  dish  of  rice.  So  he  seated  himself  there ;  and  she  looked  at  him  attentively, 
and  found  that  he  was  the  Christian  who  had  named  himself  Kashideddin  ;  where- 
upon she  said  within  herself,  How  fortunate  is  this  repast,  by  which  this  infidel  hath 
been  ensnared  ! — Now  the  cause  of  his  coming  was  wonderful ;  and  it  was  this. 
When  he  returned  from  his  journey,  the  people  of  his  house  informed  him  that  Zum- 
roud  was  lost,  together  with  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  full  of  money  ;  on  hearing  which 
he  vent  his  clothes,  and  slapped  his  face,  and  plucked  his  beard.  Then  he  sent  his 
brother  Barsum  to  search  for  her  through  the  surrounding  districts ;  and  when  he 
wa-1  tired  of  waiting  for  news  of  him,  he  went  forth  himself  to  search  through  the 
provinces  for  his  brother  and  Zumroud,  and  destiny  impelled  him  to  Zumroud's 
cit^.  He  entered  that  city  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  and  when  he  walked  along 
it3  i^reat  thoroughfare-streets,  he  found  them  desolate,  and  saw  the  shops  closed, 
and  the  women  at  the  windows  ;  so  he  inquired  of  them  respecting  this  circumstance, 
and  they  told  him  that  the  King  made  a  banquet  for  all  the  people  on  the  first  of 
every  month,  and  all  ate  of  it ;  none  being  able  to  sit  in  his  house  or  in  his  shop ; 
and  they  directed  him  to  the  horse-course. 

On  his  entering  the  horse-course,  he  found  the  people  crowding  around  the  food, 
and  found  no  place  vacant  excepting  that  opposite  the  well-known  dish  of  rice.  So 
he  seated  himself  in  it,  and  stretched  forth  his  hand  to  eat  of  that  dish  ;  whereupon 
the  Queen  called  to  some  of  the  soldiers,  saying.  Bring  ye  him  who  hath  seated  him- 
self opposite  the  dish  of  rice.  And  they  knew  him  from  the  former  occurrences  of 
the  same  kind,  and  seized  him,  and  stationed  him  before  the  Queen  Zumroud,  who 
said  to  him,  Wo  to  thee  !  What  is  thy  name,  and  what  is  thine  occupation,  and  what 
is  the  reason  of  thy  coming  unto  our  city? — He  answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  my 
name  is  Rustum,  and  I  have  no  occupation,  for  I  am  a  poor  dervish.  And  she  said 
to  her  attendants.  Bring  me  a  geomantic  tablet,  and  the  pen  of  brass.  So  they 
brought  her  what  she  demanded  as  usual :  and  she  took  the  pen,  and  made  some 
marks  with  it  upon  the  tablet,  and  remained  a  while  contemplating  it:  then  i-aising 
her  head  and  looking  towards  him,  she  said,  0  dog,  how  is  it  that  thou  liest  unto  the 
Kings  ?  Thy  name  is  Rashideddin  the  Christian,  and  thine  occupation  is,  to  practise 
stratagems  against  the  female  slaves  of  the  Faithful,  and  to  take  them  ;  and  thou  art 
a  Mahometan  externally,  but  in  heart  a  Christian.  Declare  then  the  truth  ;  for  if 
thou  do  not,  I  will  strike  off  thy  head. — And  he  hesitated  to  reply;  but  afterwards 
said,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  King  of  the  age.  So  she  gave  orders  that  he  should 
be  stretched  upon  the  ground,  and  receive  upon  each  foot  a  hundred  lashes ;  and 
upon  his  body,  a  thousand  lashes :  and  after  that,  that  he  should  be  flayed,  and  his 
skin  stuffed  with  hards  of  flax :  then,  that  a  pit  should  be  dug  without  the  city,  and 
his  body  be  burnt  in  it,  and  dirt  and  filth  be  thrown  upon  his  ashes.  And  they  did 
as  she  commanded  them. 

After  this,  she  gave  leave  to  the  people  to  eat;  and  when  they  had  finished  and 
gone  their  ways,  the  Queen  Zumroud  went  up  into  her  palace,  and  said,  Praise  be  to 
God,  who  hath  appeased  my  heart  by  the  punishment  of  those  who  wronged  rae! 
And  she  thanked  the  Creator  of  the  earth  and  the  heavens.  Then  her  master  Ali 
Shir  occurred  to  her  mind,  and  she  shed  copious  tears  ;  after  which,  returning  to  her 
reason,  she  said  within  herself,  Perhaps  God,  who  hath  given  me  power  over  mine 
enemies,  may  grant  me  the  return  of  my  beloved.  She  begged  forgiveness  of  God 
(to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!),  and  said.  Perhaps  God  will  soon  reunite 
me  with  my  beloved  Ali  Shir ;  for  He  is  able  to  do  whatsoever  He  willeth,  and  is 
gracious  unto  his  servants,  and  acquainted  with  their  states.  She  praised  God  again, 
continued  her  prayers  for  forgiveness,  and  resigned  herself  to  the  course  of  destiny, 
assured  that  everything  which  hath  a  beginning  must  come  to  an  end. 

She  continued  for  the  whole  of  that  month  occupying  herself  by  day  in  judging 


426 


ALI   SHIR  AND   ZUMROUD. 


the  people,  and  commanding  and  forbidding,  and  by  night  weeping  and  lamenting 
for  the  separation  of  her  beloved  Ali  Shir ;  and  when  the  next  month  commenced, 


Zumroud  weeping  at  the  remembrance  of  Ali  Slur. 


she  gave  orders  to  spread  the  table  in  the  horse-course  as  usual,  and  sat  at  the  head 
of  the  people.  They  were  waiting  for  her  permission  to  eat,  and  the  place  before  the 
dish  of  rice  was  vacant ;  and  as  she  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table,  she  kept  her  eye 
fixed  upon  the  gate  of  the  horse-course,  to  see  every  one  who  entered  it.  And  she 
said  within  herself,  0  thou  who  restoredst  Joseph  to  Jacob,  and  removedst  the  afl3ic- 
tion  from  Job,  favour  me  by  the  restoration  of  my  master  Ali  Shir,  by  thy  power  and 
greatness  :  for  thou  art  able  to  accomplish  everything!  0  Lord  of  all  creatures  1  0 
Guide  of  those  who  go  astray !  0  Answerer  of  prayers !  Hear  my  prayer,  0  Lord  of 
all  creatures  ! — And  her  supplication  was  not  ended  when  there  entered  from  the 
gate  of  the  horse-course  a  person  whose  figure  was  like  a  branch  of  the  Oriental 
willow  ;  but  he  was  of  emaciated  frame,  and  sallowness  appeared  in  his  countenance  : 
he  was  the  handsomest  of  young  men,  perfect  in  judgment,  and  in  polite  accomplish- 
ments. When  he  entered,  he  found  no  place  vacant  but  that  which  was  before  the 
dish  of  rice:  he  therefore  sat  in  that  place;  and  when  Zumroud  beheld  him,  her 
heart  palpitated.  She  looked  at  him  with  a  scrutinizing  glance,  and  it  was  evident 
to  her  that  he  was  her  master  Ali  Shir,  and  she  was  inclined  to  cry  aloud  for  joy; 
but  she  stilled  her  mind,  fearing  to  disgrace  herself  among  the  people:  her  bowels 
were  moved,  and  her  heart  throbbed;  yet  she  concealed  what  she  felt.  —  And  the 
cause  of  Ali  Shir's  coming  was  this: — 

When  he  lay  asleep  upon  the  stone  seat,  and  Zumroud  descended,  and  Jawan  tho 
Kurd  took  her,  he  awoke  afterwards,  and  found  himself  with  uncovered  head  ;  so  he 
knew  that  some  man  had  come  upon  him  unjustly,  and  taken  his  turban  while  he 
was  asleep.  He  uttered  the  sentence  which  preserveth  the  person  who  pronounceth 
it  from  being  confounded  ;  that  is,  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  Him 
we  return  !  Then  he  went  back  to  the  old  woman  who  had  acquainted  him  with  the 
situation  of  Zumroud,  and  knocked  at  her  door;  whereupon  she  came  forth  to  him, 
and  he  wept  before  her  until  he  fell  down  in  a  fit.  And  when  he  recovered,  he 
informed  her  of  all  that  had  befallen  him  ;  on  hearing  which,  she  blamed  him  and 
severely  reproved  him  for  that  which  he  had  done,  and  said  to  him.  Verily  thy  cala- 
mity and  misfortune  have  arisen  from  thyself.  She  ceased  not  to  blame  him  until 
blood  ran  from  his  nostrils,  and  he  fell  down  again  in  a  fit ;  and  on  his  recovering 
from  his  fit,  he  beheld  the  old  woman  weeping  on  his  account,  pouring  forth  tears, 
and  in  a  state  of  anguish  ;  and  he  exclaimed.  How  bitter  unto  lovers  is  separation, 
and  how  sweet  unto  them  is  union  !  May  God  unite  every  separated  lover,  and  pre- 
serve me,  for  I  am  of  their  number ! 


ALI    SHIR    AND    ZUMROUD. 


427 


All  Shir  asleep  on  the  stone  seat. 


The  old  woman  mourned  for  him,  and  said  to  him,  Sit  here  while  I  ascertain  the 
news  for  thee,  and  I  will  return  quickly.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then 
she  left  him  and  went  away,  and  was  absent  from  him  until  midday,  when  she 
returned  to  him,  and  said,  0  Ali,  I  imagine  nothing  but  that  thou  wilt  die  in  thy 
grief;  for  thou  wilt  not  again  see  thy  beloved  save  on  the  Sirat ;'  for  the  people  of 
the  pavilion,  when  they  arose  in  the  morning,  found  the  window  that  overlooketh  the 
garden  displaced,  and  Zumroud  lost,  and  with  her  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  full  of  mo- 
ney belonging  to  the  Christian  ;  and  when  I  arrived  there,  I  found  the  Judge  stand- 
ing at  the  door  of  the  pavilion,  together  with  his  officers  ;  and  there  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great! — Now  when  Ali  Shir  heard  these  words 
from  her,  the  light  before  his  face  became  converted  into  darkness ;  he  despaired  of 
life,  and  made  sure  of  death,  and  ceased  not  to  weep  until  again  he  fell  down  in  a 
fit ;  and  after  he  recovered  from  his  fit,  love  and  separation  so  afflicted  him  that  he 
was  attacked  by  a  severe  sickness,  and  was  confined  to  his  house.  The  old  woman, 
however,  continued  to  bring  the  physicians  to  him,  and  to  give  him  beverages,  and 
make  pottages  for  him,  during  the  space  of  a  whole  year,  until  his  soul  returned  to 
him.  And  when  the  second  year  commenced,  the  old  woman  said  to  him,  0  my 
son,  this  sadness  and  grief  that  thou  sufferest  will  not  restore  to  thee  thy  beloved : 
arise  then,  brace  up  thy  nerves,  and  search  for  her  through  the  surrounding  dis- 
tricts ;  perhaps  thou  mayest  meet  with  tidings  of  her.  And  she  ceased  not  to 
encourage  him  and  to  strengthen  his  mind  until  she  cheer^pd  him;  and  she  conducted 
him  into  the  bath,  gave  him  wine  to  drink,  and  fed  him  with  fowls.  Thus  she  did 
every  day  for  the  space  of  a  month,  till  he  gained  strength,  and  set  forth  on  hia 
journey;  and  he  ceased  not  to  travel  until  he  arrived  at  the  city  of  Zumroud. 

Having  entered  the  horse-course,  he  seated  himself  at  the  table,  and  stretched 

'  The  bridge  over  which  all  men  must  pass  at  the  day  of  judgment. 


428  ALI   SHIR   AND    ZUMROUD. 

forth  his  hand  to  eat;  and  upon  this,  the  people  grieved  for  him,  and  said  to  him.  O 
young  man,  eat  not  of  this  dish  ;  for  affliction  will  befall  him  who  eateth  of  it.  But 
he  replied,  Suffer  me  to  eat  of  it,  and  let  them  do  unto  me  what  they  desire :  per- 
haps I  may  be  relieved  from  this  wearying  life.  Then  he  ate  the  first  morsel ;  and 
Zumroud  desired  to  have  him  brought  before  her;  but  it  occurred  to  her  mind  that 
he  might  be  hungry:  so  she  said  within  herself,  It  is  proper  that  I  suffer  him  to  eat 
until  he  satisfy  himself.  He  therefore  continued  eating;  and  the  people  were  con- 
founded at  his  case,  looking  to  see  what  would  happen  unto  him.  And  when  he  had 
eaten,  and  satisfied  himself,  she  said  to  certain  of  the  eunuchs.  Go  to  that  young 
man  who  eateth  of  the  rice,  and  bring  him  courteously,  and  say  to  him.  Answer  the 
summons  of  the  King,  to  reply  to  a  little  question.  So  they  said.  We  hear  and 
obey:  —  and  they  went  to  him,  and,  standing  over  his  head,  said  to  him,  0  our  mas- 
ter, have  the  goodness  to  answer  the  summons  of  the  King,  and  let  thy  heart  be 
dilated.  He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey:  — and  he  went  with  the  eunuchs;  while  the 
people  said  one  to  another.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the 
Great!  What  will  the  King  do  with  him?  —  But  some  of  them  said.  He  will  do 
nought  but  good  with  him  ;  for  if  he  meant  to  do  him  harm,  he  had  not  suffered 
him  to  eat  until  he  was  satisfied.  —  And  when  he  stood  before  Zumroud,  he  saluted, 
and  kissed  the  ground  before  her;  and  she  returned  his  salutation,  receiving  him 
with  honour,  and  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  name,  and  what  is  thine  occupation,  and 
what  is  the  reason  of  thy  coming  unto  this  city?  So  he  answered  her,  0  King,  my 
name  is  Ali  Shir ;  I  am  of  the  sons  of  the  merchants,  and  my  country  is  Khorassan, 
and  the  reason  of  my  coming  unto  this  city  is  to  search  for  a  slave-girl  whom  I  have 
lost:  she  was  dearer  to  me  than  my  hearing  and  my  sight,  and  my  soul  hath  been 
devoted  to  her  ever  since  I  lost  her.  This  is  my  story.  —  Then  he  wept  until  he 
fainted  ;  whereupon  she  gave  orders  to  sprinkle  some  rose-water  upon  his  face;  and 
they  did  so  until  he  recovered,  when  the  Queen  said.  Bring  to  me  the  geomantic 
tablet,  and  the  pen  of  brass.  They  therefore  brought  them ;  and  she  took  the  pen, 
and,  having  performed  an  operation  of  geomancy,  considered  it  a  while,  after  which 
she  said  to  him.  Thou  hast  spoken  truly.  God  will  unite  thee  with  her  soon  :  so  be 
not  uneasy. — She  then  ordered  the  chamberlain  to  take  him  to  the  bath,  and  to  attire 
him  in  a  handsome  suit  of  the  apparel  of  Kings,  to  mount  him  upon  one  of  the  most 
excellent  of  her  horses,  and  after  that,  to  bring  him  to  the  palace  at  the  close  of  the 
day.  The  chamberlain  replied,  I  hear  and  obey:  — and  led  him  away  from  before 
her,  and  departed.  And  the  people  said,  one  to  another,  Wherefore  hath  the  King 
treated  the  young  man  with  this  courtesy  ?  One  said.  Did  I  not  tell  you  that  he 
would  do  him  no  harm  ?  For  his  appearance  is  comely,  and  from  the  King's  wait^ 
ing  until  he  had  satisfied  himself,  I  knew  that.  —  And  every  one  of  them  said  some- 
thing.    Then  the  people  dispersed,  and  went  their  ways. 

Zumroud  scarcely  believed  that  the  night  was  approaching  when  she  should  be 
with  the  beloved  of  her  heart  alone  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  night  came,  she  entered  her 
chamber,  and  sent  to  her  beloved  Ali  Shir.  And  when  they  brought  him,  he  kissed 
the  c;round  before  her,  and  prayed  for  her;  and  she  said  within  herself,  I  must  jest 
with  him  a  while,  without  making  myself  known  to  him.  So  she  said,  0  Ali,  hast 
thou  gone  to  the  bath  ?  He  answered.  Yes,  0  my  lord.  And  she  said.  Arise,  eat  of 
this  fowl  and  meat,  and  drink  of  this  sherbet  of  sugar,  and  wine ;  for  thou  art  tired  ; 
and  after  that,  come  hither.  He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey : — and  he  did  as  she  com- 
manded him  ;  and  when  he  had  finished  eating  and  drinking,  she  said  to  him.  Come 
up  unto  me,  and  rub  my  feet.  He  therefore  began  to  rub  her  feet  and  her  legs,  and 
found  them  softer  than  silk.  And  after  she  had  continued  a  while  jesting  with  him, 
she  said,  0  my  master,  hath  all  this  happened,  and  dost  thou  not  know  me  ?  He 
asked,  And  who  art  thou,  0  King?  And  she  answered,  I  am  thy  slave-girl  Zumroud. 
So  when  he  knew  this,  he  kissed  her,  and  embraced  her,  throwing  himself  upon  her 
like  the  lion  upon  the  sheep. 

And  on  the  following  morning,  Zumroud  sent  to  all  the  troopfi,  and  the  Icrds  of 


IBN  MANSOUR  AND  THE  LADY  BADOURA.  429 

the  empire,  and  summoned  them,  and  said  to  them.  I  desire  to  journey  to  the  city 
of  this  man.  Choose  for  you  therefore  a  viceroy  to  exercise  authority  among  you 
until  I  return  to  you. — And  they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey.  She  then  betook  her- 
self to  preparing  the  necessaries  for  the  journey,  as  food  and  money  and  other  sup- 
plies, and  rarities,  and  camels,  and  mules,  and  set  forth  from  the  city ;  and  she  con- 
tinued her  journey  with  him  until  she  arrived  at  the  city  of  Ali  Shir,  when  he  entered 
his  abode,  and  gave  gifts  and  alms  and  presents.  He  was  blessed  with  children  by 
her,  and  they  both  lived  in  the  utmost  happiness  until  they  were  visited  by  the  ter- 
minator of  delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of 
the  Eternal ;  and  praise  be  to  God  in  every  case ! 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Night,  and  ending  with  part 
of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth. 


THE   STORY  OF  IBN  MANSOUR  AND  THE  LADY  BADOURA,  AND  JUBIR 
THE  SON  OF  OMIR  SHEIBANI. 

It  is  related  that  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Haroun  Alrashid,  was  restless  one 
night,  and  sleep  was  difficult  unto  him :  he  ceased  not  to  turn  over  from  side  to  side, 
through  the  excess  of  his  restlessness ;  and  when  this  state  wearied  him,  he  sum- 
moned Mesrour,  and  said  to  him,  0  Mesrour,  see  for  me  some  one  who  will  divert 
me  from  this  restlessness.  Mesrour  said,  0  my  lord,  wilt  thou  enter  the  garden  in 
the  palace,  and  amuse  thyself  with  the  sight  of  the  flowers  it  containeth,  and  look  at 
the  planets,  and  the  beauty  of  their  disposition,  and  the  moon  among  them  shining 
upon  the  water?  He  answered,  0  Mesrour,  verily  my  soul  inclineth  not  to  anything 
of  that  kind. — 0  my  lord,  rejoined  Mesrour,  there  are  in  thy  palace  three  hundred 
concubines,  each  of  whom  hath  a  separate  apartment.  Order,  then,  every  one  of 
them  to  retire  into  her  apartment,  and  go  thou  about  and  amuse  thyself  by  the  sight 
of  them  while  they  know  not. — The  Caliph  replied,  0  Mesrour,  the  palace  is  mine, 
and  the  female  slaves  are  my  property;  yet  my  soul  inclineth  not  to  anything  of  that 
kind.  Mesrour  then  said,  0  my  lord,  order  the  learned  men  and  the  sages  and  the 
poets  to  come  before  thee,  and  to  enter  into  discussions,  and  recite  verses  to  thee, 
and  relate  to  thee  tales  and  histories. — My  soul,  replied  the  Caliph,  inclineth  not  to 
anything  of  that  kind.  Mesrour  said,  O  my  lord,  order  the  pages  and  the  boon- 
companions  and  the  men  of  politeness  to  come  before  thee,  and  to  entertain  thee 
with  strange  witticisms.  But  the  Caliph  replied,  O  Mesrour,  my  soul  inclineth  not 
to  aught  of  that  kind. — Then,  said  Mesrour,  O  my  lord,  strike  off  my  head  ;  perhaps 
that  will  put  an  end  to  thy  restlessness,  and  dispel  the  uneasiness  which  thou  suffer- 
est.  And  Alrashid  laughed  at  his  words,  and  said  to  him,  0  Mesrour,  see  who  of 
the  boon-companions  is  at  the  door.  So  Mesrour  went  forth  and  returned,  saying,  0 
my  lord,  he  who  is  at  the  door  is  Ali  Ibn  Mansour  the  Wag,  of  Damascus.  The 
Caliph  said,  Bring  him  unto  me.  Mesrour  therefore  went  and  brought  him  ;  and 
when  Ibn  Mansour  entered,  he  said,  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful ! 
And  the  Caliph  returned  his  salutation  and  said,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  relate  to  us  some- 
what of  thy  stories. — 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  said  he,  shall  I  relate  to  thee  a  thing 
that  I  have  actually  witnessed,  or  a  thing  of  which  I  have  heard  ?     The  Prince  of  the 


430  IBN   MANSOUR   AND   THE   LADY    BADOURA. 

Faithful  answered,  If  thou  hast  witnessed  anything  extraordinary,  relate  it  to  us  ; 
for  hearing  a  thing  as  reported  by  others  is  not  like  witnessing.  So  Ibn  Mansour 
said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  give  up  to  me  exclusively  thy  hearing  and  thy  mind. 
Alrashid  replied,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  see,  I  hear  with  mine  ear,  and  look  at  thee  with 
mine  eye,  and  attend  to  thee  with  my  mind.     And  Ibn  Mansour  said: — 

0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  know  that  I  have  an  appointment  every  year  from  Ma- 
homed the  son  of  Suleiman  Ilashimi,  the  Sultan  of  Balsora ;  and  I  went  to  him  as  I 
was  wont;  and  when  I  came  to  him,  I  found  him  prepared  to  mount  for  the  chase. 
I  saluted  him,  and  he  saluted  me,  and  said  to  me,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  mount  and  accora- 
pany  us  to  the  chase.  But  I  replied,  0  my  lord,  I  have  not  power  to  ride  ;  seat  me 
therefore  in  the  mansion  of  entertainment,  and  give  a  charge  respecting  me  to  the 
chamberlains  and  lieutenants.  And  he  did  so,  and  then  went  to  hunt.  And  they 
paid  me  the  utmost  honour,  and  entertained  me  in  the  best  manner.  And  I  said 
within  myself,  Allah  !  it  is  wonderful  that  for  a  long  time  I  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  coming  from  Bagdad  to  Balsora,  and  know  not  in  this  place  aught  but  the  way 
from  the  palace  to  the  garden,  and  from  the  garden  to  the  palace  ;  and  when  shall  I 
find  such  an  opportunity  to  amuse  myself  with  a  sight  of  the  quarters  of  Balsora  as 
on  this  occasion  ?  I  will  therefore  arise  immediately,  and  walk  out  alone  to  amuse 
myself,  and  let  the  food  that  I  have  eaten  digest. 

Accordingly  I  attired  myself  in  the  richest  of  my  apparel,  and  walked  through  a 
part  of  Balsora.  Now  thou  knowest,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  there  are  in  it 
seventy  streets,  the  length  of  each  of  which  is  seventy  leagues  by  the  measure  of 
Irak.  So  I  lost  my  way  in  its  by-streets,  and  thirst  overcame  me  ;  and  while  I  was 
walking,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  lo,  I  saw  a  great  door,  with  two  rings  of  yellow  brass, 
and  with  curtains  of  red  brocade  hung  over  it,  and  by  the  two  sides  of  it  were  two 
seats,  and  above  it  was  a  trellis  for  grape  vines,  which  overshadowed  that  door.  I 
stopped  to  divert  myself  with  a  sight  of  this  mansion ;  and  while  I  stood,  I  heard  a 
voice  of  lamentation,  proceeding  from  a  sorrowful  heart,  warbling  melodious  sounds, 
and  singing ;  and  I  said  within  myself,  The  person  from  whom  these  melodious 
sounds  have  proceeded,  if  comely,  possesseth  the  united  charms  of  comeliness  and 
eloquence  and  sweetness  of  voice.  I  then  approached  the  door,  and  began  to  raise 
the  curtain  by  little  and  little ;  and  lo,  I  beheld  a  fair  damsel,  like  the  moon  when 
it  appeareth  in  its  fourteenth  night,  with  joined  eyebrows,  and  languishing  eyelids, 
and  a  bosom  like  two  pomegranates  ;  she  had  thin  lips,  like  two  pieces  of  cornelian, 
a  mouth  like  the  seal  of  Solomon,  and  a  set  of  teeth  that  would  sport  with  the  rea- 
son of  the  poet  and  the  prose-writer.  Altogether  she  comprised  all  the  charms  of 
loveliness,  and  was  a  source  of  disturbance  unto  women  and  men.  The  beholder 
could  not  satisfy  himself  with  gazing  at  her  beauty. 

Now,  while  I  was  looking  at  her  through  the  interstices  of  the  curtains,  lo,  she 
cast  a  glance,  and  beheld  me  standing  at  the  door ;  whereupon  she  said  to  her  slave- 
girl.  See  who  is  at  the  door.  The  slave-girl  therefore  arose  and  came  to  me,  and 
said,  0  sheikh,  hast  thou  no  modesty  ;  and  do  hoariness  and  disgraceful  conduct 
exist  together?  I  answered  her,  0  my  mistress,  as  to  hoariness,  we  have  experienced 
it;  but  as  to  disgraceful  conduct,  I  do  not  think  that  I  have  been  guilty  of  it.  But 
her  mistress  said.  And  what  conduct  can  be  more  disgraceful  than  thine  intrusion 
upon  a  house  that  is  not  thine  own,  and  thy  looking  at  a  harem  that  is  not  thine. 
So  I  answered  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  an  excuse  for  doing  so. — And  what  is  thine 
excuse?  she  asked.  I  answered  her,  Verily  I  am  a  stranger,  and  thirsty  ;  and  thirst 
hath  almost  killed  me.  And  upon  this  she  said.  We  accept  thine  excuse.  Then 
sailing  one  of  her  female  slaves,  she  said,  0  Lutf,  give  him  a  draught  in  the  mug  of 
gold.  Whereupon  she  brought  me  a  mug  of  red  gold  set  with  pearls  and  jewels,  full 
of  water  perfumed  with  strong-scented  musk,  and  covered  with  a  napkin  of  green 
silk :  and  I  began  to  drink,  and  prolonged  my  drinking,  stealing  glances  at  her  in 
the  meanwhile,  until  I  had  stood  a  length  of  time.  I  then  returned  the  mug  to  the 
slave-girl,  and  remained  standing.     So  she  [the  lady]  said,  0  sheikh,  go  thy  way. 


IBN   MANSOUR   AND   THE   LADY   BADOURA. 


431 


But  I  replied,  0  my  mistress,  I  am  troubled  in  mind. — Respecting  what?  said  she. 
And  I  answered,  Respecting  the  changes  of  fortune,  and  the  vicissitudes  of  events. 
She  replied,  It  becometh  thee;  for  fortune  giveth  rise  to  wonders.  But  what  (she 
added)  hast  thou  witnessed  of  its  wonders,  that  thou  reflectest  upon  it?  I  am  re- 
flecting, I  answered,  upon  the  owner  of  this  house  ;  for  he  was  my  sincere  friend  in 
his  life-time.  And  she  said  to  me,  What  was  his  name  ?  I  answered,  Mahomed 
the  son  of  Ali  the  Jeweller;  and  he  was  possessed  of  great  wealth.  But  hath  he,  I 
asked,  left  children? — Yes,  said  she,  he  hath  left  a  daughter,  who  is  named  Ba- 
doura,  and  she  hath  inherited  all  his  riches.  So  I  said  to  her.  It  seemeth  that  thou 
art  his  daughter.  She  replied.  Yes: — and  laughed.  Then  she  said,  0  sheikh,  thou 
hast  prolonged  the  discourse ;  therefore  go  thy  way.  I  replied,  I  must  go  ;  but  I  see 
that  thy  charms  are  changed:  acquaint  me  then  with  thy  case:  perhaps  God  may 
grant  thee  relief  by  means  of  me.  And  she  said  to  me,  0  sheikh,  if  thou  be  of  the 
number  of  those  who  are  worthy  of  being  intrusted  with  secrets,  we  will  reveal  to 
thee  our  secret.  Inform  me  therefore  who  thou  art,  that  I  may  know  whether  thou 
art  a  fit  depository  for  a  secret,  or  not. 

So  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  if  thou  desirest  to  know  who  I  am,  I  am  Ali  the 
son  of  Mansour,  the  Wag,  of  Damascus,  the  boon-companion  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  Haroun  Alrashid. 

And  when  she  heard  my  name,  she  descended  from  her  chair,  and  saluted  me,  and 
said  to  me.  Thou  art  welcome,  0  Ibn  Mansour.  Now  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  my 
state,  and  entrust  thee  with  my  secret.  I  am  a  separated  lover. — 0  my  mistress, 
said  I,  thou  art  comely,  and  lovest  none  but  whomsoever  is  comely.  Who  then  is  be 
that  thou  lovest? — She  answered,  I  love  Jubir  the  son  of  Omir  Sheibani,  the  Emir 
of  the  tribe  of  Sheiban.  And  she  described  to  me  a  young  man  than  whom  there 
was  none  more  handsome  in  Balsnr.a.  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  hath  any  inter- 
view or  correspondence  taken  place  between  you  ? — Yes,  she  answered  ;  but  we  have 
loved  with  the  tongue ;  not  with  the  heart  and  soul ;  since  he  hath  not  fulfilled  a 
promise,  nor  performed  a  covenant.  So  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  and  what  hath 
been  the  cause  of  the  separation  that  hath  occurred  between  you  ?  She  answered, 
The  cause  was  this :  I  was  sitting  one  day,  and  this  my  slave-girl  was  combing  my 
Lair ;  and  when  she  had  finished  combing  it,  she  plaited  my  tresses,  and  my  beauty 


The  Slave-girl  kissing  the  Lady  Badoara. 


432  nsN   MANSOUR   AND   THE   LADY   BADOURA. 

and  loveliness  charmed  her:  so  she  bent  over  me,  and  kissed  ray  cheek;  and  just 
at  that  time  he  came  in  suddenly,  and  seeing  the  slave-girl  kiss  my  cheek,  he  drew 
back  instantly  in  anger,  determining  upon  a  lasting  separation.  And  from  the  time 
of  his  withdrawing  in  aversion  from  me  to  the  present  day,  neither  letter  nor  reply 
hath  come  to  us  from  him,  0  Ibn  Mansour. — And  what,  said  I,  dost  thou  desire? 
She  answered,  I  desire  to  send  to  him  a  letter  by  thee ;  and  if  thou  bring  me  hia 
answer,  thou  shalt  receive  from  me  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  if  thou  bring 
me  not  his  answer,  thou  shalt  receive  as  a  compensation  for  thy  walk,  one  hundred 
pieces  of  gold.  So  I  replied,  Do  what  seemeth  fit  unto  thee.  And  she  said,  I  hear 
and  obey.  Then  she  called  one  of  her  female  slaves,  and  said,  Bring  to  me  an  ink- 
case,  and  a  piece  of  paper.  And  she  brought  them  to  her;  and  she  wrote  thus: — 
My  beloved,  wherefore  this  estrangement  and  hatred  ?  And  when  shall  forgiveness 
and  indulgence  be  granted?  Why  dost  thou  abandon  me  in  aversion?  Thy  face  is 
not  the  face  that  I  was  wont  to  know.  Yes :  the  slanderers  have  falsified  my  words, 
and  thou  hast  leaned  to  their  report;  so  they  have  increased  in  their  excesses.  If 
thou  hast  believed  their  tale,  God  forbid  thou  shouldst  continue  to  do  so!  for  thou 
knowest  better.  By  thy  life  inform  me  what  is  it  thou  hast  heard  ;  for  thou  knowest 
what  hath  been  said,  and  wilt  act  justly.  If  it  be  true  that  I  have  uttered  the  words, 
words  admit  of  interpretation,  and  they  admit  of  change.  Suppose  that  the  words 
were  revealed  by  God :  people  have  changed  and  corrupted  the  Pentateuch.  What 
falsehoods  have  been  told  of  persons  before  us !  Even  Joseph  was  blamed  in  the 
presence  of  Jacob!  For  myself  and  the  slanderer  and  thee  together  there  shall  bo 
an  awful  day  of  judgment. 

She  then  sealed  the  letter,  and  handed  it  to  me;  and  I  took  it,  and  went  to  the 
house  of  Jubir  the  son  of  Omir  Sheibani.  I  found  that  he  was  hunting;  so  I  seated 
myself  to  wait  for  him ;  and  while  I  sat,  lo,  he  approached,  returning  from  the  chase  ; 
and  when  I  beheld  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  upon  his  horse,  my  reason  was 
confounded  by  his  beauty  and  loveliness.  Looking  aside,  he  beheld  me  sitting  at 
the  door  of  his  house ;  and  as  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  alighted  from  his  horse,  and 
came  to  me  and  embraced  and  saluted  me  ;  and  it  seemed  to  me  as  though  I  held  in 
my  embrace  the  world  and  all  that  it  containeth.  Then  he  conducted  me  into  his 
house,  and  seated  me  upon  his  couch,  and  gave  orders  to  bring  the  table:  where- 
upon they  brought  forward  a  table  of  the  wood  of  Korasan,  the  feet  of  which  were 
of  gold  ;  and  upon  it  were  all  kinds  of  viands,  varieties  of  meats,  fried  and  roasted, 
and  such'like;  and  when  I  seated  myself  at  the  table,  Jubir  the  son  of  Omir  said. 
Stretch  forth  thy  hand  to  our  food,  and  comfort  our  heart  by  eating  of  our  provision. 
But  I  replied.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  eat  of  thy  food  a  single  mouthful  until  thou  per- 
form my  want.  He  said,  And  what  is  thy  want?  And  I  handed  forth  to  him  a 
letter;  and  when  he  had  read  it  and  understood  its  contents,  he  tore  it  in  pieces  and 
threw  it  upon  the  floor,  saying  to  me,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  whatsoever  want  thou  hast, 
we  will  perform  it,  excepting  this  thing  which  concerneth  the  writer  of  this  letter ; 
for  to  her  letter  I  have  no  reply  to  give.  So  I  arose  from  his  side  in  anger ;  but  he 
laid  hold  upon  my  skirts,  and  said  to  me,  O  Ibn  Mansour,  I  will  tell  thee  what  she 
said  to  thee,  though  I  was  not  present  with  you  two.  I  asked  him.  What  was  it  that 
she  said  to  me?  And  he  replied,  Did  not  the  writer  of  this  letter  say  to  thee.  If 
thou  bring  me  his  answer,  thou  shalt  receive  from  me  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ; 
and  if  thou  bring  me  not  his  answer,  thou  shalt  receive  from  me,  as  a  compensation 
for  thy  walk,  one  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ?  —  I  answered.  Yes.  And  he  said,  Sit 
with  me  this  day,  and  eat  and  drink,  and  enjoy  thyself  and  be  merry,  and  receive 
five  hundred  pieces  of  gold. 

So  I  sat  with  him,  and  ate  and  drank,  and  enjoyed  myself  and  was  merry,  and 
entertained  him  in  the  night  by  conversation  ;  and  afterwards  I  said,  0  my  master, 
there  is  no  music  in  thy  house.  He  replied,  Verily  for  a  long  time  we  have  drunk 
without  music.  Then  calling  one  of  his  female  slaves,  he  said,  0  Cluster  of  Pearls  I 
Whereupon  a  slave-girl  answered  him  from  her  private  chamber,  bringing  a  lute  of 


28 


Returning  from  the  Chase.    (Page  432.) 


433 


IBN   MANSOUR   AND   THE   LADY    BADOURA. 


435 


Indian  manufacture  enclosed  in  a  bag  of  silk  ;  and  she  came  and  seated  herself,  and 
having  placed  the  lute  in  her  lap,  played  upon  it  one  and  twenty  airs,  and  sang  a 
soul-stirring  melody.  And  when  the  slave-girl  had  finished  her  song,  her  master 
uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  upon  which  the  slave-girl  said,  May  God 


Jubir  Fainting. 

not  punish  thee,  0  sheikh  ;  for  of  a  long  time  we  have  drunk  without  music,  fearing 
for  our  master,  lest  he  should  experience  the  like  of  this  fit.  But  go  to  yon  private 
chamber,  and  sleep  there. — So  I  went  to  the  private  chamber  to  which  she  directed 
me,  and  slept  there  until  the  morning;  when,  lo,  a  page  came  to  me,  bringing  a 
purse  in  which  were  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold ;  and  he  said.  This  is  what  my  mas- 
ter promised  thee  :  but  return  not  to  the  damsel  who  sent  thee,  and  let  it  be  as  though 
thou  hadst  not  heard  of  this  affair,  and  as  though  we  had  not  heard.  So  I  replied, 
I  hear  and  obey. 

I  then  took  the  purse,  and  went  my  way;  but  I  said  within  myself.  Verily  the 
damsel  hath  been  expecting  me  since  yesterday.  By  Allah,  I  must  return  to  her, 
and  acquaint  her  with  that  which  hath  taken  place  between  me  and  him  ;  for,  if  I 
return  not  to  her,  probably  she  will  revile  me,  and  will  revile  every  one  who  cometh 
forth  from  my  country. — Accordingly,  I  went  to  her,  and  found  her  standing  behind 
the  door ;  and  when  she  beheld  me,  she  said,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  thou  hast  not  accom- 
plished for  me  anything. — Who,  said  I,  informed  thee  of  this  ?  She  answered,  0 
Ibn  Mansour,  I  have  a  further  intuition  ;  that,  when  thou  handedst  him  the  paper, 
he  tore  it  in  pieces  and  threw  it  down,  and  said  to  thee,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  whatsoever 
want  thou  hast,  we  will  perform  it  for  thee,  except  the  affair  of  her  who  wrote  this 
letter:  for  to  her  I  have  no  reply  to  give.  Whereupon  thou  rosest  from  his  side  in 
anger ;  but  he  laid  hold  upon  thy  skirts,  and  said  to  thee,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  sit  with 
me  this  day  ;  for  thou  art  my  guest,  and  eat  and  drink,  and  enjoy  thyself  and  be 
merry,  and  receive  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  So  thou  satest  with  him,  and  atest 
and  drankest,  and  enjoyedst  thyself  and  wast  merry,  and  entertainedst  him  by  night 
with  conversation  ;  and  the  slave-girl  sang  such  an  air  and  such  verses ;  upon  which 
he  fell  down  in  a  fit. — So  I  said  to  her,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Wast  thou  with  us  ? 
She  replied,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  hast  thou  not  heard  the  saying  of  the  poet? — 

The  hearts  of  lovers  have  eyes,  which  see  what  spectators  see  not. 


But,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  she  added,  night  and  day  succeed  not  one  another  during  the 
course  of  an  event  without  changing  it.  —  Then  she  raised  her  eyes  towards  heaven, 
*nd  said,  0  object  of  my  worship,  and  my  Master,  and  my  Lord,  as  Thou  hast 


436  IBN   MANSOUR   AND    THE    LADY   BADOURA. 

afflicted  me  by  the  love  of  Jubir  the  son  of  Omir,  so  do  thou  afflict  him  by  the  love 
of  me,  and  transfer  the  affection  from  ray  heart  to  his!  —  After  this,  she  gave  me  a 
hundred  pieces  of  gold,  as  a  compensation  for  my  walk  ;  and  I  took  it,  and  repaired 
to  the  Sultan  of  Balsora,  whom  I  found  returned  from  the  chase  ;  and  I  received 
from  him  my  appointment,  and  returned  to  Bagdad. 

And  when  the  next  year  arrived,  T  went  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  to  demand  my  ap- 
pointment as  usual,  and  the  Sultan  paid  it  to  me  ;  and  when  I  was  about  to  return 
to  Bagdad,  I  reflected  in  my  mind  upon  the  case  of  the  damsel  Badoura,  and  said. 
By  Allah,  I  must  repair  to  her,  and  see  what  hath  taken  place  between  her  and  her 
beloved.  So  I  went  to  her  house  ;  and  I  found  the  ground  before  her  door  swept 
and  sprinkled,  and  servants  and  dependants  and  pages  there;  whereupon  I  said. 
Probably  anxiety  hath  overwhelmed  the  damsel's  heart,  and  she  hath  died,  and 
some  one  of  the  Emirs  hath  taken  up  his  abode  in  her  house.  I  thei-efore  left  her 
house,  and  repaired  to  that  of  Jubir  the  son  of  Omir  Sheibani ;  and  I  found  its 
marble  benches  demolished,  and  found  not  pages  kt  its  do'^r  as  usual:  so  I  said 
within  myself,  Probably  he  hath  died.  Then  I  stood  before  the  door  of  his  house, 
and  pouring  forth  tears,  bewailed  its  condition.  And  while  I  was  bewailing  the 
people  of  the  house,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  lo,  a  black  slave  came  forth  to  me 
from  the  house,  and  said,  0  sheikh,  be  silent  I  May  thy  mother  be  bereft  of  thee  ! 
Wherefore  do  I  behold  thee  bewailing  this  house  in  this  manner? —  So  I  answered 
him,  I  used  to  know  it  as  the  abode  of  one  of  my  sincere  friends.  He  said.  And 
what  was  his  name?  I  answered,  Jubir  the  son  of  Omir  Sheibani.  Aijd  he  said. 
And  what  hath  happened  unto  him?  Praise  be  to  God,  he  is  still  blest  with  his 
riches  and  prosperity  and  property;  but  God  hath  afflicted  him  with  the  love  of  a 
damsel  named  the  lady  Badoura,  and  he  is  overwhelmed  by  his  love  of  her,  and  by 
the  violence  of  his  transport  and  torment,  so  that  he  is  like  a  great  rock  overthrown  ; 
for  when  he  is  hungry,  he  saith  not  to  his  servants.  Give  me  food:  —  and  when  he  is 
thirsty,  he  saith  not.  Give  me  drink.— And  I  said,  Ask  permission  for  me  to  goin  tr 
him. — 0  my  master,  he  asked,  wouldst  thou  go  in  to  him  who  understandeth  or  tc 
him  who  understandeth  not?  I  answered,  I  must  go  in  to  him  whatever  be  the  case 
So  he  entered  the  house  and  asked  permission,  and  then  returned  giving  it  to  me. 

I  therefore  went  in  to  him,  and  I  found  him  like  a  mass  of  stone  thrown  down, 
understanding  neither  sign  nor  open  speech.  I  spoke  to  liim  ;  but  he  answered  mo 
not;  and  one  of  his  attendants  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  if  thou  knowest  any  poetry, 
recite  it  to  him,  and  raise  thy  voice  in  doing  so:  for  thereupon  he  will  be  aroused. 
Accordingly,  I  recited  two  verses. 

And  when  he  heard  the  verses,  he  opened  his  eye  and  said  to  me.  Welcome,  0  Ibn 
Mansour.  My  emaciation  hath  become  excessive. — And  I  asked  him,  saying,  0  my 
master,  is  there  anything  that  thou  wouldst  have  me  do  for  thee?  lie  answered. 
Yes:  I  desire  to  write  a  letter  to  her,  and  to  send  it  to  her  by  thee ;  and  if  thou  bring 
me  her  answer,  thou  shalt  receive  from  me  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  if  thou 
bring  me  not  her  answer,  thou  shalt  receive  from  me,  as  a  compensation  for  thy  walk, 
two  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  So  I  replied.  Do  what  seemeth  fit  to  thee.  And  he 
called  one  of  his  female  slaves,  and  said.  Bring  me  an  ink-case  and  a  paper.  She 
therefore  brought  him  what  he  demanded;  and  he  wrote  thus;  I  conjure  you  by 
Allah,  0  my  mistress,  act  gently  towards  me  ;  for  love  hath  deprived  me  of  my 
reason  !  My  passion  for  you  hath  enslaved  me,  and  clad  me  with  the  garment  of 
sickness,  and  rendered  me  abject.  I  was  wont,  before  this,  to  think  lightly  of  love, 
and  regard  it,  0  my  mistress,  as  an  easy  matter;  but  when  it  had  shown  me  the 
waves  of  its  sea,  I  submitted  to  God's  judgment  and  excused  the  afflicted.  If  you 
will,  have  mercy,  and  grant  me  a  meeting  ;  and  if  you  will  kill  me,  still  forget  not 
to  show  favour.  He  then  sealed  the  letter,  and  handed  it  to  me,  and  I  took  it  and 
repaired  with  it  to  the  house  of  Badoura.  I  began  to  raise  the  curtain  by  little  and 
little  as  before;  and  lo,  ten  slave-girls,  high-bosomed  virgins,  resembling  moons, 
and  the  lady  Badoura  wai)  sitting  in  the  midst  of  them,  like  the  full  moon  in   the 


IBN    MANSOUK    AND    THE    LADY    BADOURA.  437 

midst  of  the  stars,  or  like  the  sun  unobscured  by  clouds  ;  and  she  was  free  from 
grief  and  pain.  And  while  I  was  looking  at  her,  and  wondering  at  her  being  in  this 
state,  she  cast  a  glance  towards  me,  and  saw  me  standing  at  the  door  ;  whereupon 
she  said  to  me,  A  friendly  and  free  and  ample  welcome  to  thee,  0  Ibn  Mansour ! 
Enter  ! — So  I  entefed,  and,  having  saluted  her,  handed  to  her  the  paper;  and  when 
she  had  read  it,  and  understood  its  c(mtents,  she  laughed,  and  said  to  me,  0  Ibn 
Mansour,  I  will  now  write  for  thee  an  answer,  that  he  may  give  thee  what  he  hath 
promised  thee.  And  I  replied.  May  God  compensate  thee  well!  Then  she  called 
one  of  her  female  slaves,  and  said.  Bring  me  an  ink-case  and  a  paper.  And  when 
she  had  brought  her  what  she  demanded,  she  wrote  to  him  some  harsh  verses.  I 
therefore  said  to  her,  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  there  remaineth  not  unto  him  before 
his  death  any  more  than  the  period  that  will  expire  on  his  reading  this  paper.  I 
then  tore  it,  and  said  to  her,  Write  to  him  something  different  from  these  verses. 
And  she  replied,"  I  hear  and  obey: — but  she  wrote  to  him  some  verses  more  severe 
than  the  former  ones.  So  I  said  to  her.  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  he  will  not  read 
these  verses  without  his  soul's  quitting  his  body.  She  replied,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  my 
transport  hath  attained  to  such  a  pitch  that  I  have  said  what  I  have  said.  I  rejoined, 
Hadst  thou  said  more  than  that,  it  had  been  just  in  thee  ;  but  a  disposition  to  pardon 
is  one  of  the  qualities  of  the  generous.  And  when  she  heard  my  words,  her  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  and  she  wrote  to  him  a  note  —  by  Allah,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
there  is  not  in  thine  assembly  any  one  who  can  write  the  like  of  it.  And  when  she 
had  finished  writing  the  letter,  and  sealed  it,  she  handed  it  to  me  ;  and  I  said  to  her, 
0  my  mistress,  verily  this  note  will  cure  the  sick,  and  satisfy  the  thirsty. 

I  took  the  letter,  and  went  forth  ;  and  she  called  me  after  I  had  gone  forth  from 
her,  and  said  to  me,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  say  to  him.  She  will  be  this  night  thy  guest. 
So  I  rejoiced  at  this  exceedingly.  I  repaired  with  the  letter  to  Jubir  the  son  of 
Omir;  and  when  I  went  in  to  him,  I  found  him  with  his  eye  fixed  upon  the  door, 
waiting  for  the  answer  ;  and  as  soon  as  I  handed  to  him  the  paper,  he  opened  it  and 
read  it,  and  understood  its  meaning,  and,  uttering  a  great  cry,  fell  down  in  a  fit. 
And  when  he  recovered,  he  said,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  did  she  write  this  note  with  her 
hand,  and  did  she  touch  it  with  her  fingers?  —  0  my  master,  said  I,  and  do  people 
write  with  their  feet?  —  And,  by  Allah,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  my  words  to  him 
were  not  ended  when  we  heard  the  clinking  of  her  anklets  in  the  passage  as  she 
entered.  On  beholding  her,  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  as  though  he  no  longer  felt  any 
pain,  and  embraced  her  as  the  letter  Lam  embraces  Alif,*  and  the  disease  of  him 
who  cannot  escape  from  his  ailment  quitted  him.  Then  he  seated  himself;  but  she 
sat  not ;  so  I  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  wherefore  hast  thou  not  sat  down  ?  She 
answered,  0  Ibn  Mansour,  I  will  not  sit  down  save  on  the  condition  that  hath  been 
made  between  us. — And  what,  I  asked,  is  that  c(mdition  between  you  two  ? — No  one, 
she  answered,  knoweth  the  secrets  of  lovers.  She  then  put  her  mouth  to  his  ear, 
and  said  something  privately  to  him  ;  to  which  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And 
he  arose  and  whispered  to  one  of  his  slaves ;  whereupon  the  slave  absented  himself 
fur  a  while,  after  which  he  came  back,  accompanied  by  a  Cadi  and  two  witnesses. 
And  Jubir  arose,  and,  having  brought  a  purse  containing  a  hundred  thousand  pieces 
of  gold,  said,  0  Cadi,  perform  the  ceremony  of  my  contract  of  marriage  to  this  damsel 
for  this  sum  as  a  dowry.  The  Cadi  therefore  said  to  her,  Say,  I  consent  to  that. — 
And  she  said  so.  So  they  performed  the  ceremony  of  the  contract;  and  after  that, 
the  damsel  opened  the  purse,  filled  her  hand  with  part  of  its  contents,  and  gave  to 
the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses.  Then  she  handed  to  him  [Jubir]  what  remained  in  the 
purse,  and  the  Cadi  and  witnesses  departed. 

I  sat  with  them  in  joy  and  gladness  until  the  greater  part  of  the  night  had  passed, 
when  I  said  within  myself.  They  are  two  lovers,  and  during  a  long  period  they  have 
been  separated  ;  so  I  will  arise  immediately,  that  I  may  sleep  in  a  place  remote  from 

'  Tbe-sp  TWO  letters  are  often  written  united  (in  this  way  «  or  y). 


438  THE    STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE. 

them,  and  leave  them  together  alone.  Accordingly  I  arose  ;  but  the  damsel  laid 
hold  upon  my  skirts,  and  said  to  me,  What  hath  thy  mind  suggested  to  thee?  I 
answered,  Such  and  such  things.  And  she  replied,  Sit,  and  when  we  desire  thy 
departure,  we  will  dismiss  thee.  I  therefore  remained  sitting  with  them  until  the 
approach  of  the  dawn,  when  she  said,  0  Ibn  Manscur,  go  to  yon  private  chamber; 
for  we  have  furnished  it  for  thee,  and  it  is  thy  sleeping  place.  And  I  arose,  and 
slept  in  it  until  the  morning ;  and  when  I  got  up,  there  came  to  me  a  page  with  a 
basin  and  ewer,  and  I  performed  the  ablution,  and  recited  the  morning-prayers ; 
after  which  I  sat.  And  while  I  was  sitting,  lo,  Jubir  and  his  beloved  came  forth 
from  a  bath  that  was  in  the  house,  wringing,  each,  their  locks  ;  and  I  bade  them 
good  morning,  congratulating  them  on  their  safety  and  their  reunion,  and  said  to 
Jubir,  What  beginneth  with  stipulation  endeth  with  content.  He  replied.  Thou 
hast  spoken  truth,  and  thou  art  entitled  to  liberal  treatment.  Then  calling  his 
treasurer,  he  said  to  him.  Bring  to  me  three  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  So  he  brought 
him  a  purse  containing  that  sum,  and  Jubir  said  to  mo.  Do  us  the  favour  to  accept 
this.  But  I  replied,  I  will  not  accept  it  until  thou  inform  me  what  was  the  cause 
of  the  transition  of  the  love  from  her  to  thee,  after  that  excessive  repulsion.  And 
he  6>aid,  I  hear  and  obey.  Know  that  we  have  a  festival  called  the  Festival  of  the 
New-year's  days,  when  the  people  go  forth  and  embark  in  boats,  and  amuse  them- 
selves upon  the  river.  And  I  went  forth  to  amuse  myself  with  my  companions,  and 
saw  a  boat  wherein  were  ten  slave-girls  like  moons,  and  this  lady  Badoura  was  in 
the  midst  of  them,  having  her  lute  with  her :  and  she  played  upon  it  eleven  airs  ; 
after  which  she  returned  to  the  first  air,  and  sang  two  verses:  —  And  I  said  to  her, 
Repeat  the  two  verses  and  the  air.  But  she  would  not.  So  I  ordered  the  boatmen 
to  pelt  her ;  and  they  pelted  her  with  oranges  until  we  feared  that  the  boat  in  which 
she  was  would  sink.  Then  she  went  her  way  ;  and  this  was  the  cause  of  the  transi- 
tion of  the  love  from  her  heart  to  mine. — I  therefore,  says  Ibn  Mansour,  congratulated 
them  on  their  reunion,  and,  taking  the  purse  with  its  contents,  repaired  to  Bagdad. 
And  the  bosom  of  the  Caliph  was  dilated,  and  the  restlessness,  and  the  contraction 
of  the  heart  that  he  suffered  ceased  to  trouble  him. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

■  Commencing  with  part  of  the  Three  HuntlreJ  and  Fifty-seventh  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of 
the  Three  Hundred  and  Seventy-first. 


THE  STORY  OF  THE  MAGIC  HORSE. 

There  was,  in  ancient  times,  in  the  country  of  the  Persians,  a  mighty  King,  of 
great  dignity,  who  had  three  daughters,  like  shining  full  moons  and  flowery  gar- 
dens ;  and  he  had  a  male  child  like  the  moon.  He  observed  two  annual  festivals, 
that  of  the  New-year's  day,  and  that  of  the  Autumnal  Equinox ;  and  it  was  his 
custom,  on  these  occasions,  to  open  his  palaces,  and  give  his  gifts,  and  make  pro- 
clamation of  safety  and  security,  and  promote  the  chamberlains  and  lieutenants- 
the  people  of  his  dominions  also  used  to  go  in  to  him  and  salute  him,  and  congratu- 
late him  on  the  festival,  offering  him  presents  and  servants ;  and  he  loved  philo- 
sophy and  geometry.  And  while  the  King  was  sitting  on  the  throne  of  his  doniin. 
ions,  on   a  certain  day,  during  one  of  these  festivals,  there  came  in  to  hini  three 


THE    STORY    OF    THE    MAGIC   HORSE.  439 

sages:  with  one  of  them  was  a  peacock  of  gold;  and  with  the  second  a  trumpet  of 
brass :  and  with  the  third,  a  horse  of  ivory  and  ebony  :  whereupon  the  King  said 
to  them,  What  are  these  things,  and  what  is  their  use  ?  The  owner  of  the  peacock 
answered.  The  use  of  this  peacock  is,  that  whenever  an  hour  of  the  night  or  day 
passeth,  it  will  flap  its  wings,  and  utter  a  cry.  And  the  owner  of  the  trumpet  said. 
If  this  trumpet  be  placed  at  the  gate  of  the  city,  it  will  be  as  a  defender  of  it  : 
for  if  an  enemy  enter  the  city,  this  trumpet  will  send  forth  a  sound  against  him  ;  so 
he  will  be  known  and  arrested.  And  the  owner  of  the  horse  said,  0  ray  lord,  the 
use  of  this  horse  is,  that  if  a  man  mount  it,  it  will  convey  him  to  whatever  country 
he  desireth.  Upon  this  the  King  said,  I  will  not  bestow  any  favour  upon  you  until 
I  make  trial  of  the  uses  of  these  things.  Then  he  made  trial  of  the  peacock,  and 
found  it  to  be  as  its  owner  had  said.  And  he  made  trial  of  the  trumpet,  and  found 
it  as  its  owner  had  said.  He  therefore  said  to  the  two  sages  (the  owners  of  the  peacock 
and  the  trumpet),  Request  of  me  what  ye  will.  And  they  replied.  We  request  of 
thee  that  thou  marry  to  each  of  us  one  of  thy  daughters.  Whereupon  the  King  be- 
stowed upon  them  two  of  his  daughters.  Then  the  third  sage,  the  owner  of  the 
hoi-se,  advanced,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground  before  the  King,  said  to  him,  0 
King  of  the  age,  bestow  upon  me  like  as  thou  hast  bestowed  upon  my  companions. 
The  King  replied.  When  I  shall  have  made  trial  of  that  which  thou  hast  brought. 
And  upon  this,  the  King's  son  advanced  and  said,  0  my  father,  I  will  mount  this 
horse,  and  make  trial  of  it,  and  obtain  proof  of  its  use.  So  the  King  replied,  0  my 
son,  try  it  as  thou  desirest. 

The  King's  son  accordingly  arose,  and  mounted  the  horse,  and  urged  it  with  his 
feet ;  but  it  moved  not  from  its  place.  He  therefore  said,  0  sage,  where  is  its  rapid- 
ity of  pace  of  which  thou  boastedst?  And  on  hearing  this,  the  sage  came  to  him, 
and  showed  him  a  turning-pin,  by  which  to  make  it  ascend  ;  saying  to  him,  Turn 
this  pin.  And  the  King's  son  turned  it,  and  lo,  the  horse  moved,  and  soared  with 
him  towards  the  upper  region  of  the  sky,  and  ceased  not  its  flight  with  him  until  he 
was  out  of  sight  of  the  people  ;  whereupon  the  prince  was  perplexed  at  his  case, 
and  repented  of  his  having  mounted  the  horse.  He  said,  The  sage  hath  made  use 
of  a  stratagem  to  destroy  me,  and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the 
High,  the  Great!  Then  he  began  to  examine  all  the  members  of  the  horse;  and 
while  he  was  doing  so,  he  saw  a  thing  like  the  head  of  a  cock,  on  the  horse's  right 
shoulder,  and  the  like  on  the  left  shoulder:  so  he  said,  I  see  not  any  indication  ex- 
cepting these  two  buttons.  And  he  turned  the  button  that  was  on  the  right  shoul- 
der;  upon  which  the  horse  bore  him  upwards  with  increased  velocity  into  the  sky: 
so  he  took  off  his  hand  from  that  button,  and,  looking  at  the  left  shoulder,  and 
seeing  the  button  that  was  there,  he  turned  it ;  and  the  movements  of  the  horse  be- 
came lessened  in  velocity,  and  changed  from  ascending  to  descending.  It  ceased 
not  to  descend  with  him  towards  the  earth  by  little  and  little,  while  he  continued  to 
exercise  caution  for  his  safety ;  and  when  he  saw  this,  and  knew  the  uses  of  the 
horse,  his  heart  was  filled  with  joy  and  happiness,  and  he  thanked  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  1)  for  the  favour  that  He  had  shown  him  in  saving  him  from  destruction. 
He  ceased  not  to  descend  for  the  whole  of  the  remainder  of  the  day ;  for  in  his  as- 
cent, the  earth  had  become  distant  from  him  ;  and  he  turned  about  the  foce  of  the 
horse  as  he  desired,  while  it  descended  with  him :  when  he  would,  he  was  carried 
downwards  by  it :  and  when  he  would,  he  was  borne  by  it  upwards. 

Now  when  he  had  obtained  what  he  desired  with  respect  to  the  horse,  he  proceeded 
on  it  towards  the  earth,  and  began  to  look  at  its  countries  and  cities,  which  he  knew 
not ;  for  he  had  never  seen  them  before  during  the  whole  of  his  life.  And  among 
the  objects  that  he  beheld  was  a  city  constructed  in  the  most  excellent  manner,  in 
the  midst  of  a  land  beautifully  verdant,  with  trees  and  rivers  ;  upon  which  he  medi- 
tated in  his  mind,  and  said,  Would  that  I  knew  what  is  the  name  of  this  city,  and 
in  what  region  it  is.  He  then  made  a  cii'cuit  round  the  city,  viewing  it  attentively, 
right  and  left.     The  day  had  nearly  departed,  and  the  sun  was  about  to  set :  so  he 


440  THE   STORY    OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE. 

said  within  himself,  I  have  not  found  any  place  in  which  to  pass  the  night  better 
than  this  city:  I  will  therefore  pass  this  nij^ht  in  it,  and  in  the  morning  I  will  re- 
turn to  my  family  and  my  royal  residence,  and  acquaint  my  family  and  my  father 
with  that  which  hath  happened  to  me,  and  inform  him  of  the  things  that  mine  eyes 
have  seen.  Accordingly  he  began  to  search  for  a  place  in  which  he  might  feel  se- 
cui-e  of  the  safety  of  himself  and  his  horse,  and  where  no  one  might  see  him  ;  and 
while  he  was  thus  engaged,  lo,  he  beheld,  in  the  midst  of  the  city,  a  palace  rising 
high  into  the  air,  surrounded  by  a  large  wall  with  high  battlements  ;  whereupon  he 
said  within  himself.  This  place  is  agreeable. 

He  turned  the  button  that  caused  the  horse  to  descend,  and  ceased  not  to  be  carried 
downwards  on  it  until  he  descended  steadily  on  the  flat  roof  of  the  palace,  when  he 
alighted  from  the  horse,  praising  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  and  began  to  go 
round  about  the  horse,  and  to  examine  it,  and  said.  By  Allah,  he  who  made  thee  thus 
was  an  expert  sage;  and  if  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  extend  the  term  of  my 
life,  and  restore  me  to  my  country  and  my  family  in  safety,  and  reunite  me  with  my 
father,  I  will  assuredly  bestow  every  favour  upon  this  sage,  and  treat  him  with  the 
utmost  beneficence.  He  then  sat  upon  the  roof  of  the  palace  until  he  knew  that 
the  inmates  had  betaken  themselves  to  sleep.  Hunger  and  thirst  pained  him  ;  for 
since  he  had  parted  from  his  father  he  had  not  eaten  food  ;  and  he  said  within  him- 
self, Verily  such  a  palace  as  this  is  not  devoid  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  He  there- 
fore left  the  horse  in  a  place  alone,  and  walked  down  to  see  for  something  to  eat; 
and  finding  a  flight  of  steps,  he  descended  by  them  to  the  lower  part  of  the  build- 
ing, where  he  found  a  court  paved  with  marble  ;  and  he  wondered  at  this  place,  and 
at  the  beauty  of  its  construction  ;  but  he  heard  not  in  the  palace  any  sound,  nor  the 
cheering  voice  of  an  inhabitant.  So  he  paused  in  perplexity,  and  looked  to  the  right 
and  left,  not  knowing  whither  to  go.  Then  he  said  within  himself,  There  is  no 
better  course  for  me  than  to  return  to  the  place  in  which  is  my  horse,  and  to  pass 
the  night  by  it ;  and  when  the  morning  coraeth,  I  mount  and  depart. 

But  while  he  was  addressing  himself  with  these  words,  he  beheld  a  light  ap- 
proaching the  place  where  he  stood,  and,  looking  attentively  at  that  light,  he  found 
that  it  was  with  a  party  of  female  slaves,  among  whom  was  a  beautiful  damsel,  of  a 
stature  like  the  letter  Alif,*  resembling  the  splendid  full  moon.  That  damsel  was 
the  daughter  of  the  King  of  this  city:  and  her  father  loved  her  with  so  great  an 
affection  that  he  built  for  her  this  palace:  and  whenever  her  heart  was  contracted,  she 
used  to  come  hither,  together  with  her  female  slaves,  and  to  remain  here  a  day,  or 
two  days,  or  more  ;  after  which  she  returned  to  the  palace  where  she  generally  re- 
sided. It  happened  that  she  came  that  night  for  the  sake  of  diversion  and  dilata- 
tion of  the  mind,  and  she  walked  among  the  female  slaves,  attended  by  a  eunuch 
armed  with  a  sword  ;  and  when  they  entered  the  palace,  they  spread  the  furniture, 
and  gave  vent  to  the  odours  from  the  perfuming-vessel,  and  sported  and  rejoiced. 
Now  while  they  were  thus  engaged,  the  King's  son  rushed  upon  that  eunuch,  struck 
him  a  blow  which  laid  him  prostrate,  and,  taking  the  sword  from  his  hand,  ran 
upon  the  female  slaves  who  were  with  the  King's  daughter,  and  dispersed  them  to 
the  right  and  left.  And  when  the  King's  daughter  saw  his  beauty  and  loveliness, 
she  said.  Perhaps  thou  art  he  who  demanded  me  in  marriage  yesterday  of  my 
father,  and  whom  he  rejected,  and  whom  he  asserted  to  be  of  hideous  aspect.  By 
Allah,  my  father  lied  in  saying  those  words  ;  for  thou  art  none  other  than  a  hand- 
soaie  person. 

Now  the  son  of  the  King  of  India  had  requested  her  of  her  father,  and  he  had  re- 
jected him  because  he  was  disagreeable  in  aspect:  and  she  imagined  that  the  prince 
now  before  her  was  he  who  had  demanded  her  in  marriage.  She  then  came  to  him, 
and  embraced  and  kissed  him,  and  seated  herself  with  him.  The  female  slaves, 
however,  said  to  her,  0  our  mistress,  this  is  not  the  person  who  demanded  thee  in 


'Tall  and  slender. 


THE    STORY    OF    THE    MAGIC    HORSE. 


441 


marriage  of  thj  father;  fur  that  person  was  hideous,  and  this  is  handsome;  and  he 
who  demanded  thee  of  thy  father,  and  whom  he  rejected,  is  not  fit  to  Ije  a  servant  to 
this  person:  but  0  our  mistress,  verily  this  young  man  is  one  of  high  dignity.  And 
after  this,  the  female  slaves  went  to  the  prostrated  eunuch,  and  roused  him  ;  where- 
upon he  sprang  up  in  alarm,  and  searched  for  his  sword,  not  finding  it  in  his  hand. 
So  the  female  slaves  said  to  him,  He  who  took  thy  sword,  and  laid  thee  prostrate,  is 
sitting  with  the  King's  daughter. — Now  the  King  had  charged  this  eunuch  with  the 
office  of  guarding  his  daughter,  in  his  fear  for  her  from  misfortunes  and  evil  acci- 
dents.— The  eunuch  therefore  arose,  and  went  to  the  curtain,  and  when  he  raised  it, 
he  saw  the  King's  daughter  sitting  with  the  King's  son,  and  they  were  conversing  to- 
gether: and  as  soon  as  he  beheld  them,  he  said  to  the  King's  son,  0  my  master,  art 
thou  a  human  being,  or  a  Genie?  To  which  the  King's  son  replied,  Wo  to  thee,  0 
most  ill-omened  of  slaves  !  How  is  it  that  thou  regardest  the  sons  of  the  Persian  Kings 
as  of  the  unbelieving  devils? — Then,  taking  the  sword  in  his  hand,  lie  said  to  him,  I 
am  the  son-in-law  of  the  King,  and  he  hath  married  me  to  his  daughter,  and  com- 
manded me  to  -introduce  myself  to  her.  So  when  the  eunuch  heard  these  words 
from  him,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  if  thou  be  of  the  human  species,  as  thou 
hast  asserted,  she  is  suited  to  none  but  thee,  and  thou  art  more  worthy  of  her  than 
any  other. 

The  eunuch  then  went  shrieking  to  the  King;  and  he  had  rent  his  clothes  and  thrown 
dust  upon  his  head.     And  when  the  King  heard  his  crying,  he  said  to  him,  What 


The  Eunuch  throwMig  dust  on  his  head. 


hath  befallen  thee;  for  thou  hast  agitated  my  heart?  Acquaint  me  quickly,  and  be 
brief  in  thy  words. — He  therefore  answered,  0  King,  go  to  the  assistance  of  thy 
daughter:  for  a  devil  of  the  Genii,  in  the  garb  of  human  beings,  and  having  the 
firm  of  the  sons  of  Kings,  hath  got  possession  of  her:  therefore  seize  him.  And 
when  the  King  heard  these  words  frcmi  him,  he  thought  to  slay  him,  and  said  to 
him.  How  came  it  to  pass  that  thou  wast  neglectful  of  my  daughter,  so  that  this 
event  befell  her?  He  then  went  to  tlie  palace  wherein  was  his  daughter,  and  on  his 
arrival  he  found  the  female  slaves  standing  there,  and  said  to  them.  What  is  it  that 
hath  hap]>)ened  to  my  daughter?  They  answered  him,  0  King,  while  we  were  sit- 
ting with  her,  suddenly  there  rushed  upon  us  this  young  man,  who  resembleth  the 
full  moon,  and  than  whom  we  have  never  seen  any  one  more  handsome  in  counte- 
nance, with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand  ;  and  we  inquired  of  him  respecting  his  busi- 
ness, and  he  asserted  that  thou  hadst  married  to  him  thy  daughter:  we  know  no- 
thins:  more  than  this;  and  we  know  not  whether  he  be  a  human  being  or  a  Genie; 
but  he  is  chaste  and  well-bred,  and  doth  not  addict  himself  to  that  which  is  disgrace- 
ful.    So  when  the  King  heard  their  words,  his  rage  was  cooled.     He  then  raised  the 


442  THE   STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE. 

curtain  by  little  and  little,  and  looked,  and  beheld  the  King's  son  sitting  with  his 
daughter,  conversing;  and  he  was  of  most  comely  form,  with  a  face  like  the  shining 
full  moon. 

The  King  could  not  control  himself,  through  jealousy  for  his  daughter.  He  there- 
fore raised  the  curtain  and  entered,  with  a  drawn  sword  in  his  hand,  and  rushed 
upon  them  as  though  he  were  a  Ghoul.  The  King's  son,  on  seeing  him,  said  to  her, 
Is  this  thy  father?  She  answered.  Yes.  And  upon  this,  he  sprang  upon  his  feet, 
and,  taking  his  sword  in  his  hand,  shouted  at  the  King  with  an  amazing  cry,  which 
terrified  him,  and  was  about  to  attack  him  with  the  sword ;  but  the  King,  perceiving 
that  the  prince  was  stronger  than  he,  sheathed  his  sword,  and  stood  until  the  King's 
eon  came  up  to  him,  when  he  met  him  with  courtesy,  and  said  to  him,  0  young  man, 
art  thou  a  human  being  or  a  Genie  ?  The  King's  son  replied,  Were  it  not  that  I  re- 
spect thy  right  and  the  honour  of  thy  daughter,  I  had  shed  thy  blood.  How  is  it 
thou'derivest  me  from  the  devils,  when  I  am  of  the  sons  of  the  ancient  Kings,  who 
if  they  desired  to  take  thy  kingdom,  would  make  thee  totter  from  thy  glory  and  do- 
minion, and  despoil  thee  of  all  that  is  in  thy  dwellings  ? — So  the  King,  on  hearing 
his  words,  dreaded  and  feared  him  ;  but  said  to  him,  If  thou  be  of  the  sons  of  the 
Kings,  as  thou  hast  asserted,  how  is  it  that  thou  hast  entered  my  palace  without  my 
permission,  and  dishonoured  me,  and  come  unto  my  daughter,  asserting  that  thou 
art  her  husband,  and  pretending  that  I  had  married  thee  to  her,  when  I  have  killed 
the  Kings  and  the  sons  of  the  Kings  on  their  demanding  her  of  me  in  marriage? 
And  who  will  save  thee  from  my  power,  when,  if  I  cried  out  unto  my  slaves  and  my 
young  men  and  commanded  them  to  slay  thee,  they  would  slay  thee  immediately  ? 
Who  then  can  deliver  thee  from  my  hand? 

The  King's  son,  however,  when  he  heard  these  words  from  him,  said  to  the  King, 
Verily  I  wonder  at  thee,  and  at  the  smallness  of  thy  penetration.  Dost  thou 
covet  for  thy  daughter  a  husband  better  than  myself;  and  hast  thou  seen  any 
one  more  firm  of  heart,  and  superior  in  requital,  and  more  glorious  in  authority  and 
troops  and  guards  than  I  am? — The  King  answered  him,  No,  by  Allah :  but  I 
would,  0  young  man,  that  thou  demand  her  in  marriage  publicly,  that  I  may  marry 
her  to  thee  :  for  if  I  marry  her  to  thee  privately,  thou  wilt  disgrace  me  by  so  taking 
her.  And  the  King's  son  replied.  Thou  hast  said  well :  but,  0  King,  if  thy  slaves 
and  servants  and  troops  were  to  assemble  against  me  and  slay  me,  as  thou  hast  im- 
agined, thou  wouldst  disgrace  thyself,  and  the  people  would  be  divided  with  respect 
to  thee,  some  believing,  and  others  accusing  thee  of  falsehood.  It  is  my  opinion 
that  thou  shouldst  relinquish  this  idea,  and  adopt  the  course  that  I  will  point  out  to 
thee. — So  the  King  said.  Propose  what  thou  wilt.  And  the  King's  son  rejoined. 
What  I  propose  to  thee  is  this :  either  that  thou  meet  me  in  single  combat,  and  he 
who  killeth  the  other  shall  be  more  deserving  and  worthy  of  the  kingdom  ;  or  else, 
that  thou  leave  me  this  night,  and  when  the  morning  cometh,  that  thou  send  forth 
to  me  thy  soldiers  and  troops  and  young  men,  and  acquaint  me  with  their  number. 
The  King  replied.  Their  number  is  forty  thousand  horsemen,  besides  the  slaves  be- 
longing to  me,  and  their  followers,  who  are  equal  in  number.  And  the  King's  son 
said.  When  the  day  beginneth,  send  them  forth  to  me  and  say  to  them.  This  person 
hath  demanded  of  me  my  daughter  in  marriage  on  the  condition  that  he  will  nn'ct 
you  all  in  combat;  and  he  hath  pretended  that  he  will  overcome  and  subdue  you, 
and  that  ye  cannot  prevail  against  him.  Then  leave  me  with  them  to  combat  them; 
and  if  they  kill  me,  the  result  will  be  more  proper  for  the  concealment  of  thy  secret 
and  the  preserving  of  thine  honour;  but  if  I  overcome  and  subdue  them,  then  am  T 
such  a  person  as  the  King  should  desire  for  his  son-in-law. — And  when  the  King 
heard  his  words,  he  approved  of  his  advice  and  accepted  it,  notwithstanding  that 
he  wondered  at  his  saying,  and  was  struck  with  terror  at  his  determination  to 
meet  in  combat  all  his  army  that  he  had  described  unto  him.  Then  they  sat  con- 
versing. 

And  after  this,  the  King  called  the  eunuch,  and  commanded  him  to  go  forth  im- 


THE   STORY  OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE.  443 

mediately  to  his  Vizier,  and  desire  him  to  collect  all  the  troops,  and  order  them  to 
equip  themselves  with  their  arms,  and  to  mount  their  horses.  So  the  eunuch  went 
to  the  Vizier  and  acquainted  him  with  that  which  the  King  had  commanded.  And 
upon  this  the  Vizier  summoned  the  chiefs  of  the  army,  and  the  grandees  of  the  em- 
pire, and  ordered  them  to  mount  their  horses,  and  to  go  forth  equipped  with  the 
weapons  of  war. — Meanwhile,  the  King  continued  to  converse  with  the  young  man, 
being  pleased  with  his  conversation  and  sense  and  good  breeding  ;  and  as  they  were 
talking  together,  the  morning  arrived.  The  King  therefore  arose,  and  went  to  iiis 
throne,  ordered  his  troops  to  mount,  and  caused  an  excellent  horse,  one  of  the  best 
that  he  possessed,  to  be  brought  before  the  King's  son,  commanding  that  it  should 
be  equipped  for  him  with  handsome  saddle  and  trappings.  But  the  young  man  said 
to  him,  0  King,  I  will  not  mount  until  I  take  a  view  of  the  troops,  and  observe  them. 
And  the  King  replied.  It  shall  be  as  thou  desirest.  Then  the  King  proceeded,  with 
the  young  man  before  him,  until  they  arrived  at  the  horse-course,  when  the  young 
man  looked  at  the  troops  and  their  number.  And  the  King  called  out,  0  companies 
of  men,  a  young  man  hath  come  unto  me  demanding  in  marriage  my  daughter,  and 
I  have  never  beheld  any  handsomer  than  he,  nor  any  stronger  in  heart,  nor  any 
greater  in  intrepidity  than  he :  and  he  hath  asserted  that  he  alone  will  overcome  you 
and  subdue  you,  and  pretendeth  that  ye,  even  if  your  number  amounted  to  a  hun- 
dred thousand,  would  be  in  his  estimation  but  few.  But  when  he  cometh  forth  to 
combat  you,  receive  him  upon  the  points  of  your  spears,  and  the  edges  of  your 
swords  ;  for  he  hath  undertaken  a  great  enterprise. 

The  King  then  said  to  the  young  man,  0  my  son,  do  as  thou  desirest  with  them. 
But  he  replied,  0  King,  thou  hast  not  treated  me  equitably.  How  shall  I  go  forth  to 
combat  them  when  I  am  on  foot  and  thy  people  are  mounted  on  horses?  —  So  the 
King  said  to  him,  I  desired  thee  to  mount,  and  thou  refusedst.  Take  then  of  the 
horses  and  choose  of  them  that  which  thou  wilt.  —  He  replied,  None  of  thy  horses 
pleaseth  me,  and  I  will  mount  none  but  the  horse  on  which  I  came.  The  King 
therefore  said  to  him,  And  where  is  thy  horse?  He  answered  him,  It  is  on  the  top 
of  thy  palace.  —  In  what  place  in  my  palace?  asked  the  King.  He  answered,  On 
the  roof  of  the  palace.  And  when  the  King  heard  his  words,  he  said  to  him.  This 
is  the  first  instance  that  hath  appeared  of  thine  insanity.  0,  wo  to  thee  !  How  can 
the  horse  be  upon  the  roof?  But  now  will  thy  veracity  be  distinguished  from  thy 
lying.  —  Then  the  King  looked  towards  one  of  his  chief  officers  and  said  to  him,  Go 
to  my  palace,  and  bring  what  thou  shalt  find  upon  the  roof.  And  the  people  won- 
dered at  the  words  of  the  young  man  ;  one  saying  to  another,  How  can  this  horse 
descend  the  stairs  from  the  roof?  Verily,  this  is  a  thing  the  like  of  which  we  have 
never  heard!  —  Now  the  person  whom  the  King  had  sent  to  the  palace  ascended  to 
its  roof,  and  beheld  the  horse  standing  there ;  and  he  had  seen  none  more  handsome 
than  it :  and  he  approached  it  and  examined  it,  and  found  it  to  be  of  ebony  and 
ivory.  Some  others  of  the  chief  officers  of  the  King  also  went  up  with  this  person  ; 
and  when  they  beheld  the  horse,  they  laughed  together,  and  said.  Did  the  young 
man  speak  of  such  a  horse  as  this?  We  imagine  that  he  is  no  other  than  a  mad- 
man ;  but  his  case  will  soon  appear  to  us  ;  and  perhaps  he  may  be  a  person  of  great 
importance.  —  They  then  raised  the  horse  upon  their  hands,  and  carried  it  without 
stopping  until  they  came  before  the  King,  when  they  placed  it  before  him  ;  and  the 
people  assembled  around  it,  gazing  at  it,  and  wondering  at  the  beauty  of  its  make, 
and  at  the  beauty  of  its  saddle  and  bridle.  The  King  also  admired  it,  and  wondered 
at  it  extremely ;  and  he  said  to  the  King's  son,  0  young  man,  is  this  thy  horse?  He 
answered.  Yes,  0  King,  this  is  my  horse,  and  thou  shalt  see  a  wonder  performed  by 
it.  The  King  said  to  him,  Take  thy  horse  and  mount  it.  But  he  replied,  I  will  not 
mount  it  unless  the  troops  retire  to  a  distance  from  it.  So  the  King  commanded  the 
troops  that  were  around  him  to  retire  from  it  as  far  as  an  arrow  might  be  shot. 

Then  said  the  young  man,  0  King,  I  am  going  to  mount  my  horse,  and  charge 
upon  thine  army,  and  disperse  them   to   the  right  and  left,  and  split  their  hearts. 


444  THE    STORY    OF   THE    MAGIC    HORSE. 

The  King  replied,  Do  what  thou  desirest,  and  pity  them  not;  for  they  will  not  pity 
thee.  And  the  King's  son  went  to  the  horse  and  mounted  it.  The  troops  were 
arranged  in  ranks  before  him  ;  and  one  said  to  another.  When  the  young  man 
arriveth  between  the  ranks,  we  will  receive  him  with  the  points  of  the  spears,  and 
the  edges  of  the  swords.  But  one  of  them  said,  By  Allah,  it  is  a  calamity  !  How 
shall  we  kill  this  young  man  with  the  comely  face  and  the  surpassing  figure? — And 
another  said,  By  Allah,  ye  shall  by  no  means  reach  him  unless  after  a  great  event ; 
and  the  young  man  hath  not  done  these  deeds  but  from  his  knowledge  of  his  own 
valour  and  pre-eminence. — And  when  the  King's  son  had  seated  himself  firmly  upon 
his  horse,  he  turned  the  pin  of  ascent.  The  eyes  of  the  spectators  were  strained  to 
see  what  he  would  do :  and  his  horse  bestirred  itself,  and  moved  about  with  violent 
action,  until  it  had  performed  the  most  extraordinary  of  the  motions  of.  horses,  and 
its  body  became  filled  with  air.  Then  it  rose,  and  ascended  into  the  sky.  So  when 
the  King  saw  that  he  had  risen,  and  ascended  aloft,  he  called  out  to  his  troops,  and 
said,  Wo  to  you  !  Take  him  before  he  escape  from  you.  —  But  his  Vizier  and  Lieu- 
tenants replied,  0  King,  can  any  one  catch  the  flying-bird  ?  This  is  none  other  than 
a  great  enchanter.  God  hath  saved  thee  from  him  :  therefore  praise  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted  !)  for  thine  escape  from  his  hand. 

The  King  therefore  returned  to  his  palace,  after  he  had  witnessed  these  acts  of 
the  King's  son  ;  and  when  he  arrived  at  his  palace,  he  went  to  his  daughter  and  ac- 
quainted her  with  that  which  had  happened  to  him  with  the  King's  son  in  the  horse- 
course  ;  but  he  found  her  greatly  lamenting  for  him,  and  for  her  separation  from 
him,  and  she  fell  into  a  violent  sickness,  and  took  to  the  pillow.  So  when  her  father 
saw  her  in  this  state  he  pressed  her  to  his  bosom,  kissed  her  between  the  eyes,  and 
said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  praise  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  and  thank  Him 
for  our  escape  from  this  crafty  enchanter.  He  began  to  repeat  to  her  the  account 
of  the  deeds  of  the  King's  son  that  he  had  witnessed,  describing  to  her  how  he  had 
ascended  into  the  air.  But  she  listened  to  naught  of  her  father's  words  ;  her  weep- 
ing and  wailing  increased  in  violence,  and  afterwards  she  said  within  herself.  By 
Allah,  I  will  not  eat  food,  nor  drink  any  beverage,  until  God  reunite  me  with  him. 
Therefore  exceeding  anxiety  overcame  her  father  the  King  on  account  of  this ;  the 
state  of  his  daughter  afflicted  him,  and  he  mourned  in  heart  for  her ;  and  every  time 
that  he  addressed  her  with  soothing  words,  she-  only  increased  in  her  passion  for  the 
young  man. — Such  was  her  case. 

Now  as  to  the  King's  son,  when  he  had  ascended  into  the  sky,  being  alone,  he  re- 
flected upon  the  beauty  of  the  damsel,  and  her  loveliness.  He  had  inquired  of  the 
King's  people  respecting  the  name  of  the  city,  and  the  name  of  the  King,  and  that 
of  his  daughter ;  and  that  city  was  the  city  of  Sana.  He  then  prosecuted  his  jour- 
ney with  diligence  until  he  came  in  sight  of  the  city  of  his  fiither ;  and  after  he  had 
made  a  circuit  around  the  city,  he  bent  his  course  to  his  father's  palace,  and  de- 
scended upon  the  roof.  Having  left  his  horse  there,  he  descended  to  his  father,  and 
went  in  to  him  ;  and  he  found  him  mourning  and  afflicted  on  account  of  his  separa- 
tion ;  therefore,  when  his  father  saw  him,  he  rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  pres- 
sing him  to  his  bosom,  and  rejoicing  exceedingly  at  his  return.  And  the  Prince  in- 
quired of  his  father  respecting  the  sage  who  made  the  horse,  saying,  0  my  father, 
what  hath  fortune  done  with  him  ?  His  father  answered  him.  May  God  not  bless 
the  sage,  nor  the  hour  in  which  I  beheld  him ;  for  he  was  the  cause  of  thy  separa- 
tion from  us,  and  he  hath  been  imprisoned,  0  my  son,  since  thou  absentedst  thyself 
from  ua.  He  gave  orders,  however,  to  relieve  him,  and  take  him  forth  from  the  pri- 
son, and  bring  him  before  him  ;  and  when  he  came  before  him,  he  invested  him  with 
an  honorary  dress  in  token  of  satisfaction,  and  treated  him  with  the  utmost  benefi- 
cence; but  would  not  marry  his  daughter  to  him.  So  the  sage  was  violently  en- 
raged at  this,  and  repented  of  that  which  he  had  done,  knowing  that  the  King's  son 
had  become  acquainted  with  the  secret  of  the  horse  and  the  mode  of  its  motion 
Then  the  King  said  to  his  son,  It  is  my  opinion  that  thou  shouldst  not  approach 


THE    STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE.  445 

this  horse  henceforth,  nor  mount  it  after  this  day:  for  thou  knowest  not  its  proper- 
ties, and  thou  art  deceived  respecting  it.  The  King's  son  had  related  to  his  father 
what  had  happened  to  him  with  the  daughter  of  the  King,  the  lord  of  the  city,  and 
what  had  happened  to  him  with  her  father;  and  his  father  said  to  him,  Hal  the 
King  desired  to  slay  thee,  he  had  slain  thee  ;  but  the  end  of  thy  life  was  delayed. 

After  this,  they  ate  and  drank  and  were  merry  ;  and  there  was  with  the  King  a 
handsome  slave-girl,  who  played  upon  the  lute ;  and  she  took  the  lute  and  began  to 
play  upon  it,  singing  of  absence,  before  the  King  and  his  son. 

Then  anxious  thoughts  were  aroused  in  the  mind  of  the  King's  son  by  his  love  of 
the  damsel,  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  Sana :  so  he  rose  and  went  to  the  horse  and 
mounted  it,  and  turned  the  pin  of  ascent;  whereupon  it  soared  with  him  into  the 
air,  and  rose  with  him  towards  the  upper  region  of  the  sky.  And  in  the  morning 
his  father  missed  him,  and  found  him  not:  he  therefore  went  up  to  the  top  of  the 
palace  in  a  state  of  affliction,  and  he  beheld  his  son  mounting  into  the  air;  and  upon 
this  he  grieved  for  his  separation,  and  repented  extremely  that  he  had  not  taken  the 
horse  and  concealed  it.  He  said  within  himself.  By  Allah,  if  my  son  return  to  me, 
I  will  not  preserve  this  horse,  that  my  heart  may  be  at  rest  respecting  my  son.  And 
he  resumed  his  weeping  and  wailing.  —  But  as  to  his  son,  he  ceased  not  his  course 
through  the  sky  until  he  came  to  the  city  of  Sana,  when  he  descended  in  the  place 
where  he  descended  the  first  time,  and  he  walked  down  stealthily  until  he  came  to 
the  chamber  of  the  King's  daughter ;  but  he  found  neither  her  nor  her  female  slaves, 
nor  the  eunuch  who  was  her  guard  ;  and  the  event  greatly  afflicted  him.  Then  he 
went  about  searching  for  her  through  the  palace,  and  at  last  he  found  her  in  a  dif- 
ferent chamber  from  that  in  which  he  had  been  with  her.  She  had  taken  to  the 
pillow,  and  around  her  were  the  female  slaves  and  nurses.  And  he  went  in  to  them 
and  saluted  them  ;  and  when  the  damsel  heard  his  speech,  she  rose  to  him  and  em- 
braced him,  and  began  to  kiss  him  between  his  eyes,  and  to  press  him  to  her  bosom. 
He  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  thou  hast  rendered  me  desolate  during  this  period. 
And  she  replied.  Thou  hast  rendered  me  desolate ;  and  had  thine  absence  from  me 
continued  longer,  I  had  perished  without  doubt.  —  0  my  mistress,  he  rejoined,  what 
thoughtest  thou  of  my  conduct  with  thy  father,  and  his  actions  to  me  ?  Were  it  not 
for  my  love  of  thee,  0  temptation  of  all  creatures,  I  had  slain  him,  and  made  him  an 
example  to  beholdei-s :  but  I  love  him  for  thy  sake.  —  And  she  said  to  him,  How 
oouldst  thou  absent  thyself  from  me  ?  Can  my  life  be  pleasant  after  thy  departure  ? 
— He  then  said  to  her.  Wilt  thou  comply  with  my  desire,  and  listen  to  my  words? 
She  answered  him,  Say  what  thou  wilt;  for  I  will  consent  to  that  which  thou 
requirest  me  to  do,  and  will  not  oppose  thee  in  anything.  And  he  said  to  her, 
Journey  with  me  to  my  country  and  my  kingdom.     She  replied.  Most  willingly. 

So  when  the  King's  son  heard  her  words,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  taking  her 
by  her  hand,  he  made  her  swear  by  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  that  she  would 
do  so.  Then  he  led  her  up  to  the  roof  of  the  palace,  mounted  his  horse,  and  placed 
her  on  it  behind  him,  and  after  he  had  bound  her  firmly,  he  turned  the  pin  of  ascent 
in  the  shoulder  of  the  horse,  and  it  ascended  with  them  into  the  sky.  Upon  this  the 
female  slaves  cried  out,  and  acquainted  the  King  her  father,  and  her  mother,  who 
thereupon  came  up  in  haste  to  the  roof  of  the  palace;  and  the  King,  looking  up  into 
the  sky,  beheld  the  ebony  horse  soaring  with  them  in  the  air.  The  King  was 
agitated,  and  his  agitation  increased,  and  he  called  out  and  said,  0  son  of  the  King, 
I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  have  mercy  upon  me,  and  have  mercy  upon  my 
wife,  and  that  thou  make  not  a  separation  between  us  and  our  daughter  !  The  King's 
son,  however,  answered  him  not;  but  he  imagined  that  the  damsel  repented  of  part- 
ing from  her  mother  and  her  father ;  so  he  said  to  her,  0  temptation  of  the  age,  dost 
thou  desire  that  I  restore  thee  to  thy  mother  and  thy  father?  —  0  my  master,  she 
answered,  by  Allah  that  is  not  my  desire:  my  desire  is  rather  to  be  with  thee  where- 
ever  thou  shalt  be  ;  for  I  am  drawn  ofi"  by  my  love  of  thee  from  everything  else,  even 
from  my  father  and  my  mother.     And  when  the  King's  son  heard  her  reply,  ho 


446  THE   STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE. 

rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  began  to  make  the  horse  proceed  gently  with  them,  that  it 
might  not  disquiet  her;  and  he  ceased  not  to  journey  on  with  her  until  he  beheld  a 
green  meadow,  in  which  was  a  spring  of  water.  There  they  alighted,  and  ate  and 
drank  ;  after  which,  the  King's  son  mounted  his  horse  again,  took  her  up  behind 
him,  and  bound  lier  in  his  fear  for  her.  He  then  proceeded  with  her,  and  ceased  not 
in  his  course  through  the  air  until  he  arrived  at  the  city  of  his  father.  His  joy 
thereat  was  great;  and  he  desired  to  show  to  the  damsel  the  seat  of  his  power  and 
the  dominion  of  his  father,  and  to  acquaint  her  that  the  dominion  of  his  father  was 
greater  than  that  of  her  father.  He  therefore  deposited  her  in  one  of  the  gardens  in 
which  his  father  diverted  himself,  put  her  in  a  private  chamber  that  was  furnished 
for  his  father,  and  placed  the  ebony  horse  at  the  door  of  that  chamber,  charging  the 
damsel  to  guard  it,  and  saying  to  her.  Sit  here  until  I  send  to  thee  my  messenger; 
for  I  am  going  to  my  father,  to  prepare  for  thee  a  palace,  and  to  display  to  thee  my 
dominion.  And  the  damsel  rejoiced  when  she  heard  from  him  these  words,  and 
replied.  Do  what  thou  desirest.  Then  it  occurred  to  her  mind  that  she  was  not 
to  enter  [the  city]  but  with  respect  and  honour,  as  was  suitable  to  persons  of  her 
rank. 

So  the  King's  son  left  her,  and  proceeded  until  he  arrived  at  the  city,  and  went  in 
to  his  father;  and  when  his  father  saw  him,  he  rejoiced  at  his  coming,  and  met  him 
and  welcomed  him  ;  and  the  King's  son  said  to  his  father.  Know  that  I  have  brought 
the  King's  daughter  of  whom  I  informed  thee,  and  I  have  left  her  without  the  city, 
in  one  of  the  gardens,  and  come  to  acquaint  thee  with  her  arrival,  that  thou  mayest 
prepare  the  procession  of  state,  and  go  forth  to  meet  her,  and  display  to  her  thy 
dominion  and  thy  troops  and  guards.  The  King  replied,  Most  willingly.  And 
immediately  he  commanded  the  people  of  the  city  to  decorate  the  city  in  the  most 
handsome  manner,  and  rodq  forth  in  a  procession  equipped  in  the  most  perfect  man- 
ner and  with  the  most  magnificent  decorations,  with  all  his  soldiers  and  the  grandees 
of  his  empire,  and  all  his  mamlouks  and  servants.  The  King's  son  also  took  forth, 
from  his  palace,  ornaments  and  apparel  and  such  things  as  Kings  treasure  up,  and 
prepared  for  the  damsel  a  camel-litter  of  green  and  red  and  yellow  brocade,  in  which 
he  .seated  Indian  and  Greek  and  Abyssinian  female  slaves,  and  he  displayed  wonder- 
ful treasures.  Then  he  left  the  camel-litter,  with  the  persons'  that  were  in  it,  and 
went  on  before  to  the  garden  ;  and  he  entered  the  private  chamber  in  which  he  had 
left  the  damsel,  and  searched  for  her;  but  found  her  not,  nor  did  he  find  the  horse. 
Upon  this  he  slapped  his  face  and  rent  his  clothes,  and  began  to  go  round  about 
through  the  garden,  with  a  mind  confounded  :  after  which,  he  returned  to  his 
reason,  and  said  within  himself.  How  did  she  learn  the  secret  of  this  horse  when  I 
did  not  acquaint  her  with  aught  of  it?  But  perhaps  the  Persian  sage  who  made  the 
horse  hath  found  her,  and  taken  her,  as  a  requital  for  that  which  my  father  hath 
done  unto  him.  —  Then  the  King's  son  sought  the  keepers  of  the  garden,  and  asked 
them  who  had  passed  by  them,  saying.  Have  ye  seen  any  one  pass  by  you  and  enter 
this  garden?  And  they  answered,  We  have  not  seen  any  one  enter  this  garden 
except  the  Persian  sage :  for  he  entered  to  collect  useful  herbs.  So  when  he 
heard  their  words,  he  was  convinced  that  the  person  who  had  taken  the  damsel  was 
that  sage. 

Now  it  happened,  in  accordance  with  destiny,  that  when  the  King's  son  left  the 
damsel  in  the  private  chamber  that  was  in  the  garden,  and  repaired  to  the  palace 
of  his  father  to  make  his  preparations,  the  Persian  sago  entered  the  garden  to  col- 
lect some  useful  herbs,  and  smelt  the  odour  of  musk  and  other  perfumes  with  which 
the  air  was  impregnated  ;  and  this  sweet  scent  was  from  the  odour  of  the  King's 
daughter.  The  sage  therefore  proceeded  in  the  direction  of  this  odour  until  he  came 
t'^  the  private  chamber,  when  he  saw  the  horse  that  he  had  made  with  his  hand 
standing  at  the  door  of  the  chamber.  So  when  the  sage  saw  the  horse,  his  heart 
was  tilled  with  joy  and  happiness  ;  for  he  had  mourned  after  it  greatly  since  it  had 
pone  from  his  possession.     He  approached  it,  and  examined  all  its  members,  and 


The  Magic  Horse.    CPage  446.) 


447 


THE   STOKY   OF   THE   MAGIC    HORSE.  449 

found  it  sound  ;  but  when  he  was  about  to  mount  it  and  depart,  he  said  within  him- 
self, I  must  see  what  the  Kind's  son  hath  brought  and  left  here  with  the  horse.  Ao- 
cordingly  he  entered  the  private  chamber,  and  found  the  damsel  sitting  there,  re- 
sembling the  shining  sun  in  the  clear  sky.  As  soon  as  he  beheld  her,  he  knew  that 
she  was  a  damsel  of  high  dignity,  and  that  the  King's  son  had  taken  her,  and 
brought  her  upon  the  horse,  and  left  her  in  that  private  chamber  while  he  repaired 
to  the  city  to  prepare  for  her  a  stately  procession,  and  to  conduct  her  into  the  city 
with  respect  and  honour.  The  sage  therefore  went  in  to  her,  and  kissed  the  ground 
before  her;  and  she  raised  her  eyes  towards  him,  and,  looking  at  him,  found  him  to 
be  of  most  hideous  aspect  and  disagreeable  form  ;  and  she  said  to  him,  Who  art  thou  ? 
He  answered  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  am  the  messenger  of  the  King's  son,  who  hath 
sent  mc  to  thee,  and  commanded  me  to  remove  thee  to  another  garden,  near  unto  the 
city.  And  when  the  damsel  heard  from  him  these  words  ;  she  said  to  him.  And  where  is 
the  King's  sou  ?  He  answered  her,  He  is  in  the  city,  with  his  father,  and  he  will 
come  to  thee  immediately  with  a  grand  procession.  But  she  said  to  him,  0  thou  ! 
Could  not  the  King's  son  find  any  one  to  send  to  me  but  thee? — And  the  sage 
laughed  at  her  words,  and  replied,  0  my  mistress,  let  not  the  hideousness  of  my  face 
and  the  disagreeableness  of  my  aspect  deceive  thee ;  for  hadst  thou  experienced  of 
me  what  the  King's  son  hath,  thou  wouldst  approve  of  me.  Verily  the  King's  son 
hath  chosen  me  especially  to  send  to  thee  on  account  of  the  hideousness  of  my  aspect 
and  the  horrible  nature  of  my  form,  through  his  jealousy  of  thee,  and  his  love  of 
thee  ;  for  were  it  otherwise,  he  hath  of  mamlouks  and  black  slaves,  and  pages  and 
servants  and  dependants,  an  abundance  that  cannot  be  calculated. 

So  when  the  damsel  heard  his  reply,  it  appeared  reasonable  to  her,  and  she  be- 
lieved it,  and  arose  and  went  with  him,  putting  her  hand  in  his.  She  then  said  to 
him,  0  my  father,  what  hast  thou  brought  with  thee  for  me  to  ride? — 0  my  mis- 
tress, he  answered,  the  horse  on  which  thou  camest  thou  shalt  ride.  She  replied,  I 
cannot  ride  it  by  myself.  And  when  he  heard  this  reply  from  her,  the  sage  smiled, 
and  knew  that  he  had  got  possession  of  her ;  and  he  said  to  her,  I  myself  will  ride 
with  thee.  Then  he  mounted,  and  mounted  the  damsel  behind  him,  and,  pressing 
her  to  him,  bound  her  tightly,  while  she  knew  not  what  he  desired  to  do  with  her. 
And  after  this,  ho  turned  the  pin  of  ascent,  whereupon  the  body  of  the  horse  became 
filled  with  air,  and  it  moved  and  bestirred  itself,  and  ascended  into  the  sky,  and  con- 
tinued incessantly  bearing  them  along  until  it  was  out  of  sight  of  the  city.  So  the 
damsel  said  to  him,  0  thou  !  What  meant  that  which  thou  saidst  respecting  the 
King's  son,  when  thou  assertedst  that  he  sent  thee  to  me? — The  sage  replied.  May 
Allah  keep  the  King's  son  from  everything  good;  for  he  is  base  and  vile  ! — 0,  wo  to 
thee  !  she  exclaimed  ;  how  is  it  that  thou  disobeyest  thy  lord  in  that  which  he  hath 
commanded  thee  to  do?  He  replied.  He  is  not  my  lord.  And  knowest  thou,  he 
added,  who  I  am  ?  She  answered  him,  I  know  thee  not  but  as  thou  hast  informed 
me  of  thyself.  And  he  said  to  her,  Verily  my  telling  thee  this  was  a  stratagem  that 
I  made  use  of  against  thee  and  against  the  King's  son.  I  was  lamenting  constantly 
for  this  horse  that  is  beneath  thee,  for  it  is  of  my  making,  and  he  had  made  himself 
master  of  it;  but  now  I  have  obtained  possession  of  it  and  of  thee  also,  and  have 
tortured  his  heart  as  he  hath  tortured  mine,  and  he  will  never  have  it  in  his  power 
henceforth.  But  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye ;  for  I  shall  be  more  useful  to 
thee  than  he. — And  when  the  damsel  heard  his  words,  she  slapped  her  face,  and 
cried  out,  0  my  grief!  I  have  neither  obtained  my  beloved  nor  remained  with  my 
father  and  my  mother! — And  she  wept  violently  for  that  which  had  befallen  her, 
while  the  sage  incessantly  proceeded  with  her  to  the  country  of  the  Greeks,  until  he 
descended  with  her  in  a  verdant  meadow  with  rivers  and  trees. 

This  meadow  was  near  unto  a  city,  in  which  was  a  King  of  great  dignity  ;  and  it 

happened  on  that  day  that  the  King  of  the  city  went  forth  to  hunt,  and  to  divert 

himself,  and,  passing  by  that  meadow,  he  saw  the  sage  standing  there,  with  the 

horse  and  the  damsel  by  his  side.     And  the  sage  was  not  aware  of  their  approach 

29 


450  THE   STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE. 

when  the  slaves  of  the  King  rushed  upon  him,  and  took  him,  together  with  the  dam- 
sel and  the  horse,  and  placed  all  before  the  King,  who,  when  he  beheld  the  hideous- 
ness  of  his  aspect,  and  the  disagreeableness  of  his  appearance,  and  beheld  the  beauty 
of  the  damsel,  and  her  loveliness,  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  what  relation  is  this 
sheikh  to  thee?  The  sage  hastily  answered  and  said.  She  is  my  wife,  and  the 
daughter  of  my  paternal  uncle.  But  the  damsel  declared  that  he  was  a  liar,  as 
soon  as  she  heard  his  words,  and  said,  0  King,  by  Allah,  I  know  him  not,  and  he  is 
not  my  husband  ;  but  he  took  me  away  by  force  and  stratagem.  And  when  the 
King  heard  what  she  said,  he  gave  orders  to  beat  the  sage ;  and  they  beat  him  until 
he  almost  died.  Then  the  King  commanded  that  they  should  carry  him  to  the  city, 
and  cast  him  into  the  prison  ;  and  so  they  did  with  him  ;  and  the  King  took  the 
damsel  and  the  horse  from  him  ;  but  he  knew  not  the  property  of  the  horse,  nor  the 
mode  of  its  motion. — Thus  did  it  befall  the  sage  and  the  damsel. 

As  to  the  King's  son,  he  put  on  the  apparel  of  travel,  and,  having  taken  what 
money  he  required,  journeyed  forth  in  a  most  evil  state,  and  quickly  endeavoured  to 
trace  them,  seeking  them  from  town  to  town  and  from  city  to  city,  and  inquiring 
respecting  the  ebony  horse ;  and  every  one  who  heard  his  mention  of  the  ebony 
horse  wondered  at  it,  and  was  greatly  astonished  at  his  words.  Thus  he  continued 
to  do  for  a  long  period ;  but  notwithstanding  his  frequent  questions  and  his  search- 
ing for  them,  he  met  with  no  tidings  of  them.  Then  he  journeyed  to  the  city  of  the 
damsel's  father,  and  there  inquired  for  her,  but  he  heard  no  tidings  of  her,  and  he 
found  her  father  mourning  for  her  loss.  So  he  returned,  and  repaired  to  the  country 
of  the  Greeks,  endeavouring  to  trace  them,  and  inquiring  respecting  them.  And  it 
happened  that  he  alighted  at  one  of  the  Khans,  and  saw  a  party  of  the  merchants 
sitting  conversing;  and  he  seated  himself  near  them,  and  heard  one  of  them  say,  0 
my  companions,  I  have  met  with  a  wonderful  thing. — And  what  was  it?  they  asked. 
He  answered,  I  was  in  a  certain  district,  in  such  a  city  (and  he  mentioned  the  name 
of  the  city  in  which  was  the  damsel),  and  I  heard  its  inhabitants  talking  of  a  strange 
story,  which  was  this.  —  The  King  of  the  city  went  forth  one  day  to  hunt,  attended 
by  a  party  of  his  associates  and  the  grandees  of  his  empire,  and  when  they  went 
forth  into  the  desert,  they  passed  by  a  verdant  meadow,  and  found  there  a  man 
standing,  and  by  his  side  a  woman  sitting,  and  with  him  a  horse  of  ebony,  As  to 
the  man,  he  was  of  hideous  aspect,  very  horrible  in  form  :  and  as  to  the  woman,  she 
was  a  damsel  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  elegance  and  perfect  grace, 
and  justness  of  stature;  and  as  to  the  ebony  horse,  it  was  a  wonderful  thing;  eyes 
have  not  beheld  its  superior  in  beauty  or  in  comeliness  of  make.  —  The  persons 
present  said  to  him.  And  what  did  the  King  with  them  ?  He  answered.  As  to  the 
man,  the  King  took  him,  and  asked  him  respecting  the  damsel,  and  he  pretended 
that  she  was  his  wife,  and  the  daughter  of  his  paternal  uncle.  But  as  to  the  damsel, 
she  declared  that  he  lied  in  his  assertion.  So  tlie  King  took  her  from  him,  and  gave 
orders  to  beat  him,  and  to  cast  him  into  the  prison.  And  as  to  the  ebony  horse,  I 
know  not  what  became  of  it. — When  the  King's  son  therefore  heard  these  words 
from  the  merchant,  he  approached  him,  and  proceeded  to  question  him  with  mild- 
ness and  courtesy  until  he  acquainted  him  with  the  name  of  the  city  and  the  name 
of  its  King;  and  when  he  knew  the  name  of  the  city  and  that  of  its  King,  he  passed 
the  night  happy  ;  and  in  the  morning  he  went  forth  on  his  journey. 

He  ceased  not  to  prosecute  his  journey  until  he  arrived  at  that  city  ;  but  when  he 
desired  to  enter  it,  the  gate-keepers  took  him,  and  would  have  conducted  him  into 
the  presence  of  the  King,  that  he  might  inquire  of  him  respecting  his  condition,  and 
of  the  cause  of  his  coming  into  that  city,  and  as  to  what  art  or  trade  he  was  skilled 
•n ;  for  so  was  the  King's  custom  to  question  the  strangers  respecting  their  condi- 
tions and  their  arts  or  trades.  But  the  arrival  of  the  King's  son  at  that  city  happened 
CO  be  at  eventide  ;  and  that  was  a  time  at  which  it  was  not  possible  to  go  in  to  the 
King  or  to  consult  respecting  him.  So  the  gate-keepers  took  him  and  conducted  him 
to  the  prison,  to  put  him  in   it.     When  the  jailors,  however,  saw  his  beauty  and 


THE    STORY   OF   THE    MAGIC   HORSE.  451 

loveliness,  they  could  not  bear  to  put  him  into  the  prison  :  on  the  contrary,  they 
seated  him  with  themselves,  outside  the  prison  ;  and  when  the  food  was  brought  to 
them,  he  ate  with  them  until  he  was  satisfied ;  and  after  they  had  finished  eating, 
they  sat  conversing,  and,  addressing  the  King's  son,  they  said  to  him,  From  what 
country  art  thou?  He  answered,  I  am  from  the  country  of  Persia,  the  country  of 
the  ancient  kings.  And  when  they  heard  his  answer,  they  laughed,  and  one  of  them 
Bald  to  him,  0  Persian,  I  have  heard  the  sayings  of  men,  and  their  histories,  and 
have  observed  their  conditions:  but  I  have  neither  seen,  nor  heard  of,  a  greater  liar 
than  this  Persian  who  is  with  us  in  the  prison.  And  another  said,  Nor  have  I  seen 
any  one  more  hideous  than  he  is  in  person,  or  more  disagreeable  than  he  in  form. 

So  the  King's  son  said  to  them.  What  instance  of  his  lying  hath  appeared  unto 
you?  They  answered.  He  pretendeth  that  he  is  a  sage,  and  the  King  saw  him  as  he 
was  going  to  hunt,  and  with  him  a  woman  of  surprising  beauty  and  loveliness,  and 
elegance  and  perfect  grace,  and  justness  of  stature,  and  there  was  with  him  also  a 
horse  of  black  ebony,  than  which  we  have  never  seen  any  more  handsome.  As  -to 
the  damsel,  she  is  with  the  King,  and  he  loveth  her;  but  the  woman  is  mad  ;  and  if 
that  man  were  a  sage  as  he  pretendeth,  he  had  cured  her ;  for  the  King  is  striving 
to  find  her  remedy,  desiring  to  recover  her  of  her  malady.  As  to  the  ebony  horse, 
it  is  in  the  King's  treasury  ;  and  as  to  the  man  of  hideous  aspect  who  was  with  it, 
he  is  with  us  in  the  prison  ;  and  when  the  night  overshadoweth  him,  he  weepeth  and 
waileth  in  his  grief  for  himself,  and  sufi"ereth  us  not  to  sleep.  —  Now  when  the  keep- 
ers of  the  prison  acquainted  the  King's  son  with  these  circumstances,  it  occurred  to 
his  mind  that  he  might  contrive  a  plan  by  means  of  which  to  attain  his  desire.  And 
when  the  gate-keepers  desired  to  sleep,  they  put  him  into  the  prison,  and  closed  the 
door  upon  him  ;  and  he  heard  the  sage  weeping  and  lamenting  for  himself  in  the 
Persian  language,  and  saying  in  his  lamentation,  Wo  unto  me  for  the  injustice  that 
I  have  committed  against  myself  and  against  the  King's  son,  and  for  that  which  I 
did  unto  the  damsel,  since  I  neither  left  her  nor  accomplished  my  desire.  All  this 
arose  from  my  ill  management ;  for  I  sought  for  myself  that  which  I  deserved  not, 
and  which  was  not  suited  to  me ;  and  he  who  seeketh  that  which  is  not  suited  to 
him,  falleth  into  a  calamity  like  that  into  which  I  have  fallen.  —  And  when  the 
King's  son  heard  these  words  of  the  sage,  he  spoke  to  him  in  the  Persian  lauguage, 
saying.  How  long  wilt  thou  continue  this  weeping  and  lamentation?  Dost  thou 
think  that  such  a  misfortune  hath  befallen  thee  as  hath  not  befallen  any  beside  thee? 
— And  the  sage,  on  hearing  his  words,  was  cheered  by  him,  and  complained  to  him 
of  his  case,  and  of  the  distress  he  experienced. 

Then,  when  the  morning  came,  the  gate-keepers  took  the  King's  son,  and  con- 
ducted him  to  the  King,  and  informed  him  that  he  had  arrived  at  the  city  on  the 
preceding  day,  at  a  time  when  it  was  impossible  to  go  in  unto  the  King.  So  the 
King  questioned  him,  and  said  to  him,  From  what  country  art  thou,  and  what  is  thy 
name,  and  what  thy  art  or  trade,  and  what  the  reason  of  thy  coming  unto  this  city? 
And  the  King's  son  answered.  As  to  my  name,  it  is,  in  the  Persian  language,  Harja; 
and  as  to  my  country,  it  is  the  country  of  Persia ;  and  I  am  of  the  men  of  science, 
especially  the  science  of  medicine  ;  for  I  cure  the  sick  and  the  mad  ;  and  for  this 
purpose  I  travel  about  through  the  regions  and  cities,  to  profit  myself  by  adding 
science  to  my  science ;  and  when  I  see  a  sick  person,  I  cure  him.  This  is  my  occu- 
pation.— And  when  the  King  heard  his  words,  he  rejoiced  at  them  exceedingly,  and 
said  to  him,  0  excellent  sage,  thou  hast  come  to  us  at  a  time  when  we  need  thee. 
Then  he  acquainted  him  with  the  case  of  the  damsel,  and  said  to  him.  If  thou  cure 
her,  and  recover  her  of  her  madness,  thou  shalt  receive  from  me  all  that  thou  shalt 
desire.  And  the  King's  son,  on  hearing  this,  replied.  May  God  confirm  the  power 
of  the  King!  Describe  to  me  everything  that  thou  hast  observed  of  her  madness, 
and  inform  me  how  many  days  ago  this  madness  attacked  her,  and  how  thou  tookest 
her  and  the  horse  and  the  sage. — He  therefore  acquainted  him  with  the  matter  from 
beginning  to  end,  and  said  to  him.  The  sage  is  in  the  prison.     And  the  King's  son 


452 


THE    STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC   HORSE. 


aaid,  0  happy  King,  and  what  hast  thou  done  with  the  horse  that  was  with  them  ? 
The  King  answered  him,  It  remaineth  with  me  to  the  present  time,  preserved  in  one 
of  the  private  chambers.  So  the  King's  son  said  within  himself.  It  is  my  opinion 
that  I  should  examine  the  horse  before  everything  else,  and  if  it  be  sound,  and  no 
accident  have  happened  to  it,  all  that  I  desire  is  accomplished  ;  but  if  I  see  that  its 
motions  are  destroyed,  I  will  yet  devise  some  stratagem  to  save  my  life.  Then  look- 
ing towards  the  King,  he  said  to  him,  0  King,  it  is  requisite  that  I  see  the  horse 
which  thou  hast  mentioned.  Perhaps  I  may  find  in  it  something  that  will  aid  me 
to  recover  the  damsel. — The  King  replied.  Most  willingly.  And  he  arose,  and,  taking 
him  by  the  hand,  led  him  in  to  the  horse  ;  whereupon  the  King's  son  began  to  go 
round  about  the  horse,  and  to  examine  it  and  observe  its  condition  ;  and  he  found  it 
sound,  without  any  defect.  He  therefore  rejoiced  at  it  exceedingly,  and  said,  May 
God  confirm  the  power  of  the  King  !  I  desire  to  go  in  to  the  damsel,  that  I  may  see 
how  she  will  act ;  and  I  beg  of  God  that  her  recovery  may  be  efi"ected  by  me,  by 
means  of  the  horse,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 

He  gave  orders  to  take  care  of  the  horse,  and  the  King  conducted  him  to  the 
chamber  in  which  was  the  damsel.  And  when  the  King's  son  went  in  to  her,  he 
found  her  beating  herself,  and  fiilling  down  prostrate  as  usual ;  but  she  was  aflfected 


Tlie  Damsel  leigiiing  Mudness. 


by  no  madness,  and  only  did  thus  that  no  one  might  approach  her.  So  the  King's 
son,  on  seeing  her  in  this  state,  said  to  her,  No  harm  shall  befixU  thee,  0  temptation 
to  all  creatures !  Then  he  began  to  address  her  gently  and  courteously  until  he  ac- 
quainted her  with  himself:  and  when  she  knew  him.  she  uttered  a  great  cry,  and 
fell  down  in  a  tit  through  the  violence  of  the  joy  that  she  experienced;  and  the  King 
imagined  that  this  fit  was  occasioned  by  her  fear  of  him.  And  the  King's  son  put 
his  mouth  to  her  ear,  and  said  to  her,  0  temptation  to  all  creatures,  spare  my  life 
and  thine,  and  be  patient  and  firm :  for  this  is  a  place  wherein  we  stand  in  need  of 
patience  and  good  management  in  devising  stratagems  to  make  our  escape  from  this 
tyrannical  King.  A  part  of  my  stratagem  shall  be,  that  I  go  forth  to  him  and  say 
to  him.  The  disease  that  she  suffereth  ariscth  from  her  being  possessed  by  a  Genie, 
and  I  promise  thee  her  recovery.  And  I  will  make  a  condition  with  him  that  he  shall 
loose  thy  bonds,  and  will  assure  him  that  this  Genie  which  hath  afflicted  thee  will  be 
dispelled  from  thee.     Therefore  if  he  come  in   to  thee,  address  him  with  pleasani 


THE   STORY   OF   THE   MAGIC  HORSE.  453 

words,  that  he  may  see  that  thou  hast  recovered  through  my  means,  and  so  shall  all 
that  we  desire  be  accomplished. — And  she  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. — He  then  went 
forth  from  her,  and,  returning  to  the  King,  full  of  joy  and  happiness,  said.  0  fortu- 
nate King,  I  have  discovered,  through  thy  good  fortune,  her  remedy  and  cure,  and 
I  have  cured  her  for  thee.  Arise  then  and  go  in  to  her,  and  speak  gently  and  mildly 
to  her,  and  promise  her  that  which  shall  rejoice  her  ;  for  all  that  thou  desirest  of  her 
shall  be  accomplished  for  thee. — The  King  therefore  arose  and  went  in  to  her  ;  and 
when  she  saw  him  she  rose  to  him,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  welcomed 
him  \  whereat  the  King  rejoiced  exceedingly.  He  ordered  the  female  slaves  and 
eunuchs  to  betake  themselves  to  serve  her,  to  conduct  her  into  the  bath,  and  to  pre- 
pare for  her  the  ornaments  and  apparel.  So  they  went  in  to  her  and  saluted  her,  and 
she  returned  their  salutation  with  the  most  courteous  utterance,  and  the  most  pleas- 
ant words.  Then  they  attired  her  in  royal  apparel,  put  upon  her  neck  a  necklace  of 
jewels,  conducted  her  to  the  bath,  served  her,  and  brought  her  out  from  the  bath,  re- 
sembling the  full  moon.  And  when  she  came  to  the  King,  she  saluted  him,  and 
kissed  the  ground  before  him. 

The  King  therefore  was  greatly  rejoiced  at  seeing  her  thus,  and  said  to  the  King's 
son,  All  this  is  occasioned  by  the  blessings  attendant  upon  thee  !  May  God  increase 
to  us  thy  benefactions ! — And  the  King's  son  replied,  0  King,  the  perfection  of  her 
recovery  and  the  completion  of  her  affair  must  be  effected  by  thy  going  forth  with 
all  thy  guards  and  thy  soldiers  to  the  place  where  thou  foundest  her;  and  the  ebony 
horse  that  was  with  her  must  be  taken  with  thee,  that  I  may  there  expel  from  her 
the  Genie  that  hath  afflicted  her,  and  imprison  him  and  kill  him,  so  that  he  may 
never  return  to  her.  The  King  said,  Most  willingly.  Accordingly  he  sent  forth  the 
ebony  horse  to  the  meadow  in  which  he  had  found  the  damsel  with  the  horse  and  the 
Persian  sage,  and  the  King  mounted  with  his  troops,  taking  the  damsel  with  him  ; 
and  they  knew  not  what  he  desired  to  do.  And  when  they  arrived  at  that  meadow, 
the  King's  son,  who  feigned  himself  a  sage,  ordered  that  the  damsel  and  the  horse 
should  be  placed  as  far  from  the  King  and  the  troops  as  the  eye  could  reach,  and  said 
to  the  King,  With  thy  permission  and  leave,  I  desire  to  burn  perfumes,  and  to  recite 
a  form  of  exorcism,  and  imprison  the  Genie  here,  that  he  may  never  return  to  her. 
After  which,  I  will  mount  the  ebony  horse,  and  mount  the  damsel  behind  me;  and 
when  I  have  done  that,  the  horse  will  move  about  with  violent  action,  and  walk  for- 
ward until  it  Cometh  to  thee,  when  the  affair  will  be  finished,  and  thou  shalt  do  with 
her  what  thou  wilt. — And  when  the  King  heard  his  words,  he  rejoiced  exceedinglv. 
Then  the  King's  son  mounted  the  horse,  and  placed  the  damsel  behind  him,  while 
the  King  and  all  his  troops  looked  at  him.  And  he  pressed  her  to  him,  and  bound 
her  firmly,  and  turned  the  pin  of  ascent ;  whereupon  the  horse  rose  with  them  into 
the  air.  The  troops  continued  gazing  at  him  until  he  disappeared  from  before  their 
eyes;  and  the  King  remained  half  a  day  expecting  his  return  to  him;  but  he  re- 
turned not;  so  he  despaired  of  him,  and  repented  greatly,  and  grieved  for  the  sepa- 
ration of  the  damsel.     Then  he  took  his  troops,  and  returned  to  his  city. 

But  as  to  the  King's  son,  he  bent  his  course  to  the  city  of  his  father,  full  of  joy 
and  happiness,  and  ceased  not  in  his  journey  until  he  descended  upon  his  palace, 
when  he  took  down  the  damsel  into  the  palace,  and  felt  secure  of  her.  lie  then  re- 
paired to  his  father  and  his  mother,  and  saluted  them,  and  acquainted  them  with  the 
arrival  of  the  damsel ;  whereat  they  rejoiced  exceedingly. — Meanwhile,  the  King  of 
the  Greeks,  when  he  returned  to  his  city,  secluded  himself  in  his  palace,  mourning 
and  afflicted.  So  his  Viziers  went  in  to  him,  and  began  to  console  him,  saying  to 
him.  Verily  he  who  took  the  damsel  is  an  enchanter;  and  praise  be  to  God  who  hath 
saved  thee  from  his  enchantment  and  craftiness.  And  they  ceased  not  until  he  was 
consoled  for  the  loss  of  her. — And  as  to  the  King's  son,  he  made  magnificent  ban- 
quets for  the  people  of  the  city,  and  they  continued  the  rejoicings  for  a  whole  month  ; 
after  which,  he  took  the  damsel  as  his  wife,  and  they  were  delighted  with  each  other 
exceedingly.     And  his  father  broke  the  ebony  horse,  and   destroyed  its    motions. 


454  ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND   ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 

Thi.n  the  King's  son  wrote  a  letter  to  the  father  of  the  damsel,  and  in  it  described 
to  him  his  state,  informing  him  that  he  had  married  the  damsel,  and  that  she  was 
with  him  in  the  most  happy  condition.  He  sent  it  to  him  by  a  messenger  bearing 
precious  presents  and  rarities;  and  when  the  messenger  arrived  at  the  city  of  the 
damsel's  father,  which  was  Sana  in  Arabia  Felix,  he  transmitted  the  letter,  with  the 
presents,  to  that  King,  who  on  reading  the  letter  rejoiced  exceedingly,  accepted  the 
presents,  and  treated  the  messenger  with  honour.  He  then  prepared  a  magnificent 
present  for  his  son-in-law,  the  King's  son,  and  sent  it  to  him  by  that  messenger,  who 
returned  with  it  to  the  King's  son,  and  informed  him  of  the  joy  which  the  King,  the 
father  of  the  damsel,  experienced  when  he  brought  him  the  news  of  his  daughter. 
At  this  the  King's  son  was  affected  with  great  happiness  ;  and  every  year  he  wrote 
to  his  father-in-law  and  sent  him  a  present. 

Thus  they  continued  until  the  King,  the  father  of  the  young  man,  was  taken  from 
the  world  ;  and  the  young  man  reigned  after  him  over  his  dominions.  He  ruled  his 
subjects  with  equity,  and  conducted  himself  among  them  in  a  laudable  manner;  the 
country  was  subject  to  him,  and  the  people  obeyed  him  ;  and  thus  they  remained, 
passing  the  most  delightful  and  most  agreeable,  and  most  comfortable  and  most 
pleasant  life,  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator 
of  companions,  the  devastator  of  palaces  and  the  replenisher  of  the  graves. — Ex- 
tolled then  be  the  perfection  of  the  Living  who  dieth  not,  and  in  whose  hand  is  the 
dominion  that  is  apparent  and  the  dominion  that  is  hidden  ! 


CHAPTER   XVIII. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Seventy-first  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of 
the  Three  Hundred  and  Eighty-first. 


THE  STORY  OF  ANSAL-WAJOUD  AND  ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 

There  was  in  ancient  times  a  King  of  great  dignity,  possessed  of  glory  and  abso- 
lute power,  and  he  had  a  Vizier  named  Ibrahim,  who  had  a  daughter  of  surprising 
beauty  and  loveliness,  surpassing  in  elegance  and  in  every  grace,  endowed  with 
abundant  sense  and  eminently  polite  accomplishments;  but  she  loved  carousing  and 
wine,  and  comely  faces,  and  pretty  verses,  and  strange  histories.  The  delicacy  of 
her  charms  enticed  the  minds  of  mankind  to  love.  Her  name  was  Rose-in-Bloom  ; 
and  the  reason  of  her  being  so  named  was  her  excessive  delicacy  of  beauty,  and  her 
perfect  elegance  ;  and  the  King  was  fond  of  carousing  with  her,  on  account  of  her 
accomplished  manners. 

Now  it  was  the  custom  of  the  King,  every  year,  to  collect  the  chief  men  of  his  do- 
minions, and  to  play  with  the  ball.  And  on  one  of  those  days  when  he  did  so,  the 
daughter  of  the  Vizier  sat  at  a  lattice  window  to  amuse  herself ;  and  while  they  were 
engaged  in  the  game,  she  cast  a  glance,  and  beheld  among  the  soldiers  a  young  man, 
than  whom  there  was  none  more  handsome  in  aspect,  nor  any  more  beautiful  in  ap- 
pearance ;  bright  in  countenance,  with  laughing  teeth,  generous,  wide-shouldered. 
She  looked  at  him  again  and  again,  and  was  not  satiated  with  gazing  at  him  ;  and 
she  said  to  her  nurse,  "What  is  the  name  of  this  young  man  of  comely  qualities,  who 
is  among  the  soldiers  ?  The  nurse  replied,  0  my  daughter,  all  of  them  are  comely. 
Who  then  among  them  ? — Wait,  rejoined  the  damsel,  until  I  point  him  out  to  thee. 
And  she  took  an  apple  and  threw  it  upon  him.     So  he  raised  his  head  and  beheld 


ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND    ROSE-IN-BLOOM.  *         455 

the  Vizier's  daughter  at  the  window,  resembling  the  full  moon  in  the  darkness  of 
night ;  and  he  withdrew  not  his  eye  without  his  heart's  being  engrossed  by  love  for 
her.  And  when  the  game  was  ended,  the  damsel  said  to  her  nurse,  What  is  the  name 
of  this  young  man  whom  I  have  shown  to  thee  ?  She  answered,  His  name  is  Ansal- 
Wajoud.  And  upon  this,  she  shook  her  head,  and  laid  herself  down  upon  her  mat- 
trass  ;  her  mind  was  fired,  and  she  uttered  groans,  and  recited  verses. 

She  then  wrote  some  verses  on  a  paper,  which  she  wrapped  in  a  piece  of  silk  em- 
broidered with  gold,  and  put  beneath  the  pillow.  And  one  of  her  nurses  was  look- 
ing at  her  ;  so  this  nurse  came  to  her  and  proceeded  to  engage  her  with  conversation 
until  she  slept,  when  she  stole  the  paper  from  beneath  the  pillow,  and  read  it.  She 
therefore  knew  that  she  was  affected  with  a  violent  passion  for  Ansal-Wajoud  ;  and 
after  she  had  read  the  paper,  she  put  it  again  in  its  place.  And  when  her  mistress 
awoke,  she  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  am  an  admonisher  unto  thee,  and  one  who 
pitieth  thee.  Know  that  love  is  difficult,  and  the  concealment  of  it  would  melt  iron, 
and  occasioneth  diseases  and  infirmities  ;  and  the  person  who  revealeth  love  is  not 
obnoxious  to  reproach. — Upon  this  Rose-in-Bloom  said  to  her,  0  my  nurse,  and  what 
is  the  remedy  for  desire? — Its  remedy,  answered  the  nurse,  is  an  interview. — And 
how  can  that  be  obtained?  said  the  damsel.  The  nurse  answered,  0  my  mistress,  it 
may  be  obtained  by  means  of  letters  and  gentle  words,  and  by  many  compliments 
and  salutations  ;  for  this  mode  of  proceeding  bringeth  lovers  together,  and  by  it 
things  that  are  difficult  are  rendered  easy:  and  if  thou  have  any  affair  to  be  per- 
formed, O  my  lady,  I  am  most  fit  to  conceal  thy  secret,  and  to  accomplish  thy  busi- 
ness and  bear  thy  letter.  And  when  Rose-in-Bloom  heard  these  words  from  her,  her 
reason  fled,  through  joy ;  but  she  withheld  herself  from  replying,  that  she  might 
see  the  result  of  her  affair,  and  said  within  herself.  Verily  this  thing  no  one  hath 
known  from  me,  and  I  will  not  reveal  it  to  this  woman  until  after  I  shall  have  tried 
her.  Then  the  woman  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  saw  in  my  sleep  as  though  a 
man  came  to  me,  and  said  to  me.  Thy  mistress  and  Ansal-Wajoud  love  each  other: 
therefore  manage  their  affair,  and  carry  their  letters,  and  accomplish  their  wants, 
and  conceal  their  case  and  their  secrets:  so  wilt  thou  experience  abundant  good  for- 
tune. Now  I  have  related  to  thee  what  I  saw,  and  it  is  thine  to  decide. — And  Rose- 
in-Bloom  said  to  her  nurse,  when  she  had  thus  informed  her  of  the  dream  that  she 
had  (as  she  pretended)  seen.  Wilt  thou  conceal  secrets,  0  my  nurse?  The  nurse  re- 
plied. How  should  I  not  conceal  secrets  when  I  am  of  the  choicest  of  the  ingenuous? 
Upon  this,  therefore,  the  damsel  produced  to  her  the  paper  upon  which  she  had 
written  the  verses,  saying  to  her.  Repair  with  this  my  note  to  Ansal-Wajoud  and 
bring  me  an  answer  to  it.  So  she  took  it,  and  went  with  it  to  Ansal-Wajoud  ;  and 
when  she  went  in  to  him,  she  kissed  his  hands,  complimented  him  with  the  most 
courteous  words,  and  gAve  him  the  paper;  and  after  he  had  read  it,  and  understood 
its  meaning,  he  wrote  upon  the  back  of  it  some  verses  expressive  of  his  passion. 
Then  he  folded  the  letter,  kissed  it,  and  gave  it  to  her,  saying  to  her,  0  nurse,  conci- 
liate the  favour  of  thy  mistress.  She  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  she  took  from 
him  the  letter,  and  returned  to  her  mistress,  and  gave  it  to  her;  and  she  kissed 
it,  and  put  it  on  her  head,  after  which  she  opened  it  and  read  it,  and  understood  its 
meaning  ;  and  she  wrote  beneath  it  verses  in  which  she  exhorted  him  to  be  patient 
and  prudent. 

And  when  she  had  finished  her  verses,  she  folded  the  paper,  and  gave  it  to  the 
nurse,  who  took  it,  and  went  forth  from  her;  but  the  chamberlain  met  her,  and  said 
to  her.  Whither  art  thou  going?  She  answered,  To  the  bath.  And  she  was  alarmed 
at  him,  and  the  paper  fell  from  her  as  she  went  forth  from  the  door  in  her  alarm, 
and  one  of  the  eunuchs,  seeing  it  lying  in  the  way,  took  it.  Then  the  Vizier  came 
forth  from  the  Ilarem,  and  seated  himself  upon  his  couch,  and  the  eunuch  who  had 
picked  up  the  paper  repaired  to  him.  So  while  the  Vizier  was  sitting  upon  his 
couch,  lo,  that  eunuch  approached  him,  with  the  paper  in  his  hand,  and  said  to  him, 
O  my  lord.  I  found  this  paper  thrown  down  in  the  house,  and  I  took  it.     The  Vizier 


456  ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND   ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 

therefore  took  it  from  his  hand,  folded  as  it  was,  and  opened  it,  and  saw  written  upon 
it  the  verses  above  mentioned.  He  read  them,  and  understood  their  meaning;  and 
then,  examining  the  writing,  he  found  it  to  be  that  of  his  daughter,  whereupon  he 
went  in  to  her  mother,  weeping  violently,  so  that  his  beard  was  wetted.  His  wife 
said  to  him.  What  hath  caused  thee  to  weep,  0  my  lord  ?  And  he  replied.  Take  this 
paper,  and  see  its  contents.  So  she  took  the  paper,  and  read  it,  and  found  it  to  be 
a  letter  from  her  daughter  Rose-in-Bloom  to  Ansal-Wajoud  ;  upon  which  she  was 
affected  with  an  inclination  to  weep  ;  but  she  subdued  her  mind,  and  restrained  her 
tears,  and  said  to  the  Vizier,  0  my  lord,  there  is  no  profit  in  weeping.  The  right 
opinion  is  this — that  we  consider  a  plan  by  which  to  protect  thy  honour,  and  to  con- 
ceal the  affair  of  thy  daughter. — And  she  proceeded  to  console  him,  and  to  alleviate 
his  sorrows.  But  he  said  to  her,  Verily  I  am  in  fear  for  my  daughter  on  account  of 
her  passion.  Knowest  thou  not  that  the  Sultan  loveth  Ansal-Wajoud  with  a  great 
affection  ?  There  are  two  causes  for  my  fear.  The  first  is,  with  respect  to  myself ; 
she  being  my  daughter.  And  the  second  is,  with  respect  to  the  Sultan  ;  Ansal  AVa- 
joud  being  a  favourite  with  the  Sultan  ;  and  probably  an  affair  of  great  moment 
may  hence  ensue.  What  then  dost  thou  see  fit  to  be  done  in  this  case? — She  replied. 
Have  patience  with  me  until  I  shall  have  performed  the  prayer  for  direction  in  the 
right  course.  Then  she  performed  the  prayers  of  two  rekahs,  the  prophetic  ordi- 
nance for  seeking  to  be  directed  aright ;  and  when  she  had  finished  her  prayers,  she 
said  to  her  husband.  In  the  midst  of  the  Sea  of  the  Kauouz  is  a  mountain  called  the 
mountain  of  the  Bereft  mother  (and  the  cause  of  its  being  so  named  will  be  men- 
tioned hereafter),  and  to  that  mountain  none  can  obtain  access,  unless  with  difficulty: 
therefore  make  for  her  a  place  there. 

So  the  Vizier  agreed  with  his  wife  that  he  should  build  there  an  impregnable 
palace,  and  place  her  in  it,  and  put  with  her  the  provisions  necessary  for  her  year 
after  year,  and  place  with  her  such  attendants  as  should  cheer  her  and  serve  her. 
He  collected  the  carpenters  and  builders  and  architects,  and  sent  them  to  that 
mountain  ;  and  they  built  for  her  an  impregnable  palace,  such  as  eyes  had  never  be- 
held. Then  he  prepared  the  provisions  for  the  journey,  and  the  caravan  to  accom- 
pany her;  and,  going  in  to  his  daughter  at  night,  commanded  her  to  set  forth  on 
the  journey.  So  her  heart  felt  the  pangs  of  separation,  and  when  she  went  forth, 
and  saw  the  preparation  for  travel,,  she  wept,  violently,  and  wrote  some  words  on  the 
door  to  acquaint  Ansal-Wajoud  with  the  transport  of  passion  that  she  experienced, 
which  was  such  as  would  make  the  flesh  to  quake,  and  melt  the  heart  of  rock,  and 
make  tears  to  flow.  And  when  she  had  finished  her  inscription,  she  mounted,  and 
they  journeyed  with  her,  crossing  the  deserts  and  wastes,  and  the  plain  and  rugged 
tracts,  until  they  arrived  at  the  Sea  of  the  Kanouz,  when  they  pitched  the  tents  upon 
the  shore,  and  built  for  her  a  great  vessel,  in  which  they  embarked  the  damsel  and 
her  household.  The  Vizier  had  commanded  them  that,  when  they  had  arrived  at 
the  mountain  and  had  taken  her  into  the  palace,  together  with  her  household,  they 
should  return  with  the  vessel,  and,  after  they  had  landed,  that  they  should  break  it 
up.  So  tliey  went  and  did  all  that  he  had  commanded  them,  and  returned  weeping 
for  that  which  had  happened. — Such  was  their  case. 

But  as  to  Ansal-Wajoud,  he  rose  from  his  sleep,  and,  having  performed  the  mor- 
ning-prayers, mounted,  and  repaired  to  attend  upon  the  Sultan.  And  he  passed  in 
his  way  by  the  door  of  the  Vizier,  as  he  was  wont  to  do,  in  the  hope  that  perhaps 
he  might  see  some  one  of  the  Vizier's  dependants  whom  he  was  accustomed  to  see ; 
and  he  looked  at  the  door,  and  beheld  the  words  above  mentioned  written  upon  it. 
On  seeing  them  he  became  unconscious  of  his  existence ;  a  fire  was  kindled  in  his 
vitals,  and  he  returned  to  his  house.  He  could  not  rest,  nor  be  patient,  and  he 
ceased  not  to  suffer  agitation  of  mind,  and  transport,  until  the  night  came  ;  when  he 
concealed  his  case,  and  disguised  himself;  and  he  went  forth  in  the  middle  of  the 
night,  wandering  at  random,  and  not  knowing  whither  to  go.  He  journeyed  on 
during  the  whole  of  the  remainder  of  that  night,  and  the  next  day  until  the  heat  of 


ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND    ROSE-IN-BLOOM.  457 

the  sun  became  fierce,  and  the  mountains  were  of  a  burning  heat,  and  thirst  vio- 
lently oppressed  him  ;  but  he  beheld  a  tree,  and  found  by  the  side  of  it  a  stream  of 
water.  So  he  went  to  that  tree,  and  seated  himself  in  its  shade,  on  the  bank  of  that 
stream,  and  desired  to  drink ;  but  he  found  that  the  water  had  no  taste  in  his  mouth. 
His  complexion  had  changed,  his  face  had  become  sallow,  and  his  feet  were  swollen 
by  walking  and  toil,  and  he  wept  violently. 

Then  rising,  forthwith  he  proceeded  from  that  place ;  and  as  he  journeyed  on 
through  the  deserts  and  wastes,  there  came  forth  upon  him  a  lion,  whose  neck  was 
closely  covered  with  his  hair,  and  hia  head  was  as  large  as  a  cupola,  and  his  mouth 


^^^^■^r     --        '     — 


Ansal-Wajoud  and  the  Lion. 

wider  than  a  door,  with  teeth  like  the  tusks  of  the  elephant.  When  Ansal-Wajoud 
beheld  him,  he  made  sure  of  destruction,  and,  turning  his  face  towards  the  Kibla, 
he  pronounced  the  two  professions  of  the  faith,  and  prepared  for  death.  But  he 
had  read  in  books,  that,  if  any  one  attempt  to  beguile  the  lion,  he  may  be  beguiled 
by  him  with  kind  words,  and  be  rendered  gentle  by  praise.  So  he  began  to  say  to 
him,  0  lion  of  the  forest  and  the  plain  !  0  bold  lion  !  0  father  of  the  generous  ! 
0  Sultan  of  the  wild  beasts!  verily  I  am  a  longing  lover,  whom  passion  and  separa- 
tion have  consumed,  and  when  I  became  severed  from  the  beloved  I  lost  my  reason  : 
hear  then  my  words,  and  pity  my  ardour  and  desire. — And  when  the  lion  heard 
what  he  said,  he  drew  back  from  him,  and  sat  upon  his  tail ;  then  raising  his  head 
towards  him,  he  began  to  make  playful  motions  to  him  with  his  tail  and.  fore-paws. 
The  lion  then  arose  and  walked  gently  towards  him,  with  his  eyes  filled  with  tears ; 
and  when  he  came  to  him  he  licked  him  with  his  tongue,  and  then  walked  before 
him,  making  a  sign  to  him,  as  though  he  would  say,  Follow  me.  So  he  followed 
him,  and  the  lion  proceeded,  with  Ansal-Wajoud  behind  him,  for  some  time,  until  he 
had  ascended  to  the  summit  of  a  mountain.  Then  he  descended  from  that  moun- 
tain, and  Ansal-Wajoud  beheld  the  track  of  travellers  in  the  desert,  and  knew  it  to 
be  that  of  the  people  who  accompanied  Rose-in-Bloom.  He  therefore  followed  this 
track  ;  and  when  the  lion  saw  that  he  did  so,  and  that  he  knew  it  to  be  the  track  of 
the  attendants  of  his  beloved,  he  returned,  and  went  his  way. 

Ansal-Wajoud  proceeded  along  the  track  for  days  and  nights,  until  he  approached 
a  roaring  sea,  agitated  with  waves  ;  and  the  footmarks  reached  to  ihe  shore  of  the 
sea,  and  there  ended.  So  he  knew  that  the  people  had  embarked  in  a  vessel  on  the 
sea,  and  pursued  their  course  over  it;  in  consequence  of  which,  his  hope  of  finding 
them  was  then  cut  ofi",  and  he  poured  forth  tears,  and  fell  down  in  a  fit,  and  he  re- 
mained in  it  a  longtime.  Then,  recovering,  he  looked  to  the  right  and  left;  but 
saw  no  one  in  the  desert ;  and  he  feared  for  himself  on  account  of  the  wild  beasts. 

So  he  ascended  a  high  mountain,  and  while  he  was  upon  it,  he  heard  the  voice  of 


458  ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND   ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 

a  human  being,  speaking  in  a  cave;  and  he  listened  to  him,  and,  lo,  he  was  a  devotee, 
who  had  forsaken  the  world,  and  occupied  himself  with  devotion.  He  knocked  at 
the  door  of  the  cave  three  times  ;  but  the  devotee  answered  him  not,  nor  came  forth 
to  him  ;  and  upon  this,  he  uttered  groans,  and  recited  some  verses:  —  And  when  he 
had  ended,  lo,  the  door  of  the  cave  was  opened,  and  he  heard  a  person  saying,  Alas  ! 
Mercy!  —  So  he  entered  the  door,  and  saluted  the  devotee,  who  returned  his  saluta- 
tion, and  said  to  him,  What  is  thy  name  ?  He  answered.  My  name  is  Ansal-Wajoud. 
And  the  devotee  said  to  him,  What  is  the  cause  of  thy  coming  unto  this  place?  He 
therefore  related  to  him  his  story  from  beginning  to  end,  acquainting  him  with  all 
that  had  befallen  him.  And  on  hearing  it,  the  devotee  wept,  and  said  to  him,  0 
Ansal-Wajoud,  verily  I  have  been  in  this  place  twenty  years  without  seeing  in  it 
any  one,  until  lately,  when  I  heard  weeping  and  clamour,  and,  looking  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  sounds,  I  saw  many  people,  and  tents  pitched  on  the  shore  of  the  sea, 
and  they  built  a  vessel,  in  which  a  party  of  them  embarked,  and  they  proceeded  in 
it  over  the  sea.  Then  some  of  those  who  had  embarked  in  the  vessel  returned  with 
it,  and  broke  it  up,  and  went  their  way:  and  I  imagine  that  those  who  passed  over 
the  sea  and  returned  not,  are  the  people  whom  thou  seekest,  0  Ansal-Wajoud.  In 
that  case,  thine  anxiety  must  be  great,  and  thou  art  excused  ;  but  there  existeth  no 
lover  who  hath  not  endured  griefs.  Then  the  devotee  arose  and  came  to  Ansal- 
Wajoud,  and  embraced  him,  and  they  both  wept  so  that  the  mountains  resounded 
with  their  cries.  They  ceased  not  to  weep  until  they  both  fell  down  senseless ;  and 
when  they  recovered,  they  made  a  vow  to  be  brothers  in  God  (whose  name  be  ex- 
alted !) ;  after  which,  the  devotee  said  to  Ansal-AVajoud,  I  will  this  night  pray,  and 
beg  of  God  to  be  rightly  directed  as  to  the  course  which  thou  shouldst  pursue.  And 
Ansal-Wajoud  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

Meanwhile,  when  the  people  had  arrived  with  Rose-in-BIoom  at  the  mountain, 
and  taken  her  into  the  palace,  and  she  beheld  it,  and  beheld  its  order,  she  wept,  and 
said.  By  Allah,  thou  art  a  beautiful  place  ;  but  thou  wantest  the  presence  of  the 
beloved  in  thee.  And  she  saw  birds  in  that  island  :  so  she  ordered  one  of  her  attend- 
ants to  set  a  snare  for  them,  and  catch  some  of  them,  and  whenever  he  caught  any, 
to  put  them  in  cages  within  the  palace:  and  he  did  as  she  commanded  him.  Then 
she  sat  at  a  lattice-window  of  the  palace,  and,  reflecting  upon  the  events  that  had 
befallen  her,  her  desire  and  transport  and  distraction  increased ;  and  she  shed  tears. 
And  when  the  darkness  of  night  overshadowed  her,  her  desire  became  more  violent, 
and  again  she  reflected  upon  past  events. 

Now  to  return  to  Ansal-Wajoud : — the  devotee  said  to  him.  Descend  into  the  valley, 
and  bring  me,  from  the  palm-trees,  some  of  their  fibres.  So  he  descended,  and 
brought  him  some  of  the  fibres  of  the  palm  trees  ;  and  the  devotee  took  them  and 
twisted  them,  and  made  of  them  a  kind  of  net,  like  those  used  for  carrying  straw  ; 
after  which  he  said,  0  Ansal-Wajoud,  in  the  midst  of  the  valley  is  a  kind  of  gourd 
that  groweth  up  and  drieth  upon  its  roots:  go  down  then  to  it,  fill  this  net  with 
the  gourds,  and  tie  it,  and  throw  it  into  the  sea:  then  place  thyself  upon  it,  and 
proceed  upon  it  into  the  midst  of  the  sea:  perhaps  thou  wilt  attain  thy  desire;  for 
he  who  risketh  not  himself  will  not  gain  his  object.  To  this  Ansal-Wajoud  replied, 
I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  bade  him  farewell,  and  departed  from  him  to  do  as  he 
had  directed  him,  after  the  devotee  had  prayed  for  him.  He  proceeded,  without 
stopping,  to  the  midst  of  the  valley,  and  did  as  the  devotee  had  said  to  him  ;  and 
when  he  arrived  upon  the  net,  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  there  came  upon  him  a  wind, 
which  propelled  ^im  with  the  net  until  he  disappeared  from  before  the  eyes  of  the 
devotee.  He  ceased  not  to  traverse  the  surfoce  of  the  deep,  one  wave  raising  him 
and  another  depressing  him,  while  he  beheld  the  wonders  and  terrors  of  the  sea, 
until  destiny  cast  him  upon  the  Mountain  of  the  Bereft  Mother,  after  three  days. 
He  landed  like  a  giddy  young  bird  distressed  by  hunger  and  thirst ;  but  he  found  in 
that  place  rivers  flowing,  and  birds  warbling  upon  the  branches,  and  fruit-bearing 


ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND    ROSE-IN-BLOOM.  459 

trees  of  the  same  and  of  different  kinds ;  and  he  ate  of  the  fruits,  and  drank  of  the 
water  of  the  rivers. 

Then  he  arose  and  walked  ;  and  he  beheld  something  white  in  the  distance ;  so 
he  proceeded  thither  until  he  arrived  at  it,  when  he  found  it  to  be  an  impregnable 
palace.  He  came  to  its  gate  and  found  it  closed  ;  and  he  sat  at  it  for  three  days:  but 
at  length,  as  he  was  sitting  there,  the  gate  of  the  palace  was  opened,  and  there  came 
forth  from  it  one  of  the  eunuchs,  who,  seeing  Ansal-Wajoud  sitting,  said  to  him. 
Whence  hast  thou  come,  and  who  brought  thee  hither  ?  He  answered.  From  Ispahan, 
and  I  was  on  a  voyage  with  merchandise,  and  the  vessel  that  I  was  in  was  wrecked, 
and  the  waves  threw  me  upon  this  island.  And  the  eunuch  wept,  and  embraced  him, 
saying,  God  prolong  thy  life,  0  chief  of  friends  !  Verily  Ispahan  is  my  native  place, 
and  I  have  there  a  cousin,  the  daughter  of  a  paternal  uncle,  whom  I  loved  in  my 
youth,  and  I  was  passionately  attached  to  her ;  but  a  people  stronger  than  we  made 
war  upon  us,  and  took  me  with  their  spoil,  while  I  was  yet  a  youth,  and  sold  me: 
thus  have  I  become  reduced  to  my  present  condition. — And  after  he  had  saluted  him 
and  wished  him  long  life,  he  led  him  into  the  court  of  the  palace,  where,  when  he 
entered,  he  beheld  a  great  pool  surrounded  by  trees  with  spreading  branches,  and  in 
it  were  birds  in  cages  of  silver  with  doors  of  gold  :  these  cages  were  hung  to  the 
branches,  and  the  birds  within  them  were  warbling,  and  singing  the  praises  of  the 
Requiting  King.  On  his  coming  to  the  first  of  them,  he  looked  at  it;  and  lo,  it  was 
a  turtle-dove :  and  when  it  saw  him,  it  raised  its  voice,  crying,  0  Bountiful !  Where- 
upon Ansal-Wajoud  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  and  on  his  recovering,  he  uttered  groans,  and 
looking  towards  his  friend,  the  man  of  Ispahan,  said  to  him.  What  is  this  palace,  and 
what  doth  it  contain,  and  who  built  it?  The  man  answered  him,  The  Vizier  of  such 
a  King  built  it  for  his  daughter,  fearing  for  her  from  misfortunes  and  calamities, 
and  hath  lodged  her  in  it,  together  with  her  dependants,  and  it  is  not  opened  save 
once  in  every  year,  when  their  provisions  are  brought  to  them.  —  So  he  said  within 
himself,  My  desire  is  accomplished  ;  but  the  time  to  wait  is  long. 

Now,  during  this  period,  Rose-in-Bloom  found  neither  drink  nor  food  agreeable  to 
her,  nor  sitting  nor  sleeping.  Her  desire  and  transport  and  distraction  of  love  had 
increased  ;  and  she  searched  about  in  the  corners  of  the  palace,  but  found  no  way 
of  escape  for  her.  She  then  went  up  to  the  roof  of  the  palace,  and,  taking  some 
garments  of  the  stuff  of  Baalbec,  tied  herself  by  them,  and  let  herself  down  until 
she  came  to  the  ground.  She  was  attired  in  the  most  magnificent  of  her  apparel, 
and  on  her  neck  was  a  necklace  of  jewels.  And  she  proceeded  over  the  adjacent 
deserts  and  wastes  until  she  came  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  when  she  saw  a  fisherman 
going  about  in  his  vessel  upon  the  sea  to  fish.  The  wind  had  cast  him  towards  that 
island,  and  he  looked,  and  saw  there  Rose-in-Bloom,  but  when  he  beheld  her,  he 
was  frightened  at  her,  and  steered  away  his  boat  in  flight.  So  she  called  him, 
making  many  signs  to  him,  and  recited  some  verses,  informing  him  that  she  was  a 
human  being  (not  a  Fairy,  as  he  feared),  and  explaining  her  case  ;  on  hearing  which, 
the  fisherman  wept  and  sighed  and  lamented,  remembering  what  had  happened  to 
himself  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  when  love  overpowered  him,  and  his  desire  waa 
violent,  and  his  transport  and  distraction  were  excessive,  the  fires  of  passion  burning 
him  ;  and  he  replied  to  her  in  verse,  telling  her  that  he  had  been  afilicted  by  love 
from  his  youth.  He  then  made  fast  his  vessel  to  the  land,  and  said  to  her.  Embark 
in  the  vessel  that  I  may  transport  thee  to  whatsoever  place  thou  desirest.  So  she 
embarked  in  the  vessel,  and  he  set  it  afloat  with  her,  and  when  it  had  proceeded  a 
little  way  from  the  land  there  blew  upon  it  a  favourable  wind,  and  the  vessel  ad- 
vanced rapidly  until  the  land  disappeared  from  before  their  eyes.  The  fisherman 
then  knew  not  whither  to  steer ;  and  the  wind  continued  violent  for  the  space  of 
three  days  ;  after  which  it  subsided  by  the  permission  of  God  (whose  name  be  ex- 
alted!), and  the  vessel  bore  them  on  until  it  came  to  a  city  on  the  shore  of  the  sea, 
where  the  fisherman  desired  to  make  it  fast. 

In  this  city  was  a  King  of  great  power,  named  Dirbas.   He  was  at  that  time  sitting 


460  ANSAL-WAJOUD   AND   ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 

with  his  son  in  his  palace,  an.d  they  were  looking  from  a  window,  and,  casting  their 
eyes  towards  the  sea,  they  saw  that  vessel  ;  and  on  their  observing  it  attentively, 
they  found  that  there  was  in  it  a  damsel  like  the  full  moon  in  the  sky,  having  in  her 
ears  ear-rings  of  costly  balass  rubies,  and  on  her  neck  a  necklace  of  precious  jewels. 
The  King  therefore  knew  that  she  was  of  the  daughters  of  the  grandees  or  of  the 
Kings,  and  he  descended  from  his  palace,  and  went  forth  from  a  door  opening  upon 
the  sea;  whereupon  he  saw  the  vessel  made  fast  to  the  shore  ;  and  the  damsel  was 
sleeping,  while  the  fisherman  was  busy  in  attaching  the  vessel.  The  King  roused 
her  from  her  sleep,  and  she  awoke  weeping ;  and  the  King  said  to  her.  Whence 
comest  thou,  and  whose  daughter  art  thou,  and  what  is  the  cause  of  thy  coming 
hither?  So  she  answered  him,  I  am  the  daughter  of  Ibrahim,  the  Vizier  of  the  King 
Shamik,  and  the  cause  of  my  coming  hither  is  a  wonderful  event  and  an  extraordi- 
nary afi"air.  And  she  related  to  him  her  whole  story,  from  beginning  to  end,  hiding 
from  him  nothing ;  after  which  she  uttered  groans  and  recited  some  verses ;  and  the 
King,  on  hearing  them,  was  convinced  of  her  transport  and  desire^  and  was  moved 
with  compassion  for  her;  and  he  said  to  her,  Thou  hast  no  cause  of  fear  nor  of  ter- 
ror. Thou  hast  attained  thy  wish  ;  for  I  must  accomplish  for  thee  what  thou  de- 
Ri'rest,  and  procure  for  thee  what  thou  seekest.  He  then  went  forth  to  his  troops, 
and,  having  summoned  his  Vizier,  caused  wealth  incalculable  to  be  packed  up  for 
him,  and  commanded  him  to  repair  with  it  to  the  King  Shamik,  saying  to  him.  Thou 
must  without  fail  bring  to  me  a  person  who  is  with  him,  named  Ansal-Wajoud  ;  and 
do  thou  say  to  him,  The  King  desireth  to  form  an  alliance  with  thee  by  marrying  his 
daughter  to  Ansal-Wajoud,  thy  dependant,  and  he  must  be  sent  with  me,  that  the 
ceremony  of  the  contract  of  his  marriage  to  her  may  be  performed  in  the  kingdom 
of  her  father.  Then  the  King  Dirbas  wrote  a  letter  to  the  King  Shamik,  to  the 
effect  above  mentioned,  and  gave  it  to  his  Vizier,  strictly  charging  him  to  bring 
Ansal-Wajoud,  and  saying  to  him.  If  thou  bring  him  not  to  me,  thou  shalt  be  dis- 
placed from  thj'  station. 

The  Vizier  therefore  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  —  and  repaired  with  the  present  to 
the  King  Shamik.  And  when  he  came  to  him,  he  delivered  to  him  the  salutation  of 
the  King  Dirbas,  and  gave  him  the  letter  and  the  present  that  he  had  brought.  But 
when  the  King  Shamik  saw  them,  and  read  the  letter,  and  saw  the  name  of  Ansal- 
Wajoud,  he  wept  violently,  and  said  to  the  Vizier  who  was  sent  to  him.  And  where  ia 
Ansal-Wajoud?  For  he  hath  gone  away,  and  we  know  not  where  he  is.  Bring  him 
then  to  me,  and  I  will  give  to  thee  double  the  presents  thou  hast  brought. — Then  he 
wept  and  sighed  and  lamented,  poured  forth  tears,  and  recited  verses. 

And  after  this,  he  looked  towards  the  Vizier  who  had  brought  the  present  and  the 
letter,  and  said  to  him,  Repair  to  thy  lord,  and  inform  him  that  Ansal-Wajoud  hath 
been  absent  for  a  year,  and  his  lord  knoweth  not  whither  he  hath  gone,  nor  hath  he 
any  tidings  of  him.  But  the  Vizier  replied,  0  my  lord,  verily  my  sovereign  said  to 
me.  If  thou  bring  him  not  to  me,  thou  shalt  be  displaced  from  the  post  of  Vizier,  and 
shalt  not  enter  my  city.  How  then  can  I  go  to  him  without  him?  —  So  the  King 
Shamik  said  to  his  Vizier  Ibrahim,  Go  thou  with  him,  accompanied  by  a  party  of 
men,  and  search  for  Ansal-Wajoud  in  every  quarter.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey. 

Accordingly  he  took  a  party  of  his  dependants,  and,  accompanied  by  the  Vizier  :1 
the  King  Dirbas,  they  proceeded  in  search  of  Ansal-Wajoud:  and  whenever  they 
passed  by  Arabs  or  any  people,  they  inquired  of  them  respecting  Ansal-Wajoud, 
saying  to  them,  Hath  there  passed  by  you  a  person  of  such  a  name,  and  of  such  and 
such  a  description?  To  which  they  answered,  AVe  know  him  not.  They  ceased  not 
to  inquire  in  the  cities  and  villages,  and  to  search  in  the  plain  and  rugged  tracts,  and 
deserts  and  wastes,  until  they  arrived  at  the  shore  of  the  sea:  when  they  sought  a 
vessel,  and  embarked  in  one,  and  proceeded  in  it  until  they  approached  the  Moun- 
tain of  the  Bereft  Mother.  Upon  this,  the  Vizier  of  the  King  Dirbas  said  to  the 
Vizier  of  the  King  Sliamik,  On  what  account  is  this  mountain  so  named?     And  the 


ANSAL-WAJOUD    AND    KOSE-IN-BLOOM.  461 

latter  answered,  For  this  reason.  A  Fairy  sojourned  upon  it  in  ancient  times,  and 
that  Fairy  was  of  the  Genii  of  China.  She  loved  a  man,  and  became  passionately 
attached  to  him  ;  but  she  was  in  fear  of  her  family  ;  and,  her  desire  becoming  exces- 
sive, she  searched  in  the  earth  for  a  place  wherein  to  conceal  him  from  them,  and 
found  this  mountain  to  be  cut  off  from  mankind  and  from  the  Genii,  so  that  no  one 
of  either  of  these  races  (herself  excepted)  found  the  way  to  it.  She  therefore  carried 
off  her  beloved,  and  placed  him  there,  and  used  to  repair  to  her  family,  and  to  come 
to  him  privately ;  and  thus  she  ceased  not  to  do  for  a  long  time,  until  she  bore  him, 
on  that  mountain,  a  number  of  children.  And  those  merchants  who  passed  by  this 
mountain  in  their  voyages  over  the  sea  used  to  hear  the  weeping  of  the  infants,  like 
the  weeping  of  a  woman  bereft  of  her  children  ;  whereupon  they  said.  Is  there  here 
a  bereft  mother?  —  And  the  V'izier  of  the  King  Dirbas  wondered  at  these  words. 

Then  they  proceeded  until  they  came  to  the  palace,  and  they  knocked  at  the  door ; 
upon  which  the  door  was  opened,  and  there  came  forth  to  them  a  eunuch,  who, 
knowing  Ibrahim,  the  Vizier  of  the  King  Shamik,  kissed  his  hands.  And  the  Vizier 
Ibrahim  entered  the  palace,  and  found  in  its  court  a  poor  man  among  the  servants  ; 
and  he  was  Ansal-Wajoud.  So  he  said  to  them.  Whence  is  this  man  ?  And  they 
answered  him.  He  is  a  merchant:  his  property  was  lost  at  sea,  and  he  saved  iiimself ; 
and  he  is  a  pei-son  abstracted  from  the  world.  He  therefore  left  him,  and  went  on 
into  the  interior  of  the  palace  ;  but  found  no  trace  of  his  daugliter  ;  and  he  inquired 
of  the  female  slaves  who  were  there,  and  they  answered  him,  We  know  not  how  she 
went,  and  she  stayed  not  with  us  save  for  a  short  time. 

Then  he  wept  and  sighed  and  lamented,  and  said,  There  is  no  resource  against 
that  which  God  hath  ordained,  nor  any  escape  from  that  which  He  hath  predestined 
and  decreed  !  And  he  ascended  to  the  roof  of  the  palace,  and  found  the  garments 
of  the  stuif  of  Baalbec  tied  to  the  battlements  and  reaching  to  the  ground.  So  he 
knew  that  she  had  descended  from  that  place,  and  gone  like  one  distracted  and  con- 
founded. And  he  looked  aside,  and  saw  there  two  birds,  a  raven  and  an  owl,  from 
the  sight  of  which  he  augured  evil.  He  then  descended,  weeping,  from  the  roof  of 
the  palace,  and  ordered  the  servants  to  go  forth  upon  the  mountain  to  search  for 
their  mistress;  and  they  did  so,  but  found  her  not.  —  Meanwhile,  Ansal-Wajoud, 
when  he  was  assured  that  Kose-in-Bloom  had  gone,  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell 
down  in  a  fit,  in  which  he  remained  long;  and  they  imagined  that  a  state  of  abstrac- 
tion from  the  world  had  overcome  him,  and  that  he  was  drowned  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  the  beauty  of  the  majesty  of  the  Requiter. 

Now  when  they  despaired  of  finding  Ansal-Wajoud,  and  the  heart  of  the  Vizier 
Ibrahim  was  troubled  by  the  loss  of  his  daughter  Kose-in-bloom,  the  Vizier  of  the 
King  Dirbas  desired  to  return  to  his  country,  though  he  had  not  attained  his  desire 
by  his  journeys.  So  the  Vizier  Ibrahim  began  to  bid  him  farewell:  and  the  Vizier 
of  the  King  Dirbas  said  to  him,  I  desire  to  take  this  poor  man  with  me:  perhaps 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  may  incline  the  heart  of  the  King  to  me  by  the  bless- 
ing attendant  upon  him;  for  he  is  a  person  abstracted  from  the  world;  and  after 
that,  I  will  send  him  to  Ispahan,  since  it  is  near  unto  our  country.  The  Vizier 
Ibrahim  replied.  Do  as  thou  desirest.  ,And  each  of  the  Viziers  departed  to  his  own 
country.  The  Vizier  of  the  King  Dirbas  took  with  him  Ansal-Wajoud,  still  insen- 
sible, and  proceeded  with  him  three  days,  during  which  he  continued  in  his  fit, 
carried  on  mules,  and  not  knowing  whether  he  was  carried  or  not.  So  when  he 
recovered  from  his  fit,  he  said.  In  what  place  am  I?  And  they  answered  him.  Thou 
art  with  the  Vizier  of  the  King  Dirbas.  Then  they  went  to  the  Vizier,  and  informed 
him  that  he  had  recovered  ;  whereupon  he  sent  to  him  rose-water  and  sherbet  of 
sugar,  and  they  gave  him  to  drink,  and  revived  him.  And  they  continued  their 
journey  until  they  approached  the  city  of  the  King  Dirbas,  when  the  King  sent  to 
the  Vizier,  saying  to  him.  If  Ansal-Wajoud  be  not  with  thee,  come  not  to  me  ever. 
When,  therefore,  he  read  the  order  of  the  King,  it  afflicted  him.  Now  the  Vizier 
knew  not  that  Rose-in-Bloom  was  with  the  King,  nor  did  he  know  the  reason  of  the 


462  ANSAL-WAJOUD    AND    ROSE-IN-BLOOM. 

King's  sending  him  to  Ansal-AVajoud,  nor  the  reason  of  his  desiring  the  alliance 
with  him  ;  and  Ansal-Wajoud  knew  not  whither  they  were  going  with  him,  oor  that 
the  Vizier  was  sent  to  seek  for  him  ;  nor  did  the  Vizier  know  that  this  was  Ansal- 
Wajoud.  And  when  the  Vizier  saw  that  he  was  recovered,  he  said  to  him,  Verily 
the  King  hath  sent  me  on  a  business,  and  it  is  not  accomplished ;  and  when  he 
knew  of  my  approach,  he  sent  to  me  a  letter,  saying  to  me  in  it,  If  the  business  be 
not  accomplished,  enter  not  my  city. — And  what,  said  Ansal-Wajoud,  is  the  business 
of  the  King?  The  Vizier  therefore  related  to  hira  the  whole  story;  and  Ansal- 
Wajoud  said  to  him,  Fear  not ;  but  go  to  the  King,  and  take  me  with  thee ;  and  I 
will  be  surety  to  thee  for  the  coming  of  Ansal-Wajoud. 

So  the  Vizier  rejoiced  at  this,  and  said  to  him.  Is  it  true  that  thou  sayest?  He 
answered.  Yes.  And  thereupon  he  mounted,  taking  him  with  hira,  and  conducted 
him  to  the  King ;  who,  when  they  came  to  him.  said  to  the  Vizier,  Where  is  Ansal- 
Wajoud?  To  which  Ansal-Wajoud  replied,  0  King,  I  know  where  Ansal-Wajoud 
is.  And  the  King  called  him  near  to  him,  and  said.  In  what  place  is  he  ?  He  an- 
swered. In  a  place  very  near :  but  inform  me  what  thou  desirest  of  him,  and  then 
will  I  bring  him  before  thee.  The  King  replied.  Most  willingly:  but  this  affair  re- 
quireth  privacy.  Then  he  commanded  the  people  to  retire,  and  having  gone  with 
him  into  a  closet,  acquainted  him  with  the  story  from  first  to  last;  whereupon  An- 
sal-Wajoud said  to  him,  Supply  me  with  rich  apparel,  and  cause  me  to  be  clad  in  it, 
and  I  will  bring  to  thee  Ansal-Wajoud  quickly.  The  King  therefore  brought  to  him 
a  rich  suit,  and  he  put  it  on,  and  said,  I  am  Ansal-Wajoud,  and  a  cause  of  grief  to 
the  envious.  Then  he  smote  the  hearts  of  the  beholders  by  his  glances,  and  recited 
verses. 

And  when  he  had  finished,  the  King  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  ye  are  two  sincere 
lovers,  and  in  the  heaven  of  beauty  two  shining  stars  ;  and  your  case  is  wonderful, 
and  your  affair  extraordinary.  Ansal-Wajoud  then  said  to  the  King,  Where  is  Rose- 
in-BIoom,  0  King  of  the  age  ?  He  answered.  She  is  now  with  me.  And  he  sum- 
moned the  Cadi  and  witnesses,  performed  the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  her  mar- 
riage to  him,  and  treated  him  with  honour  and  beneficence  ;  and  he  sent  to  the  King 
Shamik,  informing  him  of  all  that  had  happened  to  him  with  respect  to  Ansal- 
Wajoud  and  Rose-in-Bloom. 

On  hearing  this,  the  King  Shamik  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  sent  to  the  King  Dir- 
bas  a  letter,  the  purport  of  which  was  this : — Since  the  ceremony  of  the  contract 
hath  taken  place  at  thy  residence,  it  is  fit  that  the  festival  and  the  conclusion  of  the 
marriage  be  at  mine. — He  prepared  the  camels  and  horses  and  men,  and  sent  for 
them  ;  and  when  his  letter  was  brought  to  the  King  Dirbas,  he  aided  them  with  a 
great  sum  of  money,  and  sent  them  with  a  party  of  his  soldiers,  who  proceeded  with 
them  until  they  entered  their  city  ;  and  it  was  a  noted  day:  none  more  remarkable 
had  ever  been  witnessed.  The  King  Shamik  collected  all  the  mirth-exciting  instru- 
ments of  music,  and  made  banquets ;  and  thus  they  continued  seven  days  ;  on  each 
of  which  the  King  conferred  upon  the  people  costly  robes  of  honour,  and  bestowed 
favours  upon  them.  And  after  this,  Ansal-Wajoud  went  to  Rose-in-Bloom,  and  em- 
braced her  ;  and  they  sat  weeping  from  the  excess  of  joy  and  happiness  ;  they  em- 
braced again  and  continued  carousing,  and  reciting  verses  and  pleasant  tales  and 
histories,  until  they  were  drowned  in  the  sea  of  love;  and  there  passed  over  them 
geven  days  while  they  knew  not  night  from  day,  through  the  excess  of  their  delight 
and  happiness,  and  pleasure  and  joy.  It  was  as  though  the  seven  days  were  one 
day  not  succeeded  by  another;  and  they  knew  not  the  seventh  day  but  by  the 
coming  of  the  musical  instruments.  They  then  went  forth  from  their  chamber, 
and  bestowed  upon  the  people  money  and  dresses. — And  they  continued  together 
in  the  most  delightful  of  joys  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights 
and  the  separator  of  companions. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  «hangeth 
not  nor  ceaseth,  and  to  whom  everything  returneth  : 


THE   STORY    OF    ALI    OF   CAIRO.  ,  463 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Four  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of 
the  Four  Hundred  and  Thirty-fourth. 


THE  STORY  OF  ALI  OF  CAIRO. 

There  was,  in  the  city  of  Cairo,  a  merchant  who  had  abundance  of  wealth  and 
cash,  and  jewels  and  minerals,  and  possessions  incalculable,  and  his  name  was  Has- 
san the  Jeweller  of  Bagdad.  God  had  also  blessed  him  with  a  sou,  of  handsome 
countenance,  of  just  stature,  rosy-cheeked,  endowed  with  elegance  and  perfection, 
and  beauty  and  loveliness:  and  he  named  him  AH  of  Cairo.  He  had  taught  him 
the  Koran  and  science,  and  eloquence  and  polite  literature ;  and  he  became  excellent 
in  all  the  sciences,  and  was  employed  by  his  father  in  commerce. 

Now  a  disease  attacked  his  father,  and  so  increased  that  he  felt  sure  of  death.  So 
he  summoned  his  son,  AH  of  Cairo,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  verily  this  world  is 
transitory,  and  the  world  to  come  is  everlasting;  every  soul  must  taste  of  death,  and 
now,  0  my  son,  my  decease  hath  drawn  near,  and  I  desire  to  give  thee  a  charge. 
If  thou  act  according  to  it,  thou  wilt  not  cease  to  be  safe  and  prosperous  until  thou 
shalt  meet  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!) ;  but  if  thou  act  not  according  to  it,  exces- 
sive trouble  will  befall  thee,  and  thou  wilt  repent  of  thy  neglecting  my  charge.— 0 
my  father,  said  AH,  how  should  I  refuse  to  attend  or  to  act  according  to  thy  charge, 
when  obedience  to  thee  is  an  obligation  divinely  imposed  upon  me,  and  the  attend- 
ing to  thy  words  is  absolutely  incumbent  upon  me?  And  his  father  rejoined,  0  my 
son,  I  leave  to  thee  dwelling-places  and  mansions,  and  goods  and  wealth  incalcula- 
ble:  so  that  if  thou  expend  of  that  wealth  every  day  five  hundred  pieces  of  gold, 
nought  of  it  will  be  missed  by  thee.  But,  O  my  son,  be  mindful  of  holding  the  fear 
of  God,  and  obeying  the  ordinances  which  He  hath  appointed  thee,  and  following 
the  precepts  of  Mahomet  (may  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !)  in  the  things  that  he 
is  related  to  have  commanded  and  forbidden  in  his  traditional  laws.  Be  assiduous 
in  the  performance  of  acts  of  beneficence,  and  the  dispensing  of  kindness,  and  as- 
sociating with  the  good  and  just  and  learned  ;  and  mind  that  thou  care  for  the  poor 
and  the  needy,  and  shun  avarice  and  niggardliness,  and  the  company  of  the  wicked, 
and  those  who  are  objects  of  suspicion.  Regard  thy  servants  and  thy  family  with 
benignity,  and  thy  wife  also ;  for  she  is  of  the  daughters  of  the  great,  and  she  is 
now  likely  to  bear  thee  issue :  perhaps  God  will  bless  thee  with  virtuous  ofi'spring 
by  her.  He  ceased  not  to  admonish  him,  and  to  weep,  and  say  to  him,  0  my  son,  I 
beg  of  God,  the  Bountiful,  the  Lord  of  the  magnificent  throne,  that  He  save  thee 
from  every  difficulty  that  may  befall  thee,  and  grant  thee  his  ready  relief.  And  his 
son  wept  violently,  and  said,  0  my  father,  by  Allah  I  am  dissolved  by  these  words: 
it  seemeth  that  thou  utterest  the  language  of  him  who  biddeth  farewell.  His  father 
replied.  Yes,  0  my  son  ;  I  know  my  state  ;  and  forget  not  thou  my  charge. — Then 
the  man  began  to  repeat  the  two  professions  of  the  faith,  and  to  recite  [portions  of 
the  Koran],  until  the  known  period  arrived;  when  he  said  to  his  son,  Draw  near  to 
me.  0  my  son.     So   he   drew  near   to  him,  and  his  father  kissed  him,  and  uttered 


464  THE   STORY   OF   ALI   OF   CAIRO. 

a  groan  ;  whereupon  his  soul  quitted  his  body,  and  he  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 

Ilis  son  was  affected  with  extreme  grief;  a  clamour  arose  in  his  house,  and  the 
companions  of  his  father  came  together  to  him.  lie  betook  himself  to  preparing 
his  corpse  for  burial,  and  expediting  the  funeral,  and  conveyed  forth  the  body  in  a 
magnificent  manner.  They  bore  the  corpse  to  the  place  of  prayer,  and  prayed  over 
it:  after  which  they  departed  with  it  to  the  burial-ground,  and  bui-ied  it,  and  recited 
over  it  what  was  easy  of  the  sublime  Koran.  Then  they  returned  to  the  house,  and 
consoled  the  son  of  the  deceased,  and  each  of  them  went  his  way  ;  and  the  de- 
ceased's son  performed  for  him  the  ceremonies  of  the  Fridays,  and  recitations  of  tbs 
whole  of  the  Koran,  to  the  end  of  forty  days.  He  remained  in  the  house,  and  went 
not  forth  save  to  the  place  of  prayer  ;  and  Friday  after  Friday  he  visited  his  father's 
tomb. 

He  ceased  not  to  persevere  in  his  prayer,  and  his  recitation  [of  the  Koran],  and 
his  devotion,  for  a  length  of  time,  until  his  fellows,  of  the  sons  of  the  merchants, 
came  in  lo  him,  and  saluted  him,  and  said  to  him.  How  long  shall  continue  this 
mourning  of  thine,  and  the  relinquishment  of  thine  occupation  and  thy  traffic,  and 
of  thine  assembling  with  thy  companions  ?  This  conduct  will  weary  thee,  and  ex- 
cessive injury  will  result  from  it  unto  thy  body. — And  when  they  came  in  to  him, 
Eblis  the  accursed  was  with  them,  suggesting  evil  to  them.  So  they  proceeded  to 
recommend  to  him  that  he  should  go  forth  with  them  to  the  market,  and  Eblis  se- 
duced him  to  comply  with  their  request,  until  he  consented  to  go  forth  with  them 
from  the  house,  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  an  event  which  God  (whose  per- 
fection be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted!)  would  bring  to  pass.  They  then 
said  to  him.  Mount  thy  mule,  and  repair  with  us  to  such  a  garden,  that  we  may 
amuse  ourselves  there,  and  that  thy  grief  and  trouble  of  mind  may  be  dispelled. 

He  therefore  mounted  his  mule,  took  his  slave  with  him,  and  accompanied  them 
to  the  garden,  which  they  desired  to  visit.  And  when  they  came  into  the  garden, 
one  of  them  went  and  prepared  for  them  the  dinner,  and  caused  it  to  be  brought 
thither.  So  they  ate,  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and  sat  conversing  until  the  close  of 
the  day,  when  they  mounted  and  departed,  each  of  them  returning  to  his  abode. 
And  they  passed  the  night;  and  when  the  morning  arrived,  they  came  to  him  again, 
and  said  to  him.  Arise,  and  accompany  us. — Whither?  he  asked.  They  answered, 
To  such  a  garden  :  for  it  is  better  than  that  to  which  we  went  first,  and  more  plea- 
sant. And  he  mounted  and  went  with  them  to  that  garden  ;  and  when  they  had 
arrived  there,  one  of  them  went  and  made  ready  their  dinner,  and  brought  it  to  the 
garden,  together  with  intoxicating  wine ;  and  they  ate.  Then  they  brought  the 
•wine;  and  he  said  to  them.  What  is  this?  They  answered  him.  This  is  what  dis- 
pelleth  grief,  and  manifesteth  happiness.  And  they  ceased  not  to  recommend  it  to 
him  until  they  overcame  him  ;  and  he  drank  with  them  ;  and  they  continued  con- 
versing and  drinking  till  the  close  of  the  day,  when  they  returned  to  their  abodes. 
But  Ali  of  Cairo  was  affected  with  a  giddiness  from  drinking,  and  he  went  to  his 
wife  in  this  state;  so  she  said  to  him,  How  is  it  that  thou  art  changed?  He 
answered.  We  were  to-day  making  merry  and  enjoying  ourselves  ;  but  one  of  our 
companions  brought  us  some  liquor,  which  my  companions  drank,  and  I  with  them, 
and  this  giddiness  came  upon  me.  His  wife  therefore  said  to  him,  0  my  master, 
hast  thou  forgotten  the  charge  of  thy  father,  and  done  that  which  he  forbade  thee  to 
do,  in  associating  with  people  who  are  objects  of  suspicion?  But  he  answered  her, 
Verily  these  are  of  the  sons  of  the  merchants,  and  are  not  persons  who  are  objects 
of  suspicion  ;  they  are  only  people  of  pleasure  and  enjoyment. 

He  continued  incessantly  every  day  with  his  companions  in  this  manner.  They 
went  from  place  to  place,  eating  and  drinking,  until  they  said  to  him,  Our  turns  are 
ended,  and  the  turn  is  come  to  thee.  And  he  replied,  A  friendly  and  free  and  ample 
welcome  to  you  !  And  when  he  arose  in  the  morning,  he  made  ready  all  that  the 
case  required,  of  food  and  drink,  much  more  than  they  had  done,  and  took  with  him 


THE  STOEY  OF  ALI  OP  CAIRO.  465 

the  cooks  and  the  farrashes  and  thie  coffee-makers,  and  they  repaired  to  Rodah  and 
the  Nilometer.'  There  they  remained  a  whole  month,  eating  and  drinking,  and 
hearing  music,  and  enjoying  themselves  ;  and  when  the  month  had  passed,  Ali  saw 
that  he  had  expended  a  sum  of  money  of  large  amount ;  but  Eblis  the  accursed  de 
ceived  him,  and  said  to  him.  If  thou  shouldst  expend  every  day  as  much  as  thou 
hast  already,  thy  wealth  would  not  fail  thee.  So  he  cared  not  for  expending  his 
wealth.  He  continued  to  do  thus  for  the  space  of  three  years ;  his  wife  admonish- 
ing him,  and  reminding  him  of  the  charge  of  his  father;  but  he  attended  not  to  her 
words  until  all  the  ready  money  that  he  had  was  exhausted.  Then  he  began  to  take 
of  the  jewels,  and  to  sell  them,  and  expend  their  price,  till  he  exhausted  them  also. 
After  this  he  betook  himself  to  selling  the  houses  and  other  immovable  posses- 
sions, until  none  of  them  remained.  And  when  they  were  gone,  he  proceeded  to  sell 
the  fields  and  gardens,  one  after  another,  till  all  of  them  were  gone,  and  there  re- 
mained nothing  in  his  possession  but  the  house  in  which  he  resided,  lie  therefore 
wrenched  out  its  marbles  and  its  wood-work,  and  expended  of  the  money  which  they 
produced,  till  he  made  an  end  of  them  all ;  and  he  considered  in  his  mind,  and  found 
that  he  had  nothing  to  expend :  so  he  sold  the  house,  and  expended  its  price.  Then, 
after  that,  the  person  who  had  bought  of  him  the  house  came  and  said  to  him,  Seek 
for  thyself  a  lodging;  fur  I  am  in  want  of  my  house. 

He  now  considered  in  his  mind,  and  found  that  he  had  nothing  requiring  a  house 
excepting  his  wife,  who  had  borne  him  a  son  and  a  daughter;  and  there  remained 
not  with  him  any  servants;  but  there  were  only  himself  and  his  family.  So  he  took 
for  himself  an  apartment  in  a  ruined  quarter  of  the  town,  and  there  he  resided, 
after  grandeur  and  delicacy,  and  abundance  of  servants  and  wealth  ;  and  he  became 
destitute  of  one  day's  food.  His  wife  therefore  said  to  him,  Of  this  I  used  to  caution 
thee,  saying  to  thee,  Keep  the  charge  of  thy  father.  -But  thou  wouldst  not  attend 
to  my  words;  and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great! 
Whence  shall  the  little  children  obtain  food?  Arise  then,  and  go  round  to  thy  com- 
panions, the  sons  of  the  merchants.  Perhaps  they  will  give  thee  something  where- 
with we  may  sustain  ourselves  this  day. — Accordingly  he  arose  and  repaired  to  bis 
companions,  one  after  another ;  but  every  one  of  them  unto  whom  he  went  hid  his 
face  from  him,  and  made  him  to  hear  painful  words,  such  as  he  abhorred,  and  not 
one  of  them  gave  him  anything.  So  he  returned  to  his  wife,  and  said  to  her.  They 
ha\e  not  given  me  anything.  And  upon  this,  she  arose  and  went  to  her  neighbours 
to  demand  of  them  something  wherewith  they  might  sustain  themselves  that  day. 
She  repaired  to  a  woman  whom  she  knew  in  the  former  days,  and  when  she  went  in 
to  her,  and  her  friend  saw  her  state,  she  arose  and  received  her  kindly,  weeping  and 
saying  to  her.  What  hath  befallen  you  ?  She  therefore  related  to  her  all  that  her 
husband  had  done ;  and  her  friend  said  to  her.  An  ample  and  a  friendly  and  free 
welcome  to  thee !  Whatsoever  thou  requirest,  demand  it  of  me,  without  compensa- 
tion.— And  she  replied.  May  God  requite  thee  well !  Then  her  friend  gave  her  as 
much  provision  as  would  suffice  her  and  her  family  for  a  whole  month :  and  she  took 
it  and  returned  to  her  abode.  And  when  her  husband  saw  her,  he  wept,  and  said  to 
her,  Whence  obtainedst  thou  that?  She  answered  him,  From  such  a  woman  ;  for 
when  I  informed  her  of  that  which  hath  happened,  she  fail-ed  not  in  aught;  but  said 
to  me,  All  that  thou  requirest  demand  of  me. — And  upon  this,  her  husband  said  to 
her.  Since  thou  hast  this,  I  will  repair  to  a  place  that  I  desire  to  visit.  Perhaps  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!)  will  dispel  our  trouble. 

He  took  leave  of  her,  and  kissed  his  children  and  went  forth,  not  knowing  whither 
to  go.  He  walked  on  without  stopping  until  he  arrived  at  Boulak,  where  he  beheld 
a  vessel  about  to  depart  tn  Damietta;  and  a  man  who  had  been  a  companion  of  his 
father  saw  him;  so  he  saluted  him,  and  said  to  him.  Whither  desirest  thou  to  go? 
He  answered,  I  desire  to  go  to  Damietta;  for  I  have  companions  respecting  whom  1 

'  Rodah  means  "garden  ;"  it  is  the  name  of  a  pleasant  island  in  the  Nile,  near  Cairo.      The 
Nilometer  is  at  its  southern  extremity. 
30 


466  THE    STORY    OF  ALI   OF   CAIRO. 

would  inquire,  and  whom  I  would  visit:  then  I  will  return.  And  the  man  took  him 
to  his  house,  treated  him  honourably,  made  for  him  provisions  for  the  voyage,  and, 
having  given  him  some  pieces  of  gold,  embarked  him  in  the  vessel  that  was  going  to 
Damietta.  And  when  they  arrived  at  that  place,  he  landed,  but  knew  not  whither 
to  go.  While  he  was  walking,  however,  a  man  of  the  merchants  saw  him,  and  was 
moved  with  sympathy  for  him,  and  he  took  him  with  him  to  his  abode.  He  there- 
fore remained  with  him  some  time;  after  which  he  said  within  himself.  How  long 
shall  I  thus  reside  in  other  men's  houses?  Then  he  went  forth  from  the  house  of 
that  merchant,  and  beheld  a  vessel  about  to  sail  to  Syria ;  and  the  man  with  whom 
he  was  lodging  prepared  for  him  provisions  for  the  voyage,  and  embarked  him  in 
that  vessel,  and  it  proceeded  with  its  passengers  until  they  arrived  at  the  coast  of 
Syria.  Ali  of  Cairo  there  landed,  and  he  journeyed  until  he  entered  Damascus  ;  and 
as  he  was  walking  in  its  great  thoroughfare-streets,  a  man  of  the  benevolent  saw 
him  and  took  him  to  his  abode,  where  he  remained  some  time.  And  after  that  he 
went  forth,  and  beheld  a  caravan  about  to  journey  to  Bagdad ;  upon  which  it  oc- 
curred to  his  mind  that  he  should  journey  with  it.  So  he  returned  to  the  merchant 
in  whose  abode  he  was  residing,  took  leave  of  him,  and  went  forth  with  the  caravan : 
and  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted!)  moved  a  man 
of  the  merchants  with  sympathy  for  him  :  he  therefore  took  him  as  his  guest,  and 
Ali  ate  and  drank  with  him  until  there  remained  between  them  and  Bagdad  one 
day's  journey.  Then  there  came  upon  the  caravan  a  party  of  robbers  who  were  iii- 
tercepters  of  the  way,  and  they  took  all  that  was  with  them,  and  only  a  few  escaped. 

Every  person  of  the  caravan  went  to  seek  for  a  place  of  refuge.  But  as  to  Ali  of 
Cairo,  he  repaired  to  Bagdad,  and  he  arrived  there  at  sunset:  he  reached  not,  how. 
ever,  the  gate  of  the  city  until  he  beheld  the  gate-keepers  about  to  close  it.  So  he 
said  to  them,  Let  me  come  in  to  you.  And  they  admitted  him  among  them,  and 
said  to  liiui.  Whence  hast  thou  come,  and  whither  dost  thou  go?  He  answered,  I 
am  a  man  of  the  city  of  Cairo,  and  I  brought  with  me  merchandise  and  mules  and 
loads,  and  slaves  and  young  men,  and  I  came  on  before  them  to  see  for  me  a  place 
in  which  to  deposit  my  merchandise ;  but  as  I  preceded  them,  mounted  on  my  mule, 
there  met  me  a  party  of  the  intercepters  of  the  way,  who  took  my  mule  and  my 
things,  and  I  escaped  not  from  them  till  I  was  about  to  yield  my  last  breath.  And 
they  treated  him  with  honour,  and  said  to  him.  Thou  art  welcome.  Pass  the  night 
with  us  until  the  morning,  and  then  we  will  see  for  thee  a  place  suitable  to  thee. — 
And  he  searched  in  his  pocket,  and  found  a  piece  of  gold  remaining  of  those  which 
the  merchant  at  Boulak  had  given  him  :  so  he  gave  that  piece  of  gold  to  one  of  the 
gate-keepers,  saying  to  him,  Take  this  and  change  it,  and  bring  us  something  to  eat. 
He  therefore  took  it  and  repaired  to  the  market,  where  he  changed  it,  and  he  brought 
to  Ali  some  bread  and  cooked  meat;  and  he  ate  with  them,  and  slept  with  them  till 
the  morning. 

Then  one  of  the  gate-keepers  took  him  and  conducted  him  to  a  man  of  the  mer- 
chants of  Bagdad,  to  whom  he  related  his  story ;  and  that  man  believed  him,  imagin- 
ing that  he  was  a  merchant,  and  that  he  had  brought  with  him  loads  of  goods.  So 
he  took  him  up  into  his  shop,  treated  him  with  honour,  aund  sent  to  his  abode,  whence 
he  caused  to  be  brought  for  him  a  magnificent  suit  of  his  own  clothing ;  and  he  con- 
ducted him  into  the  bath.  —  I  went  with  him,  says  Ali  of  Cairo,  into  the  bath,  and 
when  we  came  forth,  he  took  me  and  conducted  me  to  his  abode,  where  dinner  was 
brought  to  us,  and  we  ate,  and  enjoyed  ourselves.  He  then  said  to  one  of  his  slaves, 
O  Mesroud,  take  thy  master,  and  show  him  the  two  houses  that  are  in  such  a  place, 
and  whichever  of  them  pleaseth  him,  give  him  the  key  of  it,  and  come  back.  I 
therefore  went  with  the  slave  until  we  came  to  a  by-street,  wherein  were  three  houses 
adjacent  to  each  other,  new  and  closed;  and  he  opened  the  first  house,  and  I  looked 
over  it,  and  we  came  forth,  and  went  to  the  second,  which  he  opened,  and  I  looked 
over  it.  And  he  said  to  me.  Of  which  of  the  two  shall  I  give  thee  the  key?  I  said 
to  him.  And  to  whom  belongeth  this  great  house?     He  answered,  To  us.     So  I  said 


THE    STORY   OF   ALI   OF   CAIRO.  467 

to  him,  Open  it,  that  we  may  look  over  it.  He  replied,  Thou  hast  no  need  of  it. — 
Why  so?  I  asked.  He  answered,  Because  it  is  haunted,  and  no  one  lodgeth  in  it 
but  in  the  morning  he  is  a  corpse;  and  we  open  not  its  door  to  take  forth  the  dead 
from  it;  but  go  up  on  the  roof  of  one  of  the  two  other  houses,  and  thence  take  it 
up  ;  and  on  that  account  my  master  hath  abandoned  it,  and  said  I  will  not  hence- 
forth give  it  to  any  one.  —  But  I  said  to  him,  Open  it  to  me,  that  I  may  look  over  it. 
And  I  said  within  myself,  This  is  what  I  desire.  I  will  pass  the  night  in  it,  and  in 
the  morning  be  a  corpse,  and  be  relieved  from  this  state  in  which  I  now  am. — So  he 
opened  it,  and  I  entered  it,  and  saw  it  to  be  a  magnificent  house,  of  which  there 
existed  not  the  like ;  and  I  said  to  the  slave,  I  choose  none  but  this  house ;  therefore 
give  me  its  key.  But  he  replied,  I  will  not  give  thee  the  key  until  I  consult  my 
master. — Then  he  went  to  his  master,  and  said  to  him.  The  merchant  of  Cairo  saith, 
I  will  not  lodge  but  in  the  great  house.  —  He  therefore  arose  and  came  to  Ali  of 
Cairo,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  thou  hast  no  need  of  this  house.  Ali  however 
replied,  I  will  not  lodge  in  any  but  it,  and  I  care  not  for  these  words.  So  the  man 
said  to  him,  Write  a  voucher  agreed  upon  between  me  and  thee,  that,  if  anything 
happen  to  thee,  I  am  not  implicated  with  thee.  Ali  replied,  So  be  it.  And  the 
merchant  brought  a  witness  from  the  Cadi's  court,  and  wrote  a  voucher  testifying 
against  him,  and,  having  taken  it  into  his  keeping,  gave  him  the  key.  He  therefore 
took  it  and  entered  the  house;  and  the  merchant  sent  furniture  to  him  with  a  slave, 
who  spread  it  for  him  upon  the  bench  that  was  behind  the  door,  and  returned. 

After  that,  Ali  of  Cairo  arose  and  went  within,  and  he  saw  a  well  in  the  court  of 
the  house,  with  a  bucket  over  it:  so  he  let  it  down  into  the  well,  and  filled  it,  and 
performed  the  ablution  with  its  contents,  and  recited  his  divinely  ordained  prayers. 
Then  he  sat  a  little ;  and  the  slave  came  to  him  with  the  supper,  from  the  house  of 
his  master,  bringing  for  him  also  a  lamp  and  a  candle  and  candlestick,  and  a  basin 
and  ewer,  and  a  water-bottle  ;  and  he  left  him,  and  returned  to  his  master's  house. 
So  Ali  lighted  a  candle,  and  supped,  and  enjoyed  himself,  and  performed  the  prayers 
of  nightfall ;  after  which  he  said  within  himself.  Arise,  go  up  stairs,  and  take  the 
bed,  and  sleep  there,  rather  than  here.  Accordingly  he  arose,  and  took  the  bed,  and 
carried  it  up  stairs;  and  he  beheld  a  magnificent  saloon,  the  ceiling  of  which  was 
gilded,  and  its  floor  and  its  walls  were  cased  with  coloured  marbles.  He  spread  his 
bed,  and  sat  reciting  somewhat  of  the  sublime  Koran ;  and  suddenly  a  person  called 
to  him  and  said  to  him,  0  Ali!  0  son  of  Hassan!  shall  I  send  down  upon  thee  the 
gold?  —  And  where,  said  Ali,  is  the  gold  that  thou  wilt  send  down?  And  he  had 
not  finished  saying  so  when  he  poured  down  upon  him  gold  as  from  a  catapult;  and 
the  gold  ceased  not  to  pour  down  until  it  had  filled  the  saloon.  And  when  it  was 
finished,  the  person  said.  Liberate  me,  that  I  may  go  my  way;  for  my  service  is 
finished. 

Upon  this  Ali  of  Cairo  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  the  Great  that  thou 
inform  me  of  the  cause  of  [the  descent  of  J  this  gold.  And  he  replied,  This  gold  was 
preserved  for  thee  by  a  talisman  from  ancient  times,  and  we  used  to  come  to  every 
one  who  entered  this  house,  and  say  to  him,  0  Ali !  0  son  of  Hassan  !  shall  we  send 
down  the  gold  ?  And  he  would  fear  at  our  words,  and  cry  out ;  whereupon  we  would 
descend  to  him  and  break  his  neck  and  depart.  But  when  thou  earnest,  and  we 
called  thee  by  thy  name  and  the  name  of  thy  father,  and  said  to  thee,  Shall  we  send 
down  the  gold?  —  thou  saidst  to  us.  And  where  is  the  gold  !  —  so  we  knew  that  thou 
wast  its  owner,  and  we  sent  it  down.  There  remaineth  also  for  thee  a  treasure  in 
the  land  of  Yemen  ;  and  if  thou  wilt  journey  and  take  it  and  bring  it  hither,  it  will 
be  better  for  thee.  And  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  liberate  me,  that  I  may  go  my 
way. — But  Ali  said,  By  Allah,  1  will  not  liberate  thee  until  thou  shalt  have  brought 
hither  to  me  that  which  is  in  the  land  of  Yemen.  He  said,  H  I  bring  it  to  thee, 
wilt  thou  liberate  me,  and  wilt  thou  liberate  the  servant  of  that  treasure?  —  Yes, 
answered  Ali.  And  he  said  to  him,  Swear  to  me.  So  he  swore  to  him.  And  he 
was  about  to  go  ;  but  Ali  of  Cairo  said  to  him,  I  have  yet  one  thing  for  thee  to  per 


468  THE   STORY   OF   ALI   OF   CAIRO. 

form.  —  And  what  is  it?  he  asked.  Ali  answered,  I  have  a  wife  and  children  in 
Cairo,  in  such  a  place  ;  and  it  is  requisite  that  thou  bring  them  to  me,  easily,  with- 
out injury.  And  he  replied,  I  will  bring  them  to  thee  in  a  stately  procession,  and 
in  a  litter,  and  with  servants  and  other  attendants,  together  with  the  treasure  that 
we  will  bring  thee  from  the  land  of  Yemen,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be 
exalted  ! — Then  he  obtained  permission  of  him  to  be  absent  three  days,  after  which 
period  he  promised  him  that  all  that  treasure  should  be  in  his  possession  ;  and  he 
departed. 

And  in  the  morning  Ali  searched  about  the  saloon  for  a  place  in  which  to  deposit 
the  gold  ;  and  he  saw  a  slab  of  marble  at  the  edge  of  the  raised  floor  of  the  saloon, 
in  which  was  a  turning-pin.  So  he  turned  the  pin,  and  the  slab  removed,  and  there 
appeared  to  him  a  door,  which  he  opened  ;  and  he  entered,  and  beheld  a  large 
treasury,  in  which  were  bags  of  linen,  sewed.  He  therefore  proceeded  to  take  the 
bags  and  to  fill  them  with  the  gold  and  put  them  into  the  treasury,  until  he  had 
removed  all  the  gold  and  put  it  into  the  treasury,  when  he  closed  the  door,  and  turned 
the  pin  ;  whereupon  the  slab  of  marble  returned  to  its  place.  Then  he  arose  and 
descended,  and  seated  himself  upon  the  bench  that  was  behind  thee  door.  And 
while  he  was  sitting,  a  person  knocked  at  his  door;  and  he  arose  and  opened  it,  and 
saw  that  this  person  was  the  slave  of  the  owner  of  the  house ;  and  when  the  slave 
saw  him  there,  he  returned  quickly  to  his  master,  to  give  him  the  good  tidings.  On 
his  coming  to  his  master,  he  ,said  to  him,  0  my  master,  verily  the  merchant  who 
hath  taken  up  his  lodging  in  the  house  that  is  haunted  by  the  Genie  is  well,  in  pros- 
perity, and  he  is  sitting  upon  the  seat  that  is  behind  the  door.  So  his  master  arose, 
full  of  joy,  and  repaired  to  that  house,  taking  with  him  the  breakfast;  and  when  he 
saw  Ali  of  Cairo,  he  embraced  him,  and  kissed  him  between  his  eyes,  and  said  to 
him,  What  hath  God  done  unto  thee  ?  He  answered.  Well ;  and  I  slept  not  but  up 
stairs,  in  the  saloon  that  is  cased  with  marble.  And  the  merchant  said  to  him.  Did 
anything  come  to  thee,  or  didst  thou  see  aught? —  No,  answered  Ali ;  I  only  recited 
as  much  as  was  easy  to  me  of  the  sublime  Koran,  and  slept  until  the  morning,  when 
I  rose,  and  performed  the  ablution,  and  prayed,  and  descended,  and  seated  myself 
upon  this  bench.  And  the  merchant  said.  Praise  be  to  God  for  thy  safety  !  Then 
he  arose  and  leffhim,  and  sent  to  him  black  slaves  and  mamlouks,  and  female  slaves 
and  furniture,  and  they  swept  the  house,  above  and  below,  spread  for  him  magnifi- 
cent furniture,  and  there  remained  with  him  three  mamlouks  and  three  male  black 
slaves,  and  four  female  slaves  to  serve  him  :  the  rest  returned  to  the  house  of  their 
master.  And  when  the  merchants  heard  of  him,  they  sent  to  him  presents  of  every 
precious  thing,  even  of  eatables  and  beverages  and  clothes,  and  took  him  with  them 
into  the  market,  and  said  to  him.  When  will  thy  merchandise  come?  He  answered 
them,  After  three  days  it  will  enter. 

Then,  when  the  three  days  had  passed,  the  servant  of  the  first  treasure,  who  poured 
down  to  him  the  gold  from  the  house,  came  to  him  and  said  to  him.  Arise,  meet  the 
treasure  that  I  have  brought  thee  from  Yemen,  and  thy  harem,  with  whom  is  a  por- 
tion of  the  treasure  in  the  form  of  magnificent  merchandise  ;  and  all  who  are  with  it, 
of  mules  and  horses  and  camels,  and  servants  and  mamlouks,  all  of  them  are  of  the 
Genii.  Now  that  servant  had  repaired  to  Cairo,  where  he  found  that  the  wife  of 
Ali,  and  his  children,  during  this  period  had  become  reduced  to  excessive  nakedness 
and  hunger ;  and  he  conveyed  them  from  their  place  in  a  litter  to  the  exterior  of 
Cairo,  and  clad  them  in  magnificent  apparel,  of  the  apparel  that  formed  part  of  tho 
treasure  of  Yemen.  And  when  he  came  to  Ali,  and  informed  him  of  that  news,  he 
arose  and  repaired  to  the  merchants,  and  said  to  them,  Arise,  and  go  forth  with  us 
from  the  city  to  meet  the  caravan  with  which  is  our  merchandise,  and  honour  us  by 
taking  with  you  your  harems  to  meet  our  harem.  So  they  answered  him.  We  hear 
and  obey.  They  sent  and  caused  their  harems  to  be  brought,  went  forth  altogether, 
and  alighted  in  one  of  the  gardens  of  the  city,  where  they  sat  conversing.  And 
•while  they  were  thus  engaged,  lo,  a  dust  rose  in  the  midst  of  the  desert.     They 


THE  STORY  OF  ALI  OF  CAIRO.  469 

therefore  arose  to  see  what  was  the  cause  of  that  dust ;  and  it  dispersed,  and  dis- 
covered mules  and  camel-drivers,  and  farrashes  and  light- bearers,  who  approached 
singing  and  dancing  until  they  drew  near ;  when  the  chief  of  the  camel-drivers 
advanced  to  AH  of  Cairo,  kissed  his  hand,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  we  have 
been  tardy  in  the  way;  for  we  desired  to  enter  yesterday  ;  but  we  feared  the  inter- 
cepters  of  the  way;  so  we  remained  four  days  at  our  station,  until  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted!)  dispelled  them  from  us.  And  the  merchants  arose  and  mounted  their 
mules,  and  proceeded  with  the  caravan  :  the  harems  remaining  behind  with  the 
harem  of  Ali  of  Cairo  until  they  mounted  with  them  ;  and  they  entered  in  magnifi- 
cent procession.  The  merchants  wondered  at  the  mules  loaded  with  chests,  and  the 
women  of  the  merchants  wondered  at  the  apparel  of  the  wife  of  the  merchant  Ali, 
and  at  the  apparel  of  her  children,  saying,  Verily  the  like  of  this  apparel  existeth 
not  in  the  possession  of  the  King  of  Bagdad  or  any  other  person  of  all  the  Kings 
and  great  men  and  merchants. 

They  ceased  not  to  advance  in  their  stately  procession,  the  men  with  the  merchant 
Ali  of  Cairo,  and  the  women  with  his  harem,  until  they  entered  the  house  and 
alighted,  and  brought  the  mules  with  their  loads  into  the  midst  of  the  court.  Then 
they  put  down  the  loads,  and  stowed  them  in  the  magazines,  and  the  harems  went 
up  with  the  harem  of  Ali  to  the  saloon,  and  they  saw  it  to  be  like  a  garden  abound- 
ing with  trees,  spread  with  magnificent  furniture.  They  sat  in  joy  and  happiness, 
and  remained  sitting  until  noon,  when  dinner  was  brought  up  to  them,  consisting 
of  the  best  of  viands  and  sweetmeats  ;  and  they  ate,  and  drank  excellent  sherbet, 
and  scented  themselves  after  it  with  rose-water  and  perfume.  Then  they  took  leave 
of  him,  and  departed  to  their  abodes,  men  and  women.  And  when  the  merchants 
had  returned  to  their  dwellings,  they  sent  to  him  presents  according  to  their  con- 
ditions. The  harems  also  sent  gifts  to  the  harem,  until  there  had  been  brought  to 
them  an  abundance  of  female  slaves,  and  male  black  slaves,  and  mamlouks,  and  of 
all  kinds  of  things,  such  as  sugar,  and  grains,  and  other  goods  incalculable.  And 
as  to  the  merchant  of  Bagdad,  the  owner  of  the  house  in  which  Ali  was  residing,  he 
remained  with  him,  and  quitted  him  not;  and  he  said  to  him.  Let  the  slaves  and  the 
servants  take  the  mules  and  other  beasts  into  one  of  the  houses,  for  the  sake  of  rest. 
— But  Ali  replied.  They  will  set  forth  on  their  journey  this  night  to  such  a  place. 
And  he  gave  them  permission  to  go  out  from  the  city,  that  when  the  night  should 
come  they  might  set  forth  on  their  journey ;  and  they  scarcely  believed  his  giving 
them  permission  to  do  so  when  they  took  leave  of  him  and  departed  to  the  exterior 
of  the  city,  and  soared  through  the  air  to  their  abodes. 

The  merchant  Ali  sat  with  the  owner  of  the  house  in  which  he  resided  until  the 
expiration  of  a  third  of  the  night,  when  they  separated,  and  the  owner  of  the  house 
repaired  to  his  abode.  Then  the  merchant  Ali  went  up  to  his  harem,  and  saluted 
them,  and  said  to  them..  What  happened  unto  you  after  ray  departure,  during  this 
period?  So  his  wife  informed  him  of  what  they  had  suffered  from  hunger  and 
nakedness  and  fatigue ;  and  he  said  to  her.  Praise  be  to  God  for  safety !  And  how 
came  you  ? — 0  my  master,  she  answered,  I  was  sleeping  with  my  children  last  night, 
and  suddenly  one  raised  me  from  the  ground,  together  with  my  children,  and  we 
soared  through  the  air;  but  no  injury  befell  us;  and  we  ceased  not  to  soar  along 
until  we  alighted  upon  the  ground  in  a  place  like  an  encampment  of  Arabs,  where 
we  saw  loaded  mules,  and  a  litter  borne  by  two  great  mules,  surrounded  by  servants 
consisting  of  pages  and  men.  So  I  said  to  them.  Who  are  ye,  and  what  are  these 
loads,  and  in  what  place  are  we  ?  And  they  answered.  We  are  the  servants  of  the 
merchant  Ali  of  Cairo,  the  son  of  the  merchant  Hassan  the  Jeweller,  and  he  hath 
sent  us  to  take  you  and  to  convey  you  to  him  in  the  city  of  Bagdad.  I  said  to  them, 
Is  the  distance  between  us  and  Bagdad  long  or  short  ?  And  they  answered  me, 
Short ;  for  between  us  and  it  is  no  more  than  the  space  to  be  traversed  during  the 
darkness  of  night.  Then  they  placed  us  in  the  litter,  and  the  morning  came  not 
before  we  were  with  you,  no  injury  having  befallen  us.     And  who,  said  Ali,  gave 


470  THE   STORY   OF   ALI  OF  CAIRO. 

you  this  apparel?  She  answered,  The  chief  of  the  caravan  opened  one  of  the 
chests  that  were  upon  the  mules,  took  forth  from  it  these  garments,  and  attired  me 
in  a  suit,  and  each  of  thy  children  in  a  suit ;  after  which  he  locked  the  chest  from 
which  he  took  forth  the  dresses,  and  gave  me  its  key,  saying  to  me.  Take  care  of  it 
until  thou  give  it  to  thy  husband:  —  and  here  it  is,  carefully  kept  in  my  possession. 

Then  she  produced  it  to  him:  and  he  said  to  her,  Knowest  thou  the  chest?     She 

answered,  Yes,  I  know  it.  So  he  arose  and  descended  with  her  to  the  magazines, 
and  showed  her  the  chests ;  and  she  said  to  him.  This  is  the  chest  from  which  he 
took  forth  the  dresses.  He  therefore  took  the  key  from  her,  and  put  it  into  the  lock, 
and  opened  the  chest :  and  he  saw  in  it  many  dresses,  together  with  the  keys  of  all 
the  other  chests :  so  he  took  them  forth,  and  proceeded  to  open  the  chests,  one  after 
another,  and  to  amuse  himself  with  a  sight  of  their  contents,  consisting  of  treasured 
jewels  and  minerals,  the  like  of  which  existed  not  in  the  possession  of  any  of  the 
Kings. 

He  then  locked  the  chests,  took  their  keys,  and  went  up  with  his  wife  to  the  saloon, 
saying  to  her.  This  is  of  the  bounty  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  And  after 
this,  he  took  her  and  led  her  to  the  marble  slab  in  which  was  the  turning  pin,  and 
he  turned  it,  and  opened  the  door  of  the  treasury,  and,  entering  with  her,  showed 
her  the  gold  that  he  had  deposited  in  it;  whereupon  she  said  to  him,  Whence  came 
to  thee  all  this?  He  answered  her.  It  came  to  me  through  the  bounty  of  my  Lord. 
And  he  related  to  her  what  had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last ;  on  hearing 
which  she  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  all  this  is  through  the  blessing  attendant  upon 
the  prayer  of  thy  father,  when  he  prayed  for  thee  before  his  death,  and  said,  I  beg 
God  that  He  cast  thee  not  into  affliction  without  granting  thee  speedy  relief.  So 
praise  be  to  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  for  his  giving  thee  relief,  and  making 
amends  to  thee  by  bestowing  on  thee  more  than  hath  been  lost  by  thee!  I  conjure 
thee  then  by  Allah,  0  my  master,  that  thou  return  not  to  thy  former  ways  of  as- 
sociating with  those  who  are  objects  of  suspicion.  Be  mindful  of  preserving  the 
fear  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  in  private  and  in  public.  —  She  continued  to 
admonish  him,  and  he  replied,  I  accept  thine  admonition,  and  beg  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted !)  to  remove  far  from  us  the  wicked,  and  to  adapt  us  to  the  obedience  of 
Him,  and  to  the  compliance  with  the  precepts  of  his  Prophet ;  may  God  favour  and 
preserve  him ! 

He  lived  with  his  wife  and  children  a  most  comfortable  life,  and  he  took  for  him- 
self a  shop  in  the  market  of  the  merchants,  placed  in  it  some  of  the  jewels  and 
precious  minerals,  and  sat  in  it,  attended  by  his  children  and  his  mamlouks,  and 
became  the  greatest  of  the  merchants  in  the  city  of  Bagdad.  So  the  King  of  Bagdad 
heard  of  him,  and  sent  a  messenger  to  him,  desiring  his  presence ;  and  when  the 
messenger  came  to  him,  he  said  to  him.  Answer  the  summons  of  the  King  ;  for  be 
desireth  thee.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey;  and  prepared  a  present  for  the 
King.  He  took  four  trays  of  red  gold,  and  filled  them  with  jewels  and  minerals, 
such  as  existed  not  in  the  possession  of  the  Kings ;  and  he  took  the  trays  and  went 
up  with  them  to  the  King  ;  and  when  he  went  in  to  him,  he  kissed  the  ground  be- 
fore him,  and  greeted  him  with  a  prayer  for  the  continuance  of  his  glory  and  bless- 
ings, addressing  him  in  the  best  manner  he  could.  The  King  said  to  him,  O  mer- 
chant, thou  hast  cheered  our  country  by  thy  presence.  And  he  replied,  O  King  of 
the  age,  thy  slave  hath  brought  thee  a  present,  and  hopeth  that  thou  wilt  in  thy 
favour  accept  it.  Then  he  placed  the  four  trays  before  him  ;  and  the  King  uncovered 
them  and  examined  them,  and  saw  that  the  contents  were  jewels  such  as  he  pos- 
sessed not,  their  value  being  equal  to  treasures  of  wealth.  He  therefore  said  to 
him.  Thy  present  is  accepted,  0  merchant;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !),  we  will  recompense  thee  with  the  like  of  it.  And  Ali  kissed  the  King's 
hands,  and  departed  from  him. 

Then  the  King  summoned  his  grandees,  and  said  to  them.  How  many  of  the  Kings 
have  demanded  my  daughter  in  marriage?     They  answered  him.  Many.     And  he 


THE   STORY   OF   ALI   OF   CAIRO.  471 

said  to  them,  Hath  any  one  of  them  presented  me  with  the  like  of  this  present? 
And  they  all  answered,  No ;  for  there  existeth  not  in  the  possession  of  any  of  -them 
its  like.  And  the  King  said,  I  beg  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  that  I  may 
have  the  happiness  of  marrying  my  daughter  to  this  merchant.  Then  what  say  ye? 
— They  answered  him.  The  thing  should  be  as  thou  judgest.  And  he  ordered  the 
eunuchs  to  carry  the  four  trays  with  their  contents  into  his  palace,  lie  then  had  an 
interview  with  his  wife,  and  put  the  trays  before  her;  and  she  uncovered  them,  and 
saw  in  them  things  like  which  she  possessed  not  a  single  piece.  So  she  said  to  him. 
From  which  of  the  Kings  is  this?  Probably  it  is  from  one  of  the  Kings  who  have 
demanded  my  daughter  in  marriage. — He  answered.  No;  but  it  is  from  a  merchant 
of  Cairo,  who  hath  come  unto  us  in  this  city ;  and  when  I  heard  of  his  coming.  I 
sent  to  him  a  messenger  to  bring  him  to  us,  that  we  might  become  acquainted  with 
him,  as  we  might  probably  find  in  his  possession  some  jewels  which  we  might  pur- 
chase of  him  to  fit  out  our  daughter.  He  therefore  obeyed  our  command,  and 
brought  us  these  four  trays,  which  he  offered  us  as  a  present ;  and  I  saw  him  to  be 
a  handsome  young  man,  of  dignified  appearance,  and  perfect  intelligence,  and  elegant 
form,  almost  like  one  of  the  sons  of  the  Kings.  And  on  my  seeing  him,  my  heart 
inclined  to  him,  and  my  bosom  became  dilated  at  beholding  him,  and  I  desired  to 
marry  my  daughter  to  him.  I  displayed  the  present  to  the  great  men  of  my  king- 
dom, and  said  to  them.  How  many  of  the  Kings  have  demanded  my  daughter  in 
marriage  ?  And  they  answered.  Many. — And  hath  any  one  of  them,  said  I,  brought 
me  the  like  of  that?  To  which  they  all  answered.  No,  by  Allah,  0  King  of  the  age  ; 
for  there  existeth  not  in  the  possession  of  any  one  of  them  the  like  of  that.  And  I 
said  to  them,  I  beg  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  that  I  may  have  the  happiness 
of  marrying  him  to  my  daughter.  What  then  say  ye?  —  They  answered,  The  thing 
should  be  as  thou  judgest.  Now  what  sayest  thou  ?  —  She  answered  him,  The  affair 
is  for  God  to  decide,  and  thee,  0  King  of  the  age ;  and  what  God  willeth  is  that 
which  will  be.  And  he  replied.  If  it  be  tlve  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!) 
we  will  not  marry  her  but  to  this  young  man. 

He  passed  the  next  night,  and  when  the  morning  came,  he  went  up  to  his  court, 
and  gave  orders  to  bring  the  merchant  Ali  of  Cairo,  and  all  the  merchants  of  Bagdad. 
So  they  all  came ;  and  when  they  presented  themselves  before  the  King,  he  com- 
manded them  to  sit.  They  therefore  seated  themselves.  He  then  said.  Bring  the 
Cadi  of  the  court.  And  he  came  before  him;  and  the  King  said  to  him,  0  Cadi, 
write  the  contract  of  my  daughter's  marriage  to  the  merchant  Ali  of  Cairo.  But 
Ali  of  Cairo  said.  Pardon,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan,  It  is  not  fit  that  a  merchant  like 
me  be  son-in-law  of  the  King.  —  The  King  however  replied,  I  have  bestowed  upon 
thee  that  favour,  together  with  the  office  of  Vizier.  Then  he  invested  him  with  the 
robe  of  a  Vizier  immediately  ;  whereupon  he  seated  himself  on  the  chair  of  the 
Vizier,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  thou  hast  bestowed  upon  me  that  favour,  and  I 
am  honoured  by  thy  beneficence  ;  but  hear  a  word  that  I  would  say  to  thee.  He 
replied,  Say,  and  fear  not.  And  he  said.  Since  thy  noble  command  hath  been  given 
to  marry  thy  daughter,  it  is  fit  that  she  be  married  to  my  son.  —  Hast  thou  a  son? 
asked  the  King. — Yes,  answered  Ali.  And  the  King  said,  Send  to  him  immediately. 
He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey; — and  he  sent  one  of  his  mamlouks  to  his  son,  and 
caused  him  to  be  brought ;  and  when  he  came  into  the  presence  of  the  King,  he 
kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  stood  respectfully.  And  the  King,  looking  at 
him,  saw  him  to  be  more  lovely  than  his  daughter,  and  more  beautiful  than  she  in 
stature  and  justness  of  form,  and  iti  elegance  and  in  every  charm.  He  said  to  him, 
What  is  thy  name,  0  my  son  ?  And  he  answered,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan,  my  name 
is  Hassan.  And  his  age  at  that  time  was  fourteen  years.  Then  the  King  said  to 
the  Cadi,  Write  the  contract  of  the  marriage  of  my  daughter  to  Hassan  the  son  of 
the  merchant  Ali  of  Cairo.  So  he  wrote  the  contract  of  their  marriage,  and  the 
affair  was  finished  in  the  most  agreeable  manner;  after  which,  every  one  who  was 
in  the  court  went  his  way,  and  the  merchants  went  down  behind  the  Vizier  Ali  of 


472  THE   STORY   OP   ALI   OF   CAIRO. 

Cairo  until  he  arrived  at  his  house,  instated  in  the  office  of  Vizier;  and  they  con- 
gratulated him  on  that  event,  and  went  their  ways.  He  then  entered  the  apartment 
of  his  wife,  who,  seeing  him  clad  in  the  robe  of  a  Vizier,  said  to  him,  What  is  this  ? 
He  therefore  related  to  her  the  case  from  beginning  to  end,  and  said  to  her.  The 
King  hath  married  his  daughter  to  Hassan  my  son.  And  she  rejoiced  at  this  ex- 
ceedingly. 

Then  Ali  of  Cairo  passed  the  night,  and  when  the  morning  arrived,  he  went  up  to 
the  court,  and  the  King  met  him  graciously,  and  seated  him  by  his  side,  treating 
him  with  especial  favour,  and  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  we  desire  to  celebrate  the  fes- 
tivity, and  to  introduce  thy  son  to  my  daughter.  Ali  replied,  0  our  lord  the  Sultan, 
what  thou  judgest  to  be  well  is  well.  And  the  King  gave  orders  to  celebrate  the 
festivity.  They  decorated  the  city,  and  continued  the  festivity  thirty  days,  in  joy 
and  happiness  ;  and  after  the  thirty  days  were  ended,  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier 
Ali,  took  the  King's  daughter  as  his  wife,  and  was  delighted  with  her  beauty  and 
loveliness.  The  King's  wife,  too,  when  she  saw  her  daughter's  husband,  loved  him 
greatly  ;  and  in  like  manner,  she  was  exceedingly  pleased  with  his  mother.  Then 
the  King  gave  orders  to  build  a  palace  for  Hassan  the  son  of  the  Vizier;  and  they 
built  for  him  quickly  a  magnificent  palace,  in  which  he  resided ;  and  his  mother  used 
to  remain  with  him  some  days,  and  then  descend  to  her  house.  So  the  King's  wife 
said  to  her  husband,  0  King  of  the  age,  the  mother  of  Hassan  cannot  reside  with 
her  son  and  leave  the  Vizier,  nor  can  she  reside  with  the  Vizier  and  leave  her  son. 
He  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth.  And  he  gave  orders  to  build  a  third  palace,  by 
that  of  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier;  and  they  built  it  in  a  few  days:  after  which 
the  King  commanded  to  remove  the  goods  of  the  Vizier  to  that  palace ;  and  they  did 
so ;  and  the  Vizier  took  up  his  abode  in  it.  The  three  palaces  communicated  one 
with  another ;  so  when  the  King  desired  to  speak  with  the  Vizier,  he  walked  to  him 
in  the  night,  or  sent  to  bring  him  ;  and  in  like  manner  did  Hassan  and  his  mother 
and  his  father.  They  ceased  not  to  live  together  in  an  agreeable  manner,  and  to 
pass  a  pleasant  life  for  a  length  of  time. 

After  this,  an  illness  attacked  the  King,  and  his  malady  increased :  so  he  sum- 
moned the  grandees  of  his  kingdom,  and  said  to  them,  A  violent  disease  hath  at- 
tacked me,  and  perhaps  it  is  that  which  will  occasion  my  death :  I  have  therefore 
summoned  you  to  consult  you  respecting  an  affixir,  and  do  ye  give  me  the  advice  that 
ye  judge  to  be  good.  They  said.  Respecting  what  wouldst  thou  consult  us,  0  King? 
And  he  answered,  I  have  become  old,  and  have  fallen  sick,  and  am  in  fear  for  my 
kingdom  after  me,  on  account  of  the  enemies  ;  wherefore  I  desire  that  ye  all  agree 
in  the  choice  of  one,  that  I  may  inaugurate  him  as  King  during  my  life,  and  that  ye 
may  be  at  ease.  To  this  they  all  replied,  We  all  approve  of  the  husband  of  thy 
daughter,  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier  Ali ;  for  we  have  observed  his  good  sense 
and  perfection  and  intelligence,  and  he  knoweth  the  rank  of  the  great  and  the  small. 
The  King  said  to  them,  And  do  ye  approve  of  that?  They  answered.  Yes.  He  said 
to  them.  Perhaps  ye  say  that  before  me  through  a  modest  respect  for  me,  and  behind 
my  back  ye  will  say  otherwise.  But  they  all  replied,  By  Allah  our  words  are  the 
same  in  public  and  in  secret;  they  change  not ;  and  we  approve  of  him  with  joyful 
hearts  and  dilated  bosoms.  He  therefore  said  to  them.  If  the  affair  be  so,  bring  the 
Cadi  of  the  holy  law,  and  all  the  chamberlains  and  lieutenants  and  chief  men  of  the 
kingdom  before  me  to-morrow,  and  we  will  finish  the  affair  in  the  most  agreeable 
manner.     And  they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey. 

They  departed  from  him,  and  summoned  all  the  learned  men,  and  the  chief  persons 
among  the  Emirs,  and  when  the  morning  came,  they  went  up  to  the  court,  and  sent 
to  the  King,  begging  permission  to  come  in  to  him;  and  he  gave  them  permission. 
So  they  entered,  and  saluted  him,  and  said.  We  have  all  come  before  thee.  And  the 
King  said  to  them,  0  Emirs  of  Bagdad,  whom  do  ye  like  to  be  King  over  you  after 
me,  that  I  may  inaugurate  him  during  my  life  in  the  presence  of  you  all?  They  all 
answered,  We  have  agreed  to  accept  Hassan  the  son  of  the  Vizier  Ali,  and  husband 


THE    STORY   OF   ALI   OF  CAIRO. 


473 


Cadi  and  attendant  Ulania. 


of  thy  daughter.  And  he  said,  If  the  case  be  so,  arise  ye  all,  and  bring  him  before 
me.  So  they  all  arose,  and  entered  his  palace,  and  said  to  him,  Come  with  us  to  the 
King.  —  For  what  purpose?  said  he.  And  they  answered  him.  For  an  affair  advan- 
tageous to  us  and  to  thee.  He  therefore  arose  and  proceeded  with  them  until  they 
went  in  to  the  King,  when  Hassan  kissed  the  ground  before  him  ;  and  the  King  said 
to  him.  Sit,  0  my  son.  So  he  sat;  and  the  King  said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  all  the 
Emirs  have  petitioned  in  thy  favour,  and  agreed  to  make  thee  King  over  them  after 
me,  and  I  desire  to  inaugurate  thee  during  my  life,  in  order  to  conclude  the  affair. 
But  upon  this  Hassan  arose,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the  King,  and  said  to  him, 
0  our  lord  the  King,  verily  among  the  Emirs  is  he  who  is  older  than  I,  and  of  higher 
dignity:  therefore  release  me  from  that  affair.  All  the  Emirs  however  said,  We  do 
not  choose  but  that  thou  be  King  over  us.  He  said  to  them.  My  father  is  older  than 
I,  and  I  and  my  father  are  the  same,  and  it  is  not  right  to  advance  me  above  him. 
But  his  father  replied,  I  do  not  approve  of  aught  but  that  of  which  my  brethren 
approve,  and  they  have  approved  of  thee,  and  agreed  to  have  thee:  oppose  thou  not 
the  command  of  the  King,  nor  the  command  of  thy  brethren.  And  Hassan  hung 
down  his  head  towards  the  ground,  in  modest  respect  for  the  King,  and  for  his 
father.  So  the  King  said  to  them.  Do  ye  approve  of  him  ?  They  answered.  We  do 
approve  of  him.  And  they  all  recited,  in  testimony  thereof,  seven  times,  the  opening 
chapter  of  the  Koran.  Then  the  King  said,  0  Cadi,  write  a  legal  voucher,  testifying 
of  these  Emirs,  that  they  have  agreed  to  acknowledge,  as  Sultan,  Hassan,  the  husband 
of  my  daughter,  and  that  he  shall  be  King  over  them.  He  therefore  wrote  the 
voucher  to  that  effect,  and  signed  it,  after  they  had  all  inaugurated  him  as  King. 
The  King  did  so  likewise,  and  ordered  him  to  sit  upon  the  throne  of  the  kingdom. 
After  this,  all  arose,  and  kissed  the  hands  of  the  King  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier, 
and  paid  homage  to  him  ;  and   he   exercised  authority  that  day  in  an  admirable 


474  THE   STORY   OF   ALI   OF   CAIRO. 

manner,  and  conferred  magnificent  dresses  of  honour  upon  the  grandees  of  the 
kingdom. 

Then  the  court  broke  up,  and  Hassan  went  in  to  the  father  of  his  wife,  and  kissed 
his  hands ;  and  he  said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  be  mindful  to  preserve  the  fear  of  Gud  in 
thy  conduct  towards  thy  subjects.  Hassan  replied,  Through  thy  prayer  for  me,  0 
my  father,  God's  guidance  will  be  given  me.  He  then  entered  his  own  palace,  and 
his  wife  met  him,  with  her  mother  and  their  dependants,  and  they  kissed  his  hands, 
and  said  to  him.  May  the  day  be  blessed!  —  and  they  congratulated  him  on  the 
dignity  to  which  he  had  been  raised.  Then  he  arose  and  went  from  his  palace  into 
that  of  his  father  ;  and  they  rejoiced  exceedingly  at  the  favour  which  Gud  had  granted 
him  in  conferring  upon  him  the  sovereignty  ;  and  his  father  charged  him  to  preserve 
the  fear  of  God,  and  to  act  with  clemency  to  his  subjects.  He  passed  the  next  night 
in  joy  and  happiness  until  the  morning ;  when  he  performed  his  divinely  ordained 
prayers,  and  finished  his  concluding  supplication,  and  went  up  to  the  court.  All 
the  troops  also  went  up  thither,  and  the  dignitaries;  and  he  judged  among  the 
people,  commanding  to  act  kindly,  and  forbidding  iniquity,  and  he  invested  and 
displaced,  and  ceased  not  to  exercise  authority  until  the  close  of  the  day  ;  where- 
upon the  court  broke  up  in  the  most  agreeable  manner,  and  the  troops  dispersed, 
each  person  going  his  way.  Then  Hassan  arose  and  entered  the  palace;  and  he 
saw  that  the  illness  of  his  wife's  father  had  become  heavy  upon  him :  so  he  said  to 
him.  No  harm  betide  thee !  And  the  old  King  opened  his  eyes,  and  said  to  him,  0 
Hassan  !  He  replied.  At  thy  service,  0  my  lord.  And  the  old  King  said  to  him, 
Now  hath  the  end  of  my  life  drawn  near  ;  therefore  take  care  of  thy  wife  and  her 
mother,  and  preserve  the  fear  of  God,  and  an  afi'ectionate  obedience  to  thy  parents ; 
stand  in  awe  of  the  majesty  of  the  Requiting  King,  and  know  that  God  commandeth 
justice  and  the  doing  of  good.  The  King  Hassan  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  —  Then 
the  old  King  remained  three  days  after  that,  and  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted!  So  they  prepared  his  body  for  burial,  and  shrouded 
it,  and  performed  for  him  recitations  of  portions,  and  of  the  whole  of  the  Koran,  until 
the  end  of  the  forty  days  ;  —  and  the  King  Hassan,  the  son  of  the  Vizier,  became 
absolute  monarch.  His  subjects  rejoiced  in  him,  and  all  his  days  were  happy,  and 
his  father  ceased  not  to  be  chief  Vizier  on  his  right  hand,  and  he  took  another 
Vizier  on  his  left.  His  affairs  were  well  ordered,  and  he  remained  King  in  Bagdad 
a  long  time ;  he  was  also  blessed  with  three  male  children  by  the  daughter  of  the 
old  King,  and  they  inherited  the  kingdom  after  him  ;  and  they  passed  a  most  com- 
fortable and  happy  life,  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the 
separator  of  companions.  — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  is  eternal,  and  ia 
whose  power  it  lieth  to  annul  and  to  confirm! 


SINDBAD   THE  SAILOR   AIJD   SINDBAD  THE   PORTEll.  475 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Commencing  with  the  Five  Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the 
Five  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth. 


THE  STORY  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR  AND  SINDBAD  THE  PORTER. 

There  was  in  the  time  of  the  Caliph,  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Haroun  Alra- 
shid,  in  the  city  of  Bagdad,  a  man  called  Sindbad  the  Poj-ter.  He  was  a  man  in 
poor  circumstances,  who  bore  burdens  for  hire  upon  his  head.  And  it  happened  to 
him  that  he  bore  one  day  a  heavy  burden,  and  that  day  was  excessively  hot;  so  he 
was  wearied  by  the  load,  and  perspired  profusely,  the  heat  violently  oppressing  him. 
In  this  state  he  passed  by  the  door  of  a  merchant,  the  ground  before  which  was 
swept  and  sprinkled,  and  there  the  air  was  temperate  ;  and  by  the  side  of  the  door 
was  a  wide  bench.  The  porter  therefore  put  down  his  burden  upon  that  bench,  to 
rest  himself,  and  to  scent  the  air;  and  when  he  had  done  so,  there  came  forth  upon 
him,  from  the  door,  a  pleasant,  gentle  gale,  and  an  exquisite  odour,  wherewith  the 
porter  was  delighted.  He  seated  himself  upon  the  edge  of  the  bench,  and  heard  in 
that  place  the  melodious  sound  of  stringed  instruments,  with  the  lute  among  them, 
and  mirth-exciting  voices,  and  varieties  of  distinct  recitations.  He  heard  also  the 
voices  of  birds,  warbling,  and  praising  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  with  diverse 
tones  and  with  all  dialects ;  consisting  of  turtle-doves  and  hezars  and  blackbirds 
and  nightingales  and  ring-doves  and  curlews ;  whereupon  he  wondered  in  his  mind, 
and  was  moved  with  great  delight.  He  then  advanced  to  that  door,  and  found 
within  the  house  a  great  garden,  wherein  he  beheld  pages  and  slaves  and  servants 
and  other  dependants,  and  such  things  as  existed  not  elsewhere  save  in  the  abodes 
of  Kings  and  Sultans ;  and  after  that,  there  blew  upon  him  the  odour  of  delicious, 
exquisite  viands,  of  all  different  kinds,  and  of  delicious  wine. 

Upon  this  he  raised  his  eyes  towards  heaven,  and  said.  Extolled  be  thy  perfection, 
0  Lord!  0  Creator!  0  Supplier  of  the  conveniences  of  life!  Thou  suppliest 
whom  Thou  wilt  without  reckoning !  0  Allah,  I  implore  thy  forgiveness  of  all 
offences,  and  turn  to  Thee  repenting  of  all  faults !  0  Lord,  there  is  no  animadvert- 
ing upon  Thee  with  respect  to  thy  judgment  and  thy  power;  for  Thou  art  not  to  be 
questioned  regarding  that  which  Thou  dost,  and  Thou  art  able  to  do  whatsoever 
Thou  wilt !  Extolled  be  thy  perfection !  Thou  enrichest  whom  Thou  wilt,  and 
whom  Thou  wilt  Thou  irapoverishest !  Thou  magnifiest  whom  Thou  wilt,  and  whom 
Thou  wilt  Thou  abasest !  There  is  no  deity  but  Thou  !  How  great  is  thy  dignity  ! 
and  how  mighty  is  thy  dominion  !  and  how  excellent  is  thy  government!  Thou 
hast  bestowed  favours  upon  him  whom  Thou  choosest  among  thy  servants,  and  the 
owner  of  this  place  is  in  the  utmost  affluence,  delighting  himself  with  pleasant 
odours  and  delicious  meats  and  exquisite  beverages  of  all  descriptions.  And  Thou 
hast  appointed  unto  thy  creatures  what  Thou  wilt,  and  what  Thou  hast  predestined 
for  them  ;  so  that  among  them  one  is  weary,  and  another  is  at  ease  ;  and  one  of 
them  is  prosperous,  and  another  is  like  me,  in  the  extreme  of  fatigue  and  abjection ! 
And  when  Sindbad  the  Porter  had  finished  speaking,  he  desired  to  take  up  hia 
burden  and  depart.  But  lo,  there  came  forth  to  him  from  that  door  a  young  page, 
handsome  in  countenance,  comely  in  stature,  magnificent  in  apparel;  and  he  laid 
hold  upon  the  porter's  hand,  saying  to  him.  Enter:  answer  the  summons  of  my 


476  THE   FIRST  VOYAGE    OF  SINDBAD   THE  SAILOR. 

master  ;  for  he  calleth  for  thee.  And  the  porter  would  have  refused  to  enter  with 
the  page,  but  he  could  not.  He  therefore  deposited  his  burden  with  the  door-keeper 
in  tne  entrance-passage,  and,  entering  the  house  with  the  page,  he  found  it  to  be  a 
handsome  mansion,  presenting  an  appearance  of  joy  and  majesty.  And  he  looked 
towards  a  grand  chamber,  in  which  he  beheld  noblemen  and  great  lord^  ;  and  in  it 
were  all  kinds  of  flowers,  and  all  kinds  of  sweet  scents,  and  varieties  of  dried  and 
fresh  fruits,  together  with  abundance  of  various  kinds  of  exquisite  viands,  and 
beverage  prepared  from  the  fruit  of  the  choicest  grape-vines.  In  it  were  also  in- 
struments of  mysic  and  mirth,  and  varieties  of  beautiful  slave-girls,  all  ranged  in 
proper  order.  And  at  the  upper  end  of  that  chamber  was  a  great  and  venerable 
man,  in  the  sides  of  whose  beard  grey  hairs  had  begun  to  appear.  He  was  of  hand- 
some form,  comely  in  countenance,  with  an  aspect  of  gravity  and  dignity  and 
majesty  and  stateliness.  So,  upon  this,  Sindbad  the  Porter  was  confounded,  and  he 
said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  this  place  is  a  portion  of  Paradise,  or  it  is  the  palace 
of  a  King  or  Sultan  !  Then,  putting  himself  in  a  respectful  posture,  he  saluted  the 
assembly,  prayed  for  them,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  them;  after  which  he 
stood,  hanging  down  his  head  in  humility.  But  the  master  of  the  house  gave  him 
permission  to  seat  himself.  He  therefore  sat.  And  the  master  of  the  house  had 
caused  him  to  draw  near  unto  him,  and  now  began  to  cheer  him  with  conversation, 
and  to  welcome  him  ;  and  he  put  before  him  some  of  the  various  excellent,  delicious, 
exquisite  viands.  So  Sindbad  the  Porter  advanced,  and,  having  said.  In  the  name 
of  God,  the  Compassionate,  the  Merciful,  —  ate  until  he  was  satisfied  and  satiated, 
when  he  said,  Praise  be  to  God  in  every  case ! — and  washed  his  hands,  and  thanked 
them  for  this. 

The  master  of  the  house  then  said.  Thou  art  welcome,  and  thy  day  is  blessed. 
What  is  thy  name,  and  what  trade  dost  thou  follow? — 0  my  master,  he  answered, 
my  name  is  Sindbad  the  Porter,  and  I  bear  upon  my  head  men's  merchandise  for 
hire.  And  at  this,  the  master  of  the  house  smiled,  and  he  said  to  him.  Know,  0 
porter,  that  thy  name  is  like  mine ;  for  I  am  Sindbad  the  Sailor :  but,  0  porter,  I 
desire  that  thou  let  me  hear  the  proverbs  thou  wast  reciting  when  thou  wast  at  the 
door.  The  porter  therefore  was  ashamed,  and  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah 
that  thou  be  not  angry  with  me  ;  for  fatigue  and  trouble,  and  paucity  of  what  the 
hand  possesseth,  teach  a  man  ill  manners  and  impertinence.  His  host,  however,  re- 
plied. Be  not  ashamed  ;  for  thou  hast  become  my  brother :  recite  then  the  proverbs, 
since  they  pleased  me  when  I  heard  them  from  thee  as  thou  recitedst  them  at  the 
door.  So  upon  this  the  porter  recited  to  him  those  proverbs,  and  they  pleased  him, 
and  he  was  moved  with  delight  on  hearing  them.  He  then  said  to  him,  0  porter, 
know  that  my  story  is  wonderful,  and  I  will  inform  thee  of  all  that  happened  to  me 
and  befell  me  before  I  attained  this  prosperity  and  sat  in  this  place  wherein  thou 
seest  me.  For  I  attained  not  this  prosperity  and  this  place  save  after  severe  fatigue 
and  great  trouble  and  many  terrors.  How  often  have  I  endured  fatigue  and  toil  in 
my  early  years !  I  have  performed  seven  voyages,  and  connected  with  each  voyage 
is  a  wonderful  tale,  that  would  confound  the  mind.  All  that  which  I  endured  hap- 
pened by  fate  and  destiny,  and  from  that  which  is  written  there  is  no  escape  or  flight. 


THE  FIRST  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

Know,  O  masters,  0  noble  persons,  that  I  had  a  father,  a  merchant,  who  was  one 
of  the  first  in  rank  among  the  people  and  the  merchants,  and  who  possessed  abun- 
dant wealth  and  ample  fortune.  He  died  when  I  was  a  young  child,  leaving  to  me 
wealth  and  buildings  and  fields  ;  and  when  I  grew  up,  I  put  my  hand  upon  the 
whole  of  the  property,  ate  well  and  drank  well,  associated  with  the  young  men,  wore 
handsome  apparel,  and  passed  my  life  with  my  friends  and  companions,  feeling  con- 
fident that  this  course  would  continue  and  profit  me;  and  I  ceased  not  to  live  in  this 


Sindbad  the  Porter  Saluting  the  Assembly.     (Page  476.) 


477 


THE   FIRST  VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE    SAILOR.  479 

manner  for  a  length  of  time.  I  then  returned  to  my  reason,  and  recovered  from  mj 
heedlessness,  and  found  that  my  wealth  had  passed  away,  and  my  condition  had 
changed,  and  all  [the  money]  that  I  possessed  had  gone.  I  recovered  not  to  see  my 
situation  but  in  a  state  of  fear  and  confusion  of  mind,  and  remembered  a  tale  that 
I  had  heard  before,  the  tale  of  our  lord  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom 
be  peace!),  respecting  his  saying.  Three  things  are  better  than  three:  the  day  of 
death  is  better  than  the  day  of  birth  ;  and  a  living  dog  is  better  than  a  dead  lion  ;  and 
the  grave  is  better  than  the  palace.  Then  I  arose,  and  collected  what  I  had,  of 
effects  and  apparel,  and  sold  them  ;  after  which  I  sold  my  buildings  and  all  that  my 
hand  possessed,  and  amassed  three  thousand  pieces  of  silver;  and  it  occurred  to  my 
mind  to  travel  to  the  countries  of  other  people.  Upon  this,  I  resolved,  and  arose 
and  bought  for  myself  goods  and  commodities  and  merchandise,  with  such  other 
things  as  were  required  for  travel,  and  my  mind  had  consented  to  my  performing  a 
sea-voyage.  So  I  embarked  in  a  ship,  and  it  descended  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  with 
a  company  of  merchants,  and  we  traversed  the  sea  for  many  days  and  nights.  We 
had  passed  by  island  after  island,  and  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  land  to  land  ;  and 
in  every  place  by  which  we  passed  we  sold  and  bought,  and  exchanged  merchandise. 
We  continued  our  voyage  until  we  arrived  at  an  island  like  one  of  the  gardens  of 
Paradise,  and  at  that  island  the  master  of  the  ship  brought  her  to  anchor  with  us. 
He  cast  the  anchor,  and  put  forth  the  landing-plank,  and  all  who  were  in  the  ship 
landed  upon  that  island.  They  had  prepared  for  themselves  fire-pots,  and  they 
lighted  the  fires  in  them  ;  and  their  occupations  were  various  :  some  cooked  ;  others 
washed ;  and  others  amused  themselyes.  I  was  among  those  who  were  amusing 
themselves  upon  the  shores  of  the  island,  and  the  passengers  were  assembled  to  eat 
and  drink  and  play  and  sport.  But  while  we  were  thus  engaged,  lo,  the  master  of 
the  ship,  standing  upon  its  side,  called  out  with  his  loudest  voice,  0  ye_  passengers, 
whom  may  God  preserve !  come  up  quickly  into  the  ship,  hasten  to  embark,  and 
leave  your  merchandise,  and  flee  with  your  lives,  and  save  yourselves  from  destruc- 
tion ;  for  this  apparent  island,  upon  which  ye  are,  is  not  really  an  island,  but  it  is  a 
great  fish  that  hath  become  stationery  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  and  the  sand  hath  ac- 
cumulated upon  it,  so  that  it  hath  become  like  an  island,  and  trees  have  grown  upon 
it  since  times  of  old  ;  and  when  ye  lighted  upon  it  the  fire,  it  felt  the  heat,  and  put 
itself  in  motion,  and  now  it  will  descend  with  you  into  the  sea,  and  ye  will  all  be 
drowned  :  then  seek  for  yourselves  escape  before  destruction,  and  leave  the  merchan- 
dise! — The  passengers,  therefore,  hearing  the  words  of  the  master  of  the  ship,  has- 
tened to  go  up  into  the  vessel,  leaving  the  merchandise,  and  their  other  goods,  and 
their  copper  cooking-pots,  and  their  fire-pots:  and  some  reached  the  ship,  and 
others  reached  it  not.  The  island  had  moved,  and  descended  to  the  bottom  of  the 
sea,  with  all  that  were  upon  it,  and  the  roaring  sea,  agitated  with  waves,  closed 
over  it. 

I  was  among  the  number  of  those  who  remained  behind  upon  the  island  ;  so  I 
sank  in  the  sea  with  the  rest  who  sank.  But  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  delivered 
me  and  saved  me  from  drowning,  and  supplied  me  with  a  great  wooden  Bowl,  of  the 
bowls  in  which  the  passengers  had  been  washing,  and  I  laid  hold  upon  it  and  got 
into  it,  induced  by  the  sweetness  of  life,  and  beat  the  water  with  my  feet  as  M-ith 
oars,  while  the  waves  sported  with  me,  tossing  me  to  the  right  and  left.  The  master 
of  the  vessel  had  caused  her  sails  to  be  spread,  and  pursued  his  voyage  with  those 
who  had  embarked,  not  regarding  such  as  had  been  submerged  ;  and  I  ceased  not 
to  look  at  that  vessel  until  it  was  concealed  from  my  eye.  I  made  sure  of  destruc- 
tion, and  night  came  upon  me  while  I  was  in  this  state ;  but  I  remained  so  a  day 
and  a  night,  and  the  wind  and  the  waves  aided  me  until  the  bowl  came  to  a  stoppage 
with  me  under  a  high  island,  whereon  were  trees  overhanging  the  sea.  So  I  laid 
hold  upon  a  branch  of  a  lofty  tree,  and  clung  to  it,  after  I  had  been  at  the  point  of 
destruction  ;  and  I  kept  hold  upon  it  until  I  landed  on  the  isfland,  when  I  found  my 
legs  benumbed,  and  saw  marks  of  the  nibbling  of  fish  upon  their  hams,  of  which  I 


480  THE   FIRST   VOYAGE   OF    SINDBAD    THE   SAILOR. 

nad  been  insensible  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  the  anguish  and  fatigue  that  I  was 
suffering. 

I  threw  myself  upon  the  island  like  one  dead,  and  was  unconscious  of  my  existence, 
and  drowned  in  my  stupefaction,  and  I  ceased  not  to  remain  in  this  condition  until 
the  next  day.  The  sun  having  then  risen  upon  me,  I  awoke  upon  the  island,  and 
found  that  my  feet  were  swollen,"  and  that  I  had  become  reduced  to  the  state  in 
which  I  then  was.  Awhile  I  dragged  myself  along  in  a  sitting  posture,  and  then  I 
crawled  upon  my  knees;  And  there  were  in  the  island  fruits  in  abundance,  and 
springs  of  sweet  water.  I  therefore  ate  of  those  fruits  ;  and  I  ceased  not  to  continue 
in  this  state  for  many  days  and  nights.  My  spirit  had  then  revived,  my  soul  had 
returned  to  me,  and  my  power  of  motion  was  renewed ;  and  I  began  to  meditate, 
and  to  walk  along  the  shore  of  the  island,  amusing  myself  among  the  trees  with  the 
sight  of  the  things  that  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  had  created  ;  and  I  had  made 
for  myself  a  staff  from  those  trees,  to  lean  upon  it.  Thus  I  remained  until  I  walked, 
one  day,  upon  the  shore  of  the  island,  and  there  appeared  unto  me  an  indistinct 
object  in  the  distance.  I  imagined  that  it  was  a  wild  beast,  or  one  of  the  beasts  of 
the  sea ;  and  I  walked  towards  it,  ceasing  not  to  gaze  at  it ;  and  lo,  it  was  a  mare, 
of  superb  appearance,  picketed  in  a  part  of  the  island  by  the  sea-shore.  I  approached 
her:  but  she  cried  out  against  me  with  a  great  cry,  and  I  trembled  with  fear  of  her, 
and  was  about  to  return,  when  behold,  a  man  came  forth  from  beneath  the  earth, 
and  he  called  to  me  and  pursued  me,  saying  to  me.  Who  art  thou,  and  whence  hast 
thou  come,  and  what  is  the  cause  of  thine  arrival  in  this  place?  So  I  answered 
him,  0  my  master,  know  that  I  am  a  stranger,  and  I  was  in  a  ship,  and  was  sub- 
merged in  the  sea  with  certain  others  of  the  passengers;  but  God  supplied  me  with 
a  wooden  bowl,  and  I  got  into  it,  and  it  bore  me  along  until  the  waves  cast  me  upon 
this  island^  And  when  he  heard  my  words,  he  laid  hold  of  my  hand,  and  said  to 
me.  Come  with  me.  I  therefore  went  with  him,  and  he  descended  with  me  into  a 
grotto  beneath  the  earth,  and  conducted  me  into  a  large  subterranean  chamber,  and, 
having  seated  me  at  the  upper  end  of  that  chamber,  brought  me  some  food.  I  was 
hungry  ;  so  I  ate  until  I  was  satiated  and  contented,  and  my  soul  became  at  ease. 
Then  he  asked  me  respecting  my  case,  and  what  had  happened  to  me ;  wherefore  I 
acquainted  him  with  my  whole  affair  from  beginning  to  end;  and  he  wondered  at 
my  story. 

And  when  I  had  finished  my  tale,  I  said,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0  my  master, 
that  thou  be  not  displeased  with  me :  I  have  acquainted  thee  with  the  truth  of  my 
case,  and  of  what  hath  happened  to  me,  and  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  inform  me 
who  thou  art,  and  what  is  the  cause  of  thy  dwelling  in  this  chamber  that  is  beneath 
the  earth,  and  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  picketing  this  mare  by  the  sea-side.  So  he 
replied.  Know  that  we  are  a  party  dispersed  in  this  island,  upon  its  shores,  and  we 
are  the  grooms  of  the  King  Mihrage,'  having  under  our  care  all  his  horses ;  and 
every  month,  when  moonlight  commenceth,  we  bring  the  swift  mares,  and  picket 
them  in  this  island,  every  mare  that  has  not  foaled,  and  conceal  ourselves  in  this 
chamber  beneath  the  earth,  that  they  may  attract  the  sea-horses.  This  is  the  time 
of  the  coming  forth  of  the  sea-horse  ;  and  afterwards,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!),  I  will  take  thee  with  me  to  the  King  Mihrage,  and  divert  thee 
with  the  sight  of  our  country.  Know,  moreover,  that  if  thou  hadst  not  met  with  us, 
thou  hadst  not  seen  any  one  in  this  place,  and  wouldst  have  died  in  misery,  none 
knowing  of  thee.  But  I  will  be  the  means  of  the  preservation  of  thy  life,  and  of  thy 
return  to  thy  country.  —  I  therefore  prayed  for  him,  and  thanked  him  for  his  kind 
ness  and  beneficence ;  and  while  we  were  thus  talking,  the  horse  came  forth  from 
the  sea,  as  he  had  said.  And  shortly  after,  his  companions  came,  each  leading  a 
mare ;  and,  seeing  me  with   him,  they  inquired  of  me  my  story,  and  I  told  them 

'  This  word  is  obviously  the  Sanscrit  maharaja,  "  Great  King,"  proDOunoed  mabraj  in  Jte  col- 
loquial dialects  of  India. 


THE   FIRST   VOYAGE    OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  481 

what  I  had  related  to  him.  They  then  drew  near  to  me,  and  spread  the  table,  and 
ate,  and  invited  me;  so  I  ate  with  them  ;  after  which  they  arose  and  mounted  the 
horses,  takinn;  me  with  them,  having  mounted  me  on  a  mare. 

We  commenced  our  journey,  and  proceeded  without  ceasing  until  we  arrived  at 
the  city  of  the  King  Mihrage,  and  they  went  in  to  him,  and  they  acquainted  hira 
with  my  story.  He  therefore  desired  my  presence,  and  they  took  me  in  to  him,  and 
stationed  me  before  him,  whereupon  I  saluted  him,  and  he  returned  my  salutation, 
and  welcomed  me,  greeting  me  in  an  honourable  manner,  and  inquired  of  me  re- 
specting my  case.  So  I  informed  him  of  all  that  had  happened  to  me,  and  of  all 
that  I  had  seen  from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  he  wondered  at  that  which  had  befallen 
me  and  happened  to  me,  and  said  to  me,  O  my  son,  by  Allah  thou  hast  experienced 
an  extraordinary  preservation,  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  predestined  length  of  thy 
life,  thou  hadst  not  escaped  from  these  difficulties ;  but  praise  be  to  God  for  thy 
safety !  Then  he  treated  me  with  beneficence  and  honour,  caused  me  to  draw  near 
to  him,  and  began  to  cheer  me  with  conversation  and  courtesy ;  and  he  made  me  his 
superintendent  of  the  sea-port,  and  registrar  of  every  vessel  that  came  to  the  coast. 
I  stood  in  his  presence  to  transact  his  affairs,  and  he  favoured  me  and  benefitted  me 
in  every  respect ;  he  invested  me  with  a  handsome  and  costly  dress,  and  I  became  a 
person  high  in  credit  with  him  in  intercessions,  and  in  accomplishing  the  affairs  of 
the  people.  I  ceased  not  to  remain  in  his  service  for  a  long  time  ;  and  whenever  I 
went  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  I  used  to  inquire  of  the  merchants  and  travellers  and 
sailors  respecting  the  direction  of  the  city  of  Bagdad,  that  perchance  some  one 
might  inform  me  of  it,  and  I  might  go  with  him  thither  and  return  to  my  country ; 
but  none  knew  it,  or  knew  any  one  who  went  to  it.  At  this  I  was  perplexed,  and  I 
was  weary  of  the  length  of  my  absence  from  home  ;  and  in  this  state  I  continued 
for  a  length  of  time,  until  I  went  in  one  day  to  the  King  Mihrage,  and  found  with 
him  a  party  of  Indians.  I  saluted  them,  and  they  returned  my  salutation,  and  wel- 
comed me,  and  asked  me  respecting  my  country  ;  after  which,  I  questioned  them  as 
to  their  country,  and  they  told  me  that  they  consisted  of  various  races.  Among 
them  are  the  Shakiriah,'  who  are  the  most  noble  of  their  races,  who  oppress  no  one, 
nor  offer  violence  to  any.  And  among  them  are  a  class  called  the  Brahmans,  a 
people  who  never  drink  wine ;  but  they  are  persons  of  pleasure  and  joy,  and  sport 
and  merriment,  and  possessed  of  camels  and  horses  and  cattle.  They  informed  me 
also  that  the  Indians  are  divided  into  seventy-two  classes :  and  I  wondered  at  this 
extremely.  And  I  saw,  in  the  dominions  of  the  King  Mihrage,  an  island,  among 
others,  which  is  called  Kasil,  in  which  is  heard  the  beating  of  tambourines  and 
drums  throughout  the  night,  and  the  islanders  and  travellers  informed  us  that 
Dagial*  is  in  it.  I  saw  too,  in  the  sea  in  which  is  that  island,  a  fish  two  hundred 
cubits  long,  and  the  fishermen  fear  it,  wherefore  they  knock  some  pieces  of  wood, 
and  it  fleeth  from  them  ;  and  I  saw  a  fish  whose  face  was  like  that  of  the  owl.  I 
likewise  saw  during  that  voyage  many  wonderful  and  strange  things,  such  that  if  I 
related  them  to  you,  the  description  would  be  too  long. 

I  continued  to  amuse  myself  with  the  sight  of  those  isliinds  and  the  things  that 
they  contained,  until  I  stood  one  day  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea,  with  a  staff  in  my 
hand,  as  was  my  custom,  and  lo,  a  great  vessel  approached,  wherein  were  many 
merchants:  and  when  it  arrived  at  the  harbour  of  the  city,  and  its  place  of  anchor- 
ing, the  master  furled  its  sails,  brought  it  to  an  anchor  by  the  shore,  and  put  forth 
the  landing-plank  ;  and  the  sailors  brought  out  everything  that  was  in  that  vessel 
to  the  shore.  They  were  slow  in  taking  forth  the  goods,  while  I  stood  writing  their 
account,  and  I  said  to  the  master  of  the  ship,  Doth  aught  remain  in  thy  vessel  ?  He 
answered.  Yes,  0  my  master ;  I  have  some  goods  in  the  hold  of  the  ship,  but  their 
jwner  was  drowned  in  the  sea  at  one  of  the  islands  during  our  voyage  hither,  and 
his  goods  are  in  our  charge ;  so  we  desire  to  sell  them,  and  to  take  a  note  of  their 

'  The  Kshatrias,  or  warrior  caste  of  Indians. 

'A  fabulous  being  who  is  to  come  in  the  last  days,  and  lay  waste  the  earth. 

31 


482  THE   FIRST  VOYAGE   OF  SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 

price,  in  orier  to  convey  it  to  his  family  in  the  city  of  Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace. 
I  therefore  said  to  the  master,  What  was  the  name  of  that  man,  the  owner  of  the 
goods  ?  Hjj  answered.  His  name  was  Sindbad  the  Sailor,  and  he  was  drowned  on 
his  voyage  with  us  in  the  sea.  And  when  I  heard  his  words,  I  looked  at  him  with 
a  scrutinizing  eye,  and  recognized  him ;  and  I  cried  out  at  him  with  a  great  cry, 
and  said,  0  master,  know  that  I  am  the  owner  of  the  goods  which  thou  hast  men- 
tioned, and  I  am  Sindbad  the  Sailor,  who  descended  upon  the  island  from  the  ship, 
with  the  other  merchants  who  descended ;  and  when  the  fish  that  we  were  upon 
moved,  and  thou  calledst  out  to  us,  some  got  up  into  the  vessel,  and  the  rest  sank, 
and  I  was  among  those  who  sank.  But  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  preserved 
me  and  saved  me  from  drowning  by  means  of  a  large  wooden  bowl,  of  those  in  which 
the  passengers  were  washing,  and  I  got  into  it,  and  began  to  beat  the  water  with  my 
feet,  and  the  waves  aided  me  until  I  arrived  at  this  island,  when  I  landed  on  it,  and 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  assisted  me,  and  I  met  the  grooms  of  the  King  Mih- 
rage,  who  took  me  with  them  and  brought  me  to  this  city.  They  then  led  me  in  to 
the  King  Mihrage,  and  I  acquainted  him  with  my  story  ;  whereupon  he  bestowed 
benefits  upon  me,  and  appointed  me  clerk  of  the  harbour  of  this  city,  and  I  obtained 
profit  in  his  service,  and  favour  with  him.  Therefore  these  goods  that  thou  hast  are 
my  goods  and  my  portion. 

But  the  master  said.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the 
Great  1  There  is  no  longer  faith  nor  conscience  in  any  one  ! — Wherefore,  0  master, 
said  I,  when  thou  hast  heard  me  tell  thee  my  story  ?  He  answered,  Because  thou 
heardest  me  say  that  I  had  goods  whose  owner  was  drowned :  therefore  thou  desirest 
to  take  them  without  price ;  and  this  is  unlawful  to  thee ;  for  we  saw  him  when  he 
sank,  and  there  were  with  him  many  of  the  passengers,  not  one  of  whom  escaped. 
How  then  dost  thou  pretend  that  thou  art  the  owner  of  the  goods  ?— So  I  said  to 
him,  0  master,  hear  my  story,  and  understand  my  words,  and  my  veracity  will  be- 
come manifest  to  thee  ;  for  falsehood  is  a  characteristic  of  the  hypocrites.  Then  I 
related  to  him  all  that  I  had  done  from  the  time  that  I  went  forth  with  him  from  the 
city  of  Bagdad  until  we  arrived  at  that  island  upon  which  we  were  submerged  in  the 
pea,  and  I  mentioned  to  him  some  circumstances  that  had  occurred  between  me  and 
him.  Upon  this,  therefore,  the  master  and  the  merchants  were  convinced  of  my  ve- 
racity, and  recognized  me ;  and  they  congratulated  me  on  my  safety,  all  of  them 
saying,  By  Allah,  we  believed  not  that  thou  hadst  escaped  drowning ;  but  God  hath 
granted  thee  a  new  life.  Then  they  gave  me  the  goods,  and  I  found  my  name  writ- 
ten upon  them,  and  nought  of  them  was  missing.  So  I  opened  them,  and  took  forth 
from  them  something  precious  and  costly;  the  sailors  of  the  sl\ip  carried"it  with  me, 
and  I  went  up  with  it  to  the  King  to  ofi'er  it  as  a  present,  and  informed  him  that  this 
ship  was  the  one  in  which  I  was  a  passenger.  I  told  him  also  that  my  goods  had 
arrived  all  entire,  and  that  this  present  was  a  part  of  them.  And  the  King  won- 
dered at  this  aS"air  extremely:  my  veracity  in  all  that  I  had  said  became  manifest 
to  him,  and  he  loved  me  greatly,  and  treated  me  with  exceeding  honour,  giving  me  a 
large  present  in  return  for  mine. 

Then  I  sold  my  bales,  as  well  as  the  other  goods  that  I  had,  and  gained  upon  them 
abundantly  ;  and  I  purchased  other  goods  and  merchandise  and  commodities  of  that 
city.  And  when  the  merchants  of  the  ship  desired  to  set  forth  on  their  voyage,  I 
stowed  all  that  1  had  in  the  vessel,  and,  going  in  to  the  King,  thanked  him  for  his 
beneficence  and  kindness ;  after  which  I  begged  him  to  grant  me  permission  to  de- 
part on  my  voyage  to  ray  country  and  my  family.  So  he  bade  me  farewell,  and 
gave  me  an  abundance  of  things  at  my  departure,  of  the  commodities  of  that  city ; 
and  when  I  had  taken  leave  of  him,  I  embarked  in  the  ship,  and  we  set  sail  by  the 
permission  of  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  Fortune  served  us,  and  destiny 
aided  us,  and  we  ceased  not  to  prosecute  our  voyage  night  and  day  until  we  arrived 
in  safety  at  the  city  of  Balsora.  There  we  landed,  and  remained  a  short  time  ;  and 
I  rejoiced  at  my  safety,  and  my  return  to  ray  country :  and  after  that,  I  repaired  to 


THE   SECOND   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  483 

the  city  of  Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace,  with  abundance  of  bales  and  goods  and 
merchandise  of  great  value.  Then  I  went  to  my  quarter,  and  entered  my  house, 
and  all  my  family  and  companions  came  to  me.  I  procured  for  myself  servants  and 
other  dependants,  and  mamlouks  and  concubines  and  male  black  slaves,  so  that  I 
had  a  large  establishment;  and  I  purchased  houses  and  other  immovable  posses- 
sions, more  than  I  had  at  first.  I  enjoyed  the  society  of  my  companions  and  friends, 
exceeding  my  former  habits,  and  forgot  all  that  I  had  suffered  from  fatigue,  and 
absence  from  my  native  country,  and  difficulty,  and  the  terrors  of  travel.  I  occupied 
myself  with  delights  and  pleasures ;  and  delicious  meats  and  exquisite  drinks,  and 
continued  in  this  state.  Such  were  the  events  of  the  first  of  my  voyages ;  and  to- 
morrow, if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  I  will  relate  to  you  the 
tale  of  the  second  of  the  seven  voyages.  ' 

Sindbad  the  Sailor  then  made  Sindbad  the  Porter  to  sup  with  him ;  after  which 
he  gave  orders  to  present  him  with  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  him.  Thou 
hast  cheered  us  by  thy  company  this  day.  So  the  Porter  thanked  him,  and  took 
from  him  what  he  had  given  him,  and  went  his  way,  meditating  upon  the  events 
that  befell  and  happened  to  mankind,  and  wondering  extremely.  He  slept  that 
night  in  his  abode  ;  and  when  the  morning  came,  he  repaired  to  the  house  of  Sind- 
bad the  Sailor,  and  went  in  to  him  ;  and  he  welcomed  him,  and  treated  him  with 
honour,  seating  him  by  him.  And  after  the  rest  of  his  companions  had  come,  the 
food  and  drink  were  set  before  them,  and  the  time  was  pleasant  to  them,  and  they 
were  merry.     Then  Sindbad  the  Sailor  began  his  narrative  thus: — 


THE  SECOND  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

Know,  0  my  brothers,  that  I  was  enjoying  a  most  comfortable  life,  and  the  most 
pure  happiness,  as  ye  were  told  yesterday,  until  it  occurred  to  my  mind,  one  day,  to 
travel  again  to  the  lands  of  other  people,  and  I  felt  a  longing  for  the  occupation  of 
traffick,  and  the  pleasure  of  seeing  the  countries  and  islands  of  the  world,  and  gain- 
ing my  subsistence.  I  resolved  upon  that  affair,  and,  having  taken  forth  from  my 
money  a  large  sum,  I  purchased  with  it  goods  and  merchandise  suitable  for  travel, 
and  packed  them  up.  Then  I  went  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  found  a  handsome 
new  vessel,  with  sails  of  comely  canvas,  and  it  had  a  numerous  crew,  and  was  super- 
fluously equipped.  So  I  embarked  my  bales  in  it,  as  did  also  a  party  of  merchants 
besides,  and  we  set  sail  that  day.  The  voyage  was  pleasant  to  us,  and  we  ceased 
not  to  pass  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  island  to  island ;  and  at  every  place  where  we 
cast  anchor  we  met  the  merchants  and  the  grandees,  and  the  sellers  and  buyers,  and 
we  sold  and  bought,  and  exchanged  goods.  Thus  we  continued  to  do  until  destiny 
conveyed  us  to  a  beautiful  island,  abounding  with  trees  bearing  ripe  fruits,  where 
flowers  diffused  their  fragrance,  with  birds  warbling,  and  pure  rivers  ;  but  there  was 
not  in  it  an  inhabitant,  nor  a  blower  of  a  fire.  The  master  anchored  our  vessel  at 
that  island,  and  the  merchants  with  the  other  passengers  landed  there,  to  amuse 
themselves  with  the  sight  of  its  trees,  and  to  extol  the  perfection  of  God,  the  One, 
the  Omnipotent,  and  to  wonder  at  the  power  of  the  Almighty  King.  I  also  landed 
upon  the  island  with  the  rest,  and  sat  by  a  spring  of  pure  water  among  the  trees.  I 
had  with  me  some  food,  and  I  sat  in  that  place  eating  what  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted !)  had  allotted  me.  The  zephyr  was  sweet  to  us  in  that  place,  and  the  time 
was  pleasant  to  me ;  so  slumber  overcame  me,  and  I  reposed  there,  and  became  im- 
mersed in  sleep,  enjoying  that  sweet  zephyr,  and  the  fragrant  gales.  T  then  arose, 
and  found  not  in  the  place  a  human  being  nor  a  Genie.  The  vessel  had  gone  with 
the  passengers,  and  not  one  of  them  remembered  me,  neither  any  of  the  merchants 
nor  any  of  the  sailors ;  so  they  left  me  in  the  island. 

I  looked  about  it  to  the  right  and  left,  and  found  not  in  it  any  one  save  myself. 
I  was  therefore  affected  with  violent  vexation,  not  to  be  exceeded,  and  my  gall-bladder 


484  THE  SECOND  VOYAGE   OP  SINDBAD  THE   SAILOR. 

almost  burst  by  reason  of  the  severity  of  my  grief  and  mourning  and  fatigue,  I  had 
not  with  me  aught  of  worldly  goods,  neither  food  nor  drink,  and  I  had  become 
desolate,  w-eary  in  my  soul,  and  despairing  of  life :  and  I  said,  Not  every  time  doth 
the  jar  escape  unbroken;  and  if  I  escaped  the  first  time,  and  found  him  who  took 
me  with  him  from  the  shore  of  the  island  to  the  inhabited  part,  this  time  far,  far 
from  me  is  the  prospect  of  my  finding  him  who  will  convey  me  to  inhabited  lands ! 
Then  I  began  to  weep  and  wail  for  myself,  until  vexation  overpowered  mo ;  and  I 
blamed  myself  for  that  which  I  had  done,  and  for  my  having  undertaken  this  voyage 
and  fatigue  after  I  had  been  reposing  at  ease  in  my  abode  and  my  country,  in  ample 
happiness,  and  enjoying  good  food  and  good  drink  and  good  apparel,  and  had  not 
been  in  want  of  anything,  either  of  money  or  goods  or  merchandise.  I  repented  of 
my  having  gone  forth  from  the  city  of  Bagdad,  and  set  out  on  a  voyage  over  the  sea, 
after  the  fatigue  that  I  had  sufi"ered  during  my  first  voyage,  and  I  felt  at  the  point 
of  destruction,  and  said.  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  Him  we  return  ! 
And  I  was  in  the  predicament  of  the  mad.  After  that,  I  arose  and  stood  up,  and 
walked  about  the  island  to  the  right  and  left,  unable  to  sit  in  one  place.  Then  I 
climbed  up  a  lofty  tree  ;  and  began  to  look  from  it  to  the  right  and  left;  but  saw 
nought  save  sky  and  water,  and  trees  and  birds,  and  islands  and  sands.  Looking 
however  with  a  scrutinizing  eye,  there  appeared  to  me  on  the  island  a  white  object, 
indistinctly  seen  in  the  distance,  of  enormous  size  ;  so  I  descended  from  the  tree, 
and  went  towards  it,  and  proceeded  in  that  direction  without  stopping  until  I  arrived 
at  it ;  and  lo,  it  was  a  large  white  dome,  of  great  height  and  large  circumference.  I 
drew  near  to  it,  and  walked  round  it,  but  found  no  door  to  it ;  and  I  found  that  I 
had  not  strength  nor  activity  to  climb  it,  on  account  of  its  exceeding  smoothness. 
I  made  a  mark  at  the  place  where  I  stood,  and  went  round  the  dome  measuring  ita 
circumference  ;  and  lo,  it  was  fifty  full  paces ;  and  I  meditated  upon  some  means  of 
gaining  an  entrance  into  it. 

The  close  of  the  day,  and  the  setting  of  the  sun,  had  now  drawn  near;  and  behold, 
the  sun  was  hidden,  and  the  sky  became  dark,  and  the  sun  was  veiled  from  me.  I 
therefore  imagined  that  a  cloud  bad  come  over  it ;  but  this  was  in  the  season  of 
summer,  so  I  wondered  ;  and  I  raised  my  head,  and,  contemplating  that  object 
attentively,  I  saw  that  it  was  a  bird,  of  enormous  size,  bulky  body,  and  wide  wings, 
flying  in  the  air ;  and  this  it  was  that  concealed  the  body  of  the  sun,  and  veiled  it 
from  view  upon  the  island.  At  this  my  wonder  increased,  and  I  remembered  a  story 
which  travellers  and  voyagers  had  told  me  long  before,  that  there  is,  in  certain  of 
the  islands,  a  bird  of  enormous  size,  called  the  roc,  that  feedeth  its  young  ones  with 
elephants.  I  was  convinced,  therefore,  that  the  dome  which  I  had  seen  was  one  of 
the  eggs  of  the  roc.  I  wondered  at  the  works  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  1) ; 
and  while  I  was  in  this  state,  lo,  that  bird  alighted  upon  that  dome,  and  brooded 
over  it  with  its  wings,  stretching  out  its  legs  behind  upon  the  ground  ;  and  it  slept 
over  it. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  sleepeth  not! — Thereupon  I  arose, 
and  unwound  my  turban  from  my  head,  and  folded  it  and  twisted  it  so  that  it  became 
like  a  rope ;  and  I  girded  myself  with  it,  binding  it  tightly  round  my  waist,  and  tied 
myself  by  it  to  one  of  the  feet  of  that  bird,  and  made  the  knot  fast,  saying  within 
myself.  Perhaps  this  bird  will  convey  me  to  a  land  of  cities  and  inhabitants,  and  that 
will  be  better  than  my  remaining  in  this  island.  I  passed  the  night  sleepless,  fear- 
ing that,  if  I  slept,  the  bird  would  fly  away  with  me  when  I  was  not  aware ;  and 
when  the  dawn  came,  and  morn  appeared,  the  bird  rose  from  its  egg,  and  uttered  a 
great  cry,  and  drew  me  up  into  the  sky.  It  ascended  and  soared  up  so  high  that  I 
imagined  it  had  reached  the  highest  region  of  the  sky ;  and  after  that  it  descended 
with  me  gradually  until  it  alighted  with  me  upon  the  earth,  and  rested  upon  a  lofty 
spot.  So  when  I  reached  the  earth,  I  hastily  untied  the  bond  from  its  foot,  fearing 
it,  though  it  knew  not  of  me  nor  was  sensible  of  me  ;  and  after  I  had  loosed  my 
turban  from  it,  and  disengaged  it  from  its  foot,  shaking  as  I  did  so,  I  walked  away. 
Then  it  took  something  from  the  face  of  the  earth  in  its  talons,  and  soared  to  the 


THE  SECOND   VOYAGE  OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 


485 


upper  region  of  the  sky;  and  I  looked  attentively  at  that  thing,  and  lo,  it  was  a 
serpent,  of  enormous  size,  of  great  body,  which  it  had  taken  and  carried  off  towards 
the  sea  ;  and  I  wondered  at  that  event. 

After  this,  I  walked  about  that  place,  and  found  myself  upon  an  eminence,  beneath 
which  was  a  large,  wide,  deep  valley,  and  by  its  side,  a  great  mountain,  very  high ; 
no  one  could  see  its  summit  by  reason  of  its  excessive  height,  and  no  one  had  power 
to  ascend  it.  I  therefore  blamed  myself  for  that  which  I  had  done,  and  said.  Would 
that  I  had  remained  in  the  island ;  since  it  is  better  than  this  desert  place  ;  for  in 
the  island  are  found,  among  various  fruits,  what  I  might  have  eaten,  and  I  might 
have  drunk  of  its  rivers  ;  but  in  this  place  are  neither  trees  nor  fruits  nor  rivers  ; 
and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  Verily,  every 
time  that  I  escape  from  one  calamity  I  fall  into  another  that  is  greater  and  more 
severe! —  Then  I  arose,  and  emboldened  myself,  and  walked  in  that  valley;  and  I 
beheld  its  ground  to  be  composed  of  diamonds,  with  which  they  perforate  minerals 
and  jewels,  and  with  which  also  they  perforate  porcelain  and  the  onyx  ;  and  it  is  a 
stone  so  hard  that  neither  iron  nor  rock  have  any  effect  upon  it,  nor  can  any  one 
cut  off  aught  from  it,  or  break  it,  unless  by  means  of  the  lead-stone.  All  that  valley 
was  likewise  occupied  by  serpents  and  venomous  snakes,  every  one  of  them  like  a 
palm-tree  ;  and  by  reason  of  its  enormous  size,  if  an  elephant  came  to  it,  it  would 
swallow  it.  Those  serpents  appeared  in  the  night,  and  hid  themselves  in  the  day, 
fearing  lest  the  roc  and  the  vulture  should  carry  them  off,  and  after  that  tear  them 
in  pieces ;  and  the  cause  of  that  I  know  not.  I  remained  in  that  valley,  repenting 
of  what  I  had  done,  and  said  within  myself,  By  Allah,  I  have  hastened  my  own 
destruction !  The  day  departed  from  me,  and  I  began  to  walk  along  that  valley, 
looking  for  a  place  in  which  to  pass  the  night,  fearing  those  serpents,  and  forgetting 
my  food  and  drink  and  subsistence,  occupied  only  by  care  for  my  life.  And  there 
appeared  to  me  a  cave  near  by;  so  I  walked  thither,  and  I  found  its  entrance  narrow. 
I  therpfi)re  entered  it,  and,  seeing  a  large  stone  by  its  mouth,  I  pushed  it,  and  stopped 
with  it  the  mouth  of  the  cave  while  I  was  within  it;  and  I  said  within  myself,  I  am 
safe  now  that  I  have  entered  this  place ;  and  when  daylight  shineth  upon  me,  I  will 


486  THE   SECOND   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 

go  forth,  and  see  what  destiny  will  do.  Then  I  looked  within  the  cave,  and  beheld 
a  huge  serpent  sleeping  at  the  upper  end  of  it  over  its  eggs.  At  this  my  flesh  quaked, 
and  I  raised  my  head,  and  committed  my  case  to  fate  and  destiny;  and  I  passed  all 
the  night  sleepless,  until  the  dawn  arose  and  shone,  when  I  removed  the  stone  with 
which  I  had  closed  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  and  went  forth  from  it,  like  one  intox- 
icated, giddy  from  excessive  sleeplessness  and  hunger  and  fear. 

I  then  walked  along  the  valley ;  and  while  I  was  thus  occupied,  lo,  a  great  slaugh- 
tered animal  fell  before  me,  and  I  found  no  one.  So  I  wondered  thereat  extremely  ; 
and  I  remembered  a  story  that  I  had  heard  long  before  from  certain  of  the  merchants 
and  travellers  and  persons  in  the  habit  of  journeying  about, — that  in  the  mountains 
of  the  diamonds  are  experienced  great  terrors,  and  that  no  one  can  gain  access  to 
the  diamonds,  but  that  the  merchants  who  import  them  know  a  stratagem  by  means 
of  which  to  obtain  them  ;  that  they  take  a  sheep,  and  slaughter  it,  and  skin  it,  and 
cut  up  its  flesh,  which  they  throw  down  from  the  mountain  to  the  bottom  of  the 
valley :  so  descending  fresh  and  moist,  some  of  these  stones  stick  to  it.  Then  the 
merchants  leave  it  until  midday,  and  birds  of  the  large  kind  of  vulture  and  the 
aquiline  vulture  descend  to  that  meat,  and,  taking  it  in  their  talons,  fly  up  to  the  top 
of  the  mountain  ;  whereupon  the  merchants  come  to  them,  and  cry  out  at  them,  and 
they  fly  away  from  the  meat.  The  merchants  then  advance  to  that  meat,  and  take 
from  it  the  stones  sticking  to  it ;  after  which  they  leave  the  meat  for  the  birds  and 
the  wild  beasts,  and  carry  the  stones  to  their  countries.  And  no  one  can  procure 
the  diamonds  but  by  means  of  this  stratagem.  Therefore  when  I  beheld  that  slaugh- 
tered animal,  and  remembered  this  story,  I  arose  and  went  to  the  slaughtered  beast. 
I  then  selected  a  great  number  of  these  stones,  and  put  them  into  my  pocket,  and 
within  my  clothes ;  and  I  proceeded  to  select,  and  to  put  into  my  pockets  and  my 
girdle  and  my  turban  and  within  my  clothes.  And  while  I  was  doing  this,  lo,  an- 
other great  slaughtered  animal.  So  I  bound  myself  to  it  with  my  turban,  and,  laying 
myself  down  on  my  back,  placed  it  upon  my  bosom  and  grasped  it  firmly.  Thus  it 
was  raised  high  above  the  ground :  and  behold,  a  vulture  descended  upon  it,  seized 
it  with  its  talons,  and  flew  up  with  it  into  the  air,  with  me  attached  to  it ;  and  it 
ceased  not  to  soar  up  until  it  had  ascended  with  it  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
when  it  alighted  with  it,  and  was  about  to  tear  off  some  of  it.  And  thereupon-  a 
great  and  loud  cry  arose  from  behind  that  vulture,  and  something  made  a  clattering 
with  a  piece  of  wood  upon  the  mountain  ;  whereat  the  vulture  flew  away  in  fear, 
and  soared  into  the  sky. 

I  therefore  disengaged  myself  from  the  slaughtered  animal,  with  the  blood  of 
which  my  clothes  were  polluted  ;  and  I  stood  by  its  side.  And  lo,  the  merchant 
who  had  cried  out  at  the  vulture  advanced  to  the  slaughtered  animal,  and  saw  me 
standing  there.  He  spoke  to  me  not ;  for  he  was  frightened  at  me,  and  terrified  ; 
but  he  came  to  the  slaughtered  beast,  and  turned  it  over ;  and,  not  finding  anything 
upon  it,  he  uttered  a  loud  cry,  and  said.  Oh,  my  disappointment !  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God  !  We  seek  refuge  with  God  from  Satan  the  accursed  ! 
—  He  repented,  and  struck  hand  upon  hand,  and  said,  Oh,  my  grief!  What  is  this 
affair?  —  So  I  advanced  to  him,  and  he  said  to  me.  Who  art  thou,  and  what  is  the 
reason  of  thy  coming  to  this  place  ?  I  answered  him.  Fear  not,  nor  be  alarmed  ;  for 
I  am  a  human  being,  of  the  beat  of  mankind ;  and  I  was  a  merchant,  and  my  tale  is 
prodigious,  and  my  story  extraordinary,  and  the  cause  of  my  coming  to  this  moun- 
tain and  this  valley  is  wondrous  to  relate.  Fear  not;  for  thou  shalt  receive  of  me 
what  will  rejoice  thee :  I  have  with  me  abundance  of  diamonds,  of  which  I  will 
give  thee  as  much  as  will  sufiice  thee,  and  every  piece  that  I  have  is  better  than  all 
that  would  come  to  thee  by  other  means :  therefore  be  not  timorous  nor  afraid. — 
And  upon  this  the  man  thanked  me,  and  prayed  for  me,  and  conversed  with  me ; 
and  lo,  the  other  merchants  heard  me  talking  with  their  companion,  so  they  came 
to  me.  Each  merchant  had  thrown  down  a  slaughtered  animal ;  and  when  they 
came  to  us,  they  saluted  me,  and  congratulated  me  on  my  safety,  and  took  me  with 


THE    SECOND    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR.  487 

them  ;  and  I  acquainted  them  with  my  whole  story,  relating  to  them  what  I  had 
suffered  on  my  voyage,  and  telling  them  the  cause  of  my  arrival  in  this  valley. 
Then  I  gave  to  the  owner  of  the  slaughtered  animal  to  which  I  had  attached  myself 
an  abundance  of  what  I  had  brought  with  me ;  and  he  was  delighted  with  me,  and 
prayed  for  me,  and  thanked  me  for  that ;  and  the  other  merchants  said  to  me.  By 
Allah,  a  new  life  hath  been  decreed  thee  ;  for  no  one  ever  arrived  at  this  place  before 
thee  and  escaped  from  it ;  but  praise  be  to  God  for  thy  safety  !  —  They  passed  the 
next  night  in  a  pleasant  and  safe  place,  and  I  passed  the  night  with  them,  full  of 
the  utmost  joy  at  my  safety  and  my  escape  from  the  valley  of  serpents,  and  my 
arrival  in  an  inhabited  country. 

And  when  day  came,  we  arose  and  journeyed  over  that  great  mountain,  beholding 
in  that  valley  numerous  serpents  ;  and  we  continued  to  advance  until  we  arrived  at 
a  garden  in  a  great  and  beautiful  island,  wherein  were  camphor-trees,  under  each 
of  which  trees  a  hundred  men  might  shade  themselves.  When  any  one  desireth  to 
obtain  some  camphor  from  one  of  these  trees,  he  maketh  a  perforation  in  the  upper 
part  of  it  with  something  long,  and  catcheth  what  descendeth  from  it.  The  liquid 
camphor  floweth  from  it,  and  concreteth  like  gum.  It  is  the  juice  of  that  tree  ;  and 
after  this  operation,  the  tree  drieth,  and  becometh  fire-wood.  In  that  island  too  is  a 
kind  of  wild  beast  called  the  rhinoceros,  which  pastureth  there  like  oxen  and  buffa- 
loes in  our  country ;  but  the  bulk  of  that  wild  beast  is  greater  than  the  bulk  of  the 
camel,  and  it  eateth  the  tender  leaves  of  trees.  It  is  a  huge  beast,  with  a  single 
horn,  thick,  in  the  middle  of  its  head,  a  cubit  in  length,  wherein  is  the  figure  of 
a  man.  And  in  that  island  are  some  animals  of  the  ox-kind.  Moreover,  the  sailors 
and  travellers  and  persons  in  the  habit  of  journeying  about  in  the  mountains  and 
the  lands  have  told  us,  that  this  wild  beast  which  is  named  the  rhinoceros  lifteth  the 
great  elephant  upon  its  horn,  and  pastureth  with  it  upon  the  island  and  the  shores, 
without  being  sensible  of  it;  and  the  elephant  dieth  upon  its  horn;  and  its  fat, 
melting  by  the  heat  of  the  sun,  and  flowing  upor.  its  head,  entereth  its  eyes,  so  that 
it  becometh  blind.  Then  it  lieth  down  upon  the  shore,  and  the  roc  cometh  to  it, 
and  carrieth  it  off  [with  the  elephant]  in  its  talons  to  its  young  ones,  and  feedeth 
them  with  it  and  with  that  which  is  upon  its  horn  [namely  the  elephant].  I  saw 
also  in  that  island  abundance  of  the  buffalo-kind,  the  like  of  which  existeth  not 
among  us. 

The  valley  before  mentioned  containeth  a  great  quantity  of  diamonds,  such  as  I 
carried  off  and  hid  in  my  pockets.  For  these  the  people  gave  me  in  exchange  goods 
and  commodities  belonging  to  them  ;  and  they  conveyed  them  for  me,  giving  me 
likewise  pieces  of  silver  and  pieces  of  gold ;  and  I  ceased  not  to  proceed  with  them, 
amusing  myself  with  the  sight  of  different  countries,  and  of  what  God  hath  created, 
from  valley  to  valley,  and  from  city  to  city,  we,  in  our  way,  selling  and  buying,  until 
we  arrived  at  the  city  of  Balsora.  We  remained  there  a  few  days,  and  then  I  came 
to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace,  and  came  to  my  quarter,  and  entered  my 
house,  bringing  with  me  a  great  quantity  of  diamonds,  and  money  and  commodities 
and  goods  in  abundance.  I  met  my  family  and  relations,  bestowed  alms  and  gifts, 
made  presents  to  all  my  family  and  companions,  and  began  to  eat  well,  and  drink 
well,  and  wear  handsome  apparel.  I  associated  with  friends  and  companions,  forgot 
all  that  I  had  suffered,  and  ceased  not  to  enjoy  a  pleasant  life  and  joyful  heart  and 
dilated  bosom,  with  sport  and  merriment.  Every  one  who  heard  of  my  arrival  came 
to  me,  and  inquired  of  me  respecting  my  voyage,  and  the  states  of  the  different 
countries;  so  I  informed  him,  relating  to  him  what  I  had  experienced  and  suffered; 
and  he  wondered  at  the  severity  of  my  sufferings,  and  congratulated  me  on  my 
safety.  This  is  the  end  of  the  account  of  the  events  that  befell  me  and  happened  to 
me  during  the  second  voyage;  and  to-morrow,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted !),  I  will  relate  to  you  the  events  of  the  third  voyage. 

And  when  Sindbad  the  Sailor  had  finished  his  story  to  Sindbad  the  Porter,  the 
company  wondered  at  it.     They  supped  with  him  ;  and  he  gave  orders  to  present  to 


488  THE    THIRD    VOYAGE    OF    STNDBAD    THE    SAILOR. 

Sindbad  the  Porter  a  hundred  pieces  of  ^old  ;  and  the  latter  took  them,  and  went  hia 
way,  wonderinjr  at  the  things  that  Sindbad  the  Sailor  had  suffered.  He  thanked 
him,  and  prayed  for  him  in  his  house ;  and  when  the  morning  came,  and  diffused  its 
light  and  radiance,  Sindbad  the  Porter  arose,  performed  the  morning-prayers,  and 
repaired  to  the  house  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor,  as  he  had  commanded  him.  lie  went 
in  to  him  and  wished  him  good-morning,  and  Sindbad  the  Sailor  welcomed  him  : 
and  he  sat  with  him  until  the  rest  of  his  companions  and  party  had  come ;  and  after 
they  had  eaten  and  drunk  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and  were  merry  and  happy, 
Sindbad  the  Sailor  began  thus: — 


THE  THIRD  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

Know,  0  my  brothers  (and  hear  from  me  the  story  of  the  third  voyage;  for  it  is 
more  wonderful  than  the  preceding  stories,  hitherto  related — and  God  is  all  knowing 
with  respect  to  the  things  which  He  hideth,  and  omniscient),  that,  in  the  times  past, 
when  I  returned  from  the  second  voyage,  and  was  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  joy  and 
happiness,  rejoicing  in  my  safety,  having  gained  great  wealth,  as  I  related  to  you 
yesterday,  God  having  compensated  me  for  all  that  I  had  lost,  I  resided  in  the  city 
of  Bagdad  for  a  length  of  time  in  the  most  perfect  prosperity  and  delight,  and  joy 
and  happiness.  Then  my  soul  became  desirous  of  travel  and  diversion,  and  I  longed 
for  commerce  and  gain  and  profits  ;  the  soul  being  prone  to  evil.  So  I  meditated, 
and  bought  an  abundance  of  goods  suited  for  a  sea-voyage,  and  packed  them  up,  and 
departed  with  them  from  the  city  of  Bagdad  to  the  city  of  Balsora.  There,  coming 
to  the  bank  of  the  river,  I  behehl  a  great  vessel,  in  which  were  many  merchants  and 
other  passengers,  people  of  worth,  and  comely  and  good  persons,  people  of  religion 
and  kindness  and  probity.  I  therefore  embarked  with  them  in  that  vessel,  and  we 
departed  in  reliance  on  the  blessing  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  his  aid 
and  favour,  rejoicing  in  expectation  of  good  fortune  and  safety.  We  ceased  not  £o 
proceed  from  sea  to  sea,  and  from  island  to  island,  and  from  city  to  city;  at  every 
place  by  which  we  passed  diverting  ourselves,  and  selling  and  buying,  in  the  utmost 
joy  and  happiness.  Thus  we  did  until  we  were,  one  day,  pursuing  our  course  in  the 
midst  of  the  roaring  sea,  when  lo,  the  master,  standing  at  the  side  of  the  vessel, 
looked  at  the  different  quarters  of  the  sea,  and  then  slapped  his  face,  furled  the  sails 
of  the  ship,  cast  its  anchors,  plucked  his  beard,  rent  his  clothes,  and  uttered  a  great 
cry.  So  we  said  to  him,  0  master,  what  is  the  news?  And  he  answered.  Know,  0 
passengers,  whom  may  God  preserve  !  that  the  wind  hath  prevailed  against  us,  and 
driven  us  out  of  our  course  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  and  destiny  hath  cast  us,  through 
our  evil  fortune,  towards  the  Mountain  of  Apes.  No  one  hath  ever  arrived  at  this 
place  and  escaped,  and  my  heart  is  impressed  with  the  conviction  of  the  destruction 
of  us  all. — And  the  words  of  the  master  were  not  ended  before  the  apes  had  come  to 
ua  and  surrounded  the  vessel  on  every  side,  numerous  as  locusts,  dispersed  about  the 
vessel  and  on  the  shore.  We  feared  that,  if  we  killed  one  of  them,  or  struck  him,  or 
drove  him  away,  they  would  kill  us,  on  account  of  their  excessive  number  ;  for  num- 
bers prevail  against  courage  ;  and  we  feared  them  lest  they  should  plunder  our  goods 
and  our  commodities.  They  are  the  most  hideous  of  beasts,  and  covered  with  hair 
like  black  felt,  their  aspect  striking  terror.  No  one  understandeth  their  language  or 
their  state;  they  shun  the  society  of  men,  have  yellow  eyes  and  black  faces,  and  are 
of  small  size,  the  height  of  each  one  of  them  being  four  spans.  They  climbed  up 
the  cables,  and  severed  them  with  their  teeth  ;  and  they  severed  all  the  ropes  of  the 
vessel  in  every  part :  so  the  vessel  inclined  with  the  wind,  and  stopped  at  their 
mountain  and  on  their  coast.  Then,  having  seized  all  the  merchants  and  the  other 
passengers,  and  landed  them  upon  the  island,  they  took  the  vessel  with  the  whole  of 
its  contents,  and  went  their  way  with  it. 

They  left  us  upon  the  island;  the  vessel  became  concealed  fmrn  us,  and  we  knew 


The  Apes  come  to  Surround  the  Vessel.    (Page  488.) 


489 


THE   THIRD  VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  491 

not  whither  they  went  with  it.  And  while  we  were  upon  that  island,  eating  of  ita 
fruits  and  its  herbs,  and  drinking  of  the  rivers  that  were  there,  lo,  there  appeared  to 
us  an  uninhabited  house  in  the  midst  of  the  island.  We  therefore  went  towards  it, 
and  walked  to  it;  and,  behold,  it  was  a  pavilion,  with  lofty  angles,  with  high  walls, 
having  an  entrance  with  folding  doors,  which  were  open  ;  and  the  doors  were  of 
ebony.  We  entered  this  pavilion,  and  found  in  it  a  great,  open  space,  like  a  wide, 
large  court,  around  which  were  many  lofty  doors,  and  at  its  upper  end  was  a  high 
and  great  bench.  There  were  also  in  it  utensils  for  cooking,  hung  over  the  fire-pots, 
and  around  them  were  many  bones.  But  we  saw  not  there  any  person  ;  and  we 
wondered  at  that  extremely.  We  sat  in  the  open  space  in  that  pavilion  a  little  while, 
after  which  we  slept ;  and  we  ceased  not  to  sleep  from  near  the  mid-time  between 
sunrise  and  noon  until  sunset.  And  lo,  the  earth  trembled  beneath  us,  and  we  heard 
a  confused  noise  from  the  upper  air,  and  there  descended  upon  us,  from  the  summit 
of  the  pavilion,  a  person  of  enormous  size,  in  human  form,  and  he  was  of  black  com- 
plexion, of  lofty  stature,  like  a  great  palm-tree;  he  had  two  eyes  like  two  blazes  of 
fire,  and  tusks  like  the  tusks  of  swine,  and  a  mouth  of  prodigious  size,  like  the  mouth 
of  a  well,  and  lips  like  the  lips  of  the  camel,  hanging  down  upon  his  bosom,  and  he 
had  ears  like  two  mortars,  hanging  down  upon  his  shoulders,  and  the  nails  of  his 
hands  were  like  the  claws  of  the  lion.  So  when  we  beheld  him  thus,  we  became 
unconscious  of  our  existence,  our  fear  was  vehement,  and  our  terror  was  violent,  and 
through  the  violence  of  our  fear  and  dread  and  terror  we  became  as  dead  men.  And 
after  he  had  descended  upon  the  ground,  he  sat  a  little  while  upon  the  seat.  Then 
he  arose  and  came  to  us,  and  seizing  me  by  my  hands  from  among  my  companions 
the  merchants,  lifted  me  up  from  the  ground  in  his  hand,  and  felt  me  and  turned  me 
over ;  and  I  was  in  his  hand  like  a  little  mouthful.  He  continued  to  feel  me  as  the 
butcher  feeleth  the  sheep  that  he  is  about  to  slaughter:  but  he  found  me  infirm  from 
excessive  affliction,  and  lean  from  excessive  fatigue  and  the  voyage  ;  having  no  flesh. 
He  therefore  let  me  go  from  his  hand,  and  took  another,  from  among  my  compan- 
ions ;  and  he  turned  him  over  as  he  had  turned  me  over,  and  felt  him  as  he  had  felt 
me,  and  let  him  go.  He  ceased  not  to  feel  us  and  turn  us  over,  one  after  another, 
until  he  came  to  the  master  of  our  ship,  who  was  a  fat,  stout,  broad-shouldered  man  ; 
a  person  of  strength  and  vigour :  so  he  pleased  him,  and  he  seized  him  as  the  butcher 
seizeth  the  animal  that  he  is  about  to  slaughter,  and  having  thrown  him  on  the 
ground,  put  his  foot  upon  his  neck,  which  he  thus  broke.  Then  he  brought  a  long 
spit,  and  thrust  it  into  his  throat,  and  spitted  him  ;  after  which  he  lighted  a  fierce 
fire,  and  placed  over  it  that  spit  upon  which  the  master  was  spitted,  and  ceased  not 
to  turn  him  round  over  the  burning  coals  until  his  flesh  was  thoroughly  roasted  ; 
when  he  took  him  off  from  the  fire,  put  him  before  him,  and  separated  his  joints  as 
a  man  separates  the  joints  of  a  chicken,  and  proceeded  to  tear  in  pieces  his  flesh 
with  his  nails,  and  to  eat  of  it.  Thus  he  continued  to  do  until  he  had  eaten  his  flesh 
and  gnawed  his  bones,  and  there  remained  of  him  nothing  but  some  bones,  which 
he  threw  by  the  side  of  the  pavilion.  He  then  sat  a  little,  and  threw  himself  down, 
and  slept  upon  that  bench,  making  a  noise  with  his  throat  like  that  which  is  made 
by  a  lamb  or  other  beast  when  slaughtered  ;  and  he  slept  uninterruptedly  until  the 
morning,  when  he  went  his  way. 

As  soon,  therefore,  as  we  were  sure  that  he  was  far  from  us,  we  conversed  together, 
and  wept  for  ourselves,  saying.  Would  that  we  had  been  drowned  in  the  sea,  or  that 
the  apes  had  eaten  us ;  for  it  were  better  than  the  roasting  of  a  man  upon  burning 
coals  !  By  Allah,  this  death  is  a  vile  one  !  But  what  God  willeth  cometh  to  pass, 
and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  We  die  in  sor- 
row, and  no  one  knoweth  of  us ;  and  there  is  no  escape  for  us  from  this  place ! — We 
then  arose  and  went  forth  upon  the  island,  to  see  for  us  a  place  in  which  to  hide 
ourselves,  or  to  flee ;  and  it  had  become  a  light  matter  to  us  to  die,  rather  than  our 
flesh  should  be  roasted  with  fire.  But  we  found  not  for  us  a  place  in  which  to  hide 
ourselves ;  and  the  evening  overtook  us.     So  we  returned  to  the  pavilion,  by  reason 


492  THE   THIRD  VOYAGE   OF  SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 

of  the  violence  of  our  fear,  and  sat  there  a  little  while ;  and  lo,  the  earth  trembled 
beneath  us,  and  that  black  approached  us,  and,  coming  among  us,  began  to  turn  us 
over,  one  after  another,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  and  to  feel  us,  until  one  pleased 
him  ;  whereupon  he  seized  him,  and  did  with  him  as  he  did  with  the  master  of  the 
ship  the  day  before.  He  roasted  him  and  ate  him  upon  that  bench,  and  he  ceased 
not  to  sleep  that  night,  making  a  noise  with  his  throat  like  a  slaughtered  animal ; 
and  when  the  day  came,  he  arose  and  went  his  way,  leaving  us  as  usual.  Upon  this 
we  assembled  together  and  conversed,  and  said  one  to  another.  By  Allah,  if  we  cast 
ourselves  into  the  sea  and  die  drowned,  it  will  be  better  than  our  dying  burnt;  for 
this  mode  of  being  put  to  death  is  abominable !  And  one  of  us  said,  Hear  my 
words.  Verily  we  will  contrive  a  stratagem  against  him.  and  kill  him,  and  be  at 
ease  from  anprehension  of  his  purpose,  and  relieve  the  faithful  from  his  oppression 
and  tyranny. — So  I  said  to  them,  Hear,  0  my  brothers.  If  we  must  kill  him,  we  will 
transport  this  wood,  and  remove  some  of  this  fire-wood,  and  make  for  ourselves  rafts, 
each  to  bear  three  men  ;  after  which  we  will  contrive  a  stratagem  to  kill  him,  and 
embark  on  the  rafts,  and  proceed  over  the  sea  to  whatsoever  place  God  shall  desire. 
Or  we  will  remain  in  this  place  until  a  ship  shall  pass  by,  when  we  will  embark  in 
it.  And  if  we  be  not  able  to  kill  him,  we  will  embark  [on  our  rafts],  and  put  out 
to  sea  ;  and  if  we  be  drowned,  we  shall  be  preserved  from  being  roasted  over  the 
fire,  and  from  being  slaughtered.  If  we  escape,  we  escape ;  and  if  we  be  drowned, 
we  die  martyrs. — To  this  they  all  replied,  By  Allah,  this  is  a  right  opinion  and  a 
wise  proceeding.  And  we  agreed  upon  this  matter,  and  commenced  the  work.  We 
removed  the  pieces  of  wood  out  of  the  pavilion,  and  constructed  rafts,  attached  them 
to  the  sea-shore,  and  stowed  upon  them  some  provisions ;  after  which  we  returned 
to  the  pavilion. 

And  when  it  was  evening,  lo,  the  earth  trembled  with  us,  and  the  black  came  in  to 
us  like  the  biting  dog.  He  turned  us  over  and  felt  us,  one  after  another,  and,  hav- 
ing taken  one  of  us,  did  with  him  as  he  had  done  with  the  others  before  him.  He 
ate  him,  and  slept  upon  the  bench,  and  the  noise  from  his  throat  was  like  thunder. 
So  thereupon  we  arose  and  took  two  iron  spits,  of  those  which  were  set  up,  and  put 
them  in  the  fierce  fire  until  they  were  red-hot,  and  became  like  burning  coals  ;  when 
we  grasped  them  firmly,  and  went  with  them  to  that  black  while  he  lay  asleep, 
snoring,  and  we  thrust  them  into  his  eyes,  all  of  us  pressing  upon  them  with  our 
united  strength  and  force.  Thus  we  pushed  them  into  his  eyes  as  he  slept,  and  his 
eyes  were  destroyed,  and  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  whereat  our  hearts  were  terrified. 
Then  he  arose  resolutely  from  that  bench,  and  began  to  search  for  us,  while  we  fled 
from  him  to  the  right  and  left,  and  he  saw  us  not;  for  his  sight  was  blinded;  but 
we  feared  him  with  a  violent  fear,  and  made  sure,  in  that  time,  of  destruction,  and 
despaired  of  safety.  And  upon  this  he  sought  the  door,  feeling  for  it,  and  went  forth 
from  it,  crying  out,  while  we  were  in  the  utmost  fear  of  him  ;  and  lo,  the  earth  shook 
beneath  us,  by  reason  of  the  vehemence  of  hia  cry.  So  when  he  went  forth  from 
the  pavilion,  we  followed  him,  and  he  went  his  way.  searching  for  us.  Then  he  re- 
turned, accompanied  by  a  female,  greater  than  he,  and  more  hideous  in  form  ;  and 
when  we  beheld  him,  and  her  who  was  with  him,  more  horrible  than  he  in  appear- 
ance, we  were  in  the  utmost  fear.  As  soon  as  the  female  saw  us,  we  hastily  loosed 
the  rafts  that  wo  had  constructed,  and  embarked  on  them,  and  pushed  them  forth 
into  the  sea.  But  each  of  the  two  blacks  had  a  mass  of  rock,  and  they  cast  at  us 
until  the  greater  number  of  us  died  from  the  casting,  there  remaining  of  us  only 
three  persons,  I  and  two  others ;  and  the  raft  conveyed  us  to  another  island. 

We  walked  forward  upon  that  island  until  the  close  of  the  day,  and  the  night  over- 
took in  this  state:  so  we  slept  a  little;  and  we  awoke  frt>m  our  sleep,  and  lo,  a  ser- 
pent of  enormous  size,  of  large  body  and  wide  belly,  had  surrounded  us.  It 
approached  one  of  us,  and  swallowed  him  to  his  shoulders ;  then  it  swallowed  the 
rest  of  him,  and  we  heard  his  ribs  Vjreak  in  pieces  in  its  belly  ;  after  which  it  went 
its  way.     At  this  we  wondered  extremely,  and  we  mourned  for  our  companion,  and 


THE   THIRD   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 


493 


were  in  the  utmost  fear  for  ourselves,  sayins;,  By  Allah,  this  is  a  ■wonderful  thing' 
Every  death  that  we  witness  is  more  horrible  than  the  preceding  one !  We  were 
rejoiced  at  our  escape  from  the  black  ;  but  our  joy  is  not  complete  !  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God  I  By  Allah,  we  have  escaped  from  the  black  and 
from  drowning ;  but  how  shall  we  escape  from  this  unlucky  serpent  ? — Then  we 
arose  and  walked  on  over  the  island,  eating  of  its  fruits  and  drinking  of  its  rivers, 
and  we  ceased  not  to  proceed  till  morning,  when  we  found  a  great,  lofty  tree.  So 
we  climbed  up  it,  and  slept  upon  it ;  I  having  ascended  to  the  highest  of  its  branches. 
But  when  the  night  arrived  and  it  was  dark,  the  serpent  came,  looking  to  the  right 
and  left,  and,  advancing  to  the  tree  upon  which  we  were,  came  up  to  my  companion, 
and  swallowed  him  to  his  shoulders ;  and  it  wound  itself  round  the  tree  with  him, 
and  I  heard  his  bones  break  in  pieces  in  its  belly :  then  it  swallowed  him  entirely, 
while  I  looked  on  ;  after  which  it  descended  from  the  tree,  and  went  its  way. — I 
remained  upon  that  tree  the  rest  of  the  night ;  and  when  the  day  came  and  the  light 
appeared,  I  descended  from  the  tree,  like  one  dead,  by  reason  of  excessive  fear  and 
terror,  and  desired  to  cast  myself  into  the  sea,  that  I  might  be  at  rest  from  the  world, 
but  it  was  not  a  light  matter  to  me  to  do  so  ;  for  life  is  dear.  So  I  tied  a  wide  piece 
of  wood  upon  the  soles  of  my  feet,  crosswise,  and  I  tied  one  like  it  upon  my  left  side, 
and  a  similar  one  upon  my  right  side,  and  a  similar  one  upon  the  front  of  my  body, 
and  I  tied  one  long  and  wide  upon  the  top  of  my  head,  crosswise,  like  that  which 
was  under  the  soles  of  my  feet.  Thus  I  was  in  the  midst  of  these  pieces  of  wood, 
and  they  enclosed  me  on  every  side.  I  bound  them  tightly,  and  threw  myself  with 
the  whole  upon  the  ground  :  so  I  lay  in  the  midst  of  the  pieces  of  wood,  which  en- 
closed me  like  a  closet.  And  when  the  evening  arrived,  the  serpent  approached  as 
it  was  wont,  and  saw  me,  and  drew  towards  me ;  but  it  could  not  swallow  me  when 
I  was  in  that  state,  with  the  pieces  of  wood  round  me  on  every  side.  It  went  round 
me,  but  could  not  get  at  me ;  and  I  looked  at  it,  being  like  a  dead  man,  by  reason 
of  the  violence  of  my  fear  and  terror.  The  serpent  retired  from  me,  and  returned 
to  me ;  and  thus  it  ceased  not  to  do :  every  time  that  it  desired  to  get  at  me  to  swal- 
low me,  the  pieces  of  wood  tied  upon  me  on  every  side  prevented  it.  It  continued  to 
do  thus  from  sunset  until  daybreak  arrived,  and  the  light  appeared  and  the  sun  rose, 
when  it  went  its  way,  in  the  utmost  vexation  and  rage.  Upon  this,  therefore,  I 
stretched  forth  my  hands  and  loosed  myself  from  those  pieces  of  wood,  in  a  state 
like  that  of  the  dead,  through  the  severity  of  that  which  I  had  suffered  from  that 
serpent. 


Sindbad  the  Sailor  hailing;  the  Vessel. 


494  THE   THIRD   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 

I  then  arose  and  walked  along  the  island  until  I  came  to  the  extremity  of  it ;  when 
I  cast  a  glance  towards  the  sea,  and  beheld  a  ship  at  a  distance,  in  the  midst  of  the 
deep.  So  I  took  a  great  branch  of  a  tree,  and  made  a  sign  with  it  to  the  passengers, 
calling  out  to  them ;  and  when  they  saw  me,  they  said.  We  must  see  what  this  is. 
Perhaps  it  is  a  man. — Then  they  approached  me,  and  heard  my  cries  to  them.  They 
therefore  came  to  me,  and  took  me  with  them  in  the  ship,  and  asked  me  respecting 
my  state :  so  I  informed  them  of  all  that  had  happened  to  me  from  beginning  to 
end,  and  of  the  troubles  that  I  had  suffered ;  whereat  they  wondered  extremely. 
They  clad  me  with  some  of  their  clothes,  attiring  me  decently ;  and  after  that  they 
put  before  me  some  provisions,  and  I  ate  until  I  was  satisfied.  They  also  gave  me 
to  drink  some  cool  and  sweet  water,  and  my  heart  was  revived,  my  soul  became  at 
ease,  and  I  experienced  great  comfort.  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  had  raised 
me  to  life  after  my  death,  so  I  praised  him  (exalted  be  his  name!)  for  his  abun- 
dant favours,  and  thanked  Him.  My  courage  was  strengthened  after  I  had  made 
sure  of  destruction,  so  that  it  seemed  to  me  that  all  which  I  then  experienced  was  a 
dream. — We  proceeded  on  our  voyage,  and  the  wind  was  fair  to  us,  by  the  permis- 
sion of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  until  we  came  in  sight  of  an  island  called 
the  Island  of  Selahit,  where  sandal-wood  is  abundant,  and  there  the  master  an- 
chored the  ship,  and  the  merchants  and  other  passengers  landed,  and  took  forth 
their  goods  to  sell  and  buy.  The  owner  of  the  ship  then  looked  towards  me,  and 
said  to  me,  Hear  my  words.  Thou  art  a  stranger  and  poor,  and  hast  informed  ua 
that  thou  hast  suffered  many  horrors  ;  I  therefore  desire  to  benefit  thee  with  some- 
thing that  will  aid  thee  to  reach  thy  country,  and  thou  wilt  pray  for  me. — I  replied, 
So  be  it,  and  thou  shalt  have  my  prayers.  And  he  rejoined,  Know  that  there  was 
with  us  a  man  voyaging,  whom  we  lost,  and  we  know  not  whether  he  be  living  or 
dead,  having  heard  no  tidings  of  him.  I  desire  to  commit  to  thee  his  bales,  that 
thou  mayest  sell  them  in  this  island.  Thou  shalt  take  charge  of  them,  and  we  will 
give  thee  something  proportionate  to  thy  trouble  and  thy  service  ;  and  what  re- 
maineth  of  them  we  will  take  and  keep  until  we  return  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  when 
we  will  inquire  for  the  owner's  family,  and  give  to  them  the  remainder,  together 
with  the  price  of  that  which  shall  be  sold  of  them.  Wilt  thou  then  take  charge  of 
them,  and  land  with  them  upon  this  island,  and  sell  them  as  do  the  merchants? — I 
answered,  I  hear  and  obey  thee,  0  my  master ;  and  thou  art  beneficent  and  kind. 
And  I  prayed  for  him  and  thanked  him  for  that. 

He  thereupon  ordered  the  porters  and  sailors  to  land  those  goods  upon  the  island, 
and  to  deliver  them  to  me.  And  the  clerk  of  the  ship  said,  0  master,  what  are  these 
bales  which  the  sailors  and  porters  have  brpught  out,  and  with  the  name  of  which 
of  the  merchants  shall  I  mark  them  ?  He  answered.  Write  upon  them  the  name  of 
Sindbad  the  Sailor,  who  was  with  us,  and  was  drowned  [or  left  behind]  at  the  island 
of  the  roc,  and  of  whom  no  tidings  have  come  to  us ;  wherefore  we  desire  that  this 
stranger  sell  them,  and  take  charge  of  the  price  of  them,  and  we  will  give  him  some- 
what of  it  in  requital  of  his  trouble  and  his  sale  of  them.  What  shall  remain  we 
will  take  with  us  until  we  return  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  when,  if  we  find  him,  we 
will  give  it  to  him ;  and  if  we  find  him  not,  we  will  give  it  to  his  family  in  Bagdad. 
— So  the  clerk  replied,  Thy  words  are  good,  and  thy  notion  is  excellent.  And  when 
I  heard  the  words  of  the  master,  mentioning  that  the  bales  were  to  be  inscribed  with 
my  name,  I  said  within  myself,  By  Allah,  I  am  Sindbad  the  Sailor.  Then  I  fortified 
myself,  and  waited  till  the  merchants  had  landed  and  had  assembled,  conversing  and 
consulting  upon  affairs  of  selling  and  buying,  when  I  advanced  to  the  owner  of  the 
ship,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  dost  thou  know  what  manner  of  man  was  the 
owner  of  the  bales  which  thou  hast  committed  to  me  that  I  may  sell  them  ?  He 
answered  me,  I  know  not  his  condition  ;  but  he  was  a  man  of  the  city  of  Bagdad, 
called  Sindbad  the  Sailor ;  and  we  had  cast  anchor  at  one  of  the  Islands,  where  he 
was  lost,  and  we  have  had  no  tidings  of  him  to  the  present  time.  So  upon  this  I 
uttered  a  great  cry,  and  said  to  him,  0  master,  whom  may  God  preserve !  know  that 
I  am  Sindbad  the  Sailor.     I  was  not  drowned  :  but  when  thou  anchoredst  at  the  ia* 


THE   THIRD   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  495 

land,  and  the  merchants  and  other  passengers  landed,  I  also  landed  with  the  party, 
taking  with  me  something  to  eat  on  the  shore  of  the  island.  Then  I  enjoyed  my- 
self in  sitting  in  that  place,  and,  slumber  overtaking  me,  I  slept,  and  became  im- 
mersed in  sleep ;  after  which  I  arose,  and  found  not  the  ship,  nor  found  I  any  one 
with  me :  therefore  this  wealth  is  my  wealth,  and  these  goods  are  my  goods.  All 
the  merchants  also  who  transport  diamonds  saw  me  when  I  was  upon  the  mountain 
of  the  diamonds,  and  they  will  bear  witness  for  me  that  I  am  Sindbad  the  Sailor,  as 
I  informed  them  of  my  story  and  of  the  events  that  befell  me  with  you  in  the  ship. 
I  informed  them  that  ye  had  forgotten  me  upon  the  island  asleep,  and  that  I  arose 
and  found  not  any  one,  and  that  what  had  befallen  me  befell  me. 

And  when  the  merchants  and  other  passengers  heard  my  words,  they  assembled 
around  me :  and  some  of  them  believed  me,  and  others  disbelieved  me.  But  while 
we  were  thus  talking,  lo,  one  of  the  merchants,  on  his  hearing  me  mention  the  val- 
ley of  diamonds,  arose  and  advanced  to  me,  and  said  to  them.  Hear,  0  company,  my 
words.  When  I  related  to  you  the  most  wonderful  thing  that  I  had  seen  in  my 
travels,  I  told  you  that,  when  we  cast  down  the  slaughtered  animals  into  the  valley 
of  diamonds,  I  casting  down  mine  with  the  rest,  as  I  was  accustomed  to  do,  there 
came  up  with  my  slaughtered  beast  a  man  attached  to  it,  and  ye  believed  me  not, 
but  accused  me  of  falsehood. — They  replied.  Yes:  thou  didst  relate  to  us  this  thing, 
and  we  believed  thee  not.  And  the  merchant  said  to  them.  This  is  the  man  who  at- 
tached himself  to  my  slaughtered  animal,  and  he  gave  me  some  diamonds  of  high 
price,  the  like  of  which  exist  not,  rewarding  me  with  more  than  would  have  come  up 
with  my  slaughtered  animal ;  and  I  took  him  as  my  companion  until  we  arrived  at 
the  city  of  Balsora,  whence  he  proceeded  to  his  country,  having  bidden  us  farewell, 
and  we  returned  to  our  own  countries.  This  is  he,  and  he  informed  us  that  his  name 
was  Sindbad  the  Sailor:  he  told  us  likewise  of  the  departure  of  the  ship,  and  his 
sitting  in  that  island.  And  know  ye  that  this  man  came  not  to  us  here  but  in  order 
that  ye  might  believe  my  words  respecting  the  matter  which  I  told  you  ;  and  all 
these  goods  are  his  property;  for  he  informed  us  of  them  at  the  time  of  his  meeting 
with  us,  and  the  truth  of  his  assertion  hath  become  manifest. — So  when  the  master 
heard  the  words  of  that  merchant,  he  arose  and  came  to  me,  and,  having  looked  at 
me  awhile  with  a  scrutinizing  eye,  said.  What  is  the  mark  of  thy  goods  ?  I  answered 
him.  Know  that  the  mark  of  my  goods  is  of  such  and  such  a  kind.  And  1  related 
to  him  a  circumstance  that  had  occurred  between  me  and  him  when  I  embarked  with 
him  in  the  vessel  from  Balsora.  He  therefore  was  convinced  that  I  was  Sindbad  the 
Sailor,  and  he  embraced  me  and  saluted  me,  and  congratulated  me  on  my  safety, 
saying  to  me.  By  Allah,  0  my  master,  thy  story  is  wonderful,  and  thy  case  is  ex- 
traordinary. But  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  brought  us  together,  and  restored  thy 
goods  and  thy  wealth  to  thee ! 

Upon  this,  I  disposed  of  my  goods  according  to  the  knowledge  I  possessed,  and 
they  procured  me,  during  that  voyage,  great  gain,  whereat  I  rejoiced  exceedingly, 
congratulating  myself  on  my  safety,  and  on  the  restoration  of  my  wealth  to  me. 
And  we  ceased  not  to  sell  and  buy  at  the  islands  until  we  arrived  at  the  country  of 
Sinde,  where  likewise  we  sold  and  bought.  And  I  beheld  in  that  sea  [which  we 
navigated,  namely  the  Sea  of  India]  many  wonders  and  strange  things  that  cannot 
be  numbered  or  calculated.  Among  the  things  that  I  saw  there  were  a  fish  in  the 
form  of  the  cow,  and  a  creature  in  the  form  of  the  ass ;  and  I  saw  a  bird  that  cometh 
forth  from  a  sea-shell,  and  layeth  its  eggs  and  hatcheth  them  upon  the  surface  of 
the  water,  and  never  cometh  forth  from  the  sea  upon  the  face  of  the  earth. — After 
this  we  continued  our  voyage,  by  permission  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  and 
the  wind  and  voyage  were  pleasant  to  us,  until  we  arrived  at  Balsora,  where  I  re- 
mained a  few  days.  Then  I  came  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  and  repaired  to  my  quarter, 
entered  my  house  and  saluted  my  family  and  companions  and  friends.  I  rejoiced  at 
my  safety  and  my  return  to  my  country  and  my  family  and  city  and  district,  and  1 
gavts  alms  and  presents,  and  clad  the  widows  and  the  orphans,  and  collected  my  com- 


496  THE   FOURTH  VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 

panions  and  friends.  And  I  ceased  not  to  live  thus,  eating  and  drinking,  and  sport- 
ing and  making  merry,  eating  well  and  drinking  well,  associating  familiarly  and 
mixing  in  society  ;  and  I  forgot  all  that  had  happened  to  me,  and  the  distresses  and 
horrors  that  I  had  suffered.  And  I  gained  during  that  voyage  what  could  not  be 
numbered  or  calculated.  Such  were  the  most  wonderful  of  the  things  that  I  beheld 
during  that  voyage;  and  to-morrow,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted  !),  thou  shalt  come  [0  Sindbad  the  Porter],  and  I  will  relate  to  thee  the  story 
of  the  fourth  voyage :  for  it  is  more  wonderful  than  the  stories  of  the  preceding 
voyages. 

Then  Sindbad  the  Sailor  gave  orders  to  present  to  the  porter  a  hundred  pieces  of 
gold,  as  usual,  and  commanded  to  spread  the  table.  So  they  spread  it,  and  the  com- 
pany supped,  wondering  at  that  story  and  at  the  events  described  in  it ;  and  aftei 
the  supper,  they  went  their  ways.  Sindbad  the  Porter  took  the  gold  that  Sindbad 
the  Sailor  had  ordered  to  be  given  to  him,  and  went  his  way,  wondering  at  that 
which  he  had  heard,  and  passed  the  night  in  his  house  ;  and  when  the  morning 
came,  and  diffused  its  light  and  shone,  he  arose  and  performed  the  morning-prayers, 
and  walked  to  the  bouse  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor.  He  went  in  to  him  and  saluted 
him;  and  he  received  him  with  joy  and  gaiety,  and  made  him  sit  by  him  until  the 
rest  of  his  companions  had  come ;  when  the  servants  brought  forward  the  food,  and 
the  party  ate  and  drank  and  enjoyed  themselves.  Then  Sindbad  the  Sailor  began 
to  address  them,  and  related  to  them  the  fourth  story,  saying: — 


THE  FOURTH  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

Know,  0  my  brothers,  that  when  I  returned  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  and  met  my 
companions  and  my  family  and  my  friends,  and  was  enjoying  the  utmost  pleasure 
and  happiness  and  ease,  and  had  forgotten  all  that  I  had  experienced,  by  reason  of 
the  abundance  of  my  gains,  and  had  become  immersed  in  sport  and  mirth,  and  the 
society  of  friends  and  companions,  leading  the  most  delightful  life,  my  wicked  soul 
suggested  to  me  to  travel  again  to  the  countries  of  other  people,  and  I  felt  a  longing 
for  associating  with  the  different  races  of  men,  and  for  selling  and  gains.  So  I  re- 
solved upon  this,  and  purchased  precious  goods,  suitable  to  a  sea-voyage,  and,  having 
packed  up  many  bales,  more  than  usual,  I  went  from  the  city  of  Bagdad  to  the  city 
of  Balsora,  where  I  embarked  my  bales  in  a  ship,  and  joined  myself  to  a  party  of 
the  chi.ef  men  of  Balsora,  and  we  set  forth  on  our  voyage.  The  vessel  proceeded 
with  us,  confiding  in  the  blessing  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  over  the  roaring 
sea  agitated  with  waves,  and  the  voyage  was  pleasant  to  us  ;  and  we  ceased  not  to 
proceed  in  this  manner  for  a  period  of  nights  and  days,  from  island  to  island,  and 
from  sea  to  sea,  until  a  contrary  wind  rose  against  us  one  day.  The  master  there- 
fore cast  the  anchors,  and  stayed  the  ship  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  fearing  that  she 
would  sink  in  the  midst  of  the  deep.  And  while  we  were  in  this  state,  supplicating, 
and  humbling  ourselves  to  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  there  arose  against  us  a 
great  tempest,  which  rent  the  sails  in  strips,  and  the  people  were  submerged  with 
all  their  bales  and  their  commodities  and  wealth.  I  was  submerged  among  the  rest, 
and  I  swam  in  the  sea  for  half-a-day,  after  which  I  abandoned  myself;  but  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted !)  aided  me  to  lay  hold  upon  a  piece  of  one  of  the  planks  of 
the  ship,  and  I  and  a  party  of  the  merchants  got  upon  it.  We  continued  sitting 
upon  this  plank,  striking  the  sea  with  our  feet,  and  the  waves  and  the  wind  helping 
us;  and  we  remained  in  this  state  a  day  and  a  night.  And  on  the  following  diiy, 
shortly  before  the  mid-time  between  sunrise  and  noon,  a  wind  rose  against  us,  the 
sea  became  boisterous,  the  waves  and  the  wind  were  violent,  and  the  water  cast  us 
upon  an  island  ;  and  we  were  like  dead  men,  from  excess  of  sleeplessness  and 
fatigue,  and  cold  and  hunger,  and  fear  and  thirst. 

We  walked  along  the  shores  of  that  island,  and  found  upon  it  abundant  herbs ;  so 


THE    FOURTH    VOYAGE    OF    SIN  DEAD    THE    SAILOR.  497 

we  ate  some  of  them  to  stay  our  departing  spirits,  and  to  sustain  us  ;  and  passed 
the  next  nijjht  upon  the  shore  of  the  island.  And  when  the  morning  came,  and  dif 
fused  its  light  and  shone,  we  arose,  and  walked  about  the  island  to  the  right  and 
left,  and  there  appeared  to  us  a  building  in  the  distance.  We  therefore  proceeded 
over  the  island  in  the  direction  of  that  building  which  we  had  seen  from  a  distance, 
and  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  we  stood  at  its  door.  And  while  we  were  standing 
there,  lo,  there  came  forth  to  us  from  that  door  a  party  of  naked  men,  who,  without 
speaking  to  us,  seized  us,  and  took  us  to  their  King,  and  he  commanded  us  to  sit. 
So  we  sat ;  and  they  brought  to  us  some  food,  such  as  we  knew  not,  nor  in  our  lives 
had  we  seen  the  like  of  it ;  wherefore  my  stomach  consented  not  to  it,  and  I  ate  none 
of  it  in  comparison  with  my  companions,  and  my  eating  so  little  of  it  was  owing  to 
the  grace  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  in  consequence  of  which  I  have  lived  to 
the  present  time.  For  when  my  companions  ate  of  that  food,  their  minds  became 
stupilied,  and  they  ate  like  madmen,  and  their  states  became  changed.  Then  the 
people  brought  to  them  cocoa-nut  oil,  and  gave  them  to  drink  of  it,  and  anointed 
them  with  it;  and  when  my  companions  drank  of  that  oil,  their  eyes  became  turned 
in  their  faces,  and  they  proceeded  to  eat  of  that  food  contrary  to  their  usual  manner. 
Upon  this,  therefore,  I  was  confounded  respecting  their  case,  and  grieved  for  them, 
and  became  extremely  anxious  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  my  fear  for  myself  with 
regard  to  these  naked  men.  I  observed  them  attentively,  and  lo,  they  were  a  Magiaa 
people,  and  the  King  of  their  city  was  a  ghoul ;  and  every  one  who  arrived  at  their 
country,  or  whom  they  saw  or  met  in  the  valley  or  the  roads,  they  brought  to  their 
King,  and  they  fed  him  with  that  food,  and  anointed  him  with  that  oil,  in  conse- 
quence of  which  his  body  became  expanded,  in  order  that  he  might  eat  largely ;  and 
his  mind  became  stupified,  his  faculty  of  reflection  was  destroyed,  and  he  became 
like  an  idiot.  Then  they  gave  him  to  eat  and  drink  in  abundance  of  that  food  and 
oil  until  he  became  fat  and  stout,  when  they  slaughtered  him  and  roasted  him,  and 
served  him  as  meat  to  their  King.  But  as  to  the  companions  of  the  King,  they  ate 
the  flesh  of  men  without  roasting  or  otherwise  cooking  it.  So  when  I  saw  them  do 
thus,  I  was  in  the  utmost  anguish  on  my  own  account  and  on  account  of  my  com- 
panions. The  latter,  by  reason  of  the  excessive  stupefaction  of  their  minds,  knew 
not  what  was  done  unto  them,  and  the  people  committed  them  to  a  person  who  took 
them  every  day  and  went  forth  to  pasture  them  on  that  island  like  cattle. 

But  as  for  myself,  I  became,  through  the  violence  of  fear  and  hunger,  infirm  and 
wasted  in  body,  and  my  flesh  dried  upon  my  bones.  So  when  they  saw  me  in  this 
state,  they  left  me  and  forgot  me,  and  not  one  of  them  remembered  me,  nor  did  I 
occur  to  their  minds,  until  I  contrived  a  stratagem  one  day,  and,  going  forth  from 
that  place,  walked  along  the  island  to  a  distance.  And  I  saw  a  herdsman  sitting 
upon  something  elevated  in  the  midst  of  the  sea  ;  and  I  certified  myself  of  him,  and 
lo,  he  was  the  man  to  whom  they  had  committed  my  companions  that  he  might  pas- 
ture them  ;  and  he  had  with  him  many  like  them.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  that  man 
beheld  me,  he  knew  that  I  was  in  possession  of  my  reason,  and  that  nought  of  that 
which  had  afilicted  my  companions  had  afflicted  me.  So  he  made  a  sign  to  me  from 
a  distance,  and  said  to  me.  Turn  back,  and  go  along  the  road  that  is  on  thy  right 
hand:  thou  wilt  so  reach  the  King's  highway.  Accordingly  I  turned  back,  as  this 
man  directed  me,  and,  seeing  a  road  on  my  right  hand,  I  proceeded  along  it,  and 
ceased  not  to  go  on,  sometimes  running  by  reason  of  fear,  and  sometimes  walking  at 
my  leisure  until  I  had  taken  rest.  Thus  I  continued  to  do  until  I  was  hidden  from 
the  eyes  of  the  man  who  directed  me  to  the  way,  and  I  saw  him  not,  nor  did  he  see 
me.  The  sun  had  disappeared  from  me,  and  darkness  approached  ;  wherefore  I  sat 
to  rest,  and  desired  to  sleep  ;  but  sleep  came  not  to  me  that  night,  on  account  of  the 
violence  of  my  fear  and  hunger  and  fatigue.  And  when  it  was  midnight,  I  arose 
and  walked  on  over  the  island,  and  I  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  day  arrived,  and 
the  morning  came  and  difl'used  its  light  and  shone,  and  the  sun  rose  over  the  tops  of 
the  high  hills  and  over  the  low  gravelly  plains.  I  was  tired  and  hungry  and  thirsty : 
32 


498  THE   FOURTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR. 

80  I  began  to  eat  of  the  herbs  and  vegetables  that  were  upon  the  island,  and  con- 
tinued to  eat  of  them  till  I  was  satiated,  and  my  departing  spirit  was  stayed ;  after 
which  I  arose  and  walked  on  again  over  the  island  ;  and  thus  I  ceased  not  to  do  all 
the  day  and  the  next  night;  whenever  I  was  hungry,  eating  of  the  vegetables. 

In  this  manner  I  proceeded  for  the  space  of  seven  days  with  their  nights ;  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  eighth  day,  I  cast  a  glance,  and  beheld  a  faint  object  in  the 
distance.  So  I  went  towards  it,  and  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  I  came  up  to  it, 
after  sunset ;  and  I  looked  at  it  with  a  scrutinizing- eye,  while  I  was  yet  distant  from 
it,  and  with  a  fearful  heart  in  consequence  of  what  I  had  suffered  first  and  after ; 
and  lo,  it  was  a  party  of  men  gathering  pepper.  And  when  I  approached  them,  and 
they  saw  me,  they  hastened  to  me,  and  came  to  me  and  surrounded  me  on  every 
side,  saying  to  me,  Who  art  thou,  and  whence  hast  thou  come?  I  answered  them. 
Know  ye,  0  people,  that  I  am  a  poor  foreigner.  And  I  informed  them  of  my  whole 
case,  and  of  the  horrors  and  distresses  that  had  befallen  me,  and  what  I  had  suffered ; 
whereupon  they  said.  By  Allah,  this  is  a  wonderful  thing !  But  how  didst  thou 
escape  from  the  blacks,  and  how  didst  thou  pass  by  them  in  this  island,  when  they 
are  a  numerous  people,  and  eat  men,  and  no  one  is  safe  from  them,  nor  can  any  pass 
by  them  ? — So  I  acquainted  them  with  that  which  had  befallen  me  among  them,  and 
with  the  manner  in  M'hich  they  had  taken  my  companions,  and  fed  them  with  food 
of  which  I  did  not  eat.  And  they  congratulated  me  on  my  safety,  and  wondered  at 
that  which  had  befallen  me.  Then  they  made  me  sit  among  them  until  they  had 
finished  their  work,  and  brought  me  some  nice  food.  I  therefore  ate  of  it,  being 
hungry,  and  rested  with  them  awhile;  after  which  they  took  me  and  embarked  with 
me  in  a  vessel,  and  went  to  their  island  and  their  abodes.  They  then  took  me  to 
their  King,  and  I  saluted  him,  and  he  welcomed  me  and  treated  me  with  honour, 
and  inquired  of  me  my  story.  So  I  related  to  him  what  I  had  experienced,  and  what 
had  befallen  me  and  happened  to  me  from  the  day  of  m}'  going  forth  from  the  city 
of  Bagdad  until  I  had  come  unto  him.  And  the  King  wondered  extremely  at  my 
story,  and  at  the  events  that  had  happened  to  me ;  he,  and  all  who  were  present  in 
his  assembly.  After  that,  he  ordered  me  to  sit  with  him.  Therefore  I  sat;  and  he 
gave  orders  to  bring  the  food,  which  accordingly  they  brought,  and  I  ate  of  it  as 
much  as  sufSced  me,  and  washed  my  hands,  and  offered  up  thanks  for  the  favour  of 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  praising  Him  and  glorifying  Him.  I  then  arose 
from  the  presence  of  the  King,  and  diverted  myself  with  a  sight  of  his  city:  and  lo, 
it  was  a  flourishing  city,  abounding  with  inhabitants  and  wealth,  and  with  food  and 
markets  and  goods,  and  sellers  and  buyers. 

So  I  rejoiced  at  my  arrival  at  that  city,  and  my  heart  was  at  ease;  I  became 
familiar  with  its  inhabitants,  and  was  magnified  and  honoured  by  them  and  by  their 
King  above  the  people  of  his  dominions  and  the  great  men  of  his  city.  And  I  saw 
that  all  its  great  men  and  its  small  rode  excellent  and  fine  horses  without  saddles  ; 
whereat  I  wondered  ;  and  I  said  to  the  King,  Wherefore,  0  my  lord,  dost  thou  not 
ride  on  a  saddle?  for  therein  is  ease  to  the  rider,  and  additional  power.  He  said, 
What  kind  of  thing  is  a  saddle?  This  is  a  thing  that  in  our  lives  we  have  never 
seen,  nor  have  we  ever  ridden  upon  it.  —  And  I  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou  permit  me  to 
make  for  thee  a  saddle  to  ride  upon,  and  to  experience  the  pleasure  of  it?  He 
answered  me.  Do  so,  I  therefore  said  to  him.  Furnish  me  with  some  wood.  And 
he  gave  orders  to  bring  me  all  that  I  required.  Then  I  asked  for  a  clever  carpenter, 
and  sat  with  him,  and  taught  him  the  construction  of  the  saddle,  and  how  he  should 
make  it.  Afterwards  I  took  some  wool,  and  teased  it,  and  made  felt  of  it ;  and  I 
caused  some  leather  to  be  brought,  and  covered  the  saddle  with  it,  and  polished  it. 
I  then  attached  its  straps,  and  its  girth :  after  which  I  brought  the  blacksmith,  and 
described  to  him  the  form  of  the  stirrups,  and  he  forged  an  excellent  pair  of  stirrups ; 
and  I  filed  them,  and  tinned  them.  Then  I  attached  fringes  of  silk.  Having  done 
this,  I  arose  and  brought  one  of  the  best  of  the  King's  horses,  girded  upon  him  that 
saddle,  attached  to  it  the  stirrups,  bridled  him,  and  brought  him  forward  to  the 


THE   FOURTH   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  499 

King  ;  and  it  pleased  him,  and  was  agreeable  to  him.  He  thanked  me,  and  seated 
himself  upon  it,  and  was  greatly  delighted  with  that  saddle  ;  and  he  gave  me  a  large 
present,  as  a  reward  for  that  which  I  had  done  for  him.  And  when  his  vizier  saw 
that  I  had  made  that  saddle,  he  desired  of  me  one  like  it.  So  I  made  for  him  a 
saddle  like  it.  The  grandees  and  dignitaries  likewise  desired  of  me  saddles,  and  I 
made  for  them.  I  taught  the  carpenter  the  construction  of  the  saddle  ;  and  the 
blacksmith  the  mode  of  making  stirrups ;  and  we  employed  ourselves  in  making 
these  things,  and  sold  them  to  the  great  men  and  masters.  Thus  I  collected  abun- 
dant wealth,  and  became  in  high  estimation  with  them,  and  they  loved  me  exceed- 
ingly. 

I  continued  to  enjoy  a  high  rank  with  the  King  and  his  attendants,  and  the  great 
men  of  the  country  and  the  lords  of  the  state,  until  I  sat  one  day  with  the  King,  in 
the  utmost  happiness  and  honour ;  and  while  I  was  sitting,  the  King  said  to  me, 
Know,  0  thou,  that  thou  hast  become  magnified  and  honoured  among  us,  and  hast 
become  one  of  us,  and  we  cannot  part  with  thee,  nor  can  we  suffer  thee  to  depart 
from  our  city;  and  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  obey  me  in  an  affair,  and  reject  not  that 
which  1  shall  say.  So  I  said  to  him,  And  what  dost  thou  desire  of  me,  0  King? 
For  I  will  not  reject  that  which  thou  shalt  say  since  thou  hast  shown  favour  and 
kindness  and  beneficence  to  me,  and  (praise  be  to  God!)  I  have  become  one  of  thy 
servants. — And  he  answered,  I  desire  to  marry  thee  among  us  to  a  beautiful,  lovely, 
elegant  wife,  possessed  of  wealth  and  loveliness,  and  thou  shalt  become  a  dweller 
with  us,  and  I  will  lodge  thee  by  me  in  my  palace :  therefore  oppose  me  not,  nor 
reject  what  I  say.  And  when  I  heard  the  words  of  the  King,  I  was  abashed  at  him, 
and  was  silent,  returning  him  no  answer,  by  reason  of  the  exceeding  bashfulness 
with  which  I  regarded  him.  So  he  said.  Wherefore  dost  thou  not  reply  to  me,  0 
my  sou  ?  And  I  answered  him,  0  my  master,  it  is  thine  to  command,  0  King  of  the 
age!  And  upon  this  he  sent  immediately  and  caused  the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses  to 
come,  and  married  me  forthwith  to  a  woman  of  noble  rank,  of  high  lineage,  pos- 
sessing abundant  wealth  and  fortune,  of  great  origin,  of  surprising  loveliness  and 
beauty,  owner  of  dwellings  and  possessions  and  buildings.  Then  he  gave  me  a  great, 
handsome  house,  standing  alone,  and  he  gave  me  servants  and  other  dependants,  and 
assigned  me  supplies  and  salaries.  Thus  I  became  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  ease  and 
joy  and  happiness,  forgetting  all  the  fatigue  and  affliction  and  adversity  that  had 
happened  to  me  ;  and  I  said  within  myself.  When  I  set  forth  on  my  voyage  to  my 
country,  I  will  take  her  with  me.  But  every  event  that  is  predestined  to  happen  to 
man  must  inevitably  take  place,  and  no  one  knoweth  what  will  befall  him.  I 
loved  her  and  she  loved  me  with  a  great  affection,  concord  existed  between  me  and 
her,  and  we  lived  in  a  most  delightful  manner,  and  most  comfortable  abode,  and 
ceased  not  to  enjoy  this  state  for  a  length  of  time. 

Then  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  destroyed  the  wife  of  my  neighbour;  and  he 
was  a  companion  of  mine.  So  I  went  in  to  him  to  console  him  for  the  loss  of  his 
wife,  and  beheld  him  in  a  most  evil  state,  anxious,  weary  in  soul  and  heart ;  and 
upon  this  I  consoled  him  and  comforted  him,  saying  to  him.  Mourn  not  for  thy  wife. 
God  will  happily  compensate  thee  by  giving  thee  one  better  than  she,  and  thy  life 
will  be  long  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted ! — But  he  wept  vio- 
lently, and  said  to  me,  0  my  companion,  how  can  I  marry  another  after  her,  or  how 
can  God  compensate  me  by  giving  me  a  better  than  she,  when  but  one  day  remaineth 
of  my  life  ?  So  I  replied,  0  my  brother,  return  to  thy  reason,  and  do  not  announce 
thine  own  death  ;  for  thou  art  well,  in  prosperity  and  health.  But  he  said  to  me,  0 
my  companion,  by  thy  life  to-morrow  thou  wilt  lose  me,  and  never  in  thy  life  wilt 
thou  see  me  again. — And  how  so  ?  said  I.  He  answered  me,  This  day  they  will  bury 
my  wife,  and  they  will  bury  me  with  her  in  the  sepulchre ;  for  it  is  our  custom  in 
our  country,  when  the  wife  dieth,  to  bury  with  her  her  husband  alive ;  and  when  the 
husband  dieth,  they  bury  with  him  his  wife  alive ;  that  neither  of  them  may  enjoy 
life  after  the  other.     I  therefore  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  this  custom  is  exceedingly 


500  THE   FOURTH   VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE   SAILOR. 

vile,  and  none  can  endure  it ! — And  while  we  were  thus  conversing,  lo,  most  of  the 
people  of  the  city  came,  and  proceeded  to  console  my  companion  for  the  loss  of  his 
wife  and  for  himself.  They  began  to  prepare  her  body  for  burial  according  to  their 
custom,  brought  a  bier,  and  carried  the  woman  in  it  with  all  her  apparel  and  orna- 
ments and  wealth,  taking  the  husband  with  them  ;  and  they  went  forth  with  them 
to  the  outside  of  the  city,  and  came  to  a  place  in  the  side  of  a  mountain  by  the  sea. 
They  advanced  to  a  spot  there,  and  lifted  up  from  it  a  great  stone,  and  there  ap- 
peared, beneath  the  place  of  this,  a  margin  of  stbne,  like  the  margin  of  a  well.  Into 
this  they  threw  down  that  woman  ;  and  lo,  it  was  a  great  pit  beneath  the  mountain. 
Then  they  brought  the  man,  tied  him  beneath  his  bosom  by  a  rope  of  fibres  of  the 
palm-tree,  and  let  him  down  into  the  pit.  They  also  let  down  to  him  a  great  jug  of 
sweet  water,  and  seven  cakes  of  bread  ;  and  when  they  had  let  him  down,  he  loosed 
himself  from  the  rope,  and  they  drew  it  up,  and  covered  the  mouth  of  the  pit  with 
that  great  stone  as  it  was  before,  and  went  their  ways,  leaving  my  companion  with 
his  wife  in  the  pit. — So  I  said  within  myself,  By  Allah,  this  death  is  more  grievous 
than  the  first  death  !  I  then  went  to  their  King,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  lord,  how 
is  it  that  ye  bury  the  living  with  the  dead  in  your  country?  And  he  answered  me, 
Know  that  this  is  our  custom  in  our  country  :  when  the  husband  dieth,  we  bury  with 
him  his  wife;  and  when  the  wife  dieth,  we  bury  with  her  her  husband,  alive;  that 
we  may  not  separate  them  in  life  nor  in  death  ;  and  this  custom  we  have  received 
from  our  forefathers.  And  I  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  and  in  like  manner  the 
foreigner  like  me,  when  his  wife  dieth  among  you,  do  ye  with  him  as  ye  have  done 
with  this  man  ?  He  answered  me.  Yes :  we  bury  him  with  her,  and  do  with  him  as 
thou  hast  seen.  And  when  I  heard  these  words  from  him,  my  gall-bladder  almost 
burst  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  my  grief  and  mourning  for  myself;  my  mind  was 
stupified,  and  I  became  fearful  lest  my  wife  should  die  before  me  and  they  should 
bury  me  alive  with  her.  Afterwards,  however,  I  comforted  myself,  and  said,  Per- 
haps I  shall  die  before  her:  and  no  one  knoweth  which  will  precede  and  which  will 
follow.     And  I  proceeded  to  beguile  myself  with  occupations. 

But  a  short  time  had  elapsed  after  that  when  my  wife  fell  sick,  and  she  remained 
80  a  few  days,  and  died.  So  the  greater  number  of  the  people  assembled  to  console 
me,  and  to  console  her  family  for  her  death  ;  and  the  King  also  came  to  console  me 
for  the  loss  of  her,  as  was  their  custom.  They  then  brought  for  her  a  woman  to  wash 
her;  and  they  washed  her,  and  decked  her  with  the  richest  of  her  apparel,  and  orna- 
ments of  gold,  and  necklaces  and  jewels.  And  when  they  had  attired  my  wife,  and 
put  her  in  the  bier,  and  carried  her  and  gone  with  her  to  that  mountain,  and  lifted 
up  the  stone  from  the  mouth  of  the  pit,  and  cast  her  into  it,  all  my  companions,  and 
the  family  of  my  wife,  advanced  to  bid  me  farewell  and  to  console  me  for  the  loss  of 
my  life.  I  was  crying  out  among  them,  I  am  a  foreigner,  and  am  unable  to  endure 
your  custom  1  But  they  would  not  hear  what  I  said,  nor  pay  any  regard  to  my 
words.  They  laid  hold  upon  me  and  bound  me  by  force,  tying  with  me  seven  cakes 
of  bread  and  a  jug  of  sweet  water,  according  to  their  custom,  and  let  me  down  into  that 
pit.  And  lo,  it  was  a  great  cavern  beneath  that  mountain.  They  said  to  me.  Loose 
thyself  from  the  ropes.  But  I  would  not  loose  myself.  So  they  threw  the  ropes 
down  upon  me  and  covered  the  mouth  of  the  pit  with  the  great  stone  that  was  upon 
it,  and  went  their  ways.  I  beheld  in  that  cavern  many  dead  bodies,  and  their  smell 
was  putrid  and  abominable  ;  and  I  blamed  myself  for  that  which  I  had  done,  say- 
ing. By  Allah,  I  deserve  all  that  happeneth  to  me  and  befalleth  me !  I  knew  not 
night  from  day  ;  and  I  sustained  myself  with  little  food,  not  eating  till  hunger  almost 
killed  me,  nor  drinking  until  my  thirst  became  violent,  fearing  the  exhaustion  of  the 
food  and  water  that  I  had  with  me.  I  said.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in 
God,  the  High,  the  Great!  What  tempted  me  to  marry  in  this  city?  And  every 
time  that  I  say,  I  have  escaped  from  a  calamity, — I  f\\ll  into  a  calamity  that  is  more 
mighty  than  the  preceding  one!  By  Allah,  my  dying  this  death  is  unfortunate  I 
Would  that  I  had  been  drowned  in  the  sea,  or  had  died  upon  the  mountains!     It 


THE   FOURTH   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  501 

had  been  better  for  me  than  this  evil  death ! — And  I  continued  in  this  manner, 
blaming  myself.  I  laid  myself  down  upon  the  bones  of  the  dead,  begging  aid  of 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  wished  for  death,  but  I  found  it  not,  by  reason 
of  the  severity  of  my  sufferings.  Thus  I  remained  until  hunger  burnt  my  stomach, 
and  thirst  inflamed  me  ;  when  I  sat,  and  felt  for  the  bread,  and  ate  a  little  of  it;  and 
I  swallowed  after  it  a  little  water.  Then  I  rose  and  stood  up,  and  walked  about  the 
sides  of  the  cavern  ;  and  I  found  that  it  was  spacious  sideways,  and  with  vacant 
cavities;  but  upon  its  bottom  were  numerous  dead  bodies,  and  rotten  bones,  that 
had  lain  there  from  old  times.  And  upon  this  I  made  for  myself  a  place  in  a  side 
of  the  cavern,  remote  from  the  fresh  corpses,  and  there  I  slept. 

At  length  my  provision  became  greatly  diminished,  little  remaining  with  me. 
During  each  day,  or  in  more  than  a  day,  I  had  eaten  but  once,  and  drunk  one 
draught,  fearing  the  exhaustion  of  the  water  and  food  that  was  with  me  before  my 
death  ;  and  I  ceased  not  to  do  thus  until  I  was  sitting  one  day,  and  while  I  sat  medi- 
tating upon  my  case,  thinking  what  I  should  do  when  my  food  and  water  were 
exhausted,  lo,  the  mass  of  rock  was  removed  from  its  place,  and  the  light  beamed 
diiwn  upon  me.  So  I  said.  What  can  be  the  matter?  And  behold,  the  people  were 
standing  at  the  top  of  the  pit,  and  they  let  down  a  dead  man  with  his  wife  with  him 
alive,  and  she  was  weeping  and  crying  out  for  herself;  and  they  let  down  with  her 
a  large  quantity  of  food  and  water.  I  saw  the  woman  ;  but  she  saw  not  me ;  and 
they  covered  the  mouth  of  the  pit  with  the  stone,  and  went  their  ways.  Then  I 
arose,  and,  taking  in  my  hand  a  long  bone  of  a  dead  man,  I  went  to  the  woman,  and 
struck  her  upon  the  middle  of  the  head  ;  whereupon  she  fell  down  senseless :  and  I 
struck  her  a  second  and  a  third  time,  and  she  died.  So  I  took  her  bread  and  what 
else  she  had,  and  I  found  upon  her  abundance  of  ornaments  and  apparel,  necklaces 
and  jewels  and  minerals.  And  having  taken  the  water  and  food  that  was  with  her, 
I  sat  in  a  place  that  I  had  prepared  in  a  side  of  the  cavern,  wherein  to  sleep,  and 
proceeded  to  eat  a  little  of  that  food,  as  much  only  as  would  sustain  me,  lest  it 
should  be  exhausted  quickly,  and  I  should  die  of  hunger  and  thirst. 

I  remained  in  that  cavern  a  length  of  time  ;  and  whenever  they  buried  a  corpse, 
I  killed  the  person  who  was  buried  with  it  alive,  and  took  that  person's  food  and 
drink,  to  subsist  upon  it,  until  I  was  sleeping  one  day,  and  I  awoke  from  my  sleep, 
and  heard  something  make  a  noise  in  a  side  of  the  cavern.  So  I  said.  What  can 
this  be  ?  I  then  arose  and  walked  towards  it,  taking  with  me  a  long  bone  of  a  dead 
man  ;  and  when  it  was  sensible  of  my  presence,  it  ran  away,  and  fled  from  me  ;  and 
lo,  it  was  a  wild  beast.  But  I  followed  it  to  the  upper  part  of  the  cavern,  and  there- 
upon a  light  appeared  to  me  from  a  small  spot,  like  a  star.  Sometimes  it  appeared 
to  me,  and  sometimes  it  was  concealed  from  me.  Therefore,  when  I  saw  it  I  ad- 
vanced towards  it;  and  the  nearer  I  approached  to  it  the  larger  did  the  light  from  it 
appear  to  me.  So  upon  this  I  was  convinced  that  it  was  a  hole  in  that  cavern  com- 
municating with  the  open  country ;  and  I  said  within  myself.  There  must  be  some 
cause  for  this:  either  it  is  a  second  mouth,  like  that  from  which  they  let  me  down, 
or  it  is  a  fissure  in  this  place.  I  meditated  in  my  mind  awhile,  and  advanced  to- 
wards the  light;  and  lo,  it  was  a  perforation  in  the  back  of  that  mountain,  which 
the  wild  beasts  had  made,  and  through  which  they  entered  this  place  ;  and  they  ate 
of  the  dead  bodies  until  they  were  satiated,  and  went  forth  through  this  perforation. 
When  I  saw  it,  therefore,  my  mind  was  quieted,  my  soul  wag  tranquillized,  and  my 
heart  was  at  ease  ;  I  made  sure  of  life  after  death,  and  became  as  in  a  dream.  Then 
I  managed  to  force  my  way  through  that  perforation,  and  found  myself  on  the  shore 
of  the  sea,  upon  a  great  mountain,  which  formed  a  barrier  between  the  sea  on  the 
one  side  and  the  island  and  city  on  the  other,  and  to  which  no  one  could  gain  access. 
So  I  praised  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  thanked  Him,  and  rejoiced  exceed- 
ingly, and  my  heart  was  strengthened.  I  then  returned  through  that  perforation 
mto  the  cavern,  and  removed  all  the  food  and  water  that  was  in  it,  that  I  had  spared. 
I  also  took  the  clothes  of  the  dead,  and  clad  myself  in  some  of  them,  in  addition  to 


502  THE    FOURTH  VOYAGE    OF   SINDBAD    THE   SAILOR. 

those  I  had  on  me  ;  and  I  took  abundance  of  the  things  that  were  on  the  dead,  con 
sisting  of  varieties  of  necklaces  and  jewels,  long  necklaces  of  pearls,  ornaments  of 
silver  and  gold  set  with  various  minerals  and  rarities  ;  and,  having  tied  up  some 
clothes  of  the  dead  in  apparel  of  my  own,  I  went  forth  from  the  perforation  to  the 
back  of  the  mountain,  and  stood  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea.  Every  day  I  entered 
the  cavern,  and  explored  it ;  and  whenever  they  buried  a  person  alive,  I  took  the 
food  and  water,  and  killed  that  person,  whether  male  or  female;  after  which  I  went 
forth  from  the  perforation,  and  sat  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea,  to  wait  for  relief  from 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  by  means  of  a  ship  passing  by  me.  And  I  removed 
from  that  cavern  all  the  ornaments  that  I  found,  and  tied  them  up  in  the  clothes  of 
the  dead. 

I  ceased  not  to  remain  in  this  state  for  a  length  of  time ;  and  afterwards,  as  I  was 
sitting,  one  day,  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea,  meditating  upon  my  case,  lo,  a  vessel 
passed  along  in  the  midst  of  the  roaring  sea  agitated  with  waves.  So  I  took  in  my 
hand  a  white  garment  of  the  clothes  of  the  dead,  and  tied  it  to  a  staff,  and  ran  with 
it  along  the  sea-shore,  making  a  signal  to  the  people  with  that  garment,  until  they 
happened  to  look,  and  saw  me  upon  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  They  therefore 
approached  me  and  heard  my  voice,  and  sent  to  me  a  boat  in  which  was  a  party  of 
men  from  the  ship ;  and  when  they  drew  near  to  me  they  said  to  nae.  Who  art  thou, 
and  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  sitting  in  this  place,  and  how  didst  thou  arrive  at  this 
mountain  ;  for  in  our  lives  we  have  never  seen  any  one  who  hath  come  unto  it?  So 
I  answered  them,  I  am  a  merchant.  The  vessel  that  I  was  in  was  wrecked,  and  I 
got  upon  a  plank,  together  with  my  things,  and  God  fiicilitated  my  landing  at  this 
place,  with  my  things,  by  means  of  my  exertion  and  my  skill,  after  severe  toil. 
They  therefore  took  me  with  them  in  the  boat,  and  embarked  all  that  I  had  taken 
from  the  cavern,  tied  up  in  the  garments  and  grave-clothes,  and  proceeded  with  me 
until  they  took  me  up  into  the  ship,  to  the  master,  and  all  my  things  with  me.  And  the 
master  said  to  me,  0  man,  how  didst  thou  arrive  at  this  place,  which  is  a  great 
mountain  with  a  great  city  behind  it?  All  my  life  I  haA'e  been  accustomed  to  navi- 
gate this  sea,  and  to  pass  by  this  mountain  ;  but  have  never  seen  anything  there  ex- 
cepting the  wild  beasts  and  birds. — I  answered  him,  I  am  a  merchant.  I  was  in  a 
great  ship,  and  it  was  wrecked,  and  all  my  merchandise,  consisting  of  these  stuffs 
.  and  clothes  which  thou  seest,  was  submerged  ;  but  I  placed  it  upon  a  great  plank, 
one  of  the  planks  of  the  ship,  and  destiny  and  fortune  aided  me,  so  that  I  landed 
upon  this  mountain,  where  I  waited  for  some  one  to  pass  by  and  take  me  with  him. 
— And  I  acquainted  them  not  with  the  events  that  had  befollen  me  in  the  city,  or  in 
the  cavern;  fearing  that  there  might  be  with  them  in  the  ship  some  one  from  that 
city.  Then  I  took  forth  and  presented  to  the  owner  of  the  ship  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  my  property,  saying  to  him,  0  my  master,  thou  hast  been  the  means  of  my 
escape  from  this  mountain  :  therefore  receive  from  me  this  as  a  recompense  for  the 
favour  which  thou  hast  done  to  me.  But  he  would  not  accept  it  from  me ;  and  he 
said  to  me.  We  take  nothing  from  any  one ;  and  when  we  behold  a  shipwrecked 
person  on  the  shore  of  the  sea  or  on  an  island,  we  take  him  with  us,  and  feed  him 
and  give  him  to  drink ;  and  if  he  be  naked  we  clothe  him  ;  and  when  we  arrive  at 
the  port  of  safety,  we  give  him  something  of  our  property  as  a  present,  and  act  to- 
wards him  with  kindness  and  favour,  for  the  sake  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted! — 
So  upon  this  I  offered  up  prayers  for  the  prolongation  of  his  life. 

We  ceased  not  to  proceed  on  our  voyage  from  island  to  island  and  from  soa  to  sea. 
I  hoped  to  escape,  and  was  rejoiced  at  my  safety ;  but  every  time  that  I  reflected 
upon  my  abode  in  the  cavern  with  my  wife,  my  reason  left  me.  We  pursued  our 
course  until  we  arrived  at  the  Island  of  the  Bell,  whence  we  proceeded  to  the  Island 
of  Kela  in  six  days.  Then  we  came  to  the  Kingdom  of  Kela,  which  is  adjacent  to 
India,  and  in  it  are  a  mine  of  lead  and  places  where  the  Indian  cane  groweth,  and 
excellent  camphor ;  and  its  King  is  a  King  of  great  dignity,  whose  dominion  ex- 
tendeth  over  the  Island  of  the  Bell.     In  it  is  a  city  called  the  City  of  the  Boll,  which 


THE    FIFTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR.  503 

18  tiv  <  days' journey  in  extent. — At  length,  by  the  providence  of  God,  we  arrived  in 
safety  at  the  city  of  Balsora,  vrhere  I  landed,  and  remained  a  few  days  ;  after  which 
I  came  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  and  to  my  quarter,  and  entered  my  house,  met  my 
family  and  my  companions,  and  made  inquiries  respecting  them  ;  and  they  rejoiced 
at  my  safety  and  congratulated  me.  I  stored  all  the  commodities  that  I  had  brought 
with  me  in  my  magazines,  gave  alms  and  presents,  and  clad  the  orphans  and  the 
widows;  and  I  became  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  joy  and  happiness,  and  returned  to 
my  former  habit  of  associating  with  familiars  and  companions  and  brothers,  and 
indulging  in  sport  and  merriment.  —  Such  were  the  most  wonderful  of  the  event-s 
that  happened  to  me  in  the  course  of  the  fourth  voyage.  But,  0  my  brother  [0 
Sindbad  the  Porter],  sup  thou  with  me,  and  observe  thy  custom  by  coming  to  nie  to- 
morrow, when  I  will  inform  thee  what  happened  to  me  and  what  befell  me  during 
the  fifth  voyage:  for  it  was  more  wonderful  and  extraordinary  than  the  preceding 
voyages. 

He  then  gave  orders  to  present  the  porter  with  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  the 
table  was  spread,  and  the  party  supped  ;  after  which  they  vrent  their  ways,  wonder- 
ing extremely  ;  each  story  being  more  extraordinary  than  the  preceding  one.  Sind- 
bad the  Porter  went  to  his  house,  and  passed  the  night  in  the  utmost  joy  and  happi- 
ness, and  in  wonder;  and  when  the  morning  came,  and  diffused  its  light  and  shone, 
he  arose  and  performed  the  morning-prayers,  and  walked  on  until  he  entered  the 
house  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor,  and  wished  him  good  morning.  And  Sindbad  the 
Sailor  welcomed  him,  and  ordered  him  to  sit  with  him  until  the  rest  of  his  com- 
panions came.  And  they  ate,  and  drank,  and  enjoyed  themselves  and  were  merry, 
and  conversation  flowed  round  among  them.  Then  Sindbad  the  Sailor  be^an  his 
narrative,  saying  thus  : — 


THE  FIFTH  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

Know,  0  my  brothers,  that  when  I  returned  from  the  fourth  voyage,  and  became 
immersed  in  sport  and  merriment  and  joy,  and  had  forgotten  all  that  I  had  ex- 
perienced, and  what  had  befallen  me,  and  what  I  had  suffered,  by  reason  of  my  ex- 
cessive joy  at  the  gain  and  profit  and  benefits  that  I  had  obtained,  my  mind  again 
suggested  to  me  to  travel,  and  to  divert  myself  with  the  sight  of  the  countries  of 
other  people,  and  the  islands.  So  I  arose  and  meditated  upon  that  subject,  and 
bought  precious  goods,  suited  for  a  sea-voyage.  I  packed  up  the  bales,  and  departed 
from  the  city  of  Bagdad  to  the  city  of  Balsora:  and,  walking  along  the  bank  of  the 
river,  I  saw  a  great,  handsome,  lofty  vessel,  and  it  pleased  me  ;  wherefore  I  purchased 
it.  Its  apparatus  was  new,  and  I  hired  for  it  a  master  and  sailors,  over  whom  I  set 
my  black  slaves  and  my  pages  as  superintendents,  and  I  embarked  in  it  my  bales. 
And  there  came  to  me  a  company  of  merchants,  who  also  embarked  their  bales  in 
it,  and  paid  me  hire.  We  set  sail  in  the  utmost  joy  and  happiness,  and  rejoicing 
in  the  prospect  of  safety  and  gain,  and  ceased  not  to  pursue  our  voyage  from  island 
to  island  and  from  sea  to  sea,  diverting  ourselves  with  viewing  the  islands  and 
towns,  and  landing  at  them  and  selling  and  buying.  Thus  we  continued  to  do  until 
we  arrived  one  day  at  a  large  island,  destitute  of  inhabitants.  There  was  no  person 
upon  it ;  it  was  deserted  and  desolate  ;  but  on  it  was  an  enormous  white  dome,  of 
great  bulk;  and  we  landed  to  amuse  ourselves  with  a  sight  of  it,  and  lo,  it  was  a 
great  egg  of  a  roc.  Now  when  the  merchants  had  landed,  and  were  diverting  them- 
selves with  viewing  it,  not  knowing  that  it  was  the  egg  of  a  roc,  they  struck  it  with 
stones  ;  whereupon  it  broke,  and  there  poured  down  from  it  a  great  quantity  of 
liquid,  and  the  young  roc  appeared  within  it.  So  they  pulled  it  and  took  it  forth 
from  the  shell,  and  killed  it,  and  took  from  it  abundance  of  meat.  I  was  then  in 
the  ship,  and  knew  not  of  it,  and  they  acquainted  me  not  with  that  which  they  did. 
But  in  the  mean  time  one  of  the  passengers  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  arise  and 


504  THE    FIFTH  VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR. 

divert  thyself  with  the  sight  of  this  egg,  which  we  imagined  to  be  a  dome.  I  there- 
fore arose  to  take  a  view  of  it,  and  found  the  merchants  striking  the  egg.  I  called 
out  to  them,  Do  not  this  deed  ;  for  the  roc  will  come  and  demolish  our  ship,  and  de- 
stroy us!     But  they  would  not  hear  my  words. 

And  while  they  were  doing  as  above  related,  behold,  the  sun  became  concealed 
from  us.  and  the  day  grew  dark,  and  there  came  over  us  a  cloud  by  which  the  sky 
was  obscured,  so  we  raised  our  heads  to  see  vchat  had  intervened  between  us  and 
the  sun,  and  saw  that  the  wings  of  the  roc  were  what  veiled  from  us  the  sun's  light, 
■so  that  the  sky  was  darkened.  And  when  the  roc  came,  and  beheld  its  egg  broken, 
it  cried  out  at  us  ;  whereupon  its  mate,  the  female  bird,  came  to  it,  and  they  flew  in 
circles  over  the  ship,  crying  out  at  us  with  a  voice  more  vehement  than  thunder. 
So  I  called  out  to  the  master  and  the  sailors,  and  said  to  them,  Push  off  the  vessel, 
and  seek  safety  before  we  perish.  The  master  therefore  hastened,  and,  the  mer- 
chants having  embarked,  he  loosed  the  ship,  and  we  departed  from  that  island. 
And  when  the  rocs  saw  that  we  had  put  forth  to  sea,  they  absented  themselves  from 
us  for  a  while.  We  proceeded,  and  made  speed,  desiring  to  escape  from  them,  and 
to  quit  their  country  ;  but  lo,  they  had  followed  us,  and  they  now  approached  us, 
each  of  them  having  in  its  claws  a  huge  mass  of  rock  from  a  mountain  ;  and  the 
male  bird  threw  the  rock  that  he  had  brought  upon  us.  The  master,  however, 
steered  away  the  ship,  and  the  mass  of  rock  missed  her  by  a  little  space.  It  de- 
scended into  the  sea  by  the  ship,  and  the  ship  went  up  with  us,  and  down,  by  reason 
of  the  mighty  plunging  of  the  rock,  and  we  beheld  the  bottom  of  the  sea  in  conse- 
quence of  its  vehement  force.  Then  the  mate  of  the  male  roc  threw  upon  us  the 
rock  that  she  had  brought,  which  was  smaller  than  the  former  one,  and,  as  destiny 
had  ordained,  it  fell  upon  the  stern  of  the  ship,  and  crushed  it,  making  the  rudder 
fly  into  twenty  pieces,  and  all  that  was  in  the  ship  became  submerged  in  the  sea. 

I  strove  to  save  myself,  impelled  by  the  sweetness  of  life,  and  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted!)  placed  within  my  reach  one  of  the  planks  of  the  ship;  so  I  caught 
hold  of  it,  and,  having  got  upon  it,  began  to  row  upon  it  with  my  feet,,  and  the  wind 
and  the  waves  helped  me  forward.  The  vessel  had  sunk  near  an  island  in  the  midst 
of  the  sea,  and  destiny  cast  me',  by  permission  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  to 
that  island.  I  therefore  landed  upon  it;  but  I  was  at  my  last  breath,  and  in  the 
state  of  the  dead,  from  the  violence  of  the  fatigue  and  distress  and  hunger  and 
thirst  that  I  had  suffered.  I  then  threw  myself  down  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea, 
and  remained  lying  there  a  while,  until  my  soul  felt  at  ease,  and  my  heart  was  tran- 
quillized, when  I  walked  along  the  island,  and  saw  that  it  resembled  one  of  the 
gardens  of  Paradise.  Its  trees  bore  ripe  fruits,  its  rivers  were  flowing,  and  its  birds 
were  warbling  the  praises  of  Hini  to  whom  belongeth  might  and  permanence. 
Upon  that  island  was  an  abundance  of  trees  and  fruits,  and  varieties  of  flowers. 
So  I  ate  of  the  fruits  until  I  was  satiated,  and  I  drank  of  those  rivers  until  I  was 
satisfied  with  drink;  and  I  praised  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  for  this,  and 
glorified  Him.  I  then  remained  sitting  upon  the  island  till  evening  came,  and  night 
approached;  whereupon  I  arose;  but  I  was  like  a  slain  man,  by  reason  of  the 
fatigue  and  fear  that  I  had  experienced  ;  and  I  heard  not  in  that  island  a  voice,  nor 
did  I  see  in  it  any  person. 

I  slept  there  without  interruption  until  the  morning,  and  then  arose  and  stood  up. 
and  walked  among  the  trees  ;  and  I  saw  a  streamlet,  by  which  sat  an  old  man,  a 
comely  person,  who  was  clad  from  the  waist  downwards  with  a  covering  made  of  the 
leaves  of  trees.  So  I  said  within  myself.  Perhaps  this  old  man  hath  landed  upon 
this  island  and  is  one  of  the  shipwrecked  persons  with  whom  the  vessel  fell  to  pieces. 
I  then  approached  him  and  saluted  him,  and  he  returned  the  salutation  by  a  sign 
without  speaking  ;  and  I  said  to  him,  0  sheikh,  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  sitting  in 
this  place  ?  Whereupon  he  shook  his  head,  and  sighed,  and  made  a  sign  to  me  witli 
hi"  hand,  as  though  he  would  say.  Carry  me  upon  thy  neck,  and  transport  me  from 
this  place  to  the  other  side  of  the  streamlet.     I  therefore  said  within  myself,  I  will 


■^/■/// 1 Z!-^'' 


THE   FIFTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD  THE    SAILOR.  507 

aot  kindly  with  this  person,  and  tninsport  him  to  this  place  to  which  he  desireih  to 
go:  perhaps  I  shall  obtain  for  it  a  reward  [in  heaven].  Accordingly  I  advanced  to 
him,  and  took  him  upon  my  shoulders,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  place  that  he  had 
indicated  to  me  :  when  I  said  to  him.  Descend  at  thine  ease.  But  he  descended  not 
from  my  shoulders.  He  had  twisted  his  legs  round  my  neck,  and  I  looked  at  them, 
and  I  saw  that  they  were  like  the  hide  of  the  buffalo  in  blackness  and  roughness. 
So  I  was  frightened  at  him,  and  desired  to  throw  him  down  from  my  shoulders  ; 
but  he  pressed  upon  my  neck  with  his  feet,  and  squeezed  my  throat,  so  that  the 
world  became  black  before  my  face,  and  I  was  unconscious  of  my  existence,  falling 
upon  the  ground  in  a  fit,  like  one  dead.  He  then  raised  his  legs,  and  beat  me  upon 
my  back  and  my  shoulders ;  and  I  suffered  violent  pain ;  wherefore  I  arose  with 
him.  He  still  kept  his  seat  upon  my  shoulders,  and  I  had  become  fatigued  with 
bearing  him  ;  and  he  made  a  sign  to  me  that  I  should  go  in  among  the  trees,  to  the 
best  of  the  fruits.  When  I  disobeyed  him,  he  inflicted  upon  me  with  his  feet  blows 
more  violent  than  those  of  whips  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  direct  me  with  his  hand  to 
every  place  to  which  he  desired  to  go,  and  to  that  place  I  went  with  him.  If  I 
loitered,  or  went  leisurely,  he  beat  me ;  and  I  was  as  a  captive  to  him.  We  went 
into  the  midst  of  the  island,  among  the  trees,  and  he  descended  not  from  my  shoulders 
by  night  nor  by  day;  when  he  desired  to  sleep,  he  would  wind  his  legs  round  my 
neck,  and  sleep  a  little,  and  then  he  would  arise  and  beat  me,  whereupon  I  would 
arise  with  him  quickly,  unable  to  disobey  him,  by  reason  of  the  severity  of  that 
whi^h  I  suffered  from  him  ;  and  I  blamed  myself  for  having  taken  him  up,  and 
having  had  pity  on  him.  I  continued  with  him  in  this  condition,  enduring  the  most 
violent  fatigue,  and  said  within  myself,  I  did  a  good  act  unto  this  person,  and  it 
hath  become  an  evil  to  myself!  By  Allah,  I  will  never  more  do  good  unto  any  one 
as  long  as  I  live !  —  I  begged  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  at  every  period  and 
in  every  hour,  that  I  might  die,  in  consequence  of  the  excessive  fatigue  and  distress 
that  I  suffered. 

Thus  I  remained  for  a  length  of  time,  until  I  carried  him  one  day  to  a  place  in 
the  island  where  I  found  an  abundance  of  pumpkins,  many  of  which  were  dry. 
Upon  this  I  took  a  large  one  that  was  dry,  and,  having  opened  its  upper  extremity, 
and  cleansed  it,  I  went  with  it  to  a  grape-vine,  and  filled  it  with  the  juice  of  the 
grapes.  I  then  stopped  up  the  aperture,  and  put  it  in  the  sun,  and  left  it  for  some 
days,  until  it  had  become  pure  wine ;  and  every  day  I  used  to  drink  of  it,  to  help 
myself  to  endure  the  fatigue  that  I  underwent  with  that  obstinate  devil ;  for  when- 
ever I  was  intoxicated  by  it,  my  energy  was  strengthened.  So,  seeing  me  one  day 
drinking,  he  made  a  sign  to  me  with  his  hand,  as  though  he  would  say,  What  is  this? 
And  I  answered  him,  This  is  something  agreeable,  that  invigorateth  the  heart  and 
dilateth  the  mind.  Then  I  ran  with  him,  and  danced  among  the  trees  ;  I  was  exnila- 
rated  by  intoxication,  and  clapped  my  hands,  and  sang,  and  was  joyful.  Therefore, 
when  he  beheld  me  in  this  state,  he  made  a  sign  to  me  to  hand  him  the  pumpkin, 
that  he  might  drink  from  it;  and  I  feared  him,  and  gave  it  to  him  ;  whereupon  he 
drank  what  remained  in  it,  and  threw  it  upon  the  ground,  and,  being  moved  with 
merriment,  began  to  shake  upon  my  shoulders.  He  then  became  intoxicated,  and 
drowned  in  intoxication  ;  all  his  limbs,  and  the  muscles  of  his  sides,  became  relaxed, 
and  he  began  to  lean  from  side  to  side  upon  my  shoulders.  So  when  I  knew  that  he 
was  drunk,  and  that  he  was  unconscious  of  existence,  I  put  my  hands  to  his  feet, 
and  loosed  them  from  my  neck.  Then  I  stooped  with  him,  and  sat  down,  and  threw 
him  upon  the  ground.  I  scarcely  believed  that  I  had  liberated  myself  and  escaped 
from  the  state  in  which  I  had  been  ;  but  I  feared  him,  lest  he  should  arise  from  his 
intoxication,  and  torment  me.  I  therefore  took  a  great  mass  of  stone  from  among 
the  trees,  and.  coming  to  him,  struck  him  upon  his  head  as  he  lay  asleep,  so  that  his 
dosh  became  mingled  with  his  blood,  and  he  was  killed.  May  no  mercy  of  God  be 
on  him  ! 

After  that  1  walked  about  the  island,  with  a  happy  mind,  and  came  to  the  place 


508 


THE    FIFTH   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 


Sindbad  killing  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea. 


where  I  was  before,  on  the  shore  of  the  sea.  And  I  remained  upon  that  island,  eat- 
ing of  its  fruits,  and  drinking  of  the  water  of  the  rivers,  for  a  length  of  time,  and 
watching  to  see  some  vessel  passing  by  me,  until  I  was  sitting  one  day,  reflecting 
upon  the  events  that  had  befallen  me  and  happened  to  me,  and  I  said  within  myself, 
I  wonder  if  God  will  preserve  me  in  safety,  and  if  I  shall  return  to  my  country, 
and  meet  my  family  and  my  companions.  And  lo,  a  vessel  approached  from  the 
midst  of  the  roaring  sea  agitated  with  waves,  and  it  ceased  not  in  its  course  until  it 
anchored  at  that  island :  whereupon  the  passengers  landed  there.  So  I  walked 
towards  them  ;  and  when  they  beheld  me,  they  all  quickly  approached  me  and 
assembled  around  me,  inquiring  respecting  my  state,  and  the  cause  of  my  coming 
to  that  island.  I  therefore  acquainted  them  with  my  case,  and  with  the  events  that 
had  befallen  me ;  whereat  they  wondered  extremely.  And  they  said  to  me.  This 
man  who  rode  upon  thy  shoulders  is  called  the  Old  Man  of  the  Sea,  and  no  one  ever 
was  beneath  his  limbs  and  escaped  from  him  excepting  thee  :  and  praise  be  to  God 
for  thy  safety!  Then  they  brought  me  some  food,  and  I  ate  until  I  was  satisfied  ; 
and  they  gave  me  some  clothing,  which  I  put  on,  covering  myself  decently.  After 
this,  they  took  me  with  them  in  the  ship;  and  when  we  had  proceeded  days  and 
nights,  destiny  drove  us  to  a  city  of  lofty  buildings,  all  the  houses  of  which  over- 
looked the  sea.  That  city  is  called  the  City  of  Apes  ;  and  when  the  night  cometh, 
the  people  who  reside  in  it  go  forth  from  the  doors  that  open  upon  the  sea,  and,  em- 
barking in  boats  and  ships,  pass  the  night  upon  the  sea,  in  their  fear  of  the  apes,  lest 
they  should  come  down  upon  them  in  the  night  from  the  mountains. 

I  landed  to  divert  myself  in  this  city,  and  the  ship  set  sail  without  my  knowledge. 
So  I  repented  of  my  having  landed  there,  remembering  my  companions,  and  what 
had  befallen  them  from  the  apes,  first  and  afterwards;  and  I  sat  weeping  and  mourn- 
ing. And  thereupon  a  man  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city  advanced  to  me  and  said 
to  me,  0  my  master,  it  seemeth  that  thou  art  a  stranger  in  this  country.  I  therefore 
replied.  Yes:  I  am  a  stranger  and  a  poor  man.  I  was  in  a  ship  which  anchored  at 
this  city,  and  I  landed  from  it  to  divert  myself  in  this  city,  and  returned,  but  saw 
not  the  ship. — And  he  said,  Arise  and  come  with  us,  and  embark  in  the  boat ;  for  if 
thou  remain  in  the  city  during  the  night,  the  apes  will  destroy  thee.  So  I  replied,  1 
hear  and  obey.  I  arose  i  ^mediately,  and  embarked  with  the  people  in  the  boat,  and 
they  pushed   it  off  from   the   land    until   thoy  had  propelled  it  fi-om  the  shore  of  the 


THE    FIFTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR.  509 

sea  to  the  distance  of  a  mile.  They  passed  the  night,  and  I  with  them  ;  and  wheu 
the  morning  came,  they  returned  in  the  boat  to  the  city,  and  hvnded,  and  each  of 
them  went  to  his  occupation.  Such  hath  been  always  their  custom  every  night;  and 
to  every  one  of  them  who  remaineth  behind  in  the  city  during  the  night,  the  apes 
come,  and  they  destroy  him.  In  the  day,  the  apes  go  forth  from  the  city,  and  eat  of 
the  fruits  in  the  gardens,  and  sleep  in  the  mountains  until  the  evening,  when  they 
return  to  the  city.  And  this  city  is  in  the  furthest  parts  of  the  country  of  the  blacks. 
— Among  the  most  wonderful  of  the  events  that  happened  to  me  in  the  treatment 
that  I  met  with  from  its  inhabitants  was  this.  A  person  of  the  party  with  whom  I 
passed  the  night  said  to  me,  0  my  master,  thou  art  a  stranger  in  this  country.  Art 
thou  skilled  in  any  art  with  which  thou  mayest  occupy  thyself? — And  I  answered 
him,  No,  by  Allah,  0  my  brother:  I  am  not  acquainted  with  any  art,  nor  do  1  know 
how  to  make  anything.  I  was  a  merchant,  a  person  of  wealth  and  fortune,  and  I 
had  a  ship,  my  own  property,  laden  with  abundant  wealth  and  goods ;  but  it  was 
wrecked  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  was  in  it  sank,  and  I  escaped  not  drowning  but  by 
the  permission  of  God  ;  for  He  provided  me  with  a  piece  of  a  plank,  upon  which  I 
placed  myself;  and  it  was  the  means  of  my  escape  from  drowning. — And  upon  this 
the  man  arose  and  brought  me  a  cotton  bag,  and  said  to  me.  Take  this  bag,  and  till 
it  with  pebbles  from  this  city,  and  go  forth  with  a  party  of  the  inhabitants.  I  will 
associate  thee  with. them,  and  give  them  a  charge  respecting  thee,  and  do  thou  as  they 
shall  do.  Perhaps  thou  wilt  accomplish  that  by  means  of  which  thou  wilt  be  assisted 
to  make  thy  voyage,  and  to  return  to  thy  country. 

Then  that  man  took  me  and  led  me  forth  from  the  city,  and  I  picked  up  small 
pebbles,  with  which  I  filled  that  bag.  And  lo,  a  party  of  men  came  out  from  the 
city,  and  he  associated  me  with  them,  giving  them  a  charge  respecting  me,  and  say- 
ing to  them.  This  is  a  stranger ;  so  take  him  with  you,  and  teach  him  the  mode  ol 
gathering.  Perhaps  he  may  gain  the  means  of  subsistence,  and  ye  will  obtain  [from 
God]  a  reward  and  recompense. —  And  they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey.  They 
welcomed  me,  and  took  me  with  them  and  proceeded,  each  of  them  having  a  bag 
like  mine,  filled  with  pebbles ;  and  we  ceased  not  to  pursue  our  way  until  we  arrived 
at  a  wide  valley,  wherein  were  many  lufty  trees,  which  no  one  could  climb.  In  that 
valley  were  also  many  apes,  which,  when  they  saw  us,  fled  from  us,  and  ascended 
those  trees.  Then  the  men  began  to  pelt  the  apes  with  the  stones  that  they  had  with 
them  in  the  bags ;  upon  which  the  apes  began  to  pluck  off  the  fruits  of  those  trees, 
and  to  throw  them  at  the  men  ;  and  I  looked  at  the  fruits  which  the  apes  threw 
down,  and  lo,  they  were  cocoa-nuts.  Therefore  when  I  beheld  the  party  do  thus,  I 
chose  a  great  tree,  upon  which  were  many  apes,  and,  advancing  to  it,  proceeded  to 
pelt  those  apes  with  stones  ;  and  they  broke  off  nuts  from  the  tree  and  threw  them 
at  me.  So  I  collected  them  as  the  rest  of  the  party  did,  and  the  stones  were  not 
exhausted  from  my  bag  until  I  had  collected  a  great  quantity.  And  when  the  party 
ended  this  work,  they  gathered  together  all  that  was  with  them,  and  each  of  them 
carried  off  as  many  of  the  nuts  as  he  could.  We  then  returned  to  the  city  during 
the  remainder  of  the  day,  and  I  went  to  the  man,  my  companion,  who  had  associated 
me  with  the  party,  and  gave  him  all  that  I  had  collected,  thanking  him  for  his  kind- 
ness. But  he  said  to  me,  Take  these  and  sell  them,  and  make  use  of  the  price.  And 
afterwards,  he  gave  me  the  key  of  a  place  in  his  house,  and  said  to  me.  Put  here 
these  nuts  that  thou  hast  remaining  with  thee,  and  go  forth  every  day  with  the  party 
as  thou  hast  done  this  day ;  and  of  what  thou  bringest,  separate  the  bad,  and  sell 
them,  and  make  use  of  their  price ;  and  the  rest  keep  in  thy  possession  in  this  place. 
Perhaps  thou  wilt  accumulate  of  them  what  will  aid  thee  to  make  thy  voyage. —  So 
I  replied.  Thy  reward  is  due  from  God,  whose  name  be  exalted!  I  did  as  he  told  me, 
and  continued  every  day  to  fill  the  bag  with  stones,  and  to  go  forth  with  the  people, 
and  do  as  they  did.  They  used  to  commend  me,  one  to  another,  and  to  guide  me  to 
the  tree  upon  wnich  was  abundance  of  fruit;  and  I  ceased  not  to  lead  this  life  for  a 
length  of  time,  so  that  I  collected  a  great  quantity  of  good  cocoa-nuts,  and  I  sold  a 


510  THE    FIFTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR. 

great  quantity,  the  price  of  which  became  a  large  sum  in  my  possession.  I  bought 
everything  that  I  saw  and  that  pleased  me ;  my  time  was  pleasant,  and  my  good 
fortune  increased  throughout  the  whole  city.  . 

I  remained  in  this  state  for  some  time ;  after  which,  as  I  was  standing  by  the  sea- 
side, lo,  a  vessel  arrived  at  that  city,  and  cast  anchor  by  the  shore.  In  it  were  mer- 
chants, with  their  goods,  and  they  proceeded  to  sell  and  buy,  and  to  exchange  their 
goods  for  cocoa-nuts  and  other  things.  So  I  went  to  my  companion,  informed  him 
of  the  ship  that  had  arrived,  and  told  him  that  I  desired  to  make  the  voyage  to  my 
country.  And  he  replied.  It  is  thine  to  determine.  I  tlierefore  bade  him  farewell,  and 
thanked  him  for  his  kindness  to  me.  Then  I  went  to  the  ship,  and,  accosting  the 
master,  engaged  with  him  for  my  passage,  and  embarked  in  that  ship  the  cocoa-nuts 
and  other  things  that  I  had  with  me,  after  which  they  set  sail  that  same  day.  We 
continued  our  course  from  island  to  island  and  from  sea  to  sea,  and  at  every  island 
at  which  we  cast  anchor  I  sold  some  of  those  cocoa-nuts,  and  exchanged;  and  God 
compensated  me  with  more  than  I  had  before  possessed  and  lost.  We  passed  by  an 
island  in  which  are  cinnamon  and  pepper,  and  some  persons  told  us  that  they  had 
seen  upon  every  bunch  of  pepper  a  hirge  leaf  that  shadeth  it  and  wardeth  from  it 
the  rain  whenever  it  raineth  ;  and  when  the  rain  ceaseth  to  fall  upon  it,  the  leaf 
turneth  over  from  the  bunch,  and  hangeth  down  by  its  side.  From  the  island  I  took 
with  me  a  large  quantity  of  pepper  and  cinnamon  in  exchange  for  cocoa-nuts.  We 
passed  also  by  the  island  of  Asirat,  which  is  that  wherein  is  the  Kamari  aloes-wood. 
And  after  that  we  passed  by  another  island,  the  extent  of  which  is  five  days'  journey, 
and  in  it  is  the  Sanfi  aloes-wood,  which  is  superior  to  the  Kamari  ;  but  the  inhabit- 
ants of  this  island  are  worse  in  condition  and  religion  than  the  inhabitants  of  the 
Island  of  the  Kamari  aloes-wood  ;  for  they  love  depravity  and  the  drinking  of  wines, 
and  know  not  the  call  to  prayer,  nor  the  act  of  prayer.  And  we  came  after  that  to 
the  pearl-fisheries ;  whereupon  I  gave  to  the  divers  some  cocoa-nuts,  and  said  to 
them.  Dive  for  my  luck  and  lot.  Accordingly  they  dived  in  the  bay  there,  and 
brou^'-ht  up  a  great  number  of  large  and  valuable  pearls ;  and  they  said  to  me,  0  my 
master.  By  Allah,  thy  fortune  is  good !  So  I  took  up  into  the  ship  what  they  had 
brought  up  for  me,  and  we  proceeded,  relying  on  the  blessing  of  God,  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !)  and  continued  our  voyage  until  we  arrived  at  Balsora,  where  I  landed, 
and  remained  a  short  time.  I  then  went  thence  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  entered  my 
quarter,  and  came  to  my  house,  and  saluted  my  family  and  companions,  who  con- 
gratulated me  on  my  safety.  I  stored  all  the  goods  and  commodities  that  I  had 
brought  with  me,  clothed  the  orphans  and  the  widows,  bestowed  alms  and  gifts,  and 
made  presents  to  my  family  and  my  companions  and  my  friends.  God  had  com- 
pensated me  with  four  times  as  much  as  I  had  lost,  and  I  forgot  what  had  happened 
to  me,  and  the  fatigue  that  I  had  suffered,  by  reason  of  the  .abundance  of  my  gain 
and  profits,  and  resumed  my  first  habits  of  familiar  intercourse  and  fellowship. — 
Such  were  the  most  wonderful  things  that  happened  to  me  in  the  course  of  the  fifth 
voyage  :  but  sup  ye,  and  to-morrow  come  again,  and  I  will  relate  to  you  the  events 
of  the  sixth  voyage  ;  for  it  was  more  wonderful  than  this. 

Then  they  spread  the  table,  and  the  party  supped ;  and  when  they  had  finished 
their  supper,  Sindbad  the  Sailor  gave  orders  to  present  Sindbad  the  Porter  with  a 
hundred  pieces  of  gold :  so  he  took  them  and  departed,  wondering  at  this  affair.  lie 
passed  the  night  in  his  abode,  and  when  morning  came,  he  arose  and  performed 
the  morning  prayers ;  after  which  he  walked  to  the  house  of  Sindbad  the  Sailor, 
went  in  to  him,  and  wished  him  good  morning;  and  Sindbad  the  Sailor  ordered  him 
to  sit.  He  therefore  sat  with  him,  and  he  ceased  not  to  converse  with  him  until  the 
rest  of  his  companions  came.  And  they  conversed  together,  and  the  servants  spread 
the  table  ;  and  the  party  ate  and  drank,  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and  were  merry. 
Then  Sindbad  the  Sailor  began  to  relate  to  them  the  story  of  the  sixth  voyage,  say- 
ing to  them, — 


THE   SIXTH   VOYAGE   OF    SINDBAD   THE    SAILOR.  511 


THE  SIXTH  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

Know,  0  my  brothers  and  my  friends  and  my  companions,  that  when  I  returned 
from  that  fifth  voyage,  and  forgot  what  I  had  suffered,  by  reason  of  sport  and  merri- 
ment and  enjoyment  and  gaiety,  and  was  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  joy  and  happiness, 
I  continued  thus  until  I  was  sitting  one  day  in  exceeding  delight  and  happiness  and 
gaiety ;  and  while  I  sat,  lo,  a  party  of  merchants  came  to  me,  bearing  the  marks  of 
travel.  And  upon  this  I  remembered  the  days  of  my  return  from  travel,  and  my 
joy  at  meeting  my  family  and  companions  and  friends,  and  at  entering  my  country ; 
and  my  soul  longed  again  for  travel  and  commerce.  So  I  determined  to  set  forth. 
I  bought  for  myself  precious,  sumptuous  goods,  suitable  for  the  sea,  packed  up  my 
bales,  and  went  from  the  city  of  Bagdad  to  the  city  of  Balsora,  where  I  beheld  a 
large  vessel  in  which  were  merchants  and  great  men,  and  with  them  were  precious 
goods.  I  therefore  embarked  my  bales  with  them  in  this  ship,  and  we  departed  in 
safety  from  the  city  of  Balsora.  We  continued  our  voyage  from  place  to  place  and 
from  city  to  city,  selling  and  buying,  and  diverting  ourselves  with  viewing  different 
countries.  Fortune  and  the  voyage  were  pleasant  to  us,  and  we  gained  our  subsist- 
ence, until  we  were  proceeding  one  day,  and  lo,  the  master  of  the  ship  vociferated 
and  called  out,  threw  down  his  turban,  slapped  his  face,  plucked  his  beard,  and  fell 
down  in  the  hold  of  the  ship  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  his  grief  and  rage.  So  all 
the  merchants  and  other  passengers  came  together  to  him  and  said  to  him,  0  master, 
what  is  the  matter?  And  he  answered  them.  Know,  0  company,  that  we  have  wan- 
dered from  our  course,  having  passed  forth  from  the  sea  in  which  we  were,  and 
entered  a  sea  of  which  we  know  not  the  routes ;  and  if  God  appoint  not  for  us  some 
means  of  effecting  our  escape  from  this  sea,  we  all  perish  :  therefore  pray  to  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!)  that  He  may  save  us  from  this  case.  Then  the  master 
arose  and  ascended  the  mast,  and  desired  to  loose  the  sails ;  but  the  wind  became 
violent  upon  the  ship,  and  drove  her  back,  and  her  rudder  broke  near  a  lofty  moun- 
tain ;  whereupon  the  master  descended  from  the  mast,  and  said,  There  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  No  one  is  able  to  prevent  what  is 
predestined !  By  Allah,  we  have  fallen  into  a  great  peril,  and  there  remaineth  to  us 
no  way  of  safety  or  escape  from  it !  —  So  all  the  passengers  wept  for  themselves  : 
they  bade  one  another  farewell,  because  of  the  expiration  of  their  lives,  and  their 
hope  was  cut  off.  The  vessel  drove  upon  that  mountain  and  went  to  pieces ;  its 
planks  were  scattered,  and  all  that  was  in  it  was  submerged  ;  the  merchants  fell  into 
the  sea,  and  some  of  them  were  drowned,  and  some  caught  hold  upon  that  mountain, 
and  landed  upon  it. 

I  was  of  the  number  of  those  who  landed  upon  the  mountain  ;  and  lo,  within  it 
was  a  large  island.  By  it  were  many  vessels  broken  in  pieces,  and  upon  it  were 
numerous  goods,  on  the  shore  of  the  sea,  of  the  things  thrown  up  by  the  sea  from 
the  ships  that  had  been  wrecked,  and  the  passengers  of  which  had  been  drowned. 
Upon  it  was  an  abundance,  that  confounded  the  reason  and  the  mind,  of  commodi- 
ties and  wealth  that  the  sea  cast  upon  its  shores.  I  ascended  to  the  upper  part  of 
the  island,  and  walked  about  it,  and  I  beheld  in  the  midst  of  it  a  stream  of  sweet 
water,  flowing  forth  from  beneath  the  nearest  part  of  the  mountain,  and  entering  at 
the  furthest  part  of  it,  on  the  opposite  side  [of  the  valley].  Then  all  the  other  pas- 
sengers went  over  that  mountain  to  [the  interior  of]  the  island,  and  dispersed  them- 
selves about  it,  and  their  reason  was  confounded  at  that  which  they  beheld.  They 
became  like  madmen  by  reason  of  what  they  saw  upon  the  island,  of  commodities 
and  wealth  lying  on  the  shore  of  the  sea.  I  beheld  also  in  the  midst  of  the  above- 
mentioned  stream  an  abundance  of  various  kinds  of  jewels  and  minerals,  with  ja- 
cinths and  large  pearls,  suitable  to  kings.  They  were  like  gravel  in  the  channels 
of  the  water  which  flowed  through  the  fields  ;  and  all  the  bed  of  that  stream  glit- 
tered by  reason  of  the  great  number  of  minerals  and  other  things  that  it  contained. 


512  THE    SIXTH   VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR. 

We  likewise  saw  on  that  island  an  abundance  of  the  best  kind  of  Sanfi  aloes-wood, 
and  Kamari  aloes-wood.  And  in  that  island  is  a  gushing  spring  of  crude  ambergis, 
which  floweth  like  wax  over  the  side  of  that  spring  through  the  violence  of  the  heat 
of  the  sun,  and  spreadeth  upon  the  sea-shore  and  the  monsters  of  the  deep  come  up 
from  the  sea  and  swallow  it,  and  descend  with  it  into  the  sea ;  but  it  becometh  hot 
in  their  stomachs,  therefore  they  eject  it  from  their  mouths  into  the  sea,  and  it  con- 
gealeth  on  the  surface  of  the  water.  Upon  this,  its  colour  and  its  qualities  become 
changed,  and  the  waves  cast  it  up  on  the  shore  of  the  sea:  so  the  travellers  and 
merchants  who  know  it  take  it  and  sell  it.  But  as  to  the  crude  ambergris  that  is 
not  swallowed,  it  floweth  over  the  side  of  that  fountain,  and  congealeth  upon  the 
ground  ;  and  when  the  sun  shineth  upon  it,  it  melteth,  and  from  it  the  odour  of  the 
whole  of  that  valley  becometh  like  the  odour  of  musk.  Then  when  the  sun  with- 
draweth  from  it,  it  congealeth  again.  The  place  wherein  is  this  crude  ambergris  no 
one  can  enter:  no  one  can  gain  access  to  it:  for  the  mountain  surroundeth  that 
island. 

We  continued  to  wander  about  the  island,  diverting  ourselves  with  the  view  of  the 
good  things  which  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  had  created  upon  it,  and  perplexed 
at  our  case,  and  at  the  things  that  we  beheld,  and  afiFected  with  violent  fear.  We 
had  collected  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea  a  small  quantity  of  provisions,  and  we  used 
it  sparingly,  eating  of  it  every  day  or  two  days,  only  one  meal,  dreading  the  exhaus- 
tion of  our  stock,  and  our  dying  in  sorrow,  from  the  violence  of  hunger  and  fear. 
Each  one  of  us  that  died  we  washed,  and  shrouded  in  some  of  the  clothes  and  linen 
which  the  sea  cast  upon  the  shore  of  the  island  ;  and  thus  we  did  until  a  great 
number  of  us  had  died,  and  there  remained  of  us  but  a  small  party,  who  were 
weakened  by  a  colic  occasioned  by  the  sea.  After  this  we  remained  a  short  period, 
and  all  my  associates  and  companions  died,  one  after  another,  and  each  of  them  who 
died  we  buried.  Then  I  was  alone  on  that  island,  and  there  remained  with  me  but 
little  of  the  provisions,  after  there  had  been  much.  So  I  wept  for  myself,  and  said, 
Would  that  I  had  died  before  my  companions,  and  that  they  had  washed  me  and 
buried  me!  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great! — And 
I  remained  a  short  time  longer ;  after  which  I  arose  and  dug  for  myself  a  deep  grave 
on  the  shore  of  the  island,  and  said  within  myself,  When  I  fall  sick  and  knov*'  that 
death  hath  come  to  me,  I  will  lie  down  in  this  grave,  and  die  in  it,  and  the  wind  will 
blow  the  sand  upon  me,  and  cover  me ;  so  I  shall  become  buried  in  it.  I  blamed 
myself  for  my  little  sense,  and  my  going  forth  from  my  country  and  my  city,  and 
my  voyaging  to  foreign  countries,  after  what  I  had  suffered  in  the  first  instance,  and 
the  second  and  the  third  and  the  fourth  and  tlie  fifth  ;  and  when  I  had  not  performed 
ont  of  my  voyages  without  suffering  in  it  horrors  and  distresses  more  troublesome 
and  more  difficult  than  the  horrors  preceding.  I  believed  not  that  I  could  escape 
and  save  myself,  and  repented  of  undertaking  sea-voyages,  and  of  my  returning  to 
this  life  when  I  was  not  in  want  of  wealth,  but  had  abundance,  so  that  I  could  not 
consume  what  I  had,  nor  spend  half  of  it  during  the  rest  of  my  life  ;  having  enough 
for  me,  and  more  than  enough. 

Then  I  meditated  in  my  mind,  and  said.  This  river  must  have  a  beginning  and  an 
end,  and  it  must  have  a  place  of  egress  into  an  inhabited  country.  The  right  plan 
in  my  opinion  will  be  for  me  to  construct  for  myself  a  small  raft,  of  sufficient  size 
for  me  to  sit  upon  it,  and  I  will  go  down  and  cast  it  upon  this  river,  and  depart  on 
it.  If  I  find  safety,  I  am  safe,  and  escape,  by  permission  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted!);  and  if  I  find  no  way  of  saving  myself,  it  will  be  better  for  me  to  die  in 
this  place. — And  I  sighed  for  myself.  Then  I  arose  and  went,  and  collected  pieces 
of  wood  that  were  upon  that  island,  of  Sanfi  and  Kamari  aloes-wood,  and  bound 
them  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea  with  some  of  the  ropes  of  the  ships  that  had  been 
wrecked  ;  and  I  brought  some  straight  planks  of  the  ships,  and  placed  them  upon 
these  pieces  of  wood.  I  made  the  raft  to  suit  the  width  of  the  river,  less  wide  than 
the  latter,  and  bound  it  well  and  firmly;  and,  having  taken  with  me  some  of  those 


THE   SIXTH   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE  SAILOR.  513 

minerals  and  jewels  and  goods,  and  of  the  large  pearls  that  were  like  gravel,  as  well 
ds  other  things  that  were  upon  the  island,  and  some  of  the  crude,  pure,  excellent 
ambergis,  I  put  them  upon  that  raft,  with  all  that  I  had  collected  upon  the  island, 
and  took  with  me  what  remained  of  the  provisions.  I  then  launched  the  raft  upon 
the  river,  and  made  for  it  two  pieces  of  wood  like  oars.  I  departed  upon  the  raft 
along  the  river,  meditating  upon  what  might  be  the  result  of  my  case,  and  proceeded 
to  the  place  where  the  river  entered  beneath  the  mountain.  I  propelled  the  raft  into 
that  place,  and  became  in  intense  darkness  within  it,  and  the  raft  continued  to  carry 
me  in  with  the  current. to  a  narrow  place  beneath  the  mountain,  where  the  sides  of 
the  raft  rubbed  against  the  sides  of  the  channel  of  the  river,  and  my  head  rubbed 
against  the  roof  of  the  channel.  I  was  unable  to  return  thence,  and  I  blamed  my- 
self for  that  which  I  had  done,  and  said,  If  this  place  become  narrower  to  the  raft, 
it  will  scarcely  pass  through  it,  and  it  cannot  return:  so  I  shall  perish  in  this  place 
in  sorrow,  inevitably!  I  threw  myself  upon  my  face  on  the  raft,  on  account  of  the 
narrowness  of  the  channel  of  the  river,  and  ceased  not  to  proceed,  without  knowing 
night  from  day,  by  reason  of  the  darkness  in  which  I  was  involved  beneath  that 
mountain,  together  with  my  terror  and  fear  for  myself  lest  I  should  perish.  In  this 
state  I  continued  my  course  along  the  river,  which  sometimes  widened  and  at  other 
times  contracted;  but  the  intensity  of  the  darkness  wearied  me  excessively,  and 
slumber  overcame  me  in  consequence  of  the  violence  of  my  distress.  So  I  lay  upon 
my  face  on  the  raft,  which  ceased  not  to  bear  me  along  while  I  slept,  and  knew  not 
■whether  the  time  was  long  or  short. 

At  length  I  awoke,  and  found  myself  in  the  light;  and,  opening  my  eyes,  I  be- 
held an  extensive  tract,  and  the  raft  tied  to  the  shore  of  an  island,  and  around  me  a 
company  of  Indians  and  [people  like]  Abyssinians.  When  they  saw  that  I  had 
arisen,  they  rose  and  came  to  me  and  spoke  to  me  in  their  language;  but  I  knew  not 
what  they  said,  and  imagined  that  it  was  a  dream,  and  that  this  occurred  in  sleep, 
by  reason  of  the  violence  of  my  distress  and  vexation.  And  when  they  spoke  to  me 
and  I  understood  not  their  speech,  and  returned  them  not  an  answer,  a  man  among 
them  advanced  to  me,  and  said  to  me,  in  the  Arabic  language,  Peace  be  on  thee,  0 
our  brother !  What  art  thou,  and  whence  hast  thou  come,  and  what  is  the  cause  of 
thy  coming  to  this  place?  We  are  people  of  the  sown  lands  and  the  fields,  and  we 
came  to  irrigate  our  fields  and  our  sown  lands,  and  found  thee  asleep  on  the  raft:  so 
we  laid  hold  upon  it,  and  tied  it  here  by  us,  waiting  for  thee  to  arise  at  thy  leisure. 
Tell  us  then  what  is  the  cause  of  thy  coming  to  this  place. — I  replied,  I  conjure 
thee  by  Allah,  0  my  master,  that  thou  bring  me  some  food  ;  for  I  am  hungry ;  and 
after  that,  ask  of  me  concerning  what  thou  wilt.  And  thereupon  he  hastened,  and 
brought  me  food,  and  I  ate  until  I  was  satiated  and  was  at  ease,  and  my  fear  sub- 
sided ;  my  satiety  was  abundant  and  my  soul  returned  to  me.  I  therefore  praised 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  for  all  that  had  occurred,  rejoicing  at  my  having 
come  to  these  people  ;  and  I  acquainted  them  with  all  that  had  happened  to  me 
from  beginning  to  end,  and  with  what  I  had  experienced  upon  that  river,  and  its 
narrowness.  They  then  talked  together,  and  said.  We  must  take  him  with  us  and 
present  him  to  our  King,  that  he  may  acquaint  him  with  what  hath  happened  to  him. 
Accordingly  they  took  me  with  them,  and  conveyed  with  me  the  raft,  together  with 
all  that  was  upon  it,  of  riches  and  goods,  and  jewels  and  minerals,  and  ornaments 
of  gold ;  and  they  took  me  in  to  their  King,  who  was  the  King  of  Serendib,  and  ac- 
quainted him  with  what  had  happened  ;  whereupon  he  saluted  me  and  welcomed 
me,  and  asked  me  respecting  my  state,  and  respecting  the  events  that  had  happened 
to  me.  I  therefore  acquainted  him  with  all  my  story,  and  what  I  had  experienced, 
from  first  to  last ;  and  the  King  wondered  at  this  narrative  extremely,  and  congratu- 
lated me  on  my  safety.  Then  I  arose  and  took  forth  from  the  raft  a  quantity  of  the 
minerals  and  jewels,  and  aloes-wood  and  crude  ambergris,  and  gave  it  to  the  King; 
and  he  accepted  it  from  me,  and  treated  me  with  exceeding  honour,  lodging  me  in 
33 


514  THE  SIXTH   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR. 

a  place  in  his  abode.  I  associated  with  the  best  and  the  greatest  of  the  people,  who 
paid  me  great  respect,  and  I  quitted  not  the  abode  of.  the  King. 

The  island  of  Serendib  is  under  the  equinoctial  line  ;  its  night  being  always  twelve 
hours,  and  its  day  always  twelve  hours.  Its  length  is  eighty  leagues,  and  its  breadth 
thirty ;  and  it  extendeth  largely  between  a  lofty  mountain  and  a  deep  valley.  This 
mountain  is  seen  from  a  distance  of  three  days,  and  it  containeth  varieties  of  ja- 
cinths, and  different  kinds  of  minerals,  and  trees  of  all  sorts  of  spices,  and  its  sur- 
face is  covered  with  emery,  wherewith  jewels  are  cut  into  shape  :  in  its  rivers  also  are 
diamonds,  and  pearls  are  in  its  valleys.  I  ascended  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain, 
and  diverted  myself  with  a  view  of  its  wonders,  which  are  not  to  be  described :  and 
afterwards  I  returned  to  the  King,  and  begged  him  to  give  me  permission  to  return 
to  my  country.  lie  gave  me  permission  after  great  pressing,  and  bestowed  upon  me 
an  abundant  present  from  his  treasuries ;  and  he  gave  me  a  present  and  a  sealed 
letter,  saying  to  me.  Convey  these  to  the  Caliph  Ilaroun  Alrashid,  and  give  him 
many  salutations  from  us.  So  I  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then  he  wrote  for  me  a 
letter  on  skin  of  khavi,  which  is  finer  than  parchment,  of  a  yellowish  colour;  and 
the  writing  was  in  ultramarine.  And  the  form  of  what  he  wrote  to  the  Caliph  was 
this: — Peace  be  on  thee,  from  the  King  of  India,  before  whom  are  a  thousand  ele- 
phants, and  on  the  battlements  of  whose  palace  are  a  thousand  jewels.  To  proceed: 
We  have  sent  to  thee  a  trifling  present:  accept  it  then  from  us.  Thou  art  to  us  a 
brother  and  sincere  friend,  and  the  affection  for  you  that  is  in  our  hearts  is  great: 
therefore  favour  us  by  a  reply.  The  present  is  not  suited  to  thy  dignity  ;  but  we 
beg  of  thee,  0  brother,  to  accept  it  graciously.  And  peace  be  on  thee ! — And  the 
present  was  a  cup  of  ruby,  a  span  high,  the  inside  of  which  was  embellished  with 
precious  pearls ;  and  a  bed  covered  with  the  skin  of  the  serpent  that  swalloweth  the 
elephant ;  which  skin  hath  spots,  each  like  a  piece  of  gold,  and  whosoever  sitteth  upon 
it  never  becometh  diseased  ;  and  a  hundred  thousand  mithkals  of  Indian  aloes-wood; 
and  a  slave-girl  like  the  shining  full  moon.  Then  he  bade  me  farewell,  and  gave  a 
charge  respecting  me  to  the  merchants  and  the  master  of  the  ship. 

So  I  departed  thence,  and  we  continued  our  voyage  from  island  to  island  and  from 
country  to  country  until  we  arrived  at  Bagdad,  whereupon  I  entered  my  house,  and 
met  my  family  and  my  brethren  ;  after  which  I  took  the  present,  with  a  token  of 
service  from  myself  for  the  Caliph.  On  entering  his  presence,  I  kissed  his  hand, 
and  placed  before  him  the  whole,  giving  him  the  letter  ;  and  he  read  it  and  took  the 
present,  with  which  he  was  greatly  rejoiced,  and  he  treated  me  with  the  utmost 
honour.  He  then  said  to  me,  0  Sindbad,  is  that  true  which  this  King  hath  stated 
in  his  letter?  And  I  kissed  the  ground  and  answered,  0  my  lord,  I  witnessed  in  his 
kingdom  much  more  than  he  hath  mentioned  in  his  letter.  On  the  day  of  his  public 
appearance,  a  throne  is  set  for  him  upon  a  huge  elephant,  eleven  cubits  high,  and  he 
sitteth  upon  it,  having  with  him  his  chief  oflBcers  and  pages  and  guests,  standing  in 
two  ranks,  on  his  right  and  on  his  left.  At  his  head  standeth  a  man  having  in  hia 
hand  a  golden  javelin,  and  behind  him  a  man  in  whose  hand  is  a  great  m:ice  of  gold, 
at  the  top  of  which  is  an  emerald  a  span  in  length,  and  of  the  thickness  of  a  thumb. 
And  when  he  mounteth,  there  mount  at  the  same  time  with  him  a  thousand  horse- 
men clad  in  gold  and  silk;  and  as  the  King.proceedeth,  a  man  before  him  pro- 
claimeth,  saying.  This  is  the  King  of  great  dignity,  of  high  authority!  And  he  pro- 
ceedeth  to  repeat  his  praises  in  terms  that  I  remember  not,  at  the  end  of  his  pane- 
gyric saying.  This  is  the  King,  the  owner  of  the  crown,  the  like  of  which  neither  So- 
lomon nor  the  Maharaja  possessed  !  Then  he  is  silent;  and  one  behind  him  pro- 
claimeth,  saying,  lie  will  die!  Again  I  say,  lie  will  die!  Again  I  say.  He  will 
die! — And  the  other  saith.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Living  who  dieth  not! — 
Moreover,  by  reason  of  his  justice  and  good  government  and  intelligence,  there  is  no 
Cadi  in  his  city  ;  and  all  the  people  of  his  country  distinguish  the  truth  from  falsity. 
— And  the  Caliph  wondered  at  my  words,  and  said,  How  great  is  this  King!  His 
letter  hath  shown  me  this  ;  and  as  to  the  greatness  of  his  dominion,  thou  hast  told 


THE    SEVENTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR.  515 

U8  what  thou  hast  witnessed.  By  Allah,  he  hath  been  endowed  with  wisdom  and 
dominion  ! — Then  the  Caliph  conferred  favours  upon  me,  and  commanded  me  to  de- 
part to  my  abode.  So  I  came  to  my  house,  and  gave  the  legal  and  other  alms,  and 
continued  to  live  in  the  same  pleasant  circumstances  as  at  present.  I  forgot  the  ar- 
duous troubles  that  I  had  experienced,  discarded  from  my  heart  the  anxieties  of 
travel,  rejected  from  my  mind  distress,  and  betook  myself  to  eating  and  drinking, 
and  pleasures  and  joy. 

And  when  Sindbad  the  Sailor  had  finished  his  story,  every  one  who  was  present 
wondered  at  the  events  that  had  happened  to  him.  He  then  ordered  his  treasurer 
to  give  to  Sindbad  the  Porter  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  commanded  him  to 
depart,  and  to  return  the  next  day  with  the  boon-companions,  to  hear  his  seventh 
story.  So  the  porter  went  away  happy  to  his  abode,  and  on  the  morrow  he  was 
present  with  all  the  boon-companions ;  and  they  sat  according  to  their  usual  custom, 
and  employed  themselves  in  eating  and  drinking  and  enjoyment  until  the  end  of  the 
day,  when  Sindbad  the  Sailor  made  a  sign  to  them  that  they  should  hear  his  seventh 
story,  and  said  : — 


THE  SEVENTH  VOYAGE  OF  SINDBAD  THE  SAILOR. 

When  I  relinquished  voyaging,  and  the  affairs  of  commerce,  I  said  within  myself, 
What  hath  happened  to  me  sufBceth  me.  And  my  time  was  spent  in  joy  and  pleasure. 
But  while  I  was  sitting  one  day,  the  door  was  knocked ;  so  the  door-keeper  opened, 
and  a  page  of  the  Caliph  entered  and  said,  The  Caliph  summoneth  thee.  I  therefore 
went  with  him  to  his  majesty,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  saluted  him, 
whereupon  he  welcomed  me,  and  treated  me  with  honour;  and  he  said  to  me,  0  Sind- 
bad, I  have  an  affair  for  thee  to  perform.  Wilt  thou  do  it?  —  So  I  kissed  his  hand 
and  said  to  him,  0  my  lord,  what  affair  hath  the  master  for  the  slave  to  perform  ? 
And  he  answered  me,  I  desire  that  thou  go  to  the  King  of  Serendib,  and  convey 
to  him  our  letter  and  our  present ;  for  he  sent  to  us  a  present  and  a  letter.  And 
I  trembled  thereat,  and  replied,  By  Allah  the  Great,  0  my  lord,  I  have  taken  a 
hatred  to  voyaging;  and  when  a  voyage  on  the  sea,  or  any  other  travel,  is  men- 
tioned to  me,  my  joints  tremble,  in  consequence  of  what  hath  befallen  me  and 
what  I  have  experienced  of  troubles  and  horrors,  and  I  have  no  desire  for  that 
whatever.  Moreover,  I  have  bound  myself  by  an  oath  not  to  go  forth  from  Bag- 
dad.—  Then  I  informed  the  Caliph  of  all  that  had  befallen  me  from  first  to  last; 
and  he  wondered  exceedingly,  and  said.  By  Allah  the  Great,  0  Sindbad,  it  hath  not 
been  heard  from  times  of  old  that  such  events  have  befallen  any  one  as  have 
befallen  thee,  and  it  is  incumbent  on  thee  that  thou  never  mention  the  subject  of 
travel.  But  for  my  sake  thou  wilt  go  this  time,  and  convey  our  present  and  our 
letter  to  the  King  of  Serendib :  and  thou  shalt  return  quickly,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted  !),  that  we  may  no  longer  have  a  debt  of  favour  and  courtesy 
to  the  King. — So  I  replied  that  I  heard  and  obeyed,  being  unable  to  oppose  his  com- 
mand. He  then  gave  me  the  present  and  the  letter,  with  money  for  my  expenses, 
and  I  kissed  his  hand  and  departed  from  him. 

I  went  from  Bagdad  to  the  sea,  and  embarked  in  a  ship,  and  we  proceeded  days 
and  nights,  by  the  aid  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  until  we  arrived  at  the 
island  of  Serendib,  and  with  us  were  many  merchants.  As  soon  as  we  arrived,  we 
landed  at  the  city,  and  I  took  the  present  and  the  letter,  and  went  in  with  them  to 
the  King,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  And  when  he  saw  me,  he  said,  A 
friendly  welcome  to  thee,  O  Sindbad  !  By  Allah  the  Great,  we  have  longed  to  see 
thee,  and  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  shown  us  thy  face  a  second  time !  —  Then  he 
took  me  by  my  hand,  and  seated  me  by  his  side,  welcoming  me,  and  treating  me 
with  familiar  kindness,  and  he  rejoiced  greatly.  He  began  to  converse  with  me,  and 
addressed  me  with  courtesy,  and  said.  What  was  the  cause  of  thy  coming  to  us,  0 


516  THE    SEVENTH    VOYAGE    OF    SINDBAD    THE    SAILOR. 

Sindbad?  So  I  kissed  his  hand,  and  thanked  him,  and  answered  him,  0  my  lord,  I 
have  brought  thee  a  present  and  a  letter  from  my  master  the  Caliph  Ilaroun  Alrashid. 
I  then  offered  to  him  the  present  and  the  letter,  and  he  read  the  letter,  and  rejoiced 
at  it  greatly.  The  present  was  a  horse  worth  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  with  its 
saddle  adorned  with  gold  set  with  jewels  ;  and  a  book,  and  a  sumptuous  dress,  and 
a  hundred  different  kinds  of  white  cloths  of  Egypt,  and  silks  of  Suez  and  Cufa  and 
Alexandria,  and  Greek  carpets,  and  a  hundred  menus  of  silks  and  flax,  and  a  won- 
derful, extraordinary  cup  of  crystal,  in  the  midst  of  which  was  represented  the 
figure  of  a  lion  with  a  man  kneeling  before  him  and  having  drawn  an  arrow  in  his 
bow  with  his  utmost  force,  and  also  the  table  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David,  on  whom 
be  peace  !  And  the  contents  of -the  letter  were  as  follows:  —  Peace  from  the  King 
Alrashid,  strengthened  by  God  (who  hath  given  to  him  and  to  his  ancestors  the  rank 
of  the  noble,  and  wide-spread  glory),  on  the  fortunate  Sultan.  To  proceed:  thy 
letter  hath  reached  us,  and  we  rejoiced  at  it;  and  we  have  sent  the  book  [entitled] 
the  Delight  of  the  Intelligent,  and  the  Rare  Present  for  Friends  ;  together  with  varie- 
ties of  royal  rarities ;  therefore  do  us  the  favour  to  accept  them  :  and  peace  be  on 
thpe !  —  Then  the  King  conferred  upon  me  abundant  presents,  and  treated  me  with 
the  utmost  honour ;  so  I  prayed  for  him,  and  thanked  him  for  his  beneficence ;  and 
some  days  after  that,  I  begged  his  permission  to  depart ;  but  he  permitted  me  not  . 
save  after  great  pressing.  Thereupon  I  took  leave  of  him,  and  went  forth  from  his 
city,  with  merchants  and  other  companions,  to  return  to  my  country,  without  any 
desire  for  travel  or  commerce. 

We  continued  our  voyage  until  we  had  passed  many  islands  ;  but  in  the  midst  of 
our  course  over  the  sea,  there  appeared  to  us  a  number  of  boats,  which  surrounded 
us,  and  in  them  were  men  like  devils,  having  in  their  hands  swords  and  daggers,  and 
equipped  with  coats  of  mail,  and  arms  and  bows.  They  smote  us,  and  wounded  and 
slew  those  of  us  who  opposed  them,  and,  having  taken  the  ship  with  its  contents, 
conveyed  us  to  an  island,  where  they  sold  us  as  slaves,  for  the  smallest  price.  But 
a  rich  man  purchased  me,  and  took  me  into  his  house,  fed  me  and  gave  me  to  drink, 
and  clad  me  and  treated  me  in  a  friendly  manner.  Sj  my  soul  was  tranquillized, 
and  I  rested  a  little.  Then  one  day,  he  said  to  me,  Dost  thou  not  know  any  art  or 
trade?  I  answered  him,  0  my  lord,  I  am  a  merchant;  I  know  nothing  but  traffic. 
And  he  said,  Dost  thou  know  the  art  of  shooting  with  the  bow  and  arrow?  —  Yes,  I 
answered:  I  know  that.  And  thereupon  he  brought  me  a  bow  and  arrows,  and 
mounted  me  behind  him  upon  an  elephant:  then  he  departed  at  the  close  of  night, 
and,  conveying  me  among  some  great  trees,  came  to  a  lofty  and  firm  tree,  upon  which 
he  made  me  climb;  and  he  gave  me  the  bow  and  arrows,  saying  to  me,  Sit  here  now, 
and  when  the  elephants  come  in  the  day-time  to  this  place,  shoot  at  them  with  the 
arrows :  perhaps  thou  wilt  strike  one  of  them  ;  and  if  one  of  them  fall,  come  to  me  and 
inform  me.  He  then  left  me  and  departed ;  and  I  was  terrified  and  frightened.  I 
remained  concealed  in  the  tree  until  the  sun  rose  ;  when  the  elephants  came  forth 
•wandering  about  among  the  trees,  and  I  ceased  not  to  discharge  my  arrows  till  I  shot 
one  of  them.  I  therefore  went  in  the  evening  to  my  master,  and  informed  him  ;  and 
he  was  delighted  with  me,  and  treated  me  with  honour;  and  he  went  and  removed 
the  slain  elephant. 

In  this  manner  I  continued,  every  day  shooting  one,  and  my  master  coming  and 
removing  it,  until  one  day  I  was  sitting  in  the  tree  concealed,  and  suddenly  elephants 
innumerable  came  forth,  and  I  heard  the  sounds  of  their  roaring  and  growling,  which 
was  such  that  I  imagined  the  earth  trembled  beneath  them.  They  all  surrounded 
the  tree  in  which  I  was  sitting,  their  circuit  being  fifty  cubits,  and  a  huge  elephant, 
enormously  great,  advanced  and  came  to  the  tree,  and,  having  wound  his  trunk 
around  it,  pulled  it  up  by  the  roots,  and  cast  it  upon  the  ground.  I  fell  down  sense- 
less among  the  elephants,  and  the  great  elephant,  approaching  me,  wound  his  trunk 
around  me,  raised  me  on  his  back,  and  went  away  with  me,  the  other  elephants  ac- 
companying.    And  he  ceased  not  to  proceed  with  me,  while  I  was  absent  from  the 


Sindbad's  Adventuie  wul»  the  Elephants.     (Page  BIS.) 


517 


THE   SEVENTH   VOYAGE   OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR.  519 

world,  until  he  had  taken  me  into  a  place,  and  thrown  me  from  his  back,  when  lie 
departed,  and  the  other  elephants  followed  him.  So  I  rested  a  little,  and  my  terror 
subsided  ;  and  I  found  myself  among  the  bones  of  elephants!  I  knew  therefore  that 
this  was  the  burial-place  of  the  elephants,  and  that  that  elephant  had  conducted  me 
to  it  on  account  of  the  teeth. 

I  then  arose,  and  journeyed  a  day  and  a  night  until  I  arrived  at  the  house  of  my 
master,  who  saw  me  changed  in  complexion  by  fright  and  hunger.  And  he  was 
rejoiced  at  my  return,  and  said,  By  Allah,  thou  hast  pained  our  heart;  for  I  went 
and  found  the  tree  torn  up,  and  I  imagined  that  the  elephants  had  destroyed  thee. 
Tell  me,  then,  how  it  happened  with  thee.  —  So  I  informed  him  of  that  which  had 
befallen  me ;  whereat  he  wondered  greatly,  and  rejoiced ;  and  he  said  to  me.  Dost 
thou  know  that  place  ?  I  answered.  Yes,  0  my  master.  And  he  took  me,  and  we 
went  out,  mounted  on  an  elephant,  and  proceeded  until  we  came  to  that  place  ;  and 
when  my  master  beheld  those  numerous  teeth,  he  rejoiced  greatly  at  the  sight  of 
them  ;  and  he  carried  away  as  much  as  he  desired,  and  we  returned  to  the  house. 
He  then  treated  me  with  increased  favour,  and  said  to  me,  0  my  son,  thou  hast 
directed  us  to  a  means  of  very  great  gain.  May  God  then  recompense  thee  well! 
Thou  art  freed  for  the  sake  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  I  These  elephants  used 
to  destroy  many  of  us  on  account  of  [our  seeking]  those  teeth  ;  but  God  hath  pre- 
served thee  from  them,  and  thou  hast  profited  us  by  these  teeth  to  which  thou  hast 
directed  us. — I  replied,  0  my  master,  may  God  free  thy  neck  from  the  fire  [of  Hell]  ! 
And  I  request  of  thee,  0  my  master,  that  thou  give  me  permission  to  return  to  my 
country. — Yes.  said  he,  thou  shalt  have  that  permission  ;  but  we  have  a  fair,  on  the 
occasion  of  which  the  merchants  come  to  us  and  purchase  the  teeth  of  these  elephants 
of  us.  The  time  of  the  fair  is  now  near ;  and  when  they  have  come  to  us,  I  will  send 
thee  with  them,  and  will  give  thee  what  will  convey  thee  to  thy  country.  —  Sol 
prayed  for  him,  and  thanked  him  ;  and  I  remained  with  him,  treated  with  respect 
and  honour. 

Then,  some  days  after  this,  the  merchants  came  as  he  had  said,  and  bought,  sold, 
and  exchanged  ;  and  when  they  were  about  to  depart,  my  master  came  to  me,  and 
said,  The  merchants  are  going ;  therefore  arise  that  thou  mayest  depart  with  them 
to  thy  country.  Accordingly  I  arose,  determined  to  go  with  them.  They  had  bought 
a  great  quantity  of  those  teeth,  and  packed  up  their  loads,  and  embarked  them  in 
the  ship;  and  my  master  sent  me  with  them.  He  paid  for  me  the  money  for  my 
passage  in  the  ship,  together  with  all  that  was  required  of  me,  and  gave  me  a  large 
quantity  of  goods.  And  we  pursued  our  voyage  from  island  to  island  until  we  had 
crossed  the  sea  and  landed  on  the  shore,  when  the  merchants  took  forth  what  was 
with  them,  and  sold,  I  also  sold  what  I  had  at  an  excellent  rate  ;  and  I  purchased 
some  of  the  most  elegant  of  things  suited  for  presents,  and  beautiful  rarities,  with 
everything  that  I  desired.  I  likewise  bought  for  myself  a  beast  to  ride,  and  we 
went  forth,  and  crossed  the  deserts  from  country  to  country  until  I  arrived  at  Bag- 
dad ;  when  I  went  in  to  the  Caliph,  and,  having  given  the  salutation,  and  kissed  his 
hand,  I  informed  him  of  what  had  happened,  and  what  had  befallen  me ;  whereupon 
he  rejoiced  at  my  safety,  and  thanked  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !) ;  and  he  caused 
my  story  to  be  written  in  letters  of  gold.  I  then  entered  my  home,  and  met  my 
family  and  my  brethren. — This  is  the  end  of  the  history  of  the  events  that  happened 
to  me  during  my  voyages ;  and  praise  be  to  God,  the  One,  the  Creator,  the  Maker  1 


520 


SINDBAD    THE   SAILOR  AND    SINDBAD   THE    PORTER. 


THE   CONCLUSION  OF   THE   STORY  OF   SINDBAD   THE   SAILOR 
AND   SINDBAD   THE   PORTER. 

And  when  Sindbad  the  Sailor  had  finished  his  story,  he  ordered  his  servant  to  give 
to  Sindbad  the  Porter  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  him,  How  now,  0  my 
brother?  Hast  thou  heard  of  the  like  of  these  afflictions  and  calamities  and  dis- 
tresses, or  have  such  troubles  as  have  befallen  me  befallen  any  one  else,  or  hath  any 
one  else  suffered  such  hardships  as  I  have  suffered?  Know  then  that  these  pleasures 
are  a  compensation  for  the  toil  and  humiliations  that  I  have  experienced. — And  upon 
this  Sindbad  the  Porter  advanced,  and  kissed  his  hands,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  lord, 
by  Allah,  thou  hast  undergone  great  horrors,  and  hast  deserved  these  abundant 
favours;  continue  then,  0  my  lord,  in  joy  and  security;  for  God  hath  removed  from 
thee  the  evils  of  fortune;  and  I  beg  of  God  that  he  may  continue  to  thee  thy  plea- 
sures, and  bless  thy  days.  —  And  upon  this,  Sindbad  the  Sailor  bestowed  favours 
upon  him,  and  made  him  his  boon-companion  ;  and  he  quitted  him  not  by  night  nor 
by  day  as  long  as  they  both  lived. 

Praise  be  to  God,  the  Mighty,  the  Omnipotent,  the  Strong,  the  Eminent  in  power, 
the  Creator  of  the  heaven  and  the  earth,  and  of  the  land  and  the  seas! 


SiDdbad  the  Sailor. 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS.  521 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Five  Hundred  and  Sixty-sixth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of 
the  Five  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth. 


THE   STORY   OF  THE   CITY  OF   BRASS. 

There  was,  in  olden  time,  and  in  an  ancient  age  and  period,  in  Damascus  of  Syria, 
a  King,  one  of  tiie  Caliphs,  named  Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Marwan  ;  and  he  was  sit- 
ting, one  day,  having  with  him  the  great  men  of  his  empire,  consisting  of  Kings  and 
Sultans,  when  a  discussion  took  place  among  them,  respecting  the  traditions  of 
former  nations.  They  called  to  mind  the  stories  of  our  lord  Solomon  the  son  of 
David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!),  and  the  dominion  and  authority  which  God 
^whose  name  be  exalted!)  had  bestowed  upon  him  over  mankind,  and  the  Genii  and 
the  birds  and  the  wild  beasts  and  other  things  ;  and  they  said.  We  have  heard  from 
those  who  were  before  us,  that  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name 
be  exalted!)  bestowed  not  upon  any  one  the  like  of  that  which  He  bestowed  upon 
our  lord  Solomon,  and  that  he  attained  to  that  to  which  none  other  attained,  so  that 
he  used  to  imprison  the  Genii  and  the  Marids  and  the  Devils  in  bottles  of  brass,  and 
pour  molten  lead  over  them,  and  seal  this  cover  over  them  with  his  signet. 

Then  Talib  [the  son  of  Sahl]  related,  that  a  man  embarked  in  a  ship  with  a  com- 
pany of  others,  and  they  voyaged  to  the  island  of  Sicily,  and  ceased  not  in  their 
course  until  there  arose  against  them  a  wind  which  bore  them  away  to  one  of  the 
lands  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  This  happened  during  the  black  darkness 
of  night,  and  when  the  day  shone  forth,  there  came  out  to  them,  from  caves  in  that 
land,  people  of  dark  complexion  and  with  naked  bodies,  like  wild  beasts  not  under- 
standing speech.  They  had  a  King  of  their  own  race,  and  none  of  them  knew  Arabic 
save  their  King.  So  when  they  saw  the  ship,  and  those  who  were  in  her,  he  came 
forth  to  them  attended  by  a  party  of  his  companions,  and  saluted  them  and  welcomed 
them,  and  inquired  of  them  respecting  their  religion.  They  therefore  acquainted 
him  with  their  state  ;  and  he  said  to  them.  No  harm  shall  befall  you.  And  when  he 
asked  them  respecting  their  religion,  each  of  them  was  of  some  one  of  the  religions 
prevailing  before  the  manifestation  of  the  Mahometan  faith,  and  before  the  mission 
of  Mahomet,  may  God  favour  and  preserve-him  !  —  wherefore  the  people  of  the  ship 
said.  We  know  not  what  thou  sayest.  Then  the  King  said  to  them.  There  hath  not 
come  to  us  anj'  of  the  sons  of  Adam  before  you.  And  he  entertained  them  with  a 
banquet  of  the  flesh  of  birds  and  of  wild  beasts  and  offish,  beside  which  they  had  no 
food.  And  after  this,  the  people  of  the  ship  went  down  to  divert  themselves  in  the 
city,  and  they  found  one  of  the  fishermen  who  had  cast  his  net  in  the  sea  to  catch 
fish,  and  he  drew  it  up,  and  lo,  in  it  was  a  bottle  of  brass,  stopped  with  lead,  which 
was  sealed  with  the  signet  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David,  on  both  of  whom  be  peace! 
And  the  fisherman  came  forth  and  broke  it;  whereupon  there  proceeded  from  it  a 
blue  smoke,  which  united  with  the  clouds  of  heaven  ;  and  we  heard  a  horrible  voice, 
saying.  Repentance!  repentance!  0  Prophet  of  God!  —  Then,  of  that  smoke  there 
was  formed  a  person  of  terrible  aspect,  of  terrific  make,  whose  head  would  reach  [as 
high  as]  a  mountain  ;  and  he  disappeared  from  before  their  eyes.  As  to  the  people 
of  the  ship,  their  hearts  were  almost  eradicated;  but  the  blacks  thought  nothing  of 
the  event.     And  a  man  returned  to  the  King,  and  asked  him  respecting  this ;  and 


522  THE   CITY   OF   BRASS. 

the  King  answered  him,  Know  that  this  is  one  of  the  Genii  whom  Solomon  the  son 
of  David,  when  he  was  incensed  against  them,  imprisoned  in  these  bottles,  and  he 
poured  lead  over  them,  and  threw  them  into  the  sea.  When  the  fisherman  casteth 
his  net,  it  generally  bringeth  up  these  bottles;  and  when  they  are  broken,  there 
Cometh  forth  from  them  a  Genie,  who  imagineth  that  Solomon  is  still  living;  where- 
fore he  repenteth,  and  saith,  Repentance  !  0  Prophet  of  God  ! 

And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Marwan,  wondered  at  these 
words,  and  said,  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God  !  Solomon  was  endowed  with  a 
mighty  dominion!  —  And  among  those  who  were  present  in  that  assembly  was 
Nabigah  el-Dubiani ;  and  he  said,  Talib  hath  spoken  truth  in  that  which  he  hath 
related.  Solomon  used  to  put  them  into  bottles  of  brass,  and  to  cast  them  into  the 
sea. — And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  approved  of  these  words,  and  said.  By  Allah,  I 
desire  to  see  some  of  these  bottles  !  So  Talib  the  son  of  Sahl  replied,  0  Prince  of 
the  Faithful,  thou  art  able  to  do  so,  and  yet  remain  in  thy  country.  Send  to  thy 
brother  Abdelaziz  the  son  of  Marwan,  desiring  him  to  bring  them  to  thee  from  the 
Western  Country,  that  he  may  write  orders  to  Mousa  to  journey  from  the  Western 
Country  to  this  mountain  which  we  have  mentioned,  and  to  bring  thee  what  thou 
desirest  of  these  bottles  ;  for  the  furthest  tract  of  his  province  is  adjacent  to  this 
mountain. — And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  approved  of  his  advice,  and  said,  O  Talib, 
thou  hast  spoken  truth  in  that  which  thou  hast  said,  and  I  desire  that  thou  be  my 
messenger  to  Mousa  the  son  of  Nuseir  for  this  purpose,  and  thou  shalt  have  a  white 
ensign,  together  with  what  thou  shalt  desire  of  wealth  or  dignity  or  other  things,  and 
I  will  be  thy  substitute  to  take  care  of  thy  family.  To  this  Talib  replied,  Most  wil- 
lingly, 0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  And  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  Go  in  dependence  on 
the  blessing  of  God,  and  his  aid.  Then  he  gave  orders  that  they  should  write  for 
him  a  letter  to  his  brother  Abdelaziz,  his  viceroy  in  Egypt,  and  another  letter  to 
Mousa,  his  viceroy  in  the  Western  Country,  commanding  him  to  journey,  himself, 
in  search  of  the  bottles  of  Solomon,  to  leave  his  son  to  govern  the  country  in  his 
stead,  and  to  take  with  him  guides,  to  expend  wealth,  and  to  collect  a  large  number 
of  men,  and  not  to  be  remiss  in  accomplishing  that  object,  nor  to  use  any  pretext  to 
excuse  himself.  He  sealed  the  two  letters,  and  delivered  them  to  Talib  the  son  of 
Sahl,  commanding  him  to  hasten,  and  to  elevate  the  ensigns  over  his  head  ;  and  he 
gave  him  riches  and  riders  and  footmen  to  aid  him  in  his  way :  he  gave  orders  also 
to  supply  his  house  with  everything  requisite. 

So  Talib  went  forth  on  his  way  to  Egypt.  He  proceeded  with  his  companions, 
traversing  the  districts  from  Syria  until  they  entered  Egypt ;  when  the  Governor  of 
Egypt  met  him,  and  lodged  him  with  him  ;  and  he  treated  him  with  the  utmost  hon- 
our during  the  period  of  his  stay  with  him.  Then  he  sent  with  him  a  guide,  who 
accompanied  him  to  Upper  Egypt,  until  they  came  to  the  Emir  Mousa  the  son  of 
Nuseir:  and  when  he  knew  of  his  approach,  he  went  forth  to  him  and  met  him,  and 
rejoiced  at  his  arrival ;  and  Talib  handed  to  him  the  letter.  So  he  took  it  and  read 
it,  and  understood  its  meaning;  and  he  put  it  upon  his  head,  saying,  I  hear  and 
obey  the  command  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  He  determined  to  summon  his 
great  men  ;  and  they  presented  themselves  ;  and  he  inquired  of  them  respecting  that 
which  had  been  made  known  to  him  by  the  letter;  whereupon  they  said,  O  Emir,  if 
thou  desire  him  who  will  guide  thee  to  that  place,  have  recourse  to  the  sheikh  Abdel- 
samad  the  son  of  Abdelcaddes  Samudi ;  for  he  is  a  knowing  man,  and  hath  travelled 
much,  and  he  is  acquainted  with  the  deserts  and  wastes  and  the  seas,  and  their  inha- 
bitants and  their  wonders,  and  the  countries  and  their  districts.  Have  recourse 
therefore  to  him,  and  he  will  direct  thee  to  the  object  of  thy  desire. — Acoording}y  he 
gave  orders  to  bring  him,  and  he  came  before  him  ;  and  lo,  he  was  a  very  old  man, 
whom  the  vicissitudes  of  years  and  times  had  rendered  decrepit.  The  Emir  Mousa 
saluted  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  our  lord  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, Abdelmelik  the  son  of  Marwan,  hath  commanded  us  thus  and  thus,  and  I  possess 
little  knowledge  of  that  land,  and  it  hath  been  told  me  that  thou  art  acquainted  with 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS.  523 

that  country  and  the  routes.  Hast  thou  then  a  wish  to  accomplish  the  affair  of  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful? — The  sheikh  replied,  Know,  0  Emir,  that  this  route  is  diffi- 
cult, far  extending,  with  few  tracks.  The  Emir  said  to  him,  How  long  a  period  doth 
it  require?  He  answered,  It  is  a  journey  of  two  years  and  some  months  going,  and 
the  like  returning;  and  on  the  way  are  difficulties  and  horrors,  and  extraordinary 
and  wonderful  things.  Moreover,  thou  art  a  warrior  for  the  defence  of  the  faith, 
and  our  country  is  near  unto  the  enemy  ;  so  perhaps  the  Christians  may  come  forth 
during  our  absence :  it  is  expedient  therefore  that  thou  leave  in  thy  province  one  to 
govern  it.  —  He  replied,  Well.  And  he  left  his  son  Haroun  as  his  substitute  in  his 
province,  exacted  an  oath  of  fidelity  to  him,  and  commanded  the  troops  that  they 
should  not  oppose,  but  obey  him  in  all  that  he  should  order  them  to  do.  And  they 
heard  his  words,  and  obeyed  him.  His  son  Haroun  was  of  great  courage,  an  illus- 
trious hero,  and  a  bold  champion ;  and  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  pretended  to  him 
that  the  place  in  which  were  the  things  that  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  desired  was 
four  months' journey  distant,  on  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  that  throughout  the  whole 
route  were  halting-places  adjacent  one  to  another,  and  grass  and  springs.  And  he 
said,  God  will  assuredly  make  this  affair  easy  to  us  through  the  blessing  attendant 
upon  thee,  0  Vizier  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  Then  the  Emir  Mousa  said,  Know- 
est  thou  if  any  one  of  the  Kings  have  trodden  this  land  before  us  ?  He  answered 
him,  Yes,  0  Emir;  this  land  belonged  to  the  King  of  Alexandria,  Darius  the  Greek. 

After  this  they  departed,  and  they  continued  on  their  journey  until  they  arrived 
at  a  palace  ;  whereupon  the  sheikh  said.  Advance  with  us  to  this  palace,  which  pre- 
senteth  a  lesson  to  him  who  will  be  admonished.  So  the  Emir  Mousa  advanced 
thither,  together  with  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  and  his  chief  companions,  till  they 
came  to  its  entrance.  And  they  found  it  open,  and  having  lofty  angles,  and  steps, 
among  which  were  two  wide  steps  of  coloured  marbles,  the  like  of  which  hath  not 
been  seen :  the  ceilings  and  walls  were  decorated  with  gold  and  silver  and  minerals, 
and  over  the  entrance  was  a  slab,  whereon  was  an  inscription  in  ancient  Greek  ;  and 
the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  said,  Shall  I  read  it,  O  Emir?  The  Emir  answered,  Advance 
and  read.  May  God  bless  thee!  for  nought  hath  happened  to  us  during  this  journey 
but  what  hath  been  the  result  of  the  blessing  attendant  upon  thee. — So  he  read  it. 
And  the  Emir  wept  until  he  became  insensible,  and  he  said.  There  is  no  deity  but 
God,  the  Living,  the  Enduring  without  failure! — He  then  entered  the  palace,  and  was 
confounded  by  its  beauty  and  its  construction  ;  and  he  looked  at  the  figures  and  im- 
ages that  it  contained.  And  lo,  over  the  second  door  were  inscribed  some  verses. 
So  the  Emir  Mousa  said,  Advance,  0  sheikh,  and  read.  Accordingly  he  advanced 
and  read;  and  again  the  Emir  Mousa  wept  violently:  the  world  became  yellow 
before  his  face ;  and  he  said,  We  have  been  created  for  a  great  object ! 

Then  they  attentively  viewed  the  palace ;  and  lo,  it  was  devoid  of  inhabitants, 
destitute  of  household  and  occupants ;  its  courts  were  desolate,  and  its  apartments 
were  deserted  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  it  M'as  a  chamber  covered  with  a  lofty  dome, 
rising  high  in  the  air,  around  which  were  four  hundred  tombs.  To  these  tombs  the 
Emir  Mousa  drew  near,  and  behold,  among  them  was  a  tomb  constructed  of  marble, 
containing  an  inscription.  And  the  Emir  Mousa  read  it  and  wept,  and  those  who 
were  with  him,  wept.  Then  he  drew  near  to  the  dome-crowned  chamber,  and  lo,  it 
had  eight  doors  of  sandal-wood,  with  nails  of  gold,  ornamented  with  stars  of  silver 
set  with  various  jewels.  He  entered  the  chamber  covered  with  the  dome,  and  beheld 
in  it  a  long  tomb,  of  terrible  appearance,  whereon  was  a  tablet  of  iron  of  China ; 
and  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  drew  near  to  it,  and  read  its  inscription  ;  and  lo,  on  it 
was  written : — 

In  the  name  of  God,  the  Eternal,  the  Everlasting  throughout  all  ages:  in  the  name  of  God, 
who  begetteth  not,  and  who  is  not  begotten,  and  unto  whom  there  is  none  like :  in  the  name  of 
God,  the  Mighty  and  Powerful :  in  the  name  of  the  Living  who  dieth  not.  —  To  proceed  : — 0 
thou  who  arrivest  at  this  place,  be  admonished  by  the  misfortunes  and  calamities  that  thou  be- 
holdest,  and  be  not  deceived  by  the  world  and  its  beauty,  and  its  falsity  and  calumny,  and  it." 


524  THE   CITY   OF  BRASS. 

fallacy  and  finery;  for  it  is  a  flatterer,  a  cheat,  a  traitor.  Its  things  are  borrowed,  and  it  will 
take  the  loan  from  the  borrower;  and  it  is  like  the  confused  visions  of  the  sleeper,  and  the  dream 
of  the  dreamer,  as  though  it  were  the  mist  of  the  plain,  which  the  thirsty  imagineth  to  be  water: 
the  Devil  adorneth  it  for  man  until  death.  These  are  the  characteristics  of  the  world  :  confide 
not  therefore  in  it,  nur  incline  to  it ;  for  it  will  betray  him  who  dependeth  upon  it,  and  who  in 
his  afi'airs  relieth  upon  it.  Fall  not  in  its  snares,  nor  cling  to  its  skirts.  For  I  possessed  four 
thousand  bay  horses  in  a  stable;  and  I  married  a  thousand  damsels,  of  the  daughters  of  kings, 
hifh-bosomed  virgins,  like  moons;  and  I  was  blessed  with  a  thousand  children,  like  stern  lions; 
and  I  lived  a  thousand  years,  happy  in  mind  and  heart;  and  I  amassed  riches  such  as  the  Kings 
of  the  regions  of  the  earth  were  unable  to  procure,  and  imagined  that  my  enjoyments  would  con- 
tinue without  failure.  But  I  was  not  aware  when  there  alighted  among  us  the  terminator  of  de- 
lights and  the  separator  of  companions,  the  desolator  of  abodes  and  the  ravager  of  inhabited 
mansions,  the  destroyer  of  the  great  and  the  small  and  the  infants  and  the  children  and  the 
mothers.  We  had  resided  in  this  palace  in  security  until  the  event  decreed  by  the  Lord  of  all 
creatures,  the  Lord  of  the  heavens  and  the  Lord  of  the  earths,  befell  us,  and  the  thunder  of 
manifest  truth  assailed  us,  and  there  died  of  us  every  day  two,  till  a  great  company  of  us  had 
perished.  So  when  I  saw  that  destruction  had  entered  our  dwellings,  and  had  alighted  among 
uSj  and  drowned  us  in  the  sea  of  deaths,  I  summoned  a  writer,  and  ordered  him  to  write  these 
verses  and  admonitions  and  lessons,  and  caused  them  to  be  engraved  upon  these  doors  and  tab- 
lets and  tombs.  I  had  an  army  comprising  a  thousand  bridles,  composed  of  hardy  men,  with 
spears,  and  coats  of  mail,  and  sharp  swords,  and  strong  arms  ;  and  I  ordered  them  to  clothe 
themselves  with  the  long  coats  of  mail,  and  to  hang  on  the  keen  swords,  and  to  place  in  rest  the 
terrible  lances,  and  mount  the  high-blooded  horses.  Then,  when  the  event  appointed  by  the 
Lord  of  Jill  creatures,  the  Lord  of  the  earth  and  the  heavens,  befell  us,  I  said,  0  companies  of 
troops  and  soldiers,  can  ye  prevent  that  which  hath  befallen  me  from  the  Mighty  King?  But  the 
soldiers  and  troops  were  unable  to  do  so,  and  they  said.  How  shall  we  contend  against  him  from 
whom  none  hath  secluded,  the  lord  of  the  door  hath  no  door-keeper?  So  I  said,  Bring  to  me 
the  wealth.  (And  it  was  contained  in  a  thousand  pits,  in  each  of  which  were  a  thousand  hun- 
dred-weights of  red  gold,  and  in  them  were  varieties  of  pearls  and  jewels,  and  there  was  the  like 
quantity  of  white  silver,  with  treasures  such  as  the  Kings  of  the  earth  were  unable  to  procure). 
And  they  did  so  ;  and  when  they  had  brought  the  wealth  before  me,  I  said  to  them.  Can  ye  de- 
liver me  by  means  of  all  these  riches,  and  purchase  for  me  therewith  one  day  during  which  I 
may  remain  alive?  But  they  could  not  do  so.  They  resigned  themselves  to  fate  and  destiny, 
and  I  submitted  to  God  with  patient  endurance  of  fate  and  afDiction  until  he  took  uiy  soul,  and 
made  me  to  dwell  in  ray  grave.  And  if  thou  ask  concerning  my  name,  I  am  Kosh  the  son  of 
Sheddad  the  son  of  Ad  the  Greater. 

■And  again  the  Emir  Moiisa  wept  until  lie  became  insensible,  in  considering  the 
fates  of  the  people  ;  after  which,  as  they  were  going  about  through  the  different 
apartments  of  the  palace,  and  viewing  attentively  its  chambers  and  its  places  of 
diversion,  they  came  to  a  table  upon  four  legs  of  alabaster,  whereupon  was 
inscribed, — 

Upon  this  table  have  eaten  a  thousand  one-eyed  Kings,  and  a  thousand  Kings  each  sound  in 
both  eyes.  All  of  them  have  quitted  the  world,  and  taken  up  their  abode  in  the  burial-grounds 
and  the  graves. 

And  the  Emir  Mousa  read  all  this.  Then  he  went  forth,  and  took  not  with  him 
from  the  palace  aught  save  the  table. 

The  soldiers  proceeded,  with  the  sheikh  Abdelaamad  before  them  showing  them 
the  way,  until  all  the  first  day  had  passed,  and  the  second,  and  the  third.  They  then 
came  to  a  high  hill,  at  which  they  looked,  and  lo,  upon  it  was  a  horseman  of  brass, 
on  the  top  of  whose  spear  was  a  wide  and  frowning  head  that  almost  deprived  the 
beholder  of  sight,  and  on  it  was  inscribed,  0  thou  who  comest  unto  me,  if  thou  know 
not  the  way  that  leadeth  to  the  City  of  Brass,  rub  the  hand  of  the  horseman,  and  he 
will  turn,  and  then  will  stop,  and  in  whatsoever  direction  he  stoppeth,  thither  proceed, 
without  fear  and  without  difficulty;  for  it  will  load  thee  to  the  City  of  Brass. — And 
when  the  Emir  Mousa  had  rubbed  the  hand  of  the  horseman,  it  turned  like  the  Vilind- 
ing  lightning,  and  faced  a  different  direction  from  that  in  which  they  were  travelling. 

The  party  therefore  turned  thither,  and  journeyed  on,  and  it  was  the  right  way. 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS. 


525 


Horseman  of  Brass. 


They  took  that  route,  and  continued  their  course  the  same  day  and  the  next  night, 
until  they  had  traversed  a  wide  tract  of  country.  And  as  they  were  proceeding,  one 
day,  they  came  to  a  pillar  of  black  stone,  wherein  was  a  person  sunk  to  his  arm-- 
pits,  and  he  had  two  huge  wings,  and  four  arms  ;  two  of  them  .like  those  of  the  scms 
of  Adam,  and  two  like  the  fore-legs  of  lions,  with  claws.  He  had  hair  upon  his  head 
like  the  tails  of  horses,  and  two  eyes  like  two  burning  coals,  and  he  had  a  third  eye, 
in  his  forehead,  like  the  eye  of  the  lynx,  from  which  there  appeared  sparks  of  fire. 
He  was  black  and  tall ;  and  he  was  crying  out.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  my 
Lord,  who  hath  appointed  me  this  severe  afiliction  and  painful  torture  until  the  day 
of  resurrection  !  When  the  party  beheld  him,  their  reason  fled  from  them,  and  they 
were  stupified  at  the  sight  of  his  form,  and  retreated  in  flight;  and  the  Emir  Mousa 
said  to  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  AVhat  is  this?  He  answered,  I  know  not  what  he  is. 
And  the  Emir  said.  Draw  near  to  him,  and  investigate  his  case:  perhaps  he  will  dis- 
cover it,  and  perhaps  thou  wilt  learn  his  history.  The  sheikh  replied,  May  God 
amend  the  state  of  the  Emir  !  Verily  we  fear  him. — Fear  ye  not,  rejoined  the  Emir  ; 
for  he  is  withheld  from  injuring  you  and  others  by  the  state  in  which  he  is.  So  the 
sheikh  Abdelsamad  drew  near  to  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  thou  person,  what  is  thy 
name,  and  what  is  thy  nature,  and  what  hath  placed  thee  here  in  this  manner  ?  And 
he  answered  him.  As  to  me,  I  am  an  Afrite  of  the  Genii,  and  my  name  is  Dahish 
the  son  of  Elamash,  and  I  am  restrained  here  by  the  majesty,  confined  by  the  power 
[of  God],  tormented  as  long  as  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory  !)  willeth. 
Then  the  Emir  Mousa  said,  0  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  ask  him  what  is  the  cause  of  his 
confinement  in  this  pillar.  He  therefore  asked  respecting  that,  and  the  Afrite 
answered  him.  Verily  my  story  is  wonderful,  and  it  is  this:  — 

There  belonged  to  one  of  the  sons  of  Eblis  an  idol  of  red  carnelion,  of  which  I 


526  THE   CITY   OF   BRASS. 

was  made  guardian  ;  and  there  used  to  worship  it  one  of  the  Kings  of  the  sea,  of 
illustrious  dignity,  of  great  glory,  leading,  among  his  troops  of  the  Genii,  a  million 
warriors  who  smote  with  swords  before  him,  and  who  answered  his  prayer  in  cases 
of  diflSculty.  These  Genii  who  obeyed  him  were  under  my  command  and  authority, 
following  my  words  when  I  ordered  them  :  all  of  them  were  in  rebellion  against 
Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace !),  and  I  used  to  enter  the  body 
of  the  idol,  and  command  them  and  forbid  them.  Now  the  daughter  of  that  King 
was  a  frequent  adorer  of  the  idol,  assiduous  in  the  worship  of  it,  and  she  was  the 
handsomest  of  the  people  of  her  age,  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  ele- 
gance and  perfection  ;  and  I  described  her.  to  Solomon,  on  whom  be  peace !  So  he 
sent  to  her  father,  saying  to  him,  Marry  me  to  thy  daughter,  and  break  thy  carnelion- 
idol,  and  bear  witness  that  there  is  no  deity  but  God,  and  that  Solomon  is  the  Pro- 
phet of  God.  If  thou  do  so,  thy  due  shall  be  the  same  as  our  due,  and  thy  debt  as  our 
debt.  But  if  thou  refuse,  I  bring  against  thee  forces  with  which  thou  hast  not  power 
to  contend  :  therefore  prepare  an  answer  to  the  question,  and  put  on  the  garment  of 
death  ;  for  I  will  come  to  thee  with  forces  that  shall  fill  the  vacant  region,  and  leave 
thee  like  yesterday  that  hath  passed. — And  when  the  messenger  of  Solomon  (on 
whom  be  peace!)  came  to  him,  he  was  insolent  and  contumacious,  and  magnified 
himself,  and  was  proud.  Then  he  said  to  his  Viziers,  What  say  ye  respecting  the 
aflfair  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David.  For  he  hath  sent  demanding  my  daughter,  and 
commanding  me  to  break  my  carnelion-idol,  and  to  adopt  his  faith. — And  they 
replied,  0  great  King,  can  Solomon  do  unto  thee  that,  when  thou  art  in  the  midst  of 
this  vast  sea  ?  If  he  come  unto  thee,  he  cannot  prevail  against  thee ;  since  the 
Marids  of  the  Genii  will  fight  on  thy  side  ;  and  thou  shalt  seek  aid  against  him  of 
thine  idol  that  thou  worshippest:  for  he  will  aid  thee  against  him  and  will  defend 
thee.  The  right  opinion  is,  that  thou  consult  thy  lord  (and  they  meant  by  him  the 
red  carnelion-idol),  and  hear  what  will  be  his  reply:  if  he  counsel  thee  to  fight  him, 
fight  him  ;  but  otherwise,  do  not. — And  upon  this  the  King  went  immediately,  and, 
going  in  to  his  idol,  after  he  had  oSered  a  sacrifice  and  slain  victims,  fell  down  before 
it  prostrate,  and  began  to  weep,  and  to  recite  verses. —  (Then  that  Afrite,  the  half 
of  whom  was  in  the  pillar,  said  to  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  while  those  around  him 
listened,)  And  thereupon  I  entered  the  body  of  the  idol,  by  reason  of  my  ignorance, 
and  the  paucity  of  my  sense,  and  my  solicitude  respecting  the  affair  of  Solomon,  and 
said.  As  for  me,  I  am  not  in  fear  of  him  ;  for  I  am  acquainted  with  everything.  If 
he  wish  to  wage  war  with  me,  I  will  go  forth,  and  I  will  snatch  his  soul  from  him. 
—  So  when  the  King  heard  my  reply  to  him,  his  heart  was  strengthened,  and  he 
determined  to  wage  war  with  Solomon,  the  Prophet  of  God, — on  whom  be  peace ! — 
and  to  fight  against  him.  Accordingly,  when  the  messenger  of  Solomon  came,  he 
inflicted  upon  him  a  painful  beating,  and  returned  him  a  shameful  reply  ;  and  sent 
to  threaten  Solomon,  saying  to  him,  by  the  messenger.  Thy  mind  hath  suggested  to 
thee  desires.  Dost  thou  threaten  me  with  false  words  ?  Either  come  thou  to  me,  or 
I  will  go  to  thee. 

Then  the  messenger  returned  to  Solomon,  and  acquainted  him  with  all  that  had 
occurred  and  happened  to  him.  And  when  the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon,  heard  that, 
[it  was  as  though]  his  resurrection  took  place,  his  resolution  was  roused,  and  he  pre- 
pared his  forces,  consisting  of  Genii  and  men,  and  wild  beasts,  and  birds  and 
reptiles.  He  commanded  his  Vizier  Dimiriat,  King  of  the  Genii,  to  collect  the  Marids 
of  the  Genii  from  every  place:  so  he  collected  for  him,  of  the  Devils,  six  hundred 
millions.  He  also  commanded  Asaph  the  son  of  Barkia  [his  Vizier  of  men]  to 
collect  his  soldiers  of  mankind ;  and  their  number  was  one  million,  or  more. 
He  made  ready  the  accoutrements  and  weapons,  and  mounted,  with  his  forces  ol  the 
Genii  and  of  mankind,  upon  the  carpet,'  with  the  birds  flying  over  his  head,  and  the 

'  Solomon  is  believed  by  the  Mahometans  to  have  had  a  carpet  upon  which  he  was  able  to 
transport  himself  through  the  air. 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS.  527 

wild  beasts  beneath  the  carpet  marching,  until  he  alighted  upon  his  enemy's  coast, 
and  surrounded  his  island,  having  filled  the  land  with  the  forces.  He  then  sent  to 
our  King,  saying  to  him,  Behold,  I  have  arrived  ;  therefore  repel  from  thee  that 
which  hath  come  down,  or  else  submit  thyself  to  my  authority,  and  acknowledge  my 
mission,  and  break  thine  idol,  and  worship  the  One,  the  Adored  God,  and  marry  to 
me  thy  daughter  according  to  law,  and  say  thou,  and  those  who  are  with  thee,  I 
testify  that  there  is  no  deity  but  God,  and  I  testify  that  Soloman  is  the  Prophet 
of  God.  If  thou  say  that,  peace  and  safety  shall  be  thy  lot.  But  if  thou  refuse,  thy 
defending  thyself  from  me  in  this  island  shall  not  prevent  thee:  for  God  (whose 
name  be  blessed  and  exalted  !)  hath  commanded  the  wind  to  obey  me,  and  I  will 
order  it  to  convey  me  unto  thee  on  the  carpet,  and  will  make  thee  an  example  to 
restrain  others. — So  the  messenger  came  to  him,  and  communicated  to  him  the  mes- 
sage of  the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon,  on  whom  be  peace!  But  the  King  said  to 
him.  There  is  no  way  for  the  accomplishment  of  this  thing  that  he  requireth  of  me; 
therefore  inform  him  that  I  am  coming  forth  unto  him.  Accordingly  the  messenger 
returned  to  Solomon,  and  gave  him  the  reply.  The  King  then  sent  to  the  people 
of  his  country,  and  collected  for  himself,  of  the  Genii  that  were  under  his  authority, 
a  million;  and  to  these  he  added  others,  of  the  Marids  and  Devils  that  were  in  the 
islands  of  the  seas  and  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains  ;  after  which  he  made  ready 
his  forces,  and  opened  the  armouries,  and  distributed  to  them  the  weapons.  And  as 
to  the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon  (on  whom  be  peace!)  he  disposed  his  troops,  com> 
manding  the  wild  beasts  to  form  themselves  into  two  divisions,  on  the  right  of  the 
people  and  on  their  left,  and  commanding  the  birds  to  be  upon  the  islands.  He 
ordered  them  also,  when  the  assault  should  be  made,  to  tear  out  the  eyes  of  their 
antagonists  with  their  beaks,  and  to  beat  their  faces  with  their  wings  ;  and  he  ordered 
the  wild  beasts  to  tear  in  pieces  their  horses  ;  and  they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey 
God,  and  thee,  0  Prophet  of  God  !  Then  Solomon,  the  Prophet  of  God,  set  for  him- 
self a  couch  of  alabaster  adorned  with  jewels,  and  plated  with  plates  of  red  gold, 
and  he  placed  his  Yizier  Asaph  the  son  of  Barkia  on  the  right  side,  and  his  Vizier 
Dimiriat  on  the  left  side,  and  the  Kings  of  mankind  on  his  right,  and  the  Kings  of 
the  Genii  on  his  left,  and  the  wild  beasts  and  the  vipers  and  serpents  before  him. 

After  this,  they  came  upon  us  all  together,  and  we  contended  with  him  in  a  wide 
tract  for  a  period  of  two  days  ;  and  calamity  befell  us  on  the  third  day,  and  the  de- 
cree of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  was  executed  among  us.  The  first  who  charged 
upon  Solomon  were  I  and  my  troops  ;  and  I  said  to  my  companions.  Keep  in  your  places 
in  the  battlefield  while  I  go  forth  to  them  and  challenge  Dimiriat.  And  lo,  he  came 
forth,  like  a  great  mountain,  his  fires  flaming,  and  his  smoke  ascending;  and  he  ap- 
proached and  smote  me  with  a  flaming  fire  ;  and  his  arrow  prevailed  over  my  fire. 
He  cried  out  at  me  with  a  prodigious  cry,  so  that  I  imagined  the  heaven  had  fallen 
and  closed  over  me,  and  the  mountains  shook  at  his  voice.  Then  he  commanded  hie 
companions,  and  they  charged  upon  us  all  together:  we  also  charged  upon  them, 
and  we  cried  out  one  to  another :  the  fires  rose  and  the  smoke  ascended,  the  hearts 
of  the  combatants  were  almost  cleft  asunder,  and  the  battle  raged.  The  birds  fought 
in  the  air;  and  the  wild  beasts  in  the  dust;  and  I  contended  with  Dimiriat  until  he 
wearied  me  and  I  wearied  him  ;  after  which  I  became  weak,  and  my  companions 
and  troops  were  enervated,  and  my  tribes  were  routed.  The  Prophet  of  God,  Solo- 
mon, cried  out.  Take  ye  this  great  tyrant,  the  ill-omened,  the  infamous  !  And  the 
men  charged  upon  the  men  ;  and  the  Genii  upon  the  Genii ;  defeat  befell  our  King, 
and  we  became  unto  Solomon  a  spoil.  His  troops  charged  upon  our  forces,  with  the 
wild  beasts  on  their  right  and  left,  and  the  birds  were  over  our  heads,  tearing  out 
the  eyes  of  the  people,  sometimes  with  their  talons  and  sometimes  with  their  beaks, 
and  sometimes  they  beat  with  their  wings  upon  the  faces  of  the  combatants,  while 
the  wild  beasts  bit  the  horses  and  tore  in  pieces  the  men,  until  the  greater  portion 
of  the  party  lay  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  like  the  trunks  of  palm-trees.  As  to  me, 
I  flew  from  before  Dimiriat;  but  he  followed  me  a  journey  of  three  months,  until  he 


528 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS. 


Dahish  overtaken  by  Uiminat. 

overtook  me.  I  had  fallen  down  through  fatigue,  and  he  rushed  upon  me,  and  made 
me  a  prisoner.  So  I  said  to  him,  By  Him  who  hath  exalted  thee  and  debased  me, 
pity  me,  and  take  me  before  Solomon,  on  whom  be  peace !  But  when  I  came  before 
Solomon,  he  met  me  in  a  most  evil  manner :  he  caused  this  pillar  to  be  brought,  and 
hollowed  it,  and  put  me  in  it,  and  sealed  me  with  his  signet ;  after  which,  he  chained 
me,  and  Dimiriat  conveyed  me  to  this  place,  where  he  set  me  down  as  thou  seest 
me;  and  this  pillar  is  my  prison  until  the  day  of  resurrection.  He  charged  a  great 
King  to  guard  me  in  this  prison,  and  I  am  in  this  condition  tortured  as  thou  seest 


The  party  therefore  wondered  at  him,  and  at  the  horrible  nature  of  his  form  ;  and 
the  Emir  Mousa  said,  There  is  no  deity  but  God  !  Solomon  was  endowed  with  a 
mighty  dominion!  And  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  said  to  the  Afrite,  0  thou.  I  ask 
thee  concerning  a  thing  of  which  do  thou  inform  me.  The  Afrite  replied.  Ask  con- 
cerning what  thou  wilt.  And  the  sheikh  said.  Are  there  in  this  place  any  of  the 
Afrites  confined  in  bottles  of  brass  from  the  time  of  Solomon,  on  whom  be  peace ! 
He  answered,  Yes,  in  the  Sea  of  Kakar,  where  are  a  people  of  the  descendants  of 
Noah  (on  whom  be  peace!),  whose  country  the  deluge  reached  not,  and  they  are 
separated  there  from  [the  rest  of  ]  the  sons  of  Adam.  And  where,  said  the  sheikh,  is  the 
way  to  the  City  of  Brass  and  the  place  wherein  are  the  bottles?  What  distance  is 
there  between  us  and  it? — The  Afrite  answered.  It  is  near.  So  the  party  left  him, 
and  proceeded  ;  and  there  appeared  to  them  a  great  black  object,  with  two  [seeming] 
fires  corresponding  with  each  other  in  position,  in  the  distance,  in  that  black  object; 
whereupon  the  Emir  Mousa  said  to  the  sheikh.  What  is  this  great  black  object,  and 
what  are  these  two  corresponding  fires?  The  guide  answered  him,  Be  rejoiced,  0 
Emir;  for  this  is  the  City  of  Brass,  and  this  is  the  appearance  of  it  that  I  find  de 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS.  529 

scribed  in  the  book  of  hidden  treasures  ;  that  its  wall  is  of  black  stones,  and  it  hath 
two  towers  of  Spanish  brass,  which  the  beholder  seeth  resembling  two  corresponding; 
fires ;  and  thence  it  is  named  the  City  of  Brass. — They  ceased  not  to  proceed  until 
they  arrived  at  it;  and  lo,  it  was  lofty,  strongly  fortified,  rising  high  into  the  air, 
impenetrable:  the  height  of  its  walls  was  eighty  cubits,  and  it  had  five  and  twenty 
gates,  none  of  which  would  open  but  by  means  of  some  artifice  ;  and  there  was  no* 
one  gate  to  it  that  had  not,  within  the  city,  one  like  it;  such  was  the  beauty  of  the 
construction  and  architecture  of  the  city.  They  stopped  before  it,  and  endeavoured 
to  discover  one  of  its  gates;  but  they  could  not;  and  the  Emir  Mousa  said  to  the 
sheikh  Abdelsamad,  0  sheikh,  I  see  not  to  this  city  any  gate.  The  sheikh  replied, 
0  Emir,  thus  do  I  find  it  described  in  the  book  of  hidden  treasures:  that  it  hath  five- 
and-twenty  gates,  and  that  none  of  its  gates  may  be  opened  but  from  within  the 
city. — And  how,  said  the  Emir,  can  we  contrive  to  enter  it,  and  divert  ourselves  with 
a  view  of  its  wonders? 

Then  the  Emir  Mousa  ordered  one  of  his  young  men  to  mount  a  camel,  and  ride 
round  the  city,  in  the  hope  that  he  might  discover  a  trace  of  a  gate,  or  a  place  lower 
than  that  to  which  they  were  opposite.  So  one  of  his  youths  mounted,  and  proceeded 
aVound  it  for  two  days  with  their  nights,  prosecuting  his  journey  with  diligence,  and 
not  resting;  and  when  the  third  day  arrived,  he  came  in  sight  of  his  companions, 
and  he  was  astounded  at  that  which  he  beheld  of  the  extent  of  the  city  and  its  height. 
Then  he  said,  0  Emir,  the  easiest  place  in  it  is  this  place  at  which  ye  have  alighted. 
And  thereupon  the  Emir  Mousa  took  Talib  the  son  of  Sahl,  and  the  sheikh  Abdel- 
samad, and  they  ascended  a  mountain  opposite  the  city,  and  overlooking  it;  and 
when  they  had  ascended  that  mountain,  they  saw  a  city  than  which  eyes  had  not 
beheld  a  greater.  Its  pavilions  were  lofty,  and  its  domes  were  shining:  its  mansions 
were  in  good  condition,  and  its  rivers  were  running;  its  trees  were  fruitful,  and  its 
gardens  bore  ripe  produce.  It  was  a  city  with  impenetrable  gates,  empty,  still, 
without  a  voice  or  cheering  inhabitant,  but  the  owl  hooting  in  its  quarters,  and  birds 
skimming  in  circles  in  its  areas,  and  the  raven  croaking  in  its  districts  and  its  great 
thoroughfare-streets,  and  bewailing  those  who  had  been  in  it.  The  Emir  Mousa 
paused,  sorrowing  for  its  being  devoid  of  inhabitants,  and  its  being  despoiled  of 
people  and  residents  ;  and  he  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  whom  ages  and 
times  change  not,  the  Creator  of  the  creation  by  his  power!  And  while  he  was  ex- 
tolling the  perfection  of  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!),  he  happened 
to  look  aside,  and  lo,  there  were  seven  tablets  of  white  marble,  appearing  from  a 
distance.  So  he  approached  them,  and  behold,  they  were  sculptured  and  inscribed; 
and  he  ordered  that  their  writing  should  be  read  ;  therefore  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad 
advanced  and  examined  them  and  read  them  ;  and  they  contained  admonition,  and 
matter  for  example  and  restraint,  unto  those  endowed  with  faculties  of  discernment. 
Upon  the  first  tablet  was  inscribed,  in  the  ancient  Greek  character, — 

0  son  of  Adam,  how  heedless  art  thou  of  the  case  of  him  who  hath  been  before  thee !  Thy 
years  and  age  have  diverted  thee  from  considering  him.  Knowest  thou  not  that  the  cup  of  death 
will  be  filled  for  thee,  and  that  in  a  short  time  thou  wilt  drink  it?  Look  then  to  thyself  before 
entering  thy  grave.  Where  are  those  who  possessed  the  countries,  and  abased  the  ser;ants  o^ 
God,  and  led  armies?  Death  hath  come  upon  them;  and  God  is  the  terminator  of  delights  and 
the  separator  of  companions  and  the  devastator  of  flourishing  dwellings;  so  He  hath  transported 
them  from  the  amplitude  of  palaces  to  the  straitness  of  the  graves. 

And  the  Emir  Mousa  fainted  ;  his  tears  ran  down  upon  his  cheeks,  and  he  said.  By 
Allah,  indifference  to  the  world  is  the  most  appropriate  and  the  most  sure  course! 
Then  he  caused  an  ink-case  and  a  paper  to  be  brought,  and  he  wrote  the  inscription 
of  the  first  tablet;  after  which  he  drew  near  to  the  second  tablet,  and  the  third,  and 
the  fourth  ;  and  having  copied  what  was  inscribed  on  them,  he  descended  from  the 
mountain  ;  and  the  world  had  been  pictured  before  his  eyes. 

And  when  he  came  back  to  the  troops,  they  passed  the  day  devising  means  of 
34 


530  THE   CITY   OF   BKASS. 

entering  the  city  ;  and  the  Emir  Mousa  said  to  his  vizier  Talib  the  son  of  Sahl,  and 
t(i  those  of  his  chief  officers  who  were  around  him,  How  shall  we  contrive  to  enter 
the  city,  that  we  may  see  its  wonders  ?  Perhaps  we  shall  find  within  it  something 
by  which  we  may  ingratiate  ourselves  with  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  —  Talib  the 
sou  of  Sahl  replied,  May  God  continue  the  prosperity  of  the  Emir!  Let  us  make  a 
ladder,  and  mount  upon  it,  and  perhaps  we  shall  gain  access  to  the  gate  from  with- 
in.— And  the  Emir  said,  This  is  what  occurred  to  my  mind,  and  excellent  is  the  ad- 
vice. Then  he  called  to  the  carpenters  and  blacksmiths,  and  ordered  them  to  make 
straight  some  pieces  of  wood,  and  to  construct  a  ladder  covered  with  plates  of  iron. 
And  they  did  so,  and  made  it  strong.  They  employed  themselves  in  constructing  it 
a  whole  month,  and  many  men  were  occupied  in  making  it.  And  they  set  it  up  and 
fixed  it  against  the  wall,  and  it  proved  to  be  equal  to  the  wall  in  height,  as  though 
it  had  been  made  for  it  before  that  day.  So  the  Emir  Mcusa  wondered  at  it,  and 
said,  God  bless  you  !  It  seemeth,  from  the  excellence  of  your  work,  as  though  ye 
had  adapted  it  by  measurement  to  the  wall. — He  then  said  to  the  people.  Which  of 
you  will  ascend  this  ladder,  and  mount  upon  the  wall,  and  walk  along  it,  and  con- 
trive means  of  descending  into  the  city,  that  he  may  see  how  the  case  is,  and  then 
inform  us  of  the  mode  of  opening  the  gate  ?  And  one  of  them  answered,  I  will  ascend 
it,  0  Emir,  and  descend  and  open  the  gate.  The  Emir  therefore  replied,  Mount. 
God  bless  thee! — Accordingly,  the  man  ascended  the  ladder  until  he  reached  the  top 
of  it;  when  he  stood,  and  fixed  his  eyes  towards  the  city,  clapped  his  hands,  and 
cried  out  with  his  loudest  voice,  saying.  Thou  art  beautiful !  Then  he  cast  himself 
down  into  the  city,  and  his  flesh  became  mashed  with  his  bones.  So  the  Emir 
Mousa  said.  This  is  the  action  of  the  rational.  How  then  will  the  insane  act? 
If  we  do  thus  with  all  our  companions,  there  will  not  remain  of  them  one:  and  we 
shall  be  unable  to  accomplish  our  affair,  and  the  affair  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 
Depart  ye ;  for  we  have  no  concern  with  this  city.  —  But  one  of  them  said.  Perhaps 
another  than  this  may  be  more  steady  than  he.  And  a  second  ascended,  and  a  third, 
and  a  fourth,  and  a  fifth  ;  and  they  ceased  not  to  ascend  by  that  ladder  to  the  top 
of  the  wall,  one  after  another,  until  twelve  men  of  them  had  gone,  acting  as  acted 
the  first.  Therefore  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  said.  There  is  none  for  this  affair  but 
myself,  and  the  experienced  is  not  like  the  inexperienced.  But  the  Emir  Mousa 
said  to  him,  Thou  shalt  not  do  that,  nor  will  I  allow  thee  to  ascend  to  the  top  of  this 
wall ;  for  shouldst  thou  die,  thou  wouldst  be  the  cause  of  the  death  of  us  all,  and  there 
would  not  remain  of  us  one;  since  thou  art  the  guide  of  the  party.  ,The  sheikh 
however  replied,  Perhaps  the  object  will  be  accomplished  by  my  means,  through 
the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted!  And  thereupon  all  the  people  agreed  to 
his  ascending. 

Then  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  arose,  and  encouraged  himself,  and,  having  said,  In 
the  name  of  God,  the  Compassionate,  the  Merciful  —  he  ascended  the  ladder,  repeat- 
ing the  praises  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  reciting  the  Verses  of  Safety, 
until  he  reached  the  top  of  the  wall :  when  he  clapped  his  hands,  and  fixed  his  eyes. 
The  people  therefore  all  called  out  to  him,  and  said,  0  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  do  it  not, 
and  cast  not  thyself  down  !  And  they  said.  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily 
unto  Him  we  return!  If  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  fall,  we  all  perish  !  —  Then  the 
sheikh  Abdelsamad  laughed  immoderately,  and  sat  a  long  time  repeating  the  praises 
of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  reciting  the  Verses  of  Safety  ;  after  which  he 
rose  with  energy,  and  called  out  with  his  loudest  voice.  0  Emir,  no  harm  shall  befall 
you;  for  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!)  hath  averted  from  me  the 
effect  of  the  artifice  and  fraudulence  of  the  Devil,  through  the  blessing  resulting  from 
the  utterance  of  the  words,  In  the  name  of  God,  the  Compassionate,  the  Merciful. — 
So  the  Emir  said  to  him.  What  hast  thou  seen,  0  sheikh  ?  He  answered.  When  I 
reached  the  top  of  the  wall,  I  beheld  ten  damsels,  like  moons,  who  made  a  sign  with 
their  hands,  as  though  they  would  say.  Come  to  us.  And  it  seemed  to  me  that  be- 
neath me  was  a  sea  (or  great  river)  of  water ;  whereupon  I  desired  to  cast  myself 


THE   CITY   OF   BKASS.  531 

down,  as  our  companions  did  :  but  I  beheld  them  dead  :  so  I  withheld  myself  from 
them,  and  recited  some  more  words  of  the  book  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !), 
whereupon  God  averted  from  me  the  influence  of  those  damsels'  artifice,  and  they 
departed  from  me ;  therefore  I  cast  not  myself  down,  and  God  repelled  from  me  the 
effect  of  their  artifice  and  enchantment.  There  is  no  doubt  that  this  is  an  enchant- 
ment and  an  artifice  which  the  people  of  this  city  contrived  in  order  to  repel  from  it 
every  one  who  should  desire  to  look  down  upon  it,  and  wish  to  obtain  access  to  it; 
and  these  our  companions  are  laid  dead. 

He  then  walked  along  the  wall  till  he  came  to  the  two  towers  of  brass,  when  he 
saw  that  they  had  two  gates  of  gold,  without  locks  upon  them,  or  any  sign  of  the 
means  of  opening  them.  Therefore  the  sheikh  paused  as  long  as  God  willed,  and, 
looking  attentively,  he  saw  in  the  middle  of  one  of  the  gates  a  figure  of  a  horseman 
of  brass,  having  one  hand  extended,  as  though  he  were  pointing  with  it,  and  on  it 
was  an  inscription,  which  the  sheikh  read,  and  lo,  it  contained  these  words  : — Turn 
the  pin  that  is  in  the  middle  of  the  front  of  the  horseman's  body  twelve  times,  and 
then  the  gate  will  open.  So  he  examined  the  horseman,  and  in  the  middle  of  the 
front  of  his  body  was  a  pin,  strong,  firm,  well  fixed  :  and  he  turned  it  twelve  times ; 
whereupon  the  gate  opened  immediately,  with  a  noise  like  thunder;  and  the  sheikh 
Abdelsamad  entered.  He  was  a  learned  man,  acquainted  with  all  languages  and 
characters.  And  he  walked  on  until  he  entered  a  long  passage,  whence  he  de- 
scended some  steps,  and  he  found  a  place  with  handsome  wooden  benches,  on  which 
were  people  dead,  and  over  their  heads  were  elegant  shields,  and  keen  swords,  and 
strung  bows,  and  notched  arrows.  And  behind  the  [next]  gate  were  a  bar  of  iron, 
and  barricades  of  wood,  and  locks  of  delicate  fabric,  and  strong  apparatus.  Upon 
this,  the  sheikh  said  within  himself.  Perhaps  the  keys  are  with  these  people.  Then 
he  looked,  and  lo,  there  was  a  sheikh  who  appeared  to  be  the  oldest  of  them,  and  he 
was  upon  a  high  wooden  bench  among  the  dead  men.  So  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad 
said,  May  not  the  keys  of  the  city  be  with  this  sheikh  ?  Perhaps  he  was  the  gate- 
keeper of  the  city,  and  these  were  under  his  authority. — He  therefore  drew  near  to 
him,  and  lifted  up  his  garments,  and  lo,  the  keys  were  hung  to  his  waist.  At  the 
sight  of  them,  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  rejoiced  exceedingly  ;  his  reason  almost  fled 
from  him  in  consequence  of  his  joy  :  and  he  took  the  keys,  approached  the  gate, 
opened  the  locks,  pulled  the  gate  and  the  barricades  and  other  apparatus,  which 
opened,  and  the  gate  also  opened,  with  a  noise  like  thunder,  by  reason  of  its  great- 
ness and  terribleness,  and  the  enormity  of  its  apparatus.  Upon  this,  the  sheikh  ex- 
claimed, God  is  most  great! — and  the  people  made  the  same  exclamation  with  him, 
rejoicing  at  the  event.  The  Emir  Mousa  also  rejoiced  at  the  safety  of  the  sheikh 
Abdelsamad,  and  at  the  opening  of  the  gate  of  the  city ;  the  people  thanked  the 
sheikh  for  that  which  he  had  done,  and  all  the  troops  hastened  to  enter  the  gate. 
But  the  Emir  Mousa  cried  out  to  them,  saying  to  them,  0  people,  if  all  of  us  enter, 
we  shall  not  be  secure  from  some  accident  that  may  happen.  Half  shall  enter,  and 
half  shall  remain  behind. 

Ths  Emir  Mousa  then  entered  the  gate,  and  with  him  half  of  the  people,  who 
bore  their  weapons  of  war.  And  the  party  saw  their  companions  lying  dead :  so 
they  buried  them.  They  saw  also  the  gate-keepers  and  servants  and  chamberlains 
and  lieutenants  lying  upon  beds  of  silk,  all  of  them  dead,  and  they  entered  the 
market  of  the  city,  and  beheld  a  great  market,  with  lofty  buildings,  none  of  which 
projected  beyond  another:  the  shops  were  open,  and  the  scales  hung  up,  and  the 
utensils  of  brass  ranged  in  order,  and  the  khans  were  full  of  all  kinds  of  goods. 
And  they  saw  the  merchants  dead  in  their  shops:  their  skins  were  dried,  and  their 
bones  were  carious,  and  they  had  become  examples  to  him  who  would  be  admonished. 
They  saw  likewise  four  markets  of  particular  shops,  filled  with  wealth.  And  they 
left  this  place,  and  passed  on  to  the  silk-market,  in  which  were  silks  and  brocades 
interwoven  with  red  gold  and  white  silver  upon  various  colours,  and  the  owners  were 
dead,  lying  upon  skins,  and  appearing  almost  as  though  they  would  speak.    Leaving 


532  THE   CITY   OF   BRASS. 

these,  they  went  on  to  the  market  of  jewels  and  pearls  and  jacinths  ;  and  they  left 
it.  and  passed  on  to  the  market  of  the  money-changers,  whom  they  found  dead,  with 
varieties  uf  silks  beneath  them,  and  their  shops  were  filled  with  gold  and  silver. 
These  they  left,  and  they  proceeded  to  the  market  of  the  perfumers ;  and  lo,  their 
shops  were  filled  with  varieties  of  perfumes,  and  bags  of  musk,  and  ambergris,  and 
aloes-wood,  and  nedd,'  and  camphor,  and  other  things ;  and  the  owners  were  all 
dead,  not  having  with  them  any  food.  And  when  they  went  forth  from  the  market 
of  the  perfumers,  they  found  near  unto  it  a  palace,  decorated,  and  strongly  con- 
structed ;  and  they  entered  it,  and  found  banners  unfurled,  and  drawn  swords,  and 
strung  bows,  and  shields  hung  up  by  chains  of  gold  and  silver,  and  helmets  gilded 
with  red  gold.  And  in  the  passages  of  that  palace  were  benches  of  ivory,  orna- 
mented with  plates  of  brilliant  gold,  and  with  silk,  on  which  were  men  whose  skins 
had  dried  upon  the  bones:  the  ignorant  would  imagine  them  to  be  sleeping;  but, 
from  the  want  of  food,  they  had  died,  and  tasted  mortality.  Upon  this,  the  Emir 
Monsa  paused,  extolling  the  perfection  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  and  his 
holiness,  and  contemplating  the  beauty  of  that  palace,  and  its  strong  construction, 
and  its  wonderful  fabrication  in  the  most  beautiful  form  and  with  the  firmest  archi- 
tecture ;  and  most  of  its  decoration  was  in  ultramarine. 

And  the  Emir  Mousa  went  on  into  the  interior  of  the  palace.  There  he  beheld  a 
great  hall,  and  four  large  and  lofty  chambers,  each  one  fronting  another,  wide,  deco- 
rated with  gold  and  silver,  and  with  various  colours.  In  the  midst  of  the  hall  was  a 
great  fountain  of  alabaster,  over  which  was  a  canopy  of  brocade ;  and  in  those 
chambers  were  places  [one  in  each  chamber]  containing  decorated  fountains,  and 
tanks  lined  with  marble ;  and  channels  of  water  flowed  along  the  floors  of  those 
chambers,  the  four  streams  meeting  together  in  a  great  tank  lined  with  marbles  of 
various  colours. — The  Emir  Mousa  then  said  to  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  Enter  these 
chambers  with  us.  So  they  entered  the  first  chamber;  and  they  found  it  filled  with 
gold  and  with  white  silver,  and  pearls  and  jewels,  and  jacinths  and  precious  minerals. 
They  found  in  it  also  chests  full  of  red  and  yellow  and  white  brocades.  And  they 
went  thence  to  the  second  chamber  and  opened  a  closet  in  it,  and  lo,  it  was  filled 
with  arms  and  weapons  of  war,  consisting  of  gilded  helmets,  and  Davidean  coats  of 
mail,  and  Indian  swords,  and  lances  of  Khat  Ilejer,*  and  maces  of  Karezm,  and 
other  instruments  of  war  and  battle.  Then  they  passed  thence  to  the  third 
chamber,  in  which  they  found  closets  having  upon  their  doors  closed  locks,  and  over 
them  were  curtains  worked  with  various  kinds  of  embroidery.  They  opened  one  of 
these  closets  and  found  it  filled  with  weapons  decorated  with  varieties  of  gold  and 
silver  and  jewels.  And  they  went  thence  to  the  fourth  chamber,  where  also  they 
found  closets,  one  of  which  they  opened,  and  found  it  full  of  utensils  for  food  and 
drink,  consisting  of  various  vessels  of  gold  and  silver,  and  saucers  of  crystal,  and 
cups  set  with  brilliant  pearls,  and  cups  of  carnelion,  and  other  things.  So  they 
began  to  take  what  suited  them  of  those  things,  and  each  of  the  soldiers  carried  off 
what  he  could.  And  when  they  determined  to  go  forth  from  those  chambers,  they 
saw  there  a  door  of  teak-wood  inlaid  with  ivory  and  ebony,  and  adorned  with  plates 
of  brilliant  gold,  in  the  midst  of  that  palace.  Over  it  was  hung  a  curtain  of  silk 
worked  with  various  kinds  of  embroidery,  and  upon  it  were  locks  of  white  silver,  to 
be  opened  by  artifice,  without  a  key.  The  sheikh  Abdelsamad  therefore  advanced 
to  those  locks,  and  he  opened  them  by  his  knowledge  and  boldness  and  excellent 
skill.  And  the  party  entered  a  passage  paved  with  marble,  upon  the  sides  of  which 
were  hangings  whereon  were  figured  various  wild  beasts  and  birds,  all  these  being 
worked  with  red  gold  and  white  silver,  and  their  eyes  were  of  pearls  and  jacinths  : 
whosoever  beheld  them  was  confounded.  Next  they  came  to  a  saloon,  on  beholding 
which  the  Emir  Mousa  and  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  were  amazed  at  its  construction. 

They  passed  on,  and  found  a  saloon  constructed  of  polished  marble  adorned  with 

'  A  mixture  of  perfumes,  but  chiefly  ambergris. 
*A  celebrated  mart  for  spears. 


The  City  of  Brass.     (Page  502.) 


533 


THE   CITY   OF    BRASS.  535 

jewels.  The  beholder  imaginad  that  upon  its  floor  waa  running  water,  and  if  any 
one  walked  upon  it  he  would  slip.  The  Emir  Mousa  therefore  ordered  the  sheik.i 
Abdelsamad  to  throw  upon  it  something,  that  they  might  be  enabled  to  walk  on  it; 
and  he  did  this,  and  contrived  so  that  they  passed  on.  And  they  found  in  it  a  great 
dome  constructed  of  stones  gilded  with  red  gold.  The  party  had  not  beheld,  in  all 
that  they  had  seen,  anything  more  beautiful  than  it.  And  in  the  midst  of  that  dome 
was  a  great  dome-crowned  structure  of  alabaster,  around  which  were  lattice-windows, 
decorated,  and  adorned  with  oblong  emeralds,  such  as  none  of  the  Kings  could  pro- 
cure. In  it  was  a  pavilion  of  brocade,  raised  upon  columns  of  red  gold,  and  within 
this  were  birds,  the  feet  of  which  were  of  emeralds  ;  beneath  each  bird  was  a  net  of 
brilliant  pearls  spread  over  a  fountain  ;  and  by  the  brink  of  the  fountain  was  placed 
a  couch  adorned  with  pearls  and  jewels  and  jacinths,  whereon  was  a  damsel  resem- 
bling the  shining  sun.  Eyes  had  not  beheld  one  more  beautiful.  Upon  her  was  a 
garment  of  brilliant  pearls,  on  her  head  was  a  crown  of  red  gold,  with  a  fillet  of 
jewels,  on  her  neck  was  a  necklace  of  jewels,  in  the  middle  of  which  were  refulgent 
gems,  and  upon  her  forehead  were  two  jewels,  the  light  of  which  was  like  that  of 
the  sun  ;  and  she  seemed  as  though  she  were  looking  at  the  people,  and  observing 
them  to  the  right  and  left.  When  the  Emir  Mousa  beheld  this  damsel,  he  wondered 
extremely  at  her  loveliness,  and  was  confounded  by  her  beauty  and  the  redness  of 
her  cheeks  and  the  blackness  of  her  hair.  Any  beholder  would  imagine  that  she 
was  alive  and  not  dead.  And  they  said  to  her.  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  damsel!  But 
Talib  the  son  of  Sahl  said  to  the  Emir,  May  God  amend  thy  state !  Know  that  this 
damsel  is  dead.  There  is  no  life  in  her.  How  then  can  she  return  the  salutation  ? 
— And  he  added,  0  Emir,  she  is  skilfuMy  embalmed  ;  and  her  eyes  have  been  taken 
out  after  her  death,  and  quicksilver  hath  been  put  beneath  them,  after  which  they 
have  been  restored  to  their  places  ;  so  they  gleam,  and  whenever  the  air  putteth  them 
in  motion,  the  beholder  imagineth  that  she  twinkleth  her  eyes,  though  she  is  dead. — 
Upon  this  the  Emir  Mousa  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God,  who  hath  subdued 
his  servants  by  death  !  —  And  as  to  the  couch  upon  which  was  the  damsel,  it  had 
steps,  and  upon  the  steps  were  two  slaves,  one  of  them  white  and  the  other  black  ; 
and  in  the  hand  of  one  of  them  was  a  weapon  of  steel,  and  in  the  hand  of  the  other 
a  jewelled  sword,  that  blinded  the  eyes  ;  and  before  the  two  slaves  was  a  tablet  of 
gold,  whereon  was  read  an  inscription,  which,  was  this ;  — 

In  the  name  of  God,  the  Compassionate,  the  Merciful.  Praise  be  to  God,  the  Creator  of  man  : 
and  He  is  the  Lord  of  lords  and  the  Cause  of  causes.  In  the  name  of  God,  the  Everlasting,  the 
Eternal:  in  the  name  of  God,  the  Ordainer  of  fate  and  destiny.  0  son  of  Adam,  how  ignorant 
art  thou  in  the  long  indulgence  of  hope;  and  how  unmindful  art  thou  of  the  arrival  of  the  pre- 
destined period!  Knowest  thou  not  that  death  hath  called  for  thee,  and  hath  advanced  to  seize 
thy  soul?  Be  ready  then  for  departure,  and  make  provision  in  the  world;  for  thou  wilt  quit  it 
soon.  Where  is  Adam,  the  father  of  mankind?  Where  are  Noah  and  his  offspring?  Where 
are  the  sovereign  Kings  and  Caesars  ?  Where  are  the  Kings  of  the  regions  of  the  earth  ?  Where  are 
the  Amalekites?  Where  are  the  mighty  monarch??  The  mansions  are  void  of  their  presence, 
and  they  have  quitted  their  families  and  homes.  Where  are  the  Kings  of  the  foreigners  and  the 
Arabs?  They  have  all  died  and  become  rotten  bones.  Where  are  the  lords  of  high  degree? 
They  have  all  died.  Where  are  Korah  and  Haman  ?  Where  is  Sheddad  the  son  of  Ad  ?  Where 
are  Canaan  and  Pharaoh  ?  God  hath  cut  them  off,  and  it  is  He  who  cuttcth  short  the  lives  of 
mankind,  and  He  hath  made  the  mansions  to  be  void  of  their  presence.  Did  they  prepare  provi- 
sion for  the  day  of  resurrection,  and  make  themselves  ready  to  reply  to  the  Lord  of  men  ?  —  0 
thou,  if  thou  know  me  not,  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  ray  name  and  my  descent.  I  am  Tadmor, 
the  daughter  of  the  King  of  the  Amalekites,  of  those  who  ruled  the  country  with  equity.  I  pos- 
sessed what  none  of  the  Kings  possessed,  and  ruled  with  justice,  and  acted  impartially  towards 
my  subjects  :  I  gave  and  bestowed,  and  I  lived  a  long  time  in  the  enjoyment  of  happiness  and 
an  easy  life,  and  emancipated  female  and  male  slaves.  Thus  I  did  until  the  sunnuoner  of  death 
came  to  my  abode,  and  disasters  occurred  before  me.  And  the  case  was  this  :  —  Seven  years  in 
succession  came  upon  us,  during  which  no  water  d.escended  on  us  from  heaven,  nor  did  any  grass 
grow  for  us  on  the  face  of  the  earth.  So  we  ate  what  food  we  had  in  our  dwellings,  and  after 
that  we  fell  upon  the  beasts  and  ate  them,  and  there  remained  nothing.     Upon  this,  therefore,  I 


536  THE   CITY   OF    BRASS. 

caused  the  wealth  to  be  brought,  and  meted  it  with  a  measure,  and  sent  it  by  trusty  men,  who 
went  about  with  it  through  all  the  districts,  not  leaving  unvisited  a  single  large  city,  to  seek  for 
some  food.  But  they  found  it  not;  and  they  returned  to  us  with  the  wealth,  after  a  long  ab- 
sence. So  thereupon  we  exposed  to  view  our  riches  and  our  treasures,  locked  the  gates  of  the 
fortresses  in  our  city,  and  submitted  ourselves  to  the  decree  of  our  Lord,  committing  our  case  to 
our  Maker ;  and  thus  we  all  died,  as  thou  behcldest,  and  left  what  we  had  built  and  what  we 
had  treasured.  This  is  the  story  :  and  after  the  substance  there  remaineth  not  aught  save  the 
vestige. 

And  upon  the  tablet  were  also  inscribed  these  words  :  — 

Who  arriveth  at  our  city,  and  entereth  it,  God  facilitating  his  entrance  into  it,  let  him  take 
of  the  wealth  what  he  can,  but  not  touch  anything  that  is  on  my  body ;  for  it  is  the  covering  of 
my  person,  and  the  attire  with  which  I  am  fitted  forth  from  the  world.  Therefore  let  him  fear 
God,  and  not  seize  aught  of  it;  for  he  would  destroy  himself.  I  have  caused  this  to  be  an  ad- 
monition from  me  unto  him,  and  a  charge  which  I  give  him  in  confidence.  And  peace  be  on 
you  !     I  beg  God,  moreover,  to  save  you  from  the  evil  of  trials  and  sickness. 

The  Emir  Mousa,  when  he  heard  these  words,  again  wept  so  violently  that  he  be- 
came insensible:  and  after  he  had  recovered,  he  wrote  all  that  he  saw,  and  was 
admonished  by  what  he  witnessed.  He  then  said  to  his  companions,  Bring  the  sacks, 
and  fill  them  with  part  of  these  riches  and  these  vessels  and  rarities  and  jewels.  And 
thereupon,  Talib  the  son  of  Sahl  said  to  the  Emir  Mousa,  0  Emir,  shall  we  leave  this 
damsel  with  the  things  that  are  upon  her?  They  are  things  that  have  no  equal,  nor 
is  the  like  of  them  at  any  time  found,  and  they  are  more  than  the  riches  thou  hast 
taken,  and  will  be  the  best  present  by  which  thou  mayest  ingratiate  thyself  with  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful. — But  the  Emir  replied,  0  thou,  heardest  thou  not  that  which 
the  damsel  hath  given  as  a  charge,  in  the  inscription  upon  this  tablet?  Moreover, 
and  especially,  she  hath  given  it  as  a  charge  offered  in  confidence,  and  we  are  not 
of  the  people  of  treachery.  —  The  Vizier  Talib,  however,  said,  And  on  account  of 
these  words  wilt  thou  leave  these  riches  and  these  jewels,  when  she  is  dead?  Wliat 
then  should  she  do  with  these  things,  which  are  the  ornaments  of  the  world,  and  the 
decoration  of  the  living?  With  a  garment  of  cotton  might  this  damsel  be  covered, 
and  we  are  more  worthy  of  the  things  than  she.  —  Then  he  drew  near  to  the  steps, 
and  ascended  them  until  he  reached  the  spot  between  the  two  men  [the  slaves  before 
mentioned],  when  lo,  one  of  these  two  smote  him  upon  his  back,  and  the  other  smote 
him  with  the  sword  that  was  in  his  hand,  and  struck  off  his  head,  and  he  fell  down 
dead.  So  the  Emir  Mousa  said.  May  God  not  regard  with  mercy  thy  resting-place  ! 
There  was  in  these  riches  a  suflSciency ;  and  covetousness  doth  doubtlessly  dishonour 
the  person  in  whom  it  existeth  !  He  thereupon  gave  orders  for  the  entry  of  the  troops, 
who  accordingly  entered,  and  they  loaded  the  camels  with  part  of  those  riches  and 
minerals  ;  after  which  the  Emir  Mousa  commanded  them  to  close  the  gate  as  it  was 
before. 

They  then  proceeded  along  the  sea-coast  until  they  came  in  sight  of  a  high  moun- 
tain overlooking  the  sea.  In  it  were  many  caves,  and  lo,  in  these  was  a  people  of 
the  blacks,  clad  in  hides,  and  with  bournouses  of  hides  upon  their  heads,  whose  lan- 
guage was  unknown.  And  when  they  saw  the  troops,  they  ran  away  from  them, 
and  fled  to  those  caves,  while  their  women  and  children  stood  at  the  entrances  of  the 
caves.  So  the  Emir  Mousa  said,  0  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  what  are  these  people?  — 
And  he  answered,  these  are  the  objects  of  the  inquiry  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 
They  therefore  alighted,  and  the  tents  were  pitched,  and  the  riches  were  put  down  ; 
and  they  had  not  rested  when  the  King  of  the  blacks  came  down  from  the  mountain, 
and  drew  near  to  the  troops.  He  was  acquainted  with  the  Arabic  language ;  where- 
fore, when  he  came  to  the  Emir  Mousa,  he  saluted  him  ;  and  the  Emir  returned  his 
salutation,  and  treated  him  with  honour.  Then  the  King  of  the  blacks  said  to  the 
Emir,  Are  ye  of  mankind,  or  of  the  Genii?  Tlie  Emir  answered.  As  U>  us,  we  are 
of  mankind  ;  and  as  to  you,  there  is  no  duulit  but  th;it  ye  are  of  the  Genii,  because 


THE   CITY   OF   BRASS.  537 

of  your  seclusion  in  this  mountiiin  that  is  separated  from  the  world,  and  because  of 
the  greatness  of  your  make.  But  the  King  of  the  blacks  replied,  Nay,  we  are  a 
people  of  the  race  of  Adam,  the  sons  of  Ham  the  son  of  Noah,  on  whom  be  peace  . 
And  as  to  this  sea,  it  is  known  by  the  name  of  Karkar. — So  the  Emir  Mousa  said  to 
him.  And  whence  obtained  ye  knowledge,  when  there  hath  not  come  unto  you  any 
prophet  divinely  inspired,  in  such  a  country  as  this?  He  answered,  Know,  0  Emir, 
that  there  appeareth  unto  us,  from  this  sea,  a  person  diffusing  a  light  whereby  the 
surrounding  tracts  are  illuminated  ;  and  he  proclaimeth,  with  a  voice  which  the  dis- 
tant and  the  near  hear,  O  sons  of  Ham,  be  abashed  at  Him  who  seeth  and  is  not 
seen  ;  and  say.  There  is  no  deity  but  God  ;  Mahomet  is  the  Apostle  of  God.  And  I 
am  Abulabbas  Elkader.  Before  that,  we  used  to  worship  one  another;  but  he  called 
us  to  the  worship  of  the  Lord  of  mankind.  —  Then  he  said  to  the  Emir  Mousa,  He 
hath  also  taught  us  some  words  to  say. — And  what,  asked  the  Emir,  are  those  words? 
He  answered,  they  are  these:  —  There  is  no  deity  but  God  alone:  He  hath  no  part- 
ner: to  Him  belongeth  dominion,  and  to  Him  belongeth  praise:  He  giveth  life  and 
killeth  ;  and  He  is  able  to  do  everything.  And  we  seek  not  access  to  God  (to  whom 
be  ascribed  might  and  glory!)  save  by  these  words,  nor  know  we  any  others.  Also 
on  the  eve  of  every  Friday  we  see  a  light  upon  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  we  hear  a 
voice  saying,  Perfect!  Holy!  Lord  of  the  angels  and  the  Spirit!  Whatsoever  God 
willeth  Cometh  to  pass,  and  what  he  willeth  not  cometh  not  to  pass  !  Every  benefit 
from  God  is  a  gratuitous  favour;  and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the 
High,  the  Great. 

The  Emir  Mousa  then  said  to  him,  We  are  the  associates  of  the  King  of  the  Faith- 
ful, Abdelmelek  the  son  of  Marwan  ;  and  we  have  come  on  account  of  the  bottles 
of  brass  that  are  here  in  your  sea,  and  wherein  are  the  devils  imprisoned  from  the 
time  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!).  He  hath  com- 
manded us  to  bring  him  some  of  them,  that  he  may  see  them,  and  divert  himself  by 
the  view  of  them. — And  the  King  of  the  blacks  replied,  Most  willingly.  Then  he 
feasted  him  with  fish,  and  ordered  the  divers  to  bring  up  from  the  sea  some  of  the 
bottles  of  Solomon  ;  and  they  brought  up  for  them  twelve  bottles ;  wherewith  the 
Emir  Mousa  was  delighted,  and  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad  also,  and  the  soldiers,  on 
account  of  the  accomplishment  of  the  affair  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  The 
Emir  Mousa  thereupon  presented  to  the  King  of  the  blacks  many  presents,  and  gave 
him  large  gifts.  In  like  manner  too  the  King  of  the  blacks  gave  to  the  Emir  Mousa 
a  present  consisting  of  wonders  of  the  sea,  in  the  form  of  human  beings,  and  said 
to  him.  Your  entertainment  for  these  three  days  shall  be  of  these  fish.  And  tho 
Emir  replied,  We  must  carry  with  us  some  of  them,  that  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful 
may  see  them  ;  for  thereby  will  his  heart  be  pleased  more  than  by  the  bottles  of 
.Solomon. 

Then  they  bade  him  farewell,  and  they  journeyed  back  until  they  came  to  the 
land  of  Syria,  and  went  in  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful;  whereupon  the  Emir  Mousa 
acquainted  him  with  all  that  he  had  seen,  and  all  that  had  occurred  to  him  with  re- 
spect to  the  verses  and  histories  and  admonitions,  and  told  him  of  the  case  of  Talib 
the  son  of  Sahl.  And  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  said  to  him.  Would  that  I  had  been 
with  you,  that  I  might  have  beheld  what  ye  have  beheld!  He  then  took  the  bottles, 
and  proceeded  to  open  one  after  another,  and  the  devils  came  forth  from  them,  saying, 
Repentance!  O  Prophet  of  God !  We  will  not  return  to  the  like  conduct  ever! — 
And  Abdelmelek  the  son  of  Marwan  wondered  at  this.  But  as  to  the  damsels  of  the 
sea,  with  the  like  of  which  the  King  of  the  blacks  feasted  them,  they  made  for  them 
troughs  of  wood,  which  they  filled  with  water,  and  into  these  they  put  them.  They 
died  however,  in  consequence  of  the  intensity  of  the  heat.  After  this,  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  caused  the  riches  to  be  brought  before  him,  and  divided  them  among  the 
Faithful.  And  he  said,  God  hath  not  bestowed  upon  any  one  the  like  of  what  He 
bestowed  upon  Solomon  the  son  of  David.  Then  the  Emir  Mousa  begged  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful  that  he  might  appoint  his  son  in  his  place  as  Governor  of  the  pro- 


538  THE  STORY   OF   JOUDAR. 

vince,  and  that  he  might  himself  go  to  the  noble  Jerusalem,  there  to  worship  God. 
So  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  appointed  his  son  to  the  government,  and  he  himself 
went  to  the  noble  Jerusalem,  and  he  died  there. 

This  is  the  end  of  that  which   hath   come  down  to  us,  of  the  history  of  the  City 
of  Brass,  entire.     And  God  is  all-knowing. 


CHAPTER    XXII 


Commenoing  with  part  of  the  Six  Hundred   and   Sixth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  thn 
Six  Hundred  and  Twenty-fourth. 


THE  STORY  OF  JOUDAR. 

A  MERCHANT,  whose  name  was  Omar,  had  left  issue  consisting  of  three  sons;  one  of 
whom  was  named  Salim,  and  the  youngest  was  named  Joudar,  and  the  middle  one 
was  named  Selim.  He  reared  them  until  they  became  men  ;  but  he  loved  Joudar 
more  than  his  two  brothers  ;  and  when  it  became  manifest  that  he  so  loved  Joudar, 
jealousy  seized  them,  and  they  hated  Joudar,  and  it  was  evident  to  their  father  that 
they  hated  their  brother.  Now  their  father  was  of  great  age,  and  he  feared  that, 
when  he  died,  Joudar  would  suffer  trouble  from  his  brothers :  so  he  summoned 
several  persons  of  his  family,  and  some  of  the  Cadi's  dividers  of  property,  and  some 
of  the  men  of  science,  and  said.  Bring  ye  to  me  my  wealth  and  my  stuffs.  Accord- 
ingly they  brought  to  him  all  the  wealth  and  the  stuffs  ;  and  he  said,  O  men  divide 
this  wealth  and  these  stuffs  into  four  portions  conformably  to  the  law.  They  there- 
fore divided  the  property;  and  he  gave  to  each  son  a  portion,  and  himself  took  a 
portion,  saying,  This  was  my  property,  and  I  have  divided  it  among  them,  and  there 
remaineth  not  to  them  aught  to  claim  of  me,  nor  aught  for  one  to  claim  of  another; 
so  when  I  die,  discord  will  not  ensue  among  them  ;  for  I  have  divided  among  them 
the  inheritance  during  my  life,  and  this  property  that  I  myself  have  taken  shall  be 
for  my  wife,  the  mother  of  these  children,  that  she  may  have  recourse  to  it  for  her 
subsistence. 

Then,  after  a  short  period,  their  father  died.  But  neither  of  the  two  envious 
brothers  was  content  with  that  which  their  father  Omar  had  done:  on  the  contrary, 
they  demanded  more  of  Joudar,  and  said  to  him.  The  wealth  of  our  father  is  in  thy 
possession.  He  therefore  referred  his  case  with  them  to  the  judges,  and  the  Faithful 
who  were  present  at  the  time  of  the  division  came  and  testified  of  that  which  they 
knew,  and  the  judge  forbade  their  injuring  one  another;  but  Joudar  lost  a  consider- 
able sum  of  money,  and  his  brothers  lost  in  like  manner,  by  reason  of  the  litigation  ; 
and  they  left  him  a  while.  Then  they  plotted  against  him  a  second  time,  and  he  re- 
ferred his  case  with  them  to  the  judges  ;  so  they  lost  a  considerable  sum  of  money 
again,  on  account  of  the  judges.  And  tliey  ceased  not  to  seek  his  harm,  appealing 
from  tyrant  to  tyrant,  they  losing  and  he  losing,  until  they  had  given  all  their  wealth 
as  food  to  the  tyrants,  and  the  three  became  paupers.  The  two  brothers  of  Joudar 
then  came  to  their  mother,  and,  mocking  her,  took  her  money,  and  beat  her,  and 
turned  her  out.  She  therefore  came  to  her  son  Joudar,  and  said  to  him,  Thy  two 
brothers  have  done  unto  me  thus  and  thus,  and  taken  my  money.  And  she  began 
to  curse  them  ;  whereupon  Joudar  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  do  not  curse  them  ;  for 
God  will  requite  each  of  them  for  his  conduct.     But,  0  my  mother,  I  have  become 


THE   STORY   OF  JOUDAR.  539 

poor,  and  my  two  brothers  are  poor,  and  contention  occasioneth  the  loss  of  money. 
I  have  contended  with  them  much  before  the  judges,  and  it  proBted  us  not  at  all:  on 
the  contrary,  we  have  lost  all  that  our  father  left  us,  and  the  people  have  defamed 
us  on  account  of  our  giving  testimony  [one  against  another].  Shall  I  then  on  thine 
account  contend  with  them,  and  shall  we  refer  the  case  to  the  judges?  This  is  a 
thing  that  must  not  be.  Thou  shalt  only  reside  with  me,  and  the  cake  of  bread  thai 
I  eat  I  will  leave  for  thee.  Pray  thou  for  me,  and  God  will  supply  me  with  the 
means  of  thy  subsistence ;  and  do  thou  leave  both  of  them  to  receive  from  God  the 
recompense  of  their  conduct. — And  he  proceeded  to  soothe  the  mind  of  his  mother 
until  she  consented;  and  she  remained  with  him. 

He  then  procured  for  himself  a  net,  and  he  used  to  go  to  the  river  and  the  lakes, 
and  to  every  place  in  which  was  water:  every  day  he  went  to  some  place;  and  he 
earned  one  day  ten,  and  one  day  twenty,  and  one  day  thirty  [nusfs],'  which  he  ex- 
pended upon  his  mother,  and  he  ate  well  and  drank  well.  But  his  two  brothers 
neither  worked  nor  sold  nor  bought;  ruin  and  destruction  and  overtaking  calamity 
entered  their  abode,  and  they  had  consumed  what  they  had  taken  from  their  mother, 
and  become  of  the  number  of  the  wretched  paupers,  and  naked.  So  sometimes  they 
would  come  to  their  mother,  humbling  themselves  to  her  excessively,  and  complain- 
ing to  her  of  their  hunger ;  and,  the  mother's  heart  being  compassionate,  she  would 
give  them  some  stinking  bread ;  and  if  any  food  cooked  the  day  before  were  there, 
she  would  say  to  them.  Eat  it  quickly,  and  go  before  your  brother  cometh ;  for  it  will 
not  be  agreeable  to  him,  and  will  harden  his  heart  against  me,  and  ye  will  disgrace  me 
with  him.  Wherefore  they  would  eat  in  haste  and  go.  But  they  came  in  to  their 
mother  one  day,  and  she  put  for  them  some  cooked  meat  and  some  bread,  which  they 
proceeded  to  eat ;  and  lo,  their  brother  Joudar  entered.  So  his  mother  was  abashed 
and  confounded  at  the  sight  of  him,  fearing  that  he  would  be  incensed  against  her,  and 
she  hung  down  her  head  towards  the  ground  in  her  abasement  at  her  son.  He,  how- 
ever, smiled  in  their  faces,  and  said.  Welcome,  0  my  brothers !  It  is  a  blessed  day. 
What  hath  happened  that  ye  have  visited  me  on  this  blessed  day? — And  he  embraced 
them,  and  loved  them,  and  said.  It  was  not  my  wish  that  ye  should  leave  me  desolate, 
and  not  come  to  me,  nor  visit  me  nor  your  mother.    They  therefore  replied,  By  Allah, 

0  our  brother,  we  longed  to  see  thee,  and  nothing  hindered  us  but  abashment  in  conse- 
quence of  what  hath  happened  between  us  and  thee ;  but  we  have  repented  greatly-. 
This  was  the  doing  of  the  Devil  (may  God  — whose  name  be  exalted  ! — execrate 
him  !) ;  and  we  have  no  blessing  excepting  thee  and  our  mother. — Joudar  rejoined, 

1  have  no  blessing  excepting  you  two.  And  his  mother  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  may 
God  whiten  thy  face,  and  may  God  increase  thy  prosperity!  Thou  art  the  superior 
[in  generosity],  0  my  son. — He  then  said.  Welcome  to  you  both  !  Reside  with  me; 
for  God  is  bountiful,  and  good  things  with  me  are  plentiful. — He  became  reconciled 
to  them,  and  they  passed  the  night  with  him,  and  supped  with  him,  and  on  the 
following  day  they  breakfasted  with  him  ;  after  which,  Joudar  took  up  the  net,  and 
went  forth  relying  upon  Providence.  His  two  brothers  also  went,  and  were  absent 
until  noon,  when  they  returned;  and  their  mother  put  before  them  the  dinner;  and 
in  the  evening  their  brother  came,  bringing  meat  and  vegetables.  In  this  state  they 
continued  for  a  period  of  a  month  ;  Joudar  catching  fish  and  selling  them,  and  ex- 
pending their  price  upon  his  mother  and  his  brothers,  and  the  latter  eating  and 
frolicking. 

Now  it  happened  one  day  that  Joudar  took  the  net  to  the  river,  and  cast  it,  and 
drew  it,  and  it  came  up  empty  :  and  he  cast  it  a  second  time,  and  it  came  up  empty. 
He  therefore  said  within  himself,  There  are  no  fish  in  this  place.  Then  he  removed 
to  another  place,  and  there  cast  the  net;  but  again  it  came  up  empty.  And  he  re- 
moved to  another  place,  and  ceased  not  to  change  his  place  from  morning  to  evening; 
but  caught  not  a  single  minnow.     So  he  said.  Wonderful  1  Are  the  fish  exhausted 


'  Small  copper  coin. 


540  THE   STORY  OF  JOUDAR. 

from  the  river,  or  what  is  the  cause  ?  —  He  then  put  the  net  upon  his  back,  and  re- 
turned grieved  and  vexed,  suffering  anxiety  for  his  two  brothers,  and  his  mother, 
and  not  knowing  wherewith  to  give  them  to  sup.  And  he  came  to  an  oven,  and  saw 
the  people  crowding  to  take  the  bread,  with  money  in  their  hands,  and  the  baker 
was  not  looking  towards  them.  Upon  this,  he  stopped  and  sighed ;  and  the  baker 
said  to  him,  Welcome  to  thee,  0  Joudar !  Dost  thou  want  bread?  —  And  he  was 
silent ;  but  the  baker  said  to  him.  If  thou  have  not  with  thee  money,  take  what  will 
suffice  thee,  and  thou  shalt  have  a  delay.  So  Joudar  said.  Give  me  bread  for  ten 
nusfs.  The  baker  replied.  Take  these  ten  nusfs  besides,  and  to-morrow  bring  me 
fish  for  the  twenty.  And  Joudar  said.  On  the  head  and  the  eye.  He  therefore  took 
the  bread  and  the  ten  nusfs,  and  bought  with  these  some  meat  and  vegetables,  say- 
ing, To-morrow  the  Lord  will  dispel  the  trouble  of  my  case.  He  went  to  his  abode, 
and  his  mother  cooked  the  food,  and  he  supped  and  slept;  and  on  the  following  day, 
he  took  the  net.  His  mother  said  to  him.  Remain  and  breakfast.  But  he  replied, 
Breakfast  thou  with  my  two  brothers.  And  he  repaired  to  the  river,  and  cast  the 
net  in  it  a  first  time,  and  a  second,  and  a  third,  and  changed  his  place :  and  he 
ceased  not  to  do  thus  until  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers ;  but  nothing  fell  to  his  lot; 
wherefore  he  took  up  the  net,  and  went  away  vexed.  Now  his  way  was  none  other 
than  that  which  led  by  the  baker;  and  when  Joudar  came  to  him,  the  baker  saw 
him,  and  counted  out  to  him  the  bread  and  the  money,  saying  to  him,  Come,  take 
and  go.  If  there  is  nothing  to-day,  there  will  be  to-morrow.  —  And  Joudar  desired 
to  excuse  himself  to  him  ;  but  the  baker  said  to  him.  Go.  No  excuse  is  necessary. 
Hadst  thou  caught  anything,  it  had  been  with  thee ;  and  when  I  saw  thee  empty- 
handed,  I  knew  that  nothing  had  betided  thee  ;  and  if  to-morrow  nothing  betide 
thee,  come,  take  bread,  and  be  not  abashed.  Thou  shalt  have  a  delay.  —  Then,  on 
the  third  day.  he  went  from  lake  to  lake  until  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers  ;  but  saw 
not  in  them  aught.  So  he  went  to  the  baker,  and  received  from  him  the  bread  and 
the  money.     And  thus  he  continued  to  do  for  a  period  of  seven  days. 

He  then  became  straitened  in  mind,  and  said  to  himself.  Go  to-day  to  the  Lake  of 
Karoun.  And  when  he  had  arrived  there,  he  was  about  to  cast  the  net,  and  was 
not  aware  of  it,  when  there  approached  him  a  Mograbin  '  riding  upon  a  mule,  and 
wearing  a  magnificent  dress,  and  on  the  back  of  the  mule  was  a  pair  of  embroidered 
saddle-bags,  and  everything  that  was  on  the  mule  was  embroidered.  The  Mograbin 
alighted  from  the  back  of  the  mule,  and  said.  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Joudar,  O  son  of 
Omar!  So  Joudar  replied.  And  on  thee  be  peace,  0  my  master  the  pilgrim!  And 
the  Mograbin  said  to  him,  0  Joudar,  I  have  an  affair  for  thee  to  perform  ;  and  if 
thou  comply  with  my  desire,  thou  wilt  obtain  abundant  good  fortune,  and  be  on 
account  thereof  my  companion,  and  perform  for  me  my  affairs.  Joudar  therefore 
said,  0  my  master  the  pilgrim,  tell  me  what  is  in  thy  mind,  and  I  will  obey  thee:  I 
have  no  opposition  to  show  thee.  And  the  Mograbin  said  to  him.  Recite  the  Open- 
ing Chapter  of  the  Koran.  So  he  recited  it  with  him.  And  after  this,  the  Mograbin 
took  forth  and  gave  him  a  cord  of  silk,  saying  to  him.  Bind  my  hands  behind  me.  and 
make  my  bond  very  tight;  then  throw  me  into  the  lake,  and  wait  over  me  a  little; 
and  if  thou  see  me  put  forth  my  hands  from  the  water,  raising  them  high,  before  I 
appear,  cast  thou  the  net  upon  me,  and  draw  me  out  quickly;  but  if  thou  see  me 
put  forth  my  feet,  know  that  I  am  dead.  In  this  case,  leave  me,  and  take  the  mule 
and  the  saddle-bags,  and  go  to  the  market  of  the  merchants:  thou  wilt  find  a  Jew, 
whose  name  is  Shumia;  and  give  thou  to  him  the  mule,  and  he  will  give  thee  a 
hundred  pieces  of  gold  :  so  take  them,  and  conceal  the  secret,  and  go  thy  way. — 
He  therefore  bound  his  hands  tightly  behind  him,  the  Mograbin  saying  to  him.  Pull 
tightly  the  bonds.  Then  the  latter  said.  Push  me  until  thou  shalt  have  thrown  me 
into  the  lake.  Accordingly  he  pushed  him,  and  threw  him  into  it;  whereupon  he 
sank  ;  and  Joudar  stood  waiting  for  him  a  considerable  time  ;  and  lo,  the  feet  of  the 

'  A  native  of  Northern  Africa. 


THE   STORY   OF   JOUDAR.  541 

Mograbin  came  forth.  Therefore  Joudar  knew  that  he  was  dead,  and  he  took  the 
mule,  and  left  him,  and  went  to  the  market  of  the  merchants,  where  he  saw  the  Jew 
sitting  upon  a  chair  at  the  door  of  the  magazine.  And  when  he  saw  the  mule,  the 
Jew  said.  Verily  the  man  hath  perished.  Then  he  said,  Nought  caused  him  to  perish 
save  covetousness.  And  he  took  from  him  the  mule,  and  gave  him  a  hundred  pieces 
of  gold,  charging  him  to  conceal  the  secret.  So  Joudar  took  the  pieces  of  gohi,  and 
went,  and  took  as  much  bread  as  he  required  of  the  baker,  saying  to  him,  Take  this 
piece  of  gold.  He  therefore  took  it,  and  calculated  what  was  owing  to  him,  and 
replied,  I  have  yet  to  give  thee  two  days'  bread.  Joudar  then  went  from  the  baker 
to  the  butcher,  to  whom  he  gave  another  piece  of  gold,  and  he  took  the  meat,  saying 
to  the  butcher.  Retain  the  rest  of  the  piece  of  gold  in  account.  He  bought  also  some 
vegetables,  and  went;  and  he  saw  his  two  brothers  begging  of  his  mother  something 
to  eat,  and  she  was  saying  to  them.  Wait  until  your  brother  shall  have  come ;  for  I 
have  nothing.  So  he  went  in  to  them,  and  said  to  them,  Take,  eat.  And  they  fell 
upon  the  bread  like  ghouls.  Then  Joudar  gave  to  his  mother  the  rest  of  the  gold, 
saying.  Take,  0  my  mother ;  and  when  my  brothers  come,  give  to  them,  that  they 
may  buy  and  eat  during  my  absence. 

He  passed  that  night,  and  when  he  arose  in  the  morning,  he  took  the  net,  and  went 
to  the  Lake  of  Karoun,  and,  stopping  there,  he  was  about  to  cast  the  net.  And  lo, 
another  Mograbin  approached,  riding  upon  a  mule,  and  more  bedecked  than  he  who 
had  died  ;  and  he  had  with  him  a  pair  of  saddle-bags,  in  which  were  two  little  boxes  : 
in  each  side  of  it  was  a  little  box.  And  he  said,  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Joudar!  So 
Joudar  replied,  On  thee  be  peace,  0  my  master  the  pilgrim  !  And  the  Mograbin 
said.  Did  there  come  to  thee  yesterday  a  Mograbin  riding  upon  a  mule  like  this 
mule?  Upon  this  Joudar  feared,  and  denied,  saying,  I  saw  not  any  one  —  fearing 
that  he  would  say.  Whither  is  he  gone?  —  and  if  he  answered  him,  He  was  drowned 
in  the  lake  —  perhaps  he  might  say.  Thou  drownedst  him.  It  was  therefore  impos- 
sible for  him  to  do  aught  save  to  deny.  The  Mograbin  then  said  to  him,  0  poor  man, 
this  was  my  brother,  and  he  hath  gone  before  me.  Joudar  replied,  I  have  no  know- 
ledge of  him.  But  the  Mograbin  rejoined,  Didst  thou  not  bind  his  hands  behind 
him,  and  throw  him  into  the  lake,  and  did  he  not  say  to  thee.  If  my  hands  come 
forth,  cast  upon  me  the  net,  and  draw  me  out  quickly  ;  but  if  my  feet  come  forth,  I  shall 
be  dead  ;  and  take  thou  the  mule,  and  give  it  to  the  Jew  Shumia,  and  he  will  give 
thee  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ?  And  his  feet  came  forth,  and  thou  tookest  the  mule, 
and  gavest  it  to  the  Jew,  and  he  gave  thee  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ?  —  So  Joudar 
said.  Since  thou  knowest  this,  wherefore  dost  thou  ask  me?  The  Mograbin  answered, 
It  is  my  desire  that  thou  do  with  me  as  thou  didst  with  my  brother.  And  he  took 
forth  and  gave  him  a  cord  of  silk,  saying.  Bind  my  hands  behind  me,  and  throw  mo 
in  ;  and  if  the  like  of  that  which  befell  my  brother  befall  me,  take  the  mule,  and  give 
it  to  the  Jew,  and  receive  from  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  He  therefore  said  to 
him.  Advance.  Accordingly  he  advanced,  and  Joudar  bound  his  hands  behind  him, 
and  pushed  him  ;  whereupon  he  fell  into  the  lake,  and  sank ;  and  he  waited  for  him 
a  while,  and  his  feet  came  up.  Therefore  Joudar  said,  He  is  gone  to  perdition  !  If 
it  be  the  will  of  God,  every  day  may  Mograbins  come  to  me,  and  I  will  bind  their 
hands  behind  them,  and  they  shall  die,  and  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  from  each  one 
who  dieth  will  suffice  me.  —  He  then  took  the  mule,  and  went  away;  and  when  the 
Jew  saw  him,  he  said  to  hina.  The  other  hath  died  !  Joudar  replied.  May  thy  head 
long  survive!  And  the  Jew  said  to  him.  This  is  the  recompense  of  the  covetous. 
And  he  took  the  mule  from  him,  and  gave  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  So  Joudar 
took  them,  and  repaired  to  his  mother,  and  gave  them  to  her ;  whereupon  she  said 
to  him,  0  my  son,  whence  came  unto  thee  this?  He  therefore  informed  her;  and 
she  said  to  him.  Go  not  again  henceforth  to  the  Lake  of  Karoun  ;  for  I  fear  for  thee 
with  respect  to  the  Mograbins.  But  he  replied,  0  my  mother,  I  throw  them  not  in 
save  with  their  own  consent;  and  how  shall  I  act?  This  is  a  trade  from  which  there 
accrueth  to  us  every  day  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  I  return  quickly:  so  by  Allah 


542  THE    STORY   OF   JOUDAR. 

I  will  not  desist  from  going  to  the  Lake  of  Karoun  until  all  traces  of  the  Mograbins 
cease,  and  not  one  of  them  remaineth. 

Then,  on  the  third  day,  he  went  and  stood  there;  and  lo,  there  came  a  Mograbin 
riding  upon  a  mule,  and  having  with  him  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  ;  but  he  was  more 
bedecked  than  the  two  former  ones;  and  he  said,  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Joudar,  0  son 
of  Omar  !  So  Joudar  said  within  himself.  Whence  do  they  all  know  me  ?  Then  he 
returned  his  salutation.  And  the  Mograbin  said,  Have  any  Mograbins  passed  by 
this  place  ?  Joudar  answered  him,  Two.  The  Mograbin  asked  him.  Whither  went 
they  ? — I  bound  their  hands  behind  them,  answered  Joudar,  and  threw  them  into  this 
lake  ;  so  they  were  drowned  ;  and  the  same  end  is  for  thee  also.  And  the  Mograbin 
laughed,  and  said,  0  poor  man,  every  living  being  hath  his  destiny.  He  then 
alighted  from  the  mule,  and  said,  0  Joudar,  do  with  me  as  thou  didst  with  both  of 
them.  And  he  took  forth  the  cord  of  silk.  So  Joudar  said  to  him.  Turn  round  thy 
hands,  that  I  may  bind  them  behind  thy  back ;  for  I  am  in  haste,  and  my  time  is 
gone.  He  therefore  turned  round  his  hands  towards  him,  and  Joudar  tied  them 
behind  his  back,  and  pushed  him  ;  whereupon  he  fell  into  the  lake,  and  Joudar  stood 
waiting  for  him.  And  lo,  the  Mograbin  put  forth  to  him  his  hands,  saying  to  him. 
Cast  the  net,  0  poor  man  !  Accordingly  he  cast  the  net  over  him,  and  drew  it ;  and 
behold,  he  was  grasping  in  his  hands  two  fishes,  the  colour  of  which  was  red,  like 
coral ;  in  each  hand  a  fish  ;  and  he  said  to  Joudar,  Open  the  two  little  boxes.  So  he 
opened  them  for  him  ;  and  he  put  in  each  little  box  a  fish,  and  covered  the  mouths 
of  the  boxes  over  them.  Then  he  pressed  Joudar  to  his  bosom,  and  kissed  him  on 
the  right  cheek  and  on  the  left,  and  said  to  him,  May  Gad  deliver  thee  from  every 
diflBculty !  By  Allah,  hadst  thou  not  cast  the  net  over  me,  and  drawn  me  out,  I  had 
not  ceased  to  grasp  these  two  fishes,  submerged  in  the  water,  until  I  had  died,  and 
I  had  not  been  able  to  come  forth  from  the  water.  —  And  Joudar  said  to  him,  0  my 
master  the  pilgrim,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  acquaint  me  with  the  affair 
of  the  two  who  were  drowned  before,  and  with  the  truth  of  the  history  of  these  two 
fishes,  and  with  the  affair  of  the  Jew. 

The  Mograbin  therefore  replied,  0  Joudar,  know  that  the  two  who  were  drowned 
before  were  my  brothers.  One  of  them  was  named  Abdelselam,  and  the  other  was 
named  Abdelahad  ;  I  am  named  Abdelsamad,  and  the  Jew  is  our  brother;  his  name 
is  Abdelrahim  :  he  is  not  a  Jew,  but  a  Mahometan,  of  the  Malikee  sect.  Our  father 
taught  us  the  arts  of  solving  mysteries  and  opening  hidden  treasures,  and  enchant- 
ment; and  we  strove  until  the  Marids  of  the  Genii,  and  the  Afrites,  served  us.  We 
were  four  brothers,  and  the  name  of  our  father  was  Abdelwadoud  ;  and  our  father 
died,  leaving  to  us  an  abundance  of  things;  whereupon  we  divided  the  treasures  and 
riches  and  talismans  until  we  came  to  the  books,  which  also  we  divided.  But  there 
ensued  among  us  a  dissension  respecting  a  book  entitled  The  Stories  of  the  Ancients, 
the  like  of  which  existeth  not,  nor  can  any  one  give  its  price,  nor  can  its  equivalent 
be  made  up  in  jewels ;  for  in  it  are  given  accounts  of  all  the  hidden  treasures,  and 
the  solutions  of  mysteries.  Our  father  was  in  the  habit  of  making  use  of  it,  and  we 
committed  to  memory  a  little  of  its  contents,  and  each  of  us  desired  to  possess  it, 
that  he  might  know  what  was  in  it.  Now  when  a  dissension  occurred  between  us, 
there  was  present  with  us  our  father's  sheikh,  who  had  reared  him  and  taught  him 
enchantment  and  divination,  and  he  was  named  the  Diviner  Elabtan  ;  and  he  said 
to  us.  Bring  ye  the  book.  So  we  gave  him  the  book ;  and  he  said.  Ye  are  the  sons 
of  my  son,  and  it  is  impossible  that  I  should  wrong  anyj^ne  of  you.  Then  let  him 
who  desireth  to  take  this  book  go  and  strive  to  accomplish  the  opening  of  the  trea- 
sure of  Shamardal,  and  bring  me  the  celestial  planisphere,  and  the  kohl-pot,  and  the 
sealing,  and  the  sword.  For  the  seal-ring  hath  a  Marid  that  serveth  it,  Avhose  name 
is  Radelcasif,  and  whoso  possesseth  this  seal-ring,  neither  King  nor  Sultan  can  pre- 
vail against  him  ;  and  if  he  desire  to  possess  the  earth,  in  all  its  length  and  breadth, 
he  will  be  able  to  do  so.  And  as  to  the  sword,  if  it  be  drawn  against  an  army,  and 
its  bearer  shake  it,   he  will  rout  the  army  ;  and  if  he  say  to  it,  at  the  time  of  his 


THE   STORY   OF  JOUDAR.  543 

shaking  it,  Slay  tliis  army  —  there  will  proceed  from  that  sword  a  lightning,  which 
will  slay  the  whol-e  army.  And  as  to  the  celestial  planisphere,  whoso  possesseth  it, 
if  he  desire  to  behold  all  the  countries  from  the  east  to  the  west,  he  will  behold 
them,  and  divert  himself  with  viewing  them,  while  he  sitteth :  whatsoever  quarter 
he  desireth  to  see,  he  will  turn  the  face  of  the  planisphere  towards  it,  and,  looking 
in  the  planisphere,  he  will  see  that  quarter  and  its  inhabitants  as  though  all  were 
before  him.  Moreover,  if  he  be  incensed  against  a  city,  and  turn  the  face  of  the 
planisphere  toward-s  the  sun's  disk,  desiring  to  burn  that  city,  it  will  be  burnt.  And 
as  to  the  kohl-pot,  whosoever  applieth  kohl  from  it  to  his  eyes,  he  will  see  the  trea- 
sures of  the  earth.  But  I  have  a  condition  to  impose  upon  you  ;  and  it  is  this:  — 
that  whosoever  is  unable  to  open  this  treasure,  he  shall  not  have  any  claim  to  th© 
book  ;  and  he  who  openeth  this  treasure,  and  bringeth  me  these  four  reposited  things, 
shall  be  entitled  to  take  this  book.  —  And  we  consented  to  the  condition. 

He  then  said  to  us,  0  my  sons,  know  that  the  treasure  of  Shamardal  is  under  the 
dominion  of  the  sons  of  the  Red  King,  and  your  father  informed  me  that  he  had 
striven  to  open  that  treasure,  and  had  not  been  able :  but  that  the  sons  of  the  Red 
King  had  fled  from  him  to  a  lake  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  called  the  Lake  of  Karoun, 
where  they  withstood  his  authority  ;  and  he  pursued  them  to  Cairo  ;  but  could  not 
prevail  against  them,  on  account  of  their  descending  into  that  lake ;  for  it  was 
guarded  by  a  talisman.  He  then  returned  overcome,  and  could  not  open  the  treasure 
of  Shamardal  by  reason  of  the  sons  of  the  Red  King.  So  when  your  father  was  un- 
able to  prevail  against  them,  he  came  to  me,  and  complained  to  me.  I  therefore 
made  for  him  an  astrological  calculation,  and  saw  that  this  treasure  could  not  be 
opened  save  by  the  good  fortune  of  a  young  man  of  the  sons  of  Cairo,  named  Joudar 
the  son  of  Omar  :  for  that  he  would  be  the  means  of  the  seizure  of  the  sons  of  the 
Red  King.  Also,  that  the  said  young  man  would  be  a  fisherman,  that  the  meeting 
with  him  would  be  by  the  Lake  of  Karoun,  and  that  the  charm  would  not  be  dissolved 
unless  Joudar  should  bind  behind  his  back  the  hands  of  the  person  whose  lot  it  was 
to  accomplish  this,  and  throw  him  into  the  lake  ;  whereupon  he  would  contend  with 
the  sons  of  the  Red  King:  and  whosoever  should  have  the  fortune  to  do  so  would 
seize  the  sons  of  the  Red  King.  But  he  saw  that  he  who  should  not  be  fortunate 
would  perish,  and  his  feet  would  appear  from  the  water;  and  that  he  who  should  be 
safe,  his  hands  would  appear ;  and  it  would  be  requisite  that  Joudar  should  cast 
over  him  the  net,  and  take  him  forth  from  the  lake.  Upon  this  [two  of],  my  brothers 
said,  We  will  go,  though  we  perish.  And  I  said,  I  will  go  also.  But  as  to  our 
brother  who  is  in  the  garb  of  a  Jew,  he  said,  I  have  no  desire.  So  we  agreed  with 
him  that  he  should  repair  to  Cairo  in  the  disguise  of  a  Jewish  merchant,  in  order 
that  if  one  of  us  should  die  in  the  lake,  he  might  receive  the  mule  and  the  saddle- 
bags from  Joudar,  and  give  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  And  when  the  first  came 
to  thee,  the  sons  of  the  Red  King  slew  him  ;  and  they  slew  my  second  brother;  but 
they  could  not  prevail  against  me  ;  so  I  seized  them. 

Upon  this,  Joudar  said.  Where  are  they  whom  thou  seizedst  ?  The  Mograbin  re- 
plied. Didst  thou  not  see  them  ?  I  have  imprisoned  them  in  the  two  little  boxes. — 
Joudar  said.  These  are  fishes.  The  Mograbin  however  replied.  These  are  not  fishes: 
verily  they  are  Afrites  in  the  form  of  fishes.  But,  0  Joudar,  know  that  the  opening 
of  the  treasure  cannot  be  accomplished  save  by  thy  good  fortune.  Wilt  thou  then 
comply  with  my  desire,  and  go  with  me  to  the  city  of  Fez  and  Mequinez,  and  open 
the  treasure?  If  so,  I  will  give  thee  what  thou  shalt  desire.  Thou  hast  become  my 
brother  by  a  covenant  before  God,  and  thou  shalt  return  to  thy  family  with  a  com- 
forted heart. — Joudar  said  to  him,  0  my  master  the  pilgrim,  I  have  in  my  charge  my 
mother  and  my  two  brothers,  and  I  am  he  who  provideth  for  them  ;  and  if  I  go  with 
thee,  who  will  give  them  bread  to  eat?  But  the  Mograbin  replied.  This  is  a  vain 
pretext ;  and  if  it  be  on  account  of  the  money  required  for  expenses,  we  will  give 
thee  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  which  thou  shalt  give  to  thy  mother  that  she  may  ex- 
pend it  until  thou  shalt  return  to  thy  country;  and  if  thou  go  away,  thou  shalt  re- 


§44  THE   STORY   OF  JOUDAR. 

turn  before  four  months.  And  when  Joudar  heard  the  mention  of  the  thousand 
pieces  of  gold,  he  said,  Give  me,  0  pilgrim,  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  I  will 
leave  them  with  my  mother,  and  will  go  with  thee.  So  the  Mograbin  took  forth  and 
gave  him  the  gold,  and  he  took  it  and  went  to  his  mother,  and  acquainted  her  with 
that  whioh  had  happened  between  him  and  the  Mograbin,  saying  to  her,  Take  these 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  e.xpend  of  them  upon  thyself  and  upon  my  two  brothers 
while  I  journey  with  the  Mograbin  to  the  west,  and  I  shall  be  absent  four  months, 
and  abundant  good  fortune  will  betide  me:  so  pray  for  me,  O  my  mother.  She  re- 
plied, 0  my  son,  thou  wilt  render  me  desolate,  and  I  fear  for  thee.  But  he  said,  O 
my  mother,  no  harm  will  befall  him  whom  God  preserveth  ;  and  the  Mograbin  is  a 
good  man.  And  he  proceeded  to  praise  to  her  his  state.  So  she  replied.  May  God 
incline  his  heart  to  thee!  Go  with  him,  0  my  son.  Perhaps  he  will  give  thee  some- 
thing. 

He  therefore  bade  farewell  to  his  mother,  and  went;  and  when  he  came  to  the  Mo- 
grabin Abdelsamad,  the  latter  said  to  him.  Hast  thou  consulted  thy  mother?  He 
answered,  Yes,  and  she  prayed  for  me.  And  the  Mograbin  said  to  him.  Mount  be- 
hind me.  So  he  got  upon  the  back  of  the  mule,  and  they  journeyed  from  noon  until 
the  time  of  afternoon-prayers,  when  Joudar  was  hungry,  and  he  saw  not  with  the 
Mograbin  anything  to  be  eaten  ;  wherefore  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master  the  pilgrim, 
probably  thou  hast  forgotten  to  bring  for  us  anything  to  eat  on  the  way.  The  Mo- 
grabin said,  Art  thou  hungry?  Joudar  answered.  Yes.  And  upon  this  the  Mo- 
grabin alighted  from  the  mule,  with  Joudar,  and  said.  Put  down  the  pair  of  saddle- 
bags. So  he  put  it  down.  Then  the  Mograbin  said  to  him,  What  thing  dost  thou 
desire,  0  my  brother?  Joudar  answered  him.  Anything.  The  Mograbin  however 
replied,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  that  thou  tell  me  what  thing  thou  desirest.  Joudar 
said.  Bread  and  cheese.  But  the  Mograbin  replied,  0  poor  man,  bread  and  cheese 
are  not  suitable  to  thy  condition  :  therefore  demand  something  good.  In  my  estima- 
tion, said  Joudar,  at  this  time  everything  is  good.  And  the  Mograbin  aaked  him. 
Dost  thou  like  browned  chickens  ?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  the  Mograbin  said. 
Dost  thou  like  rice  with  honey?  He  answered,  Yes.  And  the  Mograbin  said.  Dost 
thou  like  such  a  dish,  and  such  a  dish? — until  he  had  named  to  him  four-and-twenty 
different  dishes  of  food.  Then  Joudar  said  within  himself.  Is  he  mad?  Whence 
will  he  bring  me  the  dishes  of  food  that  he  hath  named,  when  he  hath  neither 
kitchen  nor  cook?  But  say  to  him.  It  is  enough. — So  he  said  to  him,  It  is  enough. 
Dost  thou  make  me  desire  the  dishes  when  I  shall  see  nothing? — The  Mograbin 
however  replied,  Welcome  to  thee,  0  Joudar!  And  he  put  his  hand  into  the  saddle- 
bag, and  took  forth  a  dish  of  gold  containing  two  browned,  hot  chickens.  Then  he 
put  his  hand  a  second  time,  and  took  forth  a  dish  of  gold  containing  roast  meat. 
And  he  ceased  not  to  take  forth  from  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  until  he  had  taken  forth 
the  four-and-twenty  dishes  that  he  had  mentioned,  entire  and  complete:  whereupon 
Joudar  was  confounded.  He  then  said  to  him.  Eat,  0  poor  man.  And  Joudar  said,  0 
my  master,  dost  thou  put  in  this  pair  of  saddle-bags  a  kitchen  and  people  to  cook  ?  So 
the  Mograbin  laughed,  and  replied,  This  is  enchanted,  having  a  servant;  were  we 
to  demand  every  hour  a  thousand  dishes,  the  servant  would  bring  them  and  make 
them  ready  instantly.  Joudar  therefore  said.  An  excellent  thing  is  this  pair  of 
saddle-bags  !  Then  they  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  and  what  remained  they  threw 
upon  the  ground;  after  which  the  Mograbin  replaced  the  dishes,  empty,  in  the 
saddle-bags,  and  having  put  in  his  hand,  took  forth  a  ewer;  and  they  drank,  and 
performed  the  ablution,  recited  the  afternoon-prayers,  and  replaced  the  ewer  in  the 
pair  of  saddle-bags.  The  Mograbin  then  put  into  them  the  two  little  boxes,  placed 
the  saddle-bags  on  the  mule,  and  mounted,  saying.  Mount,  that  we  may  journey  on. 
And  he  said,  0  Joudar,  knowest  thou  what  space  we  have  traversed  from  (^airo  unto 
this  place?  Joudar  answered  him.  By  Allah,  I  know  not.  And  the  Mograbin  said 
to  him,  We  have  traversed  a  space  of  a  whole  month's  journey.  And  how  so  ?  asked 
Joudar.     The  Mograbin  answered  him,  0  Joudar,  know  that  the  mule  which  is  be- 


THE   STORY  OF  JOUDAR.  545 

neath  us  is  one  of  the  Marids  of  the  Genii,  that  will  travel  in  a  day  a  year's  journey: 
but  for  thy  sake  it  proceeded  leisurely. — They  then  journeyed  on  until  sunset ;  and 
when  they  halted  in  the  evening,  the  Mograbin  took  forth  from  the  saddle-bags  the 
supper ;  and  in  the  morning  he  took  forth  the  breakfast.  Thus  they  continued  to  do 
for  a  period  of  four  days,  journeying  until  midnight,  and  alighting  and  sleeping,  and 
proceeding  in  the  morning ;  and  all  that  Joudar  desired  he  demanded  of  the  Mo- 
grabin, who  produced  it  to  him  from  the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  And  on  the  fifth  day, 
they  arrived  at  Fez  and  Mequinez. 

They  entered  the  city ;  and  when  they  entered,  every  one  who  met  the  Mograbin 
saluted  him,  and  kissed  his  hand.  Thus  he  proceeded  until  he  came  to  a  door; 
whereupon  he  knocked  at  it,  and  lo,  the  door  opened,  and  there  appeared  from  it  a 
damsel  like  the  moon,  to  whom  he  said,  0  Rhama,  O  my  daughter,  open  for  us  the 
pavilion.  She  replied.  On  the  head  and  the  eye,  0  my  father.  And  she  entered, 
wriggling  her  sides,  so  that  Joudar's  reason  fled,  and  he  said.  This  is  none  other 
than  the  daughter  of  a  King!  Then  the  damsel  opened  the  pavilion,  and  the  Mo- 
grabin took  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  from  the  back  of  the  mule,  and  said  to  it,  De- 
part: God  bless  thee!  And  behold  the  ground  clove  asunder,  and  the  mule  de- 
scended, and  the  ground  became  again  as  it  was.  So  Joudar  said,  0  excellent  Pro- 
tector! Praise  be  to  God.  who  delivered  us  upon  its  back  ! — The  Mograbin  however 
said.  Wonder  not,  O  Joudar ;  for  I  told  thee  that  the  mule  is  an  Afrite :  but  come  up 
with  us  into  the  pavilion.  And  when  they  entered  that  pavilion,  Joudar  was  amazed 
at  the  abundance  of  the  rich  furniture,  and  at  what  he  beheld  in  it,  of  rarities  and 
articles  of  jewels  and  minerals;  and  after  they  had  seated  themselves,  the  Mograbin 
ordered  the  damsel,  saying  to  her,  0  Rahma,  bring  such  a  wrapper.  She  therefore 
arose  and  brought  a  wrapper,  which  she  put  down  before  her  father ;  and  he  opened 
it,  and  took  forth  from  it  a  dress  worth  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  said,  Put  it 
on,  0  Joudar.  Welcome  to  thee ! — So  he  put  on  the  dress,  and  became  like  one  of 
the  Kings  of  the  West:  after  which  the  Mograbin  placed  the  saddle-bags  before  him, 
and,  having  put  his  hand  into  them,  took  forth  from  them  dishes  containing  varieties 
of  viands  until  they  composed  a  table  of  forty  different  dishes,  when  he  said,  0  my 
lord,  advance  and  eat,  and  be  not  displeased  with  us.  We  know  not  what  viands 
thou  desirest :  therefore  tell  us  what  thou  wouldst  have,  and  we  will  place  it  before 
thee  without  delay. — Joudar  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  master  the  pilgrim,  I  love  all 
viands,  and  hate  not  aught:  then  ask  me  not  respecting  anything ;  but  bring  all  that 
occur  to  thy  mind,  and  I  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  eat. — Then  he  resided  with  him 
twenty  days.  Every  day  the  Mograbin  clad  him  with  a  dress,  and  the  food  was 
from  the  pair  of  saddle-bags;  the  Mograbin  not  buying  anything,  either  of  meat  or 
bread,  nor  cooking ;  but  taking  forth  all  that  he  required  from  the  saddle-bags,  even 
the  different  kinds  of  fruit. 

After  this,  the  Mograbin,  on  the  one-and-twentieth  day,  said,  0  Joudar,  arise  with 
us  ;  for  this  is  the  day  decreed  for  the  opening  of  the  treasure  of  Shamardal.  So  he 
arose  with  him,  and  they  walked  to  the  extremity  of  the  city.  Then  they  went  forth 
from  it,  and  Joudar  mounted  a  mule,  and  the  Mograbin  mounted  a  mule,  and  they 
ceased  not  to  journey  on  until  noon,  when  they  came  to  a  river  of  running  water. 
There  Abdelsamad  alighted,  and  he  said.  Alight,  0  Joudar.  And  he  alighted  ;  and 
Abdelsamad  said,  Quick  ! — making  a  sign  with  his  hand  to  the  two  slaves  [who  ac- 
companied him]  ;  whereupon  they  took  the  two  mules,  and  each  slave  departed  by 
one  way,  and  they  were  absent  a  little  while;  after  which  one  of  them  approached 
with  a  tent,  which  he  pitched  ;  and  the  other  approached  with  a  mattrass,  which  he 
spread  in  the  tent,  placing  around  it  cushions  and  pillows.  Then  one  of  them  went 
and  brought  the  two  little  boxes  in  which  were  the  two  fishes  ;  and  the  other  brought 
the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  Upon  this,  the  Mograbin  arose  and  said.  Come,  0  Joudar. 
So  he  came,  and  seated  himself  by  his  side;  and  the  Mograbin  took  forth  from  the 
saddle-bags  thp  dishes  of  viands,  and  they  dined  ;  after  which,  the  Mograbin  took 
the  two  little  boxes,  and  recited  a  charm  over  them,  whereupon  those  who  were 
35 


546  THE   STORY   OF  JOUDAR. 

within  them  began  to  say,  At  thy  service,  0  diviner  of  the  world !  Have  mercy  upon 
us! — They  prayed  for  help,  while  he  recited  his  charm  over  them,  until  the  two  little 
boxes  burst  and  became  broken  in  pieces,  the  fragments  flying  about,  and  there  ap- 
peared from  them  two  beings  with  their  hands  bound  behind  them,  saying,  Quarter! 
0  diviner  of  the  world  !  What  dost  thou  desire  to  do  unto  us  ?— He  answered.  My  de- 
sire is,  either  to  burn  you,  or  that  ye  promise  me  to  open  the  treasure  of  Shamardal. 
And  they  replied.  We  promise  thee,  and  we  will  open  for  thee  the  treasure  ;  but  on  the 
condition  that  thou  bring  here  Joudar  the  fisherman ;  for  the  treasure  cannot  be  opened 
but  by  his  good  fortune,  and  no  one  can  enter  it  excepting  Joudar  the  son  of  Omar, 
So  he  said  to  them.  Him  whom  ye  mention  I  have  brought,  and  he  is  here,  hearing 
.you  and  beholding  you.  They  therefore  promised  him  to  open  the  treasure,  and  he 
released  them.  Then  he  took  forth  a  tube,  and  some  tablets  of  red  carnelion,  which 
he  placed  upon  the  tube ;  and  he  took  a  perfuming-vessel,  put  in  it  some  charcoal, 
and  blew  it  with  a  single  puff,  wherewith  he  kindled  it;  and,  having  made  ready  the 
incense,  he  said,  0  Joudar,  I  will  recite  the  charm,  and  throw  on  the  incense,  and 
when  I  have  begun  the  charm  I  cannot  speak ;  for  the  charm  would  be  frustrated  ; 
and  I  desire  to  acquaint  thee  how  thou  shalt  act  to  attain  thy  wish.  So  Joudar  re- 
plied, Acquaint  me. 

The  Mograbin  therefore  said.  Know  that  when  I  have  recited  the  charm,  and 
thrown  on  the  incense,  the  water  will  dry  up  from  the  bed  of  the  river,  and  there 
will  appear  to  thee  a  door  of  gold,  of  the  size  of  the  city-gate,  with  two  rings  of 
metal.  Descend  to  the  door,  and  knock  it  lightly,  and  wait  a  while :  then  knock  a 
second  time,  with  more  force  than  the  first  time:  after  that,  give  three  knocks  with- 
out intermission,  one  after  another.  Thereupon  thou  wilt  hear  a  speaker  say,  Who 
knocketh  at  the  door  of  the  treasures  and  knoweth  not  how  to  solve  the  mysteries  ? 
And  do  thou  answer,  I  am  Joudar  the  fisherman,  the  son  of  Omar.  Then  he  will 
open  to  thee  the  door;  and  there  will  come  forth  to  thee  a  person  with  a  sword  in  his 
hand,  who  will  say  to  thee.  If  thou  be  that  man,  stretch  forth  thy  neck  that  I  may 
smite  off  thy  head.  And  stretch  thou  forth  to  him  thy  neck,  and  fear  not ;  for  when 
he  raiseth  his  hand  with  the  sword  and  smiteth  thee,  he  will  fall  down  before  thee, 
and  after  a  while  thou  wilt  see  him  a  body  without  a  soul,  and  thou  wilt  not  suffer 
pain  from  the  blow,  nor  will  aught  befall  thee :  but  if  thou  oppose  him,  he  will  slay 
thee. — And  after  that,  when  thou  hast  annulled  his  talisman  by  obedience,  enter  on 
until  thou  seest  another  door,  which  knock.  There  will  come  forth  to  thee  a  horse- 
man riding  upon  a  horse,  and  having  upon  his  shoulder  a  spear,  and  he  will  say, 
What  hath  brought  thee  into  this  place,  which  no  one  entereth,  either  of  mankind  or 
of  the  Genii?  And  he  will  shake  at  thee  the  spear:  but  open  to  him  thy  bosom, 
and  he  will  smite  thee,  and  will  fall  down  instantly,  and  thou  wilt  see  him  a  body 
without  a  soul.  If  thou  oppose  him,  however,  he  will  slay  thee. — Then  enter  the 
third  door.  There  will  come  forth  to  thee  a  son  of  Adam  having  in  his  hand  a  bow 
and  arrows,  and  he  will  shoot  at  thee  with  the  bow  :  but  open  thou  to  him  thy  bosom, 
and  he  will  smite  thee,  and  will  fall  down  before  thee  a  body  without  a  soul ;  but 
if  thou  oppose  him,  he  will  slay  thee. — Next  enter  the  fourth  door.  There  will  come 
forth  to  thee  a  huge  lion,  who  will  rush  upon  thee,  opening  his  mouth,  and  showing 
thee  that  he  desireth  to  devour  thee:  yet  fear  thou  not,  nor  flee  from  him  ;  but  when 
he  cometh  up  to  thee,  give  him  thy  hand,  and  when  he  biteth  at  thy  hand  he  will 
fall  down  instantly,  and  naught  will  befall  thee.— After  this,  enter  the  fifth  door. 
There  will  come  forth  to  thee  a  black  slave,  who  will  say  to  thee,  Who  art  thou  ? 
Answer  him,  I  am  Joudar.  And  he  will  say  to  thee.  If  thou  be  that  man,  enter  the 
sixth  door. — .Advance  therefore  to  that  door,  and  say,  0  Isa,  tell  Mousa  to  open  the 
door.  Thereupon  the  door  will  be  opened,  and  do  thou  enter.  Thou  wilt  find  two 
serpents  ;  one  of  them  on  the  left,  and  the  other  on  the  right.  Each  of  them  will 
open  its  mouth,  and  they  will  dart  upon  thee  instantly;  but  stretch  thou  forth  to 
them  thy  two  hands,  and  each  of  them  will  bite  at  a  hand:  if  thou  oppose,  however, 
they  will  kill  thee. — Then  enter  on  to  the  seventh  door,  and  knock  it.     [The  sem- 


THE   STORY   OF   JOUDAR. 


547 


blance  of]  thy  mother  will  come  forth  to  thee,  and  will  say  to  thee,  Welcome,  0  my 
son  !  Advance,  that  I  may  salute  thee. — But  do  thou  reply.  Keep  far  from  me,  and 
pull  off  thine  apparel.  She  will  thereupon  say  to  thee,  0  my  son,  I  am  thy  mother 
and  I  have  a  claim  upon  thy  duty  for  suckling  and  rearing  thee.  How  then  wouldst 
thou  strip  me  of  my  clothing? — Do  thou,  however,  say  to  her.  If  thou  pull  not  off 
thy  clothing,  I  will  slay  thee.  And  look  on  thy  right  side:  thou  wilt  see  a  sword 
suspended  on  the  wall :  so  take  it,  and  draw  it  upon  her,  and  say  to  her.  Pull  off. 
Then  she  will  endeavour  to  beguile  thee,  and  will  humble  herself  unto  thee:  yet  pity 
her  not:  but  every  time  that  she  puUeth  off  to  thee  anything,  say  to  her.  Pull  off  the 
rest.  And  cease  not  to  threaten  her  with  slaughter  until  she  pulleth  off  to  thee  all 
that  is  upon  her  and  falleth  down. — Upon  this,  the  mysterious  contrivances  will  have 
become  dissolved,  and  the  talismans  annulled,  and  thou  wilt  be  secure.  So  enter: 
thou  wilt  find  the  gold  in  heaps  within  the  treasury:  pay  no  regard,  however,  to 
aught  of  it:  but  thou  wilt  see  a  private  chamber  at  the  upper  end  of  the  treasury 
with  a  curtain  over  its  entrance.  Remove  the  curtain,  and  thou  wilt  see  the  diviner 
Shamardal  lying  upon  a  couch  of  gold,  having  at  his  head  something  round,  shining 
like  the  moon  ;  and  it  is  the  celestial  planisphere.  lie  is  also  equipped  with  the 
sword,  hung  upon  his  side;  and  upon  his  finger  is  a  seal-ring;  and  upon  his  neck  is 
a  chain,  to  which  is  attached  a  kohl-pot.  Bring  therefore  the  four  reposited  things; 
and  beware  of  forgetting  aught  of  the  things  with  which  I  have  acquainted  thee ; 
and  act  not  contrary  to  the  directions ;  for  thou  wouldst  repent,  and  fear  would  be 
entertained  for  thee. — Then  he  repeated  to  him  the  charge,  a  second  and  a  third  and 
a  fourth  time,  until  he  said,  I  have  it  in  my  memory :  but  who  is  able  to  face  these 
talismans  which  thou  hast  mentioned,  and  to  endure  these  great  horrors?  The  Mo- 
grabin  replied,  0  Joudar,  fear  not;  for  they  are  bodies  without  souls.  And  he  pro- 
ceeded to  tranquillize  him.     So  Joudar  said,  I  rely  upon  God. 

Then  the  Mograbin  Abdelsamad  threw  on  the  incense  and  continued  a  while 
reciting  the  charm  ;  and  lo,  the  water  had  gone,  and  the  bottom  of  the  river  ap- 
peared, and  the  door  of  the  treasury.  Joudar  therefore  descended  to  the  door,  and 
knocked  it ;  and  he  heard  a  speaker  say,  Who  knocketh  at  the  doors  of  the  treasures 
and  knovreth  not  how  to  solve  the  mysteries?  So  he  answered,  I  am  Joudar  the  son 
of  Omar.  And  upon  this,  the  door  opened,  and  the  person  came  forth  to  him,  and 
drew  the  sword,  saying  to  him,  Stretch  forth  thy  neck.  Accordingly,  he  stretched 
forth  his  neck,  and  the  person  smote  him,  and  fell  down.  In  like  manner  did  Joudar 
at  the  second  door,  and  so  on  until  he  had  annulled  the  talismans  of  [six  of]  the 
seven  doors.    Then  [the  semblance  of]  his  mother  came  forth  to  him,  saying  to  him, 


Joudar  threatening  the  Semblance  of  his  Mother. 


Salutations  to  thee,  0  my  son  !     And  he  said  to  her  as  the  Mograbin  had  directed 
him  ;  but  after  she  had  long  remonstrated  with  him,  and  done  nearly  all  that  he  had 


548  THE   STORY    OF   JOUDAR. 

commanded  her,  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  is  thy  heart  stone?  Is  not  this  unlaw- 
ful ! — And  he  replied,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth.  So  when  he  had  uttered  these  words, 
she  cried  out  and  said.  He  hath  erred :  therefore  beat  ye  him  !  And  there  fell  upon 
him  blows  like  the  drops  of  rain  :  the  servants  of  the  treasure  assembled  around  him, 
and  they  inflicted  upon  him  a  beating  that  he  forgot  not  during  his  life ;  after  which 
they  pushed  him,  and  cast  him  forth  outside  the  door  of  the  treasure,  and  the  doors 
of  the  treasure  became  closed  as  they  were  before.  So  when  they  cast  him  outside 
the  door,  the  Mograbin  took  him  up  instantly,  and  the  waters  flowed  as  before. 
Then  Abdelsamad  the  Mograbin  recited  over  Joudar  a  charm,  until  he  recovered 
from  his  intoxication,  when  he  said  to  him,  "What  hast  thou  done,  0  poor  man? 
Joudar  therefore  told  him  what  had  happened  ;  whereupon  the  Mograbin  replied, 
Did  I  not  say  to  thee,  Act  not  contrary  to  the  directions?  Thou  hast  done  ill  unto 
me  and  to  thyself.  But  now  thou  must  remain  with  me  till  the  next  year,  until  the 
like  of  this  day.  —  And  he  called  out  immediately  to  the  two  slaves  ;  who  forthwith 
struck  the  tent  and  carried  it  away,  and,  after  they  had  been  absent  a  little  while, 
n  turned  with  the  two  mules  ;  and  the  Mograbin  and  Joudar  each  mounted  a  mule, 
and  they  returned  to  the  city  of  Fez. 

Joudar  remained  with  the  Mograbin,  eating  well  and  drinking  well,  and  every 
day  the  latter  clad  him  in  a  rich  dress,  until  the  year  had  ended,  and  that  day 
arrived  ;  when  the  Mograbin  said  to  him.  This  is  the  appointed  day:  so  repair  with 
us.  Joudar  replied.  Well.  The  Mograbin  therefore  took  him  outside  the  city,  and 
they  saw  the  two  slaves  with  the  two  mules,  and  rode  until  they  arrived  at  the  river; 
whereupon  the  two  slaves  pitched  the  tent,  and  spread  the  furniture  in  it,  and  the 
Mograbin  took  forth  the  table  of  viands,  and  they  dined.  After  this,  the  Mograbin 
took  forth  the  tube  and  the  tablets,  as  on  the  first  occasion,  kindled  the  fire,  made 
ready  his  incense,  and  said,  0  Joudar,  1  desire  to  charge  thee.  He  replied,  0  my 
master  the  pilgrim,  if  I  have  forgotten  the  beating  I  may  have  forgotten  the  charge. 
So  the  Mograbin  said  to  him.  Dost  thou  retain  the  charge  in  thy  memory?  He 
answered.  Yes.  And  the  Mograbin  said,  Keep  thy  self-possession,  and  imagine  not 
that  the  woman  is  thy  mother,  for  she  is  only  a  talisman  in  the  form  of  thy  mother, 
and  her  desire  is  to  make  the  err;  and  if  the  first  time  thou  earnest  forth  alive,  this 
time,  if  thou  err,  they  will  cast  thee  forth  slain.  He  replied.  If  I  err,  I  shall  deserve 
their  burning  me.  Then  the  Mograbin  put  the  incense,  and  recited  the  charm,  and 
the  river  dried  up.  So  Joudar  advanced  to  the  door  and  knocked  it ;  whereupon  it 
opened,  and  he  annulled  all  the  talismans  until  he  came  to  [the  semblance  of]  his 
mother,  who  said  to  him.  Welcome,  0  my  son!  But  he  replied,  How  should  I  be 
thy  son,  0  accursed?  Pull  off!  —  And  she  endeavoured  to  beguile  him  ;  but  he  in- 
sisted :  and  when  she  had  done  as  he  commanded  her,  she  became  a  body  without 
a  soul.  He  therefore  entered,  and  saw  the  gold  in  heaps,  but  paid  no  regard  to  aught 
of  it.  Then  he  came  to  the  private  chamber,  and  beheld  the  diviner  Shamardal 
lying,  having  the  sword  on  his  side,  and  the  seal-ring  upon  his  finger,  and  the  kohl- 
pot  upon  his  bosom,  and  he  saw  the  celestial  planisphere  over  his  head.  So  he 
advanced  and  loosed  the  sword,  and  took  the  seal-ring  and  the  celestial  planisphere 
and  the  kohl-pot,  and  went  forth  :  and  lo,  n  set  of  musical  instruments  sounded  in 
honour  of  him,  and  the  servants  [of  the  treasure]  began  to  call  out,  Mayest  thou 
enjoy  that  which  thou  hast  obtained,  0  Joudar!  The  instruments  ceased  not  to 
sound  until  he  went  forth  from  the  treasure,  and  came  to  the  Mograbin,  who  there- 
upon ceased  from  the  recitation  of  the  charm,  and  the  fumigation,  and,  rising,  pressed 
him  to  his  bosom,  and  saluted  him  ;  and  Joudar  gave  him  the  four  reposited  articles. 
So  the  Mograbin  took  them,  and  called  out  to  the  two  slaves,  who  forthwith  took  the 
tent,  and  restored  it  to  its  place ;  after  which  they  returned  with  the  two  mules,  and 
the  Mograbin  and  Joudar  mounted  them,  and  entered  the  city  of  Fez.  The  Mograbin 
then  brought  the  pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  proceeded  to  take  forth  from  it  the  dishes 
containing  the  various  viands  until  a  complete  table  was  before  him.  when  he  said, 
0  my  brother,  0  Joudar,  eat.     He  therefore  ate  until  he  was  satisfied,  and  Ihe 


THE    STORY   OF   JOUDAR.  549 

Mograbin  emptied  the  remains  of  the  viands  into  other  dishes,  and  put  back  the 
empty  dishes  into  the  saddle-bags. 

Then  the  Mograbin  Abdelsamad  said,  0  Joudar,  thou  quittedst  thy  land  and  thy 
country  on  our  account,  and  hast  accomplished  our  affair;  wherefore  thou  hast  a 
claim  upon  us  for  some  object  of  desire  ;  so  demand  of  us  what  thou  wishest ;  for 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted !)  giveth  thee,  and  we  are  [merely]  the  means.  Require 
then  what  thou  wilt,  and  be  not  abashed,  since  thou  deservest. — He  therefore  replied, 
0  my  master,  I  desire  of  God,  and  then  of  thee,  that  thou  give  me  this  pair  of  saddle- 
bags. And  the  Mograbin  said  [to  his  slave].  Bring  the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  Accord- 
ingly he  brought  it;  and  he  said  to  Joudar,  Take  it;  for  it  is  thy  due  ;  and  hadst 
thou  desired  something  else,  we  had  given  it  to  thee.  But,  0  poor  man,  this  will 
not  profit  thee  save  in  food,  and  thou  hast  >vearied  thyself  with  us,  and  we  promised 
thee  that  we  would  restore  thee  to  thy  country  with  a  comforted  heart ;  wherefore 
thou  shalt  eat  from  this  pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  we  will  give  thee  another  pair  of 
saddle-bags,  full  of  gold  and  jewels,  and  have  thee  conveyed  to  thy  country;  so  thou 
shalt  become  a  merchant,  and  clothe  thyself  and  thy  family,  and  not  stand  in  need 
of  money  for  thy  expenses.  Eat  thou  and  thy  family  from  this  pair  of  saddle-bags; 
and  the  mode  of  acting  with  it  is  this  ;  that  thou  put  forth  thy  hand  into  it,  and  say. 
By  the  great  names  that  have  influence  over  thee,  0  servant  of  this  pair  of  saddle- 
bags, bring  me  such  a  dish  !  Thereupon  he  will  bring  thee  what  thou  demandest, 
even  if  thou  demand  every  day  a  thousand  different  dishes  of  food.  Then  he  caused 
a  slave  to  come  with  a  mule,  and  filled  for  Joudar  a  pair  of  saddle-bags,  one  half 
with  gold,  and  the  other  half  with  jewels  and  minerals,  and  said  to  him.  Mount  this 
mule,  and  the  slave  will  walk  before  thee  •,^  for  he  will  acquaint  thee  with  the  way 
until  he  conveyeth  thee  to  the  door  of  thy  house  ;  and  when  thou  hast  arrived,  take 
the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags,  and  give  him  the  mule,  and  he  will  bring  it  back.  But 
let  not  any  one  know  thy  secret.  And  now  we  commit  thee  unto  God.  —  So  Joudar 
replied.  May  God  increase  thy  prosperity  !  He  put  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags  upon 
the  back  of  the  mule,  and  mounted;  and  the  slave  walked  before  him.  The  mule 
followed  the  slave  that  day,  and  all  the  following  night;  and  on  the  second  day,  in 
the  morning,  he  entered  the  Bab  el-Nasr,  and  beheld  his  mother  sitting  and  saying, 
Something,  for  the  sake  of  God !  So  his  reason  fled,  and,  having  alighted  from  the 
back  of  the  mule,  he  threw  himself  upon  her ;  and  when  she  saw  him,  she  wept. 
Then  he  mounted  her  upon  the  mule,  and  walked  by  her  stirrup  until  he  arrived  at 
the  house,  when  he  set  down  his  mother,  took  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags,  and  left 
the  mule  to  the  slave,  who  took  it  and  departed  to  his  master :  for  the  slave  was  a 
devil  and  the  mule  was  a  devil. 

But  as  to  Joudar,  the  fact  of  his  mother's  begging  was  grievous  to  him  ;  and  when 
he  entered  the  house,  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  are  my  two  brothers  well  ?  She 
answered  Well.  And  he  said,  Wherefore  dost  thou  begin  the  way?  She  answered, 
0  my  son,  in  consequence  of  my  hunger.  He  replied,  I  gave  thee,  before  I  departed, 
a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  the  first  day,  and  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  the  second  day, 
and  I  gave  thee  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  on  the  day  that  I  departed.  —  0  my  son. 
she  said,  they  have  cheated  me,  and  taken  them  from  me,  saying,  We  desire  to 
purchase  with  them  merchandise.  And  they  took  them,  and  turned  me  out:  so  I 
betook  myself  to  begging  in  the  way,  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  my  hunger.  —  He 
then  said,  0  my  mother,  no  harm  shall  befall  thee  now  that  I  have  come:  therefore 
suffer  no  anxiety.  This  is  a  pair  of  saddle-bags  full  of  gold  and  jewels,  and  good 
things  are  abundant. — And  she  replied,  0  my  son,  thou  art  fortunate !  May  God  be 
well  pleased  with  thee,  and  increase  his  favours  to  thee !  Arise,  0  my  son  ;  bring 
for  us  some  bread ;  for  I  have  passed  the  night  in  violent  hunger,  without  supper. — • 
Upon  this,  he  laughed,  and  said  to  her.  Welcome  to  thee,  0  my  mother!  Demand 
then  whatever  thou  desirest  to  eat,  and  I  will  present  it  to  thee  immediately.  I  need 
not  to  purchase  from  the  market,  nor  need  I  any  one  to  cook.  — So  she  said,  0  my 
son,  I  see  not  with  thee  anything.    He  replied,  I  have  with  me,  in  the  pair  of  saddle- 


550  THE    STORY    OF   JOUDAR. 

bags,  of  every  kind  of  viands.  And  she  said,  0  my  son,  whatever  is  ready  will  stay 
liunp;er.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  he  replied;  for  when  plenty  is  wanting,  man  is 
content  with  the  smallest  thing ;  but  when  plenty  is  at  hand,  man  desireth  to  eat  of 
what  is  good:  and  I  have  plenty  ;  therefore  demand  what  thou  desirest.  And  she 
said  to  him,  0  my  son,  some  hot  bread,  and  a  piece  of  cheese.  But  he  replied,  0 
my  mother,  this  is  not  suitable  to  thy  condition.  So  she  said  to  him,  Thou  knowest 
my  condition  ;  wherefore,  what  is  suitable  to  my  condition,  thereof  give  me  to  eat. 
And  he  said,  0  my  mother,  suitable  to  thy  condition  are  browned  meat,  and  browned 
chickens,  and  boiled  rice  with  butter  and  salt  and  pepper  ;  and  suitable  to  thy  con- 
dition are  sausages,  and  stuffed  gourds,  and  stuffed  lamb,  and  stuffed  ribs  of  lamb, 
and  kunafa  with  broken  almonds  and  hazel-nuts,  and  honey  and  sugar,  and  kataif, 
and  baklawa.  His  mother  therefore  thought  that  he  was  laughing  at  her,  and 
making  jest  of  her:  so  she  said  to  him,  Oh!  Oh!  What  hath  happened  unto  thee? 
Dost  thou  dream,  or  hast  thou  become  mad? — He  asked  her,  Whence  learnedst  thou 
that  I  had  become  mad  ?  She  answered  him.  Because  thou  mentionest  to  me  all 
kinds  of  excellent  dishes  :  and  who  can  afford  their  price,  or  who  knoweth  how  to 
cook  them  ?  And  he  replied,  By  my  life,  I  must  give  thee  to  eat  of  all  that  I  have 
mentioned  to  thee,  immediately.  She  said,  I  see  not  aught.  And  he  said  to  her, 
Bring  me  the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  She  therefore  brought  him  the  pair  of  saddle- 
bags, and,  feeling  it,  found  it  to  be  empty ;  and  she  put  it  before  him.  And  he  pro- 
ceeded to  stretch  forth  his  hand  and  to  take  out  filled  dishes  until  he  had  produced 
to  her  all  that  he  had  mentioned.  So  his  mother  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  verily  the 
pair  of  saddle-bags  is  small,  and  it  was  empty,  with  nothing  in  it:  yet  thou  hast 
taken  forth  from  it  all  these  things:  then  where  were  these  dishes?  And  he 
answered,  0  my  mother  know  that  the  Mograbin  gave  me  this  pair  of  saddle-bags, 
and  it  is  enchanted,  and  hath  a  servant;  if  a  man  desire  anything,  and  recite  over 
it  the  names,  and  say,  0  servant  of  this  pair  of  saddle-bags,  bring  me  such  a  dish! — 
he  will  bring  it.  Upon  this,  his  mother  said  to  him.  Shall  I  stretch  forth  my  hand 
and  demand  of  him  ?  He  answered.  Stretch  forth  thy  hand.  And  she  did  so,  say- 
ing. By  the  names  that  have  influence  over  thee,  0  servant  of  this  pair  of  saddle- 
bags, bring  me  stuffed  ribs  of  lamb  ?  And  she  saw  that  the  dish  had  come  into  the 
bag:  so  she  put  forth  her  hand  and  took  it,  and  found  in  it  delicate  stuffed  ribs. 
Then  she  demanded  the  bread,  and  demanded  everything  that  she  desired,  of  various 
kinds  of  viands.  And  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  after  thou  shalt  have  finished 
eating,  empty  the  rest  of  the  viands  into  other  dishes  than  these,  and  put  back  the 
empty  dishes  into  the  saddle-bags  ;  for  the  charm  is  on  this  condition :  and  take  care 
of  the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  She  therefore  removed  the  pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  took 
care  of  it.  And  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  conceal  the  secret,  and  keep  it ;  and 
whenever  thou  wantest  anything,  take  it  forth  from  the  saddle-bags,  and  give  alms, 
and  feed  my  two  brothers,  whether  in  my  presence  or  in  my  absence. 

After  this  he  began  to  eat  with  her,  and  lo,  his  two  brothers  came  in  to  him.  The 
news  had  been  given  to  them  by  a  man  of  the  sons  of  his  quarter,  who  said  to  them. 
Your  brother  hath  come,  mounted  on  a  mule,  with  a  slave  before  him,  and  wearing 
a  dress  of  which  the  like  existeth  not.  So  they  said,  one  to  the  other,  Would  that 
we  had  not  distressed  our  mother  I  She  will  doubtless  acquaint  him  with  that  which 
we  have  done  unto  her.  Oh,  how  we  shall  be  disgraced  by  him  ! — But  one  of  them 
said,  Our  mother  is  tender-hearted  ;  and  if  she  inform  him,  our  brother  is  more 
tender-hearted  than  she  towards  us  ;  and  when  we  excuse  ourselves  to  him,  he  will 
accept  our  excuse.  —  Then  they  went  in  to  him,  and  he  rose  to  them  upon  his  feet, 
and  saluted  them  with  the  best  salutation,  and  said  to  them.  Sit  and  eat.  So  they 
sat  and  ate;  and  they  were  weak  from  hunger;  wherefore  they  ceased  not  to  eat 
until  they  were  satiated.  And  Joudar  said  to  them,  0  my  brothers,  take  the 
remainder  of  the  food,  and  distribute  it  to  the  poor  and  needy.  They  replied,  0  our 
brother,  leave  it  that  we  may  make  our  supper  of  it.  But  he  said  to  them,  At  the 
time  of  supper  there  will  be  brought  to  you  more  than  this.     They  therefore  took 


THE   STORY  OF   JOUDAR.  551 

forth  the  rest  of  the  viands,  and  to  every  poor  person  vrho  passed  by  them  they  said, 
Take  and  eat — until  nothing  remained.  Then  they  took  back  the  dishes,  and  Joudar 
said  to  his  mother,  Put  them  into  the  saddle-bags.  —  And  in  the  evening,  he  entered 
the  saloon,  and  took  forth  from  the  saddle-bags  a  table  of  forty  different  dishes ; 
after  which,  he  went  up  [into  another  apartment]  ;  and  when  he  sat  between  his 
two  brothers,  he  said  to  his  mother.  Bring  the  supper.  So  when  she  entered  the 
saloon,  she  saw  the  dishes  full  ;  and  she  placed  the  table,  and  brought  the  dishes, 
one  after  another,  until  the  forty  dishes  were  all  put.  They  then  supped  ;  and  after 
supper,  Joudar  said.  Take  ye,  and  feed  the  poor  and  the  needy.  Accordingly  they 
took  the  rest  of  the  viands,  and  distributed  them.  And  after  they  had  supped,  Joudar 
produced  to  them  sweetmeats  ;  of  which  they  ate  ;  and  what  remained  of  them, 
Joudar  told  them  to  give  to  the  neighbours  to  eat.  On  the  following  day  they  break- 
fasted in  the  same  manner,  and  they  ceased  not  to  remain  in  this  state  for  a  period 
of  ten  days. 

Then  Salim  said  to  Selim,  What  is  the  cause  of  this  thing,  that  our  brother  pro- 
iluceth  to  us  a  feast  in  the  morning,  and  a  feast  at  noon,  and  a  feast  at  sunset,  and, 
at  the  end  of  the  night,  sweetmeats  ;  and  that  everything  that  remaineth  he  dis- 
tributeth  to  the  poor?  This  is  the  action  of  Sultans.  And  whence  came  to  him  this 
prosperity  ?  We  never  see  him  buy  anything,  nor  doth  he  light  a  fire,  nor  hath  he 
either  kitchen  or  cook.  Shall  we  not  inquire  respecting  these  various  viands,  and 
respecting  these  sweetmeats?  —  His  brother  replied.  By  Allah,  I  know  not.  But 
knowest  thou  any  one  who  will  acquaint  us  with  the  truth  of  this  matter?  —  None, 
said  Salim,  will  acquaint  us  excepting  our  mother.  They  therefore  contrived  for 
themselves  a  stratagem,  and,  going  in  to  their  mother  during  the  absence  of  their 
brother,  they  said,  0  our  mother,  we  are  hungry.  So  she  replied.  Rejoice  at  good 
news.  And  she  entered  the  saloon,  demanded  of  the  servant  of  the  pair  of  saddle- 
bags, and  brought  out  to  them  hot  viands  ;  whereupon  they  said,  0  our  mother,  this 
food  is  hot,  and  thou  hast  not  cooked,  nor  blown  [a  fire].  She  replied,  It  is  from 
the  pair  of  saddle-bags.  And  they  said  to  her.  What  is  this  pair  of  saddle-bags? 
She  answered  them.  It  is  enchanted,  and  the  demand  is  obtained  by  virtue  of  the 
charm.  And  she  acquainted  them  with  the  case,  and  said  to  them,  Conceal  the 
secret.  They  replied.  The  secret  is  concealed,  0  our  mother;  but  teach  us  the  mode 
of  this.  She  therefore  taught  them:  and  they  proceeded  to  put  forth  their  hands, 
and  to  take  out  the  thing  that  they  demanded.  And  their  brother  had  no  know- 
ledge thereof.  So  when  they  knew  the  property  of  the  pair  of  saddle-bags,  Salim 
said  to  Selim,  0  my  brother,  how  long  shall  we  remain  with  Joudar  like  servants, 
and  eat  his  alms?  Shall  we  not  employ  a  stratagem  against  him,  and  take  this  pair 
of  saddle-bags,  and  enjoy  it?  —  How,  said  Selim,  shall  the  stratagem  be  contrived? 
Salim  answered.  We  will  sell  our  brother  to  the  Captain  of  the  Sea  of  Suez.  —  And 
how  shall  we  manage,  asked  the  other,  that  we  may  sell  him  ? — I  will  go  with  thee, 
answered  Salim,  to  that  Captain,  and  we  will  invite  him  to  an  entertainment  with 
two  of  his  company ;  and  what  I  shall  say  to  Joudar,  do  thou  declare  me  to  be 
veracious  therein  ;  and  at  the  close  of  the  night,  I  will  show  thee  what  I  will  do. 

Thus  they  agreed  to  sell  their  brother.  They  went  to  the  house  of  the  Captain  of 
the  Sea  of  Suez,  and  Salim  and  Selim  both  went  in  to  the  Captain,  and  said  to  him, 
0  Captain,  we  have  come  to  thee  on  account  of  an  affair  that  will  rejoice  thee.  So 
he  replied.  Good.  And  they  said  to  him.  We  are  two  brothers,  and  we  have  a  third 
brother,  a  profligate,  in  whom  is  no  good  ;  and  our  father  died,  leaving  to  us  a  sum 
of  money.  Then  we  divided  the  money,  and  he  took  what  fell  to  his  lot  of  the 
inheritance,  and  expended  it  in  debauchery  and  vice  ;  and  when  he  was  reduced  to 
poverty,  he  domineered  over  us  and  proceeded  to  complain  against  us  to  the  tyrant*, 
and  to  say.  Ye  two  have  taken  my  property,  and  the  property  of  my  father — and  we 
referred  our  case  to  the  judges,  and  lost  the  property.  After  this,  he  suffered  us  a 
while,  and  complained  against  us  a  second  time,  so  that  he  brought  us  to  poverty, 
and  he  desisteth  not  from  oppressing  us ;  wherefore  we  have  become  impatient  of 


552  THE    STORY    OF    JOUDAR. 

him,  and  desire  that  thou  purchase  him  of  us.  —  So  he  said  to  them,  Can  ye  employ 
a  stratagem  against  him,  and  bring  him  to  me  here?  If  so,  I  -will  send  him  quickly 
to  the  sea.  —  They  answered,  AVe  cannot  bring  him  ;  but  thou  shalt  be  our  guest, 
and  bring  with  thee  two,  no  more ;  and  when  he  sleepeth,  we  five  will  assist  one 
another  against  him,  and  seize  him,  and  put  a  gag  in  his  mouth,  and  take  him  under 
the  covering  of  night.  Then  thou  shalt  carry  him  forth  from  the  house,  and  do  with 
him  as  thou  wilt. — And  he  said,  I  hear  and  obey.  Will  ye  sell  him  for  forty  pieces 
of  gold?  They  answered  him.  Yes  :  and  after  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers,  thou 
shalt  come  to  such  a  quarter,  where  thou  wilt  find  one  of  us  waiting  for  thee.  And 
he  replied.  Go  ye. 

They  therefore  sought  Joudar  ;  and  after  they  had  waited  a  while,  Salim  advanced 
to  him,  and  kissed  his  hand.  So  Joudar  said  to  him.  What  dost  thou  want,  0  my 
brother?  And  he  answered  him,  Know  that  I  have  a  friend,  who  invited  me  to 
entertainments  many  times  in  his  house  during  thine  absence,  and  he  is  entitled  to 
a  thousand  kindnesses  from  me,  and  he  always  treateth  me  with  honour,  as  my 
brother  knoweth.  Now  I  saluted  him  to-day,  and  he  invited  me  ;  but  I  said  to  him, 
I  cannot  quit  my  brother.  He  therefore  said.  Bring  him  with  thee.  And  I  replied. 
He  will  not  consent  to  that ;  but  if  thou  and  thy  brothers  will  be  my  guests — for  his 
brothers  were  sitting  by  him  ;  so  I  invited  them,  thinking  that  I  should  invite  them 
and  they  would  refuse.  But  when  I  invited  him  and  his  brothers,  he  consented, 
and  said,  Wait  for  me  at  the  door  of  the  mosque,  and  I  will  come  with  my  brothers. 
Therefore  I  fear  that  he  will  come,  and  am  abashed  at  thee.  Wilt  thou  then  com- 
fort my  heart,  and  entertain  them  this  night?  Thy  good  things  are  abundant,  O 
my  brother.  But  if  thou  consent  not,  give  me  leave  to  take  them  into  the  neigh- 
bour's house. — And  Joudar  said  to  him,  Wherefore  shouldst  thou  take  them  into  the 
neighbour's  house?  Is  our  house' then  narrow,  or  have  we  not  aught  wherewith  to 
give  them  a  supper?  Shame  upon  thee  to  consult  me.  Thou  hast  nothing  to  require 
but  nice  viands  and  sweetmeats  in  such  quantities  that  there  shall  remain  of  them  : 
and  if  thou  bring  people  and  I  be  absent,  demand  of  thy  mother,  and  she  will  produce 
to  thee  viands  more  than  enough.  Go:  bring  them.  Blessings  have  betided  us. — 
So  he  kissed  his  hand,  and  went  and  sat  at  the  door  of  the  mosque  till  after  the  time 
of  afternoon-prayers  ;  and  lo,  they  approached  him.  He  therefore  took  them  and 
conducted  them  into  the  house ;  and  when  Joudar  saw  them,  he  said  to  them. 
Welcome  to  you  !  And  he  seated  them,  and  made  himself  familiar  with  them,  not 
knowing  what  was  secretly  purposed  to  betide  him  from  them.  Then  he  demanded 
of  his  mother  the  supper,  and  she  proceeded  to  take  forth  from  the  pair  of  saddle- 
bags, while  he  said,  Bring  such  a  dish — until  there  were  before  them  forty  different 
dishes.  So  they  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  and  the  table  was  removed  ;  the  sailors 
thinking  that  this  hospitable  entertainment  proceeded  from  Salim.  And  when  a 
third  of  the  night  had  passed,  Joudar  caused  the  sweetmeats  to  be  brought  to  them  ; 
and  Salim  was  the  one  who  served  them.  Joudar  and  Selim  sat  until  they  expressed 
a  desire  to  sleep  ;  when  Joudar  arose  and  laid  himself  down,  and  the  others  lay 
down  until  he  was  inadvertent  ;  whereupon  they  arose  and  assisted  one  another 
against  him,  and  he  awoke  not  until  the  gag  was  in  his  mouth.  They  bound  his 
hands  behind  him,  carried  him  away,  and  took  him  forth  from  the  pavilion  under 
the  covering  of  the  night,  and  sent  him  to  Suez,  where  they  put  shackles  upon  his 
feet,  and  he  served  in  sil&nce,  and  ceased  not  to  serve  in  the  manner  of  captives  and 
slaves  for  a  whole  year. — Such  was  the  case  of  Joudar. 

But  as  to  the  case  of  his  two  brothers,  when  they  arose  in  the  morning,  they  went 
in  to  their  mother,  and  said  to  her,  0  our  mother,  our  brother  Joudar  hath  not  awoke. 
So  she  replied.  Wake  ye  him.  They  asked  her.  Where  is  he  lying?  And  she 
answered  thorn.  With  the  guests.  They  said.  Probably  he  hath  gone  with  the  guests 
while  we  were  asleep,  0  our  mother.  It  soemetli  that  our  brotlier  hath  tasted  absence 
from  his  country,  and  desired  to  enter  the  hidden  treasures :  for  we  heard  him  speak- 
ing with  the  Mograbins,  and  they  said  to  him,  We  will  take  thee  with  us,  and  we 


THE   STOKY  OF  JOUDAR.  553 

will  open  for  thee  the  treasure. — Hath  he,  she  said,  been  with  the  Mograbins  ?  They 
replied,  Were  they  not  guests  with  us?  And  she  said,  Probably  he  hath  gone  with 
them  ;  but  God  will  direct  him  right.  This  is  a  fortunate  person  ;  he  will  certainly 
come  back  with  abundant  riches. — And  she  wept,  and  his  separation  was  grievous 
unto  her.  So  they  said  to  her,  0  accursed,  dost  thou  love  Joudar  with  all  this  love, 
when,  if  we  are  absent  or  present,  thou  neither  rejoicest  in  us  nor  niournest  for  us? 
Are  we  not  thy  sons  as  Joudar  is  thy  son  ? — She  answered.  Ye  are  my  sons  :  but  ye 
are  wicked  wretches,  and  ye  are  entitled  to  no  favour  from  me ;  for  from  the  day 
that  your  father  died  I  have  not  experienced  from  you  any  good  ;  and  as  to  Joudar, 
I  have  experienced  from  him  abundant  good,  and  he  hath  comforted  my  heart,  and 
treated  me  with  honour ;  therefore  it  behoveth  me  to  weep  for  him  ;  for  his  kindness 
•was  shown  to  me  and  to  you. — And  when  they  heard  these  words,  they  reviled  her 
and  beat  her ;  and  they  entered,  and  proceeded  to  search  for  the  pair  of  saddle-bags 
until  they  found  it ;  and  they  took  the  jewels  from  the  one  half  [of  one  pair  of 
saddle-bags],  and  the  gold  from  the  other  half,  and  the  enchanted  pair  of  saddle- 
bags also,  saying  to  her.  This  was  the  property  of  our  father.  She  replied.  No,  by 
Allah  ;  but  it  is  the  property  of  your  brother  Joudar,  who  brought  it  from  the  country 
of  the  Mograbins.  They  said  to  her.  Thou  liest ;  this  was  the  property  of  our 
father,  and  we  will  dispose  of  it.  So  they  divided  it  [that  is,  the  jewels  and  gold] 
between  them  ;  but  a  dissension  ensued  between  them  respecting  the  enchanted 
pair  of  saddle-bags.  Salim  said,  I  will  take  it.  And  Selim  said,  I  will  take  it.  And 
opposition  took  place  between  them.  Their  mother  therefore  said,  0  my  sons,  the 
pair  of  saddle-bags  in  which  were  the  jewels  and  the  gold  ye  have  divided,  and  this 
cannot  be  divided,  nor  can  its  value  be  given  in  money ;  and  if  it  be  cut  in  twain,  its 
charm  will  be  annulled:  but  leave  it  with  me,  and  I  will  take  forth  for  you  what  ye 
shall  eat  on  every  occasion,  and  will  be  content  to  take  with  you  a  morsel :  if,  more- 
over, ye  clothe  me  with  anything,  it  will  be  of  your  favour ;  and  each  of  you  shall 
establish  for  himself  a  trafifick  with  the  people.  Ye  are  my  sons,  and  I  am  your 
mother  ;  then  let  us  remain  in  our  present  state  lest  your  brother  come,  in  fear  of 
disgrace. — But  they  accepted  not  her  proposal.  They  passed  the  next  night  contend- 
ing together  ;  and  a  man  heard  them,  an  officer  belonging  to  the  guards  of  the  King, 
being  a  guest  in  a  house  adjoining  the  house  of  Joudar,  a  window  of  which  was 
open.  So  the  officer  looked  from  the  window,  and  heard  the  whole  of  the  dispute, 
and  the  words  that  they  uttered,  and  the  division.  And  when  the  morning  came, 
this  officer  went  in  to  the  King,  whose  name  was  Shemseldowla,  the  King  of  Egypt 
in  that  age ;  and  when  the  officer  went  in  to  him,  he  acquainted  him  with  that  which 
he  had  heard  ;  whereupon  the  King  sent  to  the  two  brothers  of  Joudar,  and  brought 
them,  and  subjected  them  to  torture.  So  they  confessed ;  and  he  took  the  two  pairs 
of  saddle-bags  from  them,  and  put  them  in  prison.  Then  he  assigned  to  the  mother 
of  Joudar  such  allowances  every  day  as  would  suffice  her. — Thus  did  it  happen  unto 
them. 

Now  again  as  to  Joudar,  he  remained  a  whole  year  serving  at  Suez,  and  after  the 
year  he  and  others  were  in  the  ship,  and  there  arose  against  them  a  wind  which  cast 
the  ship  wherein  they  were  upon  a  mountain,  and  it  went  to  pieces,  and  all  that  was 
in  it  was  submerged.  None  reached  the  shore  excepting  Joudar ;  and  the  rest  died 
And  when  he  had  reached  the  shore,  he  journeyed  until  he  came  to  an  encampment 
of  Arabs,  by  water  and  pasture ;  and  they  asked  him  respecting  his  state ;  wherefore 
he  informed  them  that  he  was  a  sailor  in  a  ship,  and  he  related  to  them  his  story. 
Now  there  was  in  the  encampment  a  merchant,  of  the  people  of  Jiddah  ;  and  he 
pitied  him  and  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou  serve  us,  0  man  of  Cairo?  If  so  I  will  clothe 
thee,  and  take  thee  with  me  to  Jiddah. — So  he  served  him,  and  journeyed  with  him 
until  they  arrived  at  Jiddah  ;  and  the  merchant  treated  him  with  much  favour.  Then 
his  master  the  merchant  desired  to  perform  the  pilgrimage,  and  took  him  with  him 
to  Mecca :  so  when  they  entered  it,  Joudar  went  to  perform  the  compassings  within 
the  temple;  and  while   he  was  compassing,  lo,  he  fiund  his  friend   the  Mograbin 


554  THE    STORY    OF   JOUDAR. 

Abdelsamad  compassing]!;  also.  Therefore  when  the  Mograbin  saw  him,  he  saluted 
him,  and  asked  him  respecting  his  state.  And  he  wept,  and  acquainted  him  with  that 
which  had  befallen  him.  And  upon  this  the  Mograbin  took  him  with  him  until  he 
entered  his  house,  where  he  treated  him  honourably,  and  clad  him  in  a  dress  of 
which  there  existed  not  the  equal ;  and  he  said  to  him,  Evil  hath  quitted  thee,  0 
Joudar.  He  then  performed  for  him  an  operation  of  geomancy,  whereupon  that 
which  had  befallen  Joudar's  two  brothers  appeared  to  him,  and  he  said,  Know,  0 
Joudar,  that  such  and  such  things  have  befallen  thy  two  brothers,  and  they  are  con- 
fined in  the  prison  of  the  King  of  Egypt:  but  thou  shalt  be  welcome  until  thou 
hast  accomplished  thy  rites  of  sacrifice ;  and  nothing  shall  betide  but  good  fortune. 
So  Joudar  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  wait  until  I  go  and  take  leave  of  the  merchant 
with  whom  I  have  been  living,  and  come  back  unto  thee.  And  the  Mograbin  said.  Dost 
thou  owe  money?  He  answered.  No.  The  Mograbin  therefore  said,  Go:  take  leave 
of  him,  and  come  back  immediately  ;  for  bread  imposeth  obligation  in  the  estimation 
of  the  ingenuous.  Accordingly  he  went  and  took  leave  of  the  merchant,  and  said 
to  him,  I  have  met  my  brother.  And  the  merchant  said  to  him.  Go ;  bring  him, 
and  we  will  make  for  him  an  entertainment.  But  Joudar  replied.  It  is  not  necessary, 
for  he  is  of  the  people  of  affluence,  and  hath  many  servants.  And  the  merchant 
gave  him  twenty  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to  him,  Acquit  me  of  responsibility.  So  he 
took  leave  of  him,  and  went  forth  from  him,  and,  seeing  a  poor  man,  he  gave  him 
the  twenty  pieces  of  gold. 

He  then  repaired  to  Abdelsamad,  the  Mograbin,  and  he  remained  with  him  until 
they  had  accomplished  the  rites  of  the  sacrifice  of  the  pilgrimage ;  whereupon  the 
Mograbin  gave  him  the  seal-ring  that  he  had  taken  forth  from  the  treasure  of  Sha- 
mardal,  and  said  to  him,  Take  this  seal-ring ;  for  it  will  cause  thee  to  attain  thy 
desire;  since  it  hath  a  servant  whose  name  is  Radelcasif;  and  whatever  thou  shalt 
require  of  the  things  of  the  world,  rub  the  seal-ring,  and  the  servant  will  appear  to 
thee,  [and  he  will  bring  it  thee;]  and  whatsoever  thou  shalt  command  him  to  do, 
he  will  do  it  for  thee.  And  he  rubbed  it  before  him  ;  whereupon  the  servant  ap- 
peared to  him,  calling  out,  At  thy  service,  0  my  master !  What  dost  thou  demand  ? 
It  shall  be  given  thee.  Wilt  thou  then  render  flourishing  a  ruined  city,  or  ruin  a 
city  that  is  flourishing,  or  slay  a  King,  or  rout  an  army? — The  Mograbin  replied,  0 
Radelcasif,  this  hath  become  thy  master;  and  act  thou  well  to  him.  Then  he  dis- 
missed him,  and  said  to  Joudar,  Rub  the  seal-ring,  and  its  servant  will  appear  before 
thee,  and  do  thou  command  him  to  do  what  thou  desirest;  for  he  will  not  disobey 
thee.  Repair  to  thy  country,  and  take  care  of  the  ring;  for  thou  wilt  delude  with  it 
thine  enemies  ;  and  be  not  ignorant  of  the  potency  of  this  ring.  —  Joudar  therefore 
replied,  0  my  master,  with  thy  permission  I  will  repair  to  my  country.  And  the 
Mograbin  said  to  him.  Rub  the  seal-ring:  thereupon  the  servant  will  appear  to  thee, 
and  mount  thou  upon  his  back  ;  and  if  thou  say  to  him,  Convey  me  this  day  to  my 
country — he  will  not  disobey  thy  command. 

Joudar,  upon  this,  bade  Abdelsamad  farewell,  and  rubbed  the  seal-ring;  and  Ra- 
delcasif presented  himself  before  him,  saying  to  him.  At  thy  service  !  Demand  :  it 
shall  be  given  thee. — So  he  said  to  him.  Convey  me  to  Cairo  this  day.  And  he  re- 
plied, That  shall  be  done  for  thee.  He  took  him  up  and  flew  with  him  from  the  time 
of  noon  until  midnight,  when  he  alighted  with  him  in  the  court  of  the  house  of  his 
mother,  and  departed.  He  therefore  went  in  to  his  mother:  and  when  she  saw  him, 
she  arose  and  wept  and  saluted  him,  and  informed  him  of  that  which  had  been  done 
to  his  two  brothers  by  the  King,  how  he  had  beaten  them,  and  taken  the  enchanted 
pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  containing  the  gold  and  jewels.  — 
And  when  Joudar  heard  that,  the  state  of  his  brothers  was  not  a  light  matter  to 
him  :  but  he  said  to  his  mother.  Grieve  not  for  that  which  hath  escaped  thee  ;  for 
instantly  I  will  show  thee  what  I  will  do,  and  I  will  bring  my  brothers.  Then  he 
rubbed  the  seal-ring,  and  the  servant  appeared  to  him,  saying.  At  thy  service! 
Demand  ;  it  shall  be  given  thee.— And  he  said  to  him,  I  command  thee  to  bring  me  my 


All  were  Drowned  but  Joudar.    (Page  563.) 


555 


THE    STORY    OF    JOUDAR.  557 

two  brothers  from  the  King's  prison.  So  he  descended  into  the  earth,  and  came  not  up 
save  in  the  midst  of  the  prison.  Now  Salim  and  Selim  were  in  the  most  violent  dis- 
tress, and  in  great  affliction,  by  reason  of  the  misery  of  imprisonment;  they  had 
wished  for  death,  and  one  of  them  was  saying  to  the  other,  By  Allah,  0  my  brother, 
our  trouble  hath  become  wearisome  to  us,  and  how  long  shall  we  remain  in  this 
prison  ?  Death  in  it  would  be  ease  to  us. — And  while  they  were  in  this  state,  lo,  the 
earth  clove  asunder,  and  Radelcasif  came  forth  to  them,  and,  taking  them  both  up, 
descended  into  the  earth.  They  swooned  in  consequence  of  the  violence  of  their 
fear;  and  when  they  recovered,  they  found  themselves  in  their  house,  where  they  saw 
their  brother  sitting  with  his  mother  by  his  side.  And  he  said  to  them.  Salutations 
to  you,  0  my  brothers !  Ye  have  cheered  me  by  your  presence. — Upon  this,  they  in- 
clined their  faces  towards  the  ground,  and  began  to  weep.  But  he  said  to  them, 
Weep  not:  for  the  Devil  and  covetousness  forced  you  to  do  that.  How  could  you 
sell  me?  But  I  will  console  myself  by  remembering  Joseph  ;  for  his  brothers  did 
unto  him  what  was  worse  than  your  deed,  since  they  cast  him  into  the  pit.  Turn 
ye,  however,  with  repentance  unto  God,  and  beg  his  forgiveness,  and  He  will  forgive 
yo"u,  for  He  is  the  Abundant' in  forgiveness,  the  Merciful.  I  have  pardoned  you. 
Welcome  to  you  !  No  harm  shall  befall  you. — And  he  proceeded  to  appease  their 
minds  until  he  had  soothed  their  hearts ;  and  he  related  to  them  all  that  he  had  suf- 
fered at  Suez  [and  afterwards]  until  he  met  with  the  sheikh  Abdelsamad,  informing 
them  also  of  the  seal-ring.  So  they  said,  0  our  brother,  be  not  angry  with  us  this 
time.  If  we  return  to  our  former  conduct,  do  with  us  what  thou  wilt. — He  replied. 
No  harm :  but  tell  me  what  the  King  did  unto  you.  And  they  said,  He  beat  us  and 
threatened  us,  and  took  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags  from  us. 

Thereupon  he  said,  Will  he  not  care?  And  he  rubbed  the  seal-ring.  So  the  ser- 
vant presented  himself  before  him.  And  when  his  brothers  beheld  him, -they  feared 
him,  and  imagined  that  Joudar  would  order  the  servant  to  slay  them.  They  there- 
fore went  to  their  mother,  and  began  to  say,  0  our  mother,  we  throw  ourselves  upon 
thy  generosity!  0  our  mother,  intercede  for  us !  And  she  replied,  0  my  sons,  fear 
not. — Then  Joudar  said  to  the  servant,  I  command  thee  to  bring  me  all  that  is  in  the 
treasury  of  the  King,  of  jewels  and  other  things,  and  to  leave  not  in  it  aught:  also, 
that  thou  bring  me  the  enchanted  pair  of  saddle-bags,  and  the  pair  of  saddle-bags 
containing  the  jewels  [and  gold],  which  the  King  took  from  my  two  brothers.  So 
he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  went  immediately,  collected  what  was  in  the 
treasury,  brought  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags  with  the  enclosed  deposits,  and  placed 
all  that  was  in  the  treasury  before  Joudar,  saying,  0  my  master,  I  have  not  left  in 
the  treasury  anything.  Upon  this,  Joudar  ordered  his  mother  to  take  care  of  the 
pair  of  saddle-bags  containing  the  jewels  [and  gold],  put  the  enchanted  pair  of 
saddle-bags  before  him,  and  said  to  the  servant,  I  command  thee  to  build  for  me, 
during  this  night,  a  lofty  palace,  and  to  decorate  it  with  water-gold,  and  spread  it 
with  magnificent  furniture,  and  let  not  morning  come  before  thou  hast  completed  the 
whole  of  it.  The  servant  replied.  That  shall  be  done  for  thee.  And  he  descended 
into  the  earth.  Then  Joudar  took  forth  the  viands,  and  they  ate,  and  enjoyed  them- 
selves, and  slept. — But  as  to  the  affair  of  the  servant,  he  collected  his  0ns,'  and  gave 
orders  to  build  the  palace.  So  some  of  them  began  to  hew  the  stones,  and  some  to 
whitewash,  and  some  to  paint,  and  some  to  spread  the  furniture ;  and  the  daylight 
came  not  before  the  order  of  the  palace  was  perfect.  The  servant  thereupen  went 
up  to  Joudar,  and  said,  0  my  master,  the  palace  is  finished,  and  its  order  is  perfect ; 
if  then  thou  wilt  go  forth  and  divert  thyself  with  a  view  of  it,  go  forth. 

He  therefore  went  forth  with  his  mother  and  his  two  brothers,  and  saw  this  palace 
to  be  one  of  which  there  existed  not  the  like,  confounding  the  minds  by  the  beauty 
of  its  order.  So  Joudar  was  delighted  with  it,  while  he  was  yet  passing  along  the 
beaten  track;  and  with  all  this,  he  had  expended  nothing  upon  it.     He  then  said  to 

'  Genii  of  an  inferior  class. 


558  THE  STORY   OF   JOUDAR. 

bis  mother,  Wilt  thou  reside  in  this  pahice?  She  answered  him,  0  my  son,  I  will 
reside  in  it.  And  she  prayed  for  him.  Then  he  rubbed  the  seal-ring ;  whereupon 
the  servant  appeared,  saying.  At  thy  service !  And  he  said  to  him,  I  command  thee 
to  bring  me  forty  white  and  beautiful  slave-girls,  and  forty  black  slave-girls,  and 
forty  mamlouks,  and  forty  male  black  slaves.  The  servant  replied,  That  shall  be 
done  for  thee.  And  he  repaired  with  forty  of  his  0ns  to  the  countries  of  India  and 
Sinde  and  Persia ;  and  whenever  they  beheld  a  beautiful  damsel,  they  carried  her 
off;  and  when  they  saw  a  young  man,  they  carried  him  off.  He  sent  also  forty 
others,  who  brought  elegant  black  slave-girls,  and  forty  others  brought  male  black 
slaves.  All  came  to  the  abode  of  Joudar,  and  they  filled  it.  Then  he  displayed 
them  to  Joudar,  and  they  pleased  him  ;  and  he  said.  Bring  for  each  person  a  dress, 
of  the  most  magnificent  apparel.  The  servant  replied,  Ready.  And  Joudar  said, 
Bring  a  dress  for  my  mother  to  put  on,  and  a  dress  for  myself  to  put  on.  So  he 
brought  all,  and  clad  the  female  slaves,  and  said  to  them.  This  is  your  mistress : 
therefore  kiss  her  hand,  and  disobey  her  not,  but  serve  her,  white  and  black.  The 
mamlouks  also  clad  themselves,  and  kissed  the  hand  of  Joudar;  and  his  two  brothers 
clad  themselves ;  and  Joudar  became  like  a  King,  and  his  two  brothers  like  Viziers. 
His  house  was  ample :  so  he  lodged  Salim  and  his  female  slaves  in  one  part,  and 
Selim  and  his  female  slaves  in  another  part ;  and  he  and  his  mother  resided  in  the 
new  palace;  each  being  in  his  abode  like  a  King. — Such  was  their  case. 

But  as  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  King,  he  desired  to  take  some  things  from  the 
treasury:  so  he  entered,  and  saw  not  in  it  aught,  but  found  it  as  the  poet  hath 
said : — 

The  chambers  were  like  a  bee-hive  well  stocked  :  when  their  bees  quitted  them,  they  became 
empty. 

Upon  this  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  swoon  ;  and  when  he  recovered 
he  went  forth  from  the  treasury,  leaving  its  door  open,  and,  going  in  to  the  King 
Shemseldowla,  he  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  what  we  tell  thee  is  this,  that  the 
treasury  hath  become  empty  during  this  night.  So  the  King  said,  What  hast  thou 
done  with  my  riches  that  were  in  my  treasury?  He  answered.  By  Allah,  I  have 
not  done  with  them  aught,  nor  do  I  know  the  cause  of  their  being  exhausted.  Yester- 
day I  entered  the  treasury,  and  beheld  it  filled,  and  to-day  I  entered  it,  and  beheld 
it  empty,  with  nothing  in  it :  yet  the  doors  were  locked,  and  it  hath  not  been  broken 
through,  nor  hath  its  wooden  lock  been  broken,  nor  hath  a  thief  entered  it.  And 
the  King  said,  Have  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags  gone  from  it  ?  The  treasurer  an- 
swered. Yes.  And  upon  this  the  reason  of  the  King  fled  from  his  head,  and  he  rose 
upon  his  feet,  and  said  to  the  Treasurer,  Go  before  me.  So  he  went,  and  the  King 
followed  him  until  they  came  to  the  treasury,  and  he  found  not  in  it  aught.  The 
King  therefore  was  vexed,  and  he  said.  Who  hath  assaulted  my  treasury,  and  not 
feared  my  authority?  And  he  was  violently  enraged.  He  then  went  forth,  and  held 
a  court,  and  the  great  officers  of  the  army  came,  every  one  of  them  imagining  that 
the  King  was  incensed  against  him ;  and  the  King  said,  0  soldiers,  know  that  my 
treasury  hath  been  plundered  during  this  night,  and  I  know  not  who  hath  done  this 
deed  and  assaulted  me  and  not  feared  me.  So  they  said.  And  how  hath  this  hap- 
pened ?  He  replied.  Ask  the  treasurer.  They  therefore  asked  him,  and  he  answered, 
Yesterday  it  was  full,  and  to-day  I  entered  it  and  beheld  it  empty:  yet  it  hath  not 
been  broken  through,  nor  hath  its  door  been  broken. 

Now  all  the  soldiers  wondered  at  these  words,  and  no  reply  had  been  given  by 
them,  when  the  officer,  who  on  a  former  occasion  betrayed  Selim  and  Salim,  came  in 
to  the  King,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  all  the  night  I  have  been  amusing  myself 
with  the  sight  of  builders  building,  and  when  daylight  came  I  saw  a  palace  con- 
structed, the  like  of  which  existeth  not.  I  therefore  asked,  and  it  was  said  to  me, 
that  Joudar  had  come  and  built  this  palace,  and  with  him  were  mamlouks  and  black 
slaves  ;  that  he  had  brought  abundant  riches,  and  delivered  his  two  brothers  from 


THE    STORY    OF   JOUDAR.  559 

the  prison,  and  was  in  his  mansion  like  a  Sultan.  So  the  King  said,  Examine  tho 
prison.  And  they  examined  it,  and  saw  not  Saiim  and  Selim.  They  therefore  re- 
turned, and  acquainted  him  with  that  which  had  happened;  whereupon  the  King 
said,  My  offender  hath  become  manifest;  for  he  who  delivered  Salim  and  Selim  from 
the  prison,  and  took  the  two  pairs  of  saddle-bags,  is  the  person  who  took  my 
property.  And  the  Vizier  said,  0  my  lord,  who  is  he?  The  King  answered,  Their 
brother  Joudar:  but,  0  Vizier,  send  to  him  an  Emir  with  fifty  men  to  seize  him  and 
his  two  brothers,  and  to  put  seals  upon  all  his  property,  and  to  bring  them  to  me 
that  I  may  hang  them.  And  he  was  violently  enraged,  and  said,  Ho!  quickly  send 
to  them  an  Emir  to  bring  them  to  me  that  I  may  put  them  to  death.  But  the 
Vizier  said  to  him,  Be  clement,  for  God  is  clement:  He  is  not  hasty  towards  his 
servant  when  he  disobeyeth  Him.  He  who  hath  built  a  palace  in  one  night,  as  they 
have  said,  no  one  in  tlie  world  can  be  compared  with  him  ;  and  I  fear  for  the  Emir 
that  some  trouble  may  befall  him  from  Joudar.  Have  patience,  therefore,  that  I 
may  contrive  for  thee  some  plan,  or  till  thou  see  the  truth  of  the  case,  and  what  thou 
desirest  thou  wilt  attain,  0  King  of  the  age. — So  the  King  said.  Contrive  for  me  a 
plan,  0  Vizier.  The  Vizier  replied,  Send  to  him  the  Emir,  and  invite  him  to  an 
entertainment.  Then  I  will  pay  all  attention  to  him  for  thee,  and  a  show  of  friend- 
ship to  him,  and  ask  him  respecting  his  state.  After  that,  thou  shalt  see:  if  his 
courage  be  strong,  we  will  employ  some  stratagem  against  him  ;  and  if  his  courage 
be  weak,  seize  thou  him,  and  do  with  him  as  thou  desirest. — And  the  King  said, 
Send  and  invite  him. 

Accordingly  he  ordered  an  Emir,  whose  name  was  the  Emir  Osman,  to  go  to  Jou- 
dar and  invite  him,  and  say  to  him.  The  King  suramoneth  thee  to  an  entertainment. 
And  the  King  said  to  him.  Return  not  but  with  him.  Now  that  Emir  was  stupid,  and 
haughty  in  mind  ;  and  when  he  descended,  he  saw  before  the  door  of  the  palace  [of 
Joudar]  a  eunuch  sitting  upon  a  chair;  and  when  the  Emir  Osman  arrived  at  the 
palace,  the  eunuch  rose  not  to  him,  but  remained  as  though  no  one  were  approach- 
ing him  :  yet  there  were  with  the  Emir  Osman  fifty  men.  And  the  Emir  Osman 
came  up,  and  said  to  him,  0  slave,  where  is  thy  master?  He  answered  him,  In  the 
palace.  And  he  proceeded  to  speak  to  him  in  a  reclining  posture.  So  the  Emir 
Osman  was  enraged,  and  said  to  him,  0  ill-omened  slave,  art  thou  not  abashed 
at  me,  that  when  I  speak  to  thee  thou  liest  down,  like  those  who  have  no  shame? 
But  he  replied.  Go  along.  Be  not  loquacious. — And  the  Emir  heard  not  from  him 
those  words  before  he  became  infused  witn  rage,  and,  drawing  forth  his  mace,  he 
was  about  to  beat  the  eunuch,  not  knowing  that  he  was  a  devil.  When  the  eunuch, 
however,  saw  that  he  had  drawn  forth  the  mace,  he  arose  and  rushed  upon  him,  took 
the  mace  from  him,  and  struck  him  four  blows  ;  and  when  the  fifty  men  saw  it,  the 
beating  of  their  master  displeased  them  :  they  therefore  drew  their  swords,  and  desired 
to  slay  the  slave.  But  he  said  to  them.  Do  ye  draw  the  swords,  0  dogs?  And  he 
fell  upon  them,  breaking  the  bones  of  every  one  whom  he  smote  with  the  mace,  and 
drowning  him  in  blood.  So  they  were  routed  before  him,  and  ceased  not  to  flee, 
while  he  still  beat  them  until  they  were  far  from  the  door  of  the  palace,  when  he 
returned,  and  seated  himself  again  upon  his  chair,  not  caring  for  any  one.  But  as 
to  the  Emir  Osman  and  his  company,  they  returned  routed  and  beaten  until  they 
stood  before  the  King  Shemseldowla,  and  they  acquainted  him  with  that  which  had 
happened  unto  them,  the  Emir  Osman  saying  to  the  King,  0  King  of  the  age,  when 
I  arrived  at  the  door  of  the  palace,  I  saw  a  eunuch  sitting  at  the  door,  upon  a  chair 
of  gold,  and  he  was  haughty:  when  he  beheld  me  approaching  him,  he  laid  himself 
down,  after  he  had  been  sitting,  and  despised  me,  not  rising  to  me  ;  and  I  began  to 
speak  to  him  ;  but  he  replied  to  me  still  lying  down.  So  passion  seized  me,  and  I 
drew  forth  the  mace  upon  him,  and  was  about  to  beat  him  ;  but  he  took  the  mace 
from  me,  and  beat  me  with  it.  He  beat  also  my  party,  breaking  their  heads,  and  we 
fled  from  before  him,  and  could  not  prevail  against  him.  —  Upon  this,  the  King  was 
enraged,  and  he  said.  Let  a  hundred  men  go  down  to  him.     They  therefore  went 


560  THE    STORY   OF   JOUDAR. 

down  to  him,  and  approached  him  ;  but  he  rose  against  them  with  the  mace,  and 
ceased  not  to  deal  his  blows  among  them  until  they  fled  from  before  him  ;  whereupon 
he  returned,  and  seated  himself  again  upon  the  chair.  So  the  hundred  men  went 
back  ;  and  when  they  came  to  the  King,  they  informed  him,  saying  to  him,  0  King 
of  the  age,  we  have  fled  from  before  him  in  our  fear  of  him.  Then  the  King  said, 
Let  two  hundred  go  down.  And  they  went  down :  but  he  routed  them,  and  they 
returned.  Therefore  the  King  said  to  the  Vizier,  I  require  thee,  0  Vizier,  to  go 
down  with  five  hundred  men,  and  to  bring  me  this  eunuch  quickly,  together  with 
his  master  Joudar  and  his  two  brothers.  He  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  need  not 
soldiers  ;  but  I  will  go  alone  to  him,  without  weapon.  And  the  King  said.  Go,  and 
do  what  thou  shalt  see  fit. 

So  the  Vizier  threw  down  the  weapon,  clad  himself  in  a  white  vesture,  and,  taking 
in  his  hand  a  string  of  beads,  walked  alone,  M-ithout  a  second  person,  until  he  arrived 
at  the  palace  of  Joudar,  and  saw  the  slave  sitting.  And  when  he  saw  him,  he 
approached  him  without  weapon,  and  seated  himself  by  his  side  in  a  polite  manner. 
Then  he  said.  Peace  be  on  you!  And  the  slave  replied.  And  on  you  be  peace,  0 
human  being!  What  dost  thou  desire  ? — When  the  Vizier  therefore  heard  him  say, 
0  human  being — he  knew  that  he  was  of  the  Genii,  and  he  trembled  by  reason  of 
his  fear,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  is  thy  master  Joudar  here  ?  The  slave 
answered.  Yes,  in  the  palace.  And  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  go  to  him 
and  say  to  him,  The  King  Shemseldowla  inviteth  thee,  and  maketh  for  thee  a  banquet, 
and  greeteth  thee  with  peace,  saying  to  thee.  Honour  my  abode,  and  eat  of  my 
banquet.  So  the  slave  replied,  Stay  thou  here  until  I  consult  him.  Accordingly  the 
Vizier  stayed,  in  a  respectful  posture,  and  the  Marid  went  up  into  the  palace,  and 
said  to  Joudar,  Know,  0  my  master,  that  the  King  sent  unto  thee  an  Emir,  and  I 
beat  him ;  and  there  were  with  him  fifty  men,  and  I  routed  them.  Then  he  sent  a 
hundred  men,  and  I  beat  them.  Then  he  sent  two  hundred  men,  and  I  routed  them. 
Then  he  sent  unto  thee  the  Vizier,  without  weapon,  inviting  thee  to  visit  him  and 
to  eat  of  his  banquet.  What  then  sayest  thou  ? —^Joudar  replied.  Go,  l)ring  the 
Vizier  hither.  So  he  descended  from  the  palace,  and  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  answer 
the  summons  of  my  master.  And  he  replied.  On  the  head  !  He  ascended,  and  went 
in  to  Joudar,  and  he  saw  him  to  be  greater  than  the  King,  sitting  upon  furniture 
the  like  of  which  the  King  could  not  spread.  His  mind  was  confounded  by  the 
beauty  of  the  palace,  and  by  its  painting  and  its  furniture,  which  made  the  Vizier 
8eem  in  comparison  with  him  to  be  a  pauper.  And  he  kissed  the  ground,  and  prayed 
for  him:  and  Joudar  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  business,  0  Vizier? — 0  my  master, 
he  answered,  the  King  Shemseldowla,  thy  friend,  greeteth  thee  with  peace,  and  is 
desirous  of  beholding  thy  face,  and  he  hath  made  for  thee  a  banquet.  Wilt  thou 
then  comfort  his  heart  ?  Joudar  replied,  Since  he  is  my  friend,  salute  him,  and  tell 
him  to  come  unto  me.  So  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  On  the  head.  Then  Joudar  took 
forth  the  seal-ring,  and  rubbed  it,  and  the  servant  presented  himself;  and  Joudar 
said  to  him,  Bring  me  a  dress  of  the  best  of  apparel.  He  therefore  brought  him  a 
dress  ;  and  Joudar  said,  Put  on  this,  0  Vizier.  And  he  put  it  on.  Joudar  then 
said  to  him.  Go:  acquaint  the  King  with  that  which  I  have  said.  And  he  descended 
wearing  that  dress,  the  like  of  which  he  had  never  before  worn,  and,  going  in  to 
the  King,  informed  him  of  the  state  of  Joudar,  and  praised  the  palace  with  the 
things  that  it  contained  ;  and  he  said,  Joudar  hath  invited  thee. 

Upon  this,  the  King  said.  Arise,  0  soldiers !  So  all  of  them  rose  upon  their  feet. 
And  he  said,  Mount  your  horses,  and  bring  unto  me  my  courser,  that  we  may  go  to 
Joudar.  Then  the  King  mounted,  and  took  the  troops,  and  they  repaired  to  Joudar's 
palace. — Now  aa  to  Joudar,  he  said  to  the  Marid,  I  desire  that  thou  bring  us  some 
Afrites  of  thy  0ns,  in  the  form  of  human  beings,  to  be  as  soldiers,  and  to  stand  in 
the  court  of  the  palace,  that  the  King  may  see  them,  and  that  they  may  terrify  him 
and  inspire  him  with  dread,  so  that  his  heart  may  tremble,  and  he  may  know  that 
my  power  is  greater  than  his.     He  therefore  brought  two  hundred  in  the  garb  of 


THE   STORY   OF   JOUDAR.  561 

soldiers,  equipped  with  magnificent  arms;  and  they  were  strong  and  bulky. —  So 
when  the  King  arrived,  he  beheld  the  strong  and  bulky  troop,  and  his  heart  feared 
them.  Then  he  went  up  into  the  palace,  and  entered  into  the  presence  of  Joudar, 
whom  he  saw  sitting  in  a  state  in  which  no  King  nor  Sultan  had  sat;  and  he  saluted 
him,  and  raised  his  hands  to  his  head  before  him.  But  Joudar  rose  not  to  him,  nor 
paid  him  honour,  nor  did  he  say  to  him.  Sit :  —  he  left  him  standing  till  fear  seized 
him,  and  he  became  unable  either  to  sit  or  to  go  forth,  and  began  to  say  within  him- 
self, Were  he  in  fear  of  me,  he  had  not  le'ft  me  unheeded,  and  probably  he  will  do 
me  some  hurt,  on  account  of  that  which  I  did  with  his  brothers.  Then  Joudar  said, 
0  King  of  the  age,  it  is  not  the  proper  business  of  such  as  you  to  tyrannize  over 
men  and  to  take  their  goods.  So  he  replied,  0  my  master,  blame  me  not;  for  covet- 
ousness  constrained  me  to  do  so,  and  destiny  took  effect ;  and  were  it  not  for  offence, 
there  were  no  such  thing  as  forgiveness.  And  he  proceeded  to  excuse  himself  to 
him  for  his  former  conduct,  and  to  seek  of  him  pardon  and  lenity.  And  he  ceased 
not  to  humble  himself  before  him  until  he  said  to  him.  May  God  pardon  thee? — and 
ordered  him  to  sit.  So  he  sat ;  and  Joudar  invested  him  with  the  garments  of  mercy, 
and  ordered  his  two  brothers  to  spread  the  table.  Then,  when  they  had  eaten,  he 
clad  the  King's  company,  and  treated  them  with  honour ;  and  after  that,  he  ordered 
the  King  to  depart. 

lie  therefore  went  forth  from  the  abode  of  Joudar  ;  and  every  day  after,  he  used 
to  go  thither,  and  used  not  to  hold  his  court  save  in  Joudar's  abode.  Their  mental 
familiarity  and  friendship  increased,  and  they  continued  a  while  in  this  state.  But 
after  that  the  King  had  a  private  interview  with  his  Vizier,  and  said  to  him,  0 
Vizier,  I  fear  lest  Joudar  should  slay  me,  and  take  the  kingdom  from  me.  The 
Vizier  however  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  as  to  the  act  of  taking  the  kingdom,  fear 
it  not ;  for  the  state  which  Joudar  enjoyeth  is  more  exalted  than  the  state  of  the 
King,  and  the  taking  of  the  kingdom  would  be  a  lowering  of  his  dignity  ;  but  if 
thou  fearest  that  he  will  slay  thee,  thou  hast  a  daughter ;  so  marry  her  to  him,  and 
thou  and  he  will  be  of  one  condition.  And  he  replied,  0  Vizier,  thou  shalt  be  an 
intermediary  between  me  and  him.  The  Vizier  therefore  said  to  him.  Invite  him  to 
an  entertainment  in  thy  palace ;  then  we  will  sit  up  at  night  in  a  saloon,  and  com- 
mand thou  thy  daughter  to  deck  herself  in  the  most  magnificent  manner,  and  to  pass 
by  him  from  the  door  of  the  saloon :  for  as  soon  as  he  seeih  her,  he  will  be 
enamoured  of  her ;  and  when  we  perceive  in  him  that  result,  I  will  incline  towards 
him  and  inform  him  that  she  is  thy  daughter,  and  I  will  keep  up  a  conversation  with 
him  as  though  thou  hadst  no  knowledge  of  the  matter,  so  that  he  shall  demand  her 
of  thee  in  marriage.  When  thou  shalt  have  married  to  him  the  damsel,  thou  and 
he  will  be  one,  and  thou  wilt  be  secure  from  any  injury  on  his  part;  and  if  he  die, 
thou  wilt  inherit  largely  from  him. —  So  the  King  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth, 
0  my  Vizier.  And  he  prepared  the  entertainment,  and  invited  him.  Joudar  there- 
fore came  to  the  Sultan's  palace,  and  they  sat  in  the  saloon  in  exceeding  sociableness 
until  the  close  of  the  day.  The  King  had  sent  to  his  wife,  desiring  her  to  deck  the 
damsel  in  the  most  magnificent  manner,  and  to  pass  with  her  by  the  door  of  the 
saloon.  And  she  did  as  he  had  said.  She  passed  by  with  the  damsel,  and  Joudar 
saw  her  ;  and  she  was  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  having  no  equal.  So 
when  Joudar  took  an  accurate  view  of  her,  he  said.  Ah  !  —  and  his  limbs  became 
loosened,  passion  and  desire  became  violent  in  him,  ecstasy  and  distraction  seized 
him,  and  his  complexion  became  sallow.  The  Vizier  therefore  said  to  him.  May  no 
harm  befall  thee,  0  my  master!  Wherefore  do  I  see  thee  changed  and  in  pain?  — 
And  he  said,  0  Vizier,  whose  daughter  is  this  damsel?  for  she  hath  captivated  me, 
and  deprived  me  of  my  reason.  So  he  answered.  This  is  the  daughter  of  thy  friend 
the  King  ;  and  if  she  please  thee,  I  will  speak  with  the  King,  that  he  may  marry 
her  to  thee.  And  Joudar  said,  0  Vizier,  speak  to  him,  and  I,  by  my  life,  will  give 
thee  what  thou  shalt  desire,  and  will  give  to  the  King  what  he  shall  desire  as  her 
dowry,  and  we  will  become  friends  and  connexions.     The  Vizier  replied,  Thy  desire 


562 


THE   STORY   OF   JOUDAR. 


The  King's  Daughter. 

must  be  accomplished.  Then  the  Vizier  spoke  to  the  King  privately,  saying  to  him, 
0  King  of  the  age,  Joudar  is  thy  friend,  and  desireth  affinity  to  thee,  and  he  hath 
requested  thee,  by  me,  to  marry  to  him  thy  daughter,  the  lady  Asiya:  therefore  dis- 
appoint me  not,  but  accept  my  intercession  ;  and  whatever  thou  shalt  demand  as  her 
dowry,  he  will  give  thee.  And  the  King  replied.  The  dowry  hath  been  paid  me,  and 
the  damsel  is  a  slave  girl  in  his  service:  I  will  marry  her  to  him,  and  he  will  do  a 
favour  by  accepting  her. 

They  passed  that  night,  and  the  King  -arose  in  the  morning  and  held  a  court,  at 
which  he  caused  the  nobles  and  the  plebeians  to  be  present,  and  the  Sheikh  el-Islam* 
was  there  also.  Then  Joudar  demanded  the  damsel  in  marriage,  and  the  King  said, 
The  dowry  hath  been  paid.  So  they  performed  the  ceremony  of  the  marriage-con- 
tract, and  Joudar  sent  desiring  that  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  containing  the  jewels 
[and  gold]  should  be  brought,  and  gave  it  to  the  King  as  the  dowry  of  the  damsel. 
The  drums  were  beaten  and  the  pipes  were  sounded,  the  festal  necklaces  were  strung, 
and  Joudar  took  the  damsel  as  his  wife.  Thus  he  and  the  King  became  as  one,  and 
they  remained  together  for  a  period  of  days.  Then  the  King  died,  and  the  troops 
desired  Joudar  as  Sultan,  and  they  ceased  not  to  urge  him,  while  he  refused  to  com- 
ply with  their  request,  until  at  last  he  consented.  So  they  made  him  Sultan  :  and 
he  gave  orders  to  build  a  congregational  mosque  over  the  sepulchre  of  the  King 
Shemseldowla,  and  endowed  it ;  and  it  is  in  the  district  of  Bundukanin.  The  house 
of  Joudar  was  in  the  quarter  of  Yemania  ;  and  when  he  became  Sultan,  he  con- 
structed buildings  and  a  congregational  mosque,  and  the  quarter  hath  been  named 
after  him,  its  name  having  become — the  quarter  of  Joudaria.  He  continued  as  King 
some  time,  and  made  his  two  brothers  Viziers  ;  Salim  the  Vizier  of  his  right  hand, 
and  Selim  the  Vizier  of  his  left:  and  they  remained  thus  one  year,  and  no  more. 

After  this,  Salim  said  to  Selim,  0  my  brother,  how  long  shall  this  state  last? 
Shall  we  pass  our  lives  entirely  as  servants  of  Joudar,  and  shall  we  not  enjoy  domin- 
ion nor  prosperity  as  long  as  Joudar  is  living? — And  how  shall  we  manage  to  kill 


The  chief  doctor  of  the  Mahometan  faith. 


THE   STORY   OF   JOUDAR.  563 

him,  said  Selim,  and  to  take  from  him  the  seal-ring  and  the  pair  of  saddle-bagb? 
Thou  art  more  knowing  than  I :  therefore  contrive  for  us  a  stratagem  in  order  that 
we  may  kill  him  thereby. —  If  I  contrive  for  thee  a  stratagem  by  which  to  kill  him, 
wilt  thou  consent  that  I  shall  be  Sultan,  and  that  thou  shalt  be  Vizier  of  the  right 
hand,  and  that  the  seal-ring  shall  be  mine,  and  the  pair  of  saddle-bags  thine?  Selim 
ans  vered,  I  consent.  So  they  agreed  to  kill  Joudar,  on  account  of  the  love  of  the 
world  and  of  dominion.  Then  Selim  and  Salim  contrived  a  stratagem  against 
Joudar,  and  said  to  him,  0  our  brother,  we  desire  that  we  may  glory  in  thee,  and 
that  thou  wouldst  enter  our  houses,  and  eat  of  our  banquet,  and  comfort  our  heart. 
And  they  proceeded  to  beguile  him,  saying  to  him.  Comfort  our  heart,  and  eat  of 
our  banquet.  So  he  replied,  No  harm.  In  the  house  of  which  of  you  will  be  the 
banquet? — Salim  answered.  In  my  house;  and  after  thou  shalt  have  eaten  of  my 
banquet,  thou  shalt  eat  of  the  banquet  of  my  brother.  And  he  said,  No  harm  :  — 
and  went  with  him  to  his  house.  Then  his  brother  placed  the  food  for  him,  and  put 
into  it  poison  ;  and  when  he  had  eaten,  his  flesh  fell  to  pieces  with  his  bones.  So 
upon  this,  Salim  arose  to  take  the  seal-ring  from  his  finger;  but  it  resisted  hie 
attempt ;  therefore  he  cut  off  his  finger  with  a  knife.  He  then  rubbed  the  ring,  and 
the  Marid  presented  himself  to  him,  saying.  At  thy  service  !  Demand  then  what  thou 
wilt. — And  he  said  to  him.  Seize  my  brother,  and  slay  him,  and  take  up  the  two,  the 
poisoned  and  the  slain,  and  throw  them  before  the  troops.  Accordingly  he  took 
Selim  and  slew  him,  and  took  up  the  two,  and,  going  forth  with  them,  cast  them 
before  the  great  officers  of  the  army.  They  were  sitting  at  the  table  in  the  large 
room  of  the  house,  eating  ;  and  when  they  beheld  Joudar  and  Selim  killed,  they 
raised  their  hands  from  the  food,  and  fear  disturbed  them,  and  they  said  to  the  Marid, 
Who  hath  done  these  deeds  with  the  King  and  the  Vizier?  So  he  answered  them, 
Their  brother  Salim. 

And  lo,  Salim  approached  them,  and  said,  0  soldiers,  eat,  and  enjoy  yourselves; 
for  I  have  obtained  possession  of  the  seal-ring  from  my  brother  Joudar,  and  this 
Marid  is  the  servant  of  the  ring;  he  who  is  before  you.  I  ordered  him  to  slay  my 
brother  Selim,  that  he  might  not  contend  with  me  for  the  kingdom,  because  he  was 
treacherous,  and  I  feared  that  he  would  act  treacherously  towards  me.  Now  this 
Joudar  hath  been  put  to  death,  and  I  have  become  Sultan  over  you.  Do  ye  accept 
me,  or  shall  I  rub  the  ring,  and  shall  its  servants  slay  you,  great  and  small? — They 
answered  him,  We  accept  thee  as  King  and  Sultan.  Then  he  gave  orders  to  bury 
his  two  brothers,  and  held  a  court ;  and  some  of  the  people  attended  the  funeral, 
while  others  walked  before  him  in  the  state-procession.  And  when  they  came  to  the 
court,  he  seated  himself  upon  the  throne,  and  they  swore  allegiance  to  him  as  King ; 
after  which  he  said,  I  desire  to  perform  the  contract  of  my  marriage  to  the  wife  of 
my  brother.  They  replied.  When  the  period  of  widowhood  shall  have  expired.  But 
he  said  to  them,  I  know  not  a  period  of  widowhood,  nor  anything  else.  By  my  head, 
I  must  take  her  as  my  wife  this  night.  —  So  they  performed  the  ceremony  of  the 
contract  for  him,  and  sent  and  acquainted  the  wife  of  Joudar,  the  daughter  of  Shem- 
eeldowla;  and  she  replied.  Invite  him  to  come  in.  And  when  he  came  in  to  her, 
she  made  a  show  of  joy  to  him,  receiving  him  with  expressions  of  welcome.  But 
fihe  put  poison  for  him  in  the  water,  and  destroyed  him.  Then  she  took  the  seal- 
ring  and  broke  it,  that  no  one  might  thereafter  possess  it;  and  she  rent  the  pair  of 
eaddle-bags;  after  which  she  sent  and  informed  the  Sheikh  el-Islam,  and  sent  a 
message  to  him  and  the  people,  saying  to  them,  Choose  for  yourselves  a  King  to  be 
Sultan  over  you. 

This  is  what  hath  come  down  to  us  of  the  Story  of  Joudar,  entire  and  complete. 


564  GULNARE   or  THE   SEA. 


CHAPTER   XXIII. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Seven  Hundred  and  Thirty-eighth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of 
the  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth. 


THE  STORY  OF  GULNARE  OF  THE  SEA. 

There  was,  in  olden  time,  and  in  an  ancient  age  and  period,  in  the  land  of  the 
Persians,  a  King  named  Shahzeman,  and  the  place  of  his  residence  was  Khorasan. 
He  had  a  hundred  concubines ;  but  he  had  not  been  blessed,  during  his  whole  life,  with 
a  male  child  by  any  of  them,  nor  a  female;  and  he  reflected  on  this  one  day,  and  la- 
mented that  the  greater  portion  of  his  life  had  passed,  and  he  had  not  been  blessed 
with  a  male  child  to  inherit  the  kingdom  after  him,  as  he  had  inherited  it  from  his 
fathers  and  forefathers.  So  the  utmost  grief,  and  violent  vexation,  befell  him  on 
this  account. 

Now  while  he  was  sitting  one  day,  one  of  his  mamlouks  came  in  to  him,  and  said 
to  him,  0  my  lord,  at  the  door  is  a  slave-girl  with  a  merchant:  none  more  beautiful 
than  she  hath  been  seen.  And  he  replied.  Bring  to  me  the  merchant  and  the  slave- 
girl.  The  merchant  and  the  slave-girl  therefore  came  to  him;  and  when  he  saw  her, 
he  found  her  to  resemble  a  straight  lance.  She  was  wrapped  in  an  izar  of  silk  em- 
broidered with  gold,  and  the  merchant  uncovered  her  face,  whereupon  the  place  was 
illuminated  by  her  beauty,  and  there  hung  down  from  her  forehead  seven  locks  of 
hair  reaching  to  her  anklets,  like  the  tails  of  horses.  She  had  eyes  bordered  with 
kohl,  and  heavy  hips,  and  slender  waist:  she  was  such  as  would  cure  the  malady  of 
the  sick,  and  extinguish  the  fire  of  the  thirsty.  The  King,  therefore,  wondered  at 
the  sight  of  her,  and  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  her  stature  and  justness  of 
form  ;  and  he  said  to  the  merchant,  0  sheikh,  for  how  much  is  this  damsel  to  be 
sold?  The  merchant  answered,  0  my  lord,  I  purchased  her  for  two  thousand  pieces 
of  gold  of  the  merchant  who  owned  her  before  me,  and  I  have  been  for  three  years 
travelling  with  her,  and  she  hath  cost,  to  the  period  of  her  arrival  at  this  place, 
three  thousand  pieces  of  gold ;  and  she  is  a  present  from  me  unto  thee.  Upon  this, 
the  King  conferred  upon  him  a  magnificent  robe  of  honour,  and  gave  orders  to 
present  him  with  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  So  he  took  them,  and  kissed  the 
hands  of  the  King,  thanking  him  for  his  bounty  and  beneficence,  and  departed. 
Then  the  King  committed  the  damsel  to  the  tire-women,  saying  to  them,  Amend  the 
state  of  this  damsel,  and  deck  her,  and  furnish  for  her  a  private  chamber,  and  take 
her  into  it.  He  also  gave  orders  to  his  chamberlains  that  everything  which  she  re- 
quired should  be  conveyed  to  her.  The  seat  of  government  where  he  resided  was  on 
the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  his  city  was  called  the  White  City.  And  they  conducted 
the  damsel  into  a  private  chamber,  which  chamber  had  windows  overlooking  the 
sea;  and  the  King  commanded  his  chamberlains  to  close  all  the  doors  upon  her  after 
taking  to  her  all  that  she  required. 

The  King  then  went  in  to  visit  the  damsel ;  but  she  rose  not  to  him,  nor  took  any 
notice  of  him.  So  the  King  said.  It  seemeth  that  she  hath  been  with  people  who 
have  not  taught  her  manners.  And  looking  at  the  damsel,  he  saw  her  to  be  a  person 
surpassing  in  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  in  stature  and  justness  of  form;  her  faco 
was  like  the  disk  of  the  moon  at  the  full,  or  the  shining  sun  in  the  clear  sky  ;  and 


GULNARE   OF  THE   SEA.  565 

he  wondered  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  stature  and  justness  of  form,  extolling 
the  perfection  of  God,  the  Creator:  lauded  be  his  power!  Then  the  King  advanced 
to  the  damsel,  and  seated  himself  by  her  side,  pressed  her  to  his  bosom,  and  seated 
her  upon  his  thigh;  and  he  kissed  her  lips,  which  he  found  to  be  sweeter  than  honey. 
After  this,  he  gave  orders  to  bring  tables  of  the  richest  viands,  comprising  dishes  of 
every  kind  ;  and  the  King  ate,  and  put  morsels  into  her  mouth  until  she  was  satis- 
fied ;  but  she  spoke  not  a  single  word.  The  King  talked  to  her,  and  inquired  of  her 
her  name  ;  but  she  was  silent,  not  uttering  a  word,  nor  returning  him  an  answer, 
ceasing  not  to  hang  down  her  head  towards  the  ground  ;  and  what  protected  her 
from  the  anger  of  the  King  was  the  excess  of  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  her 
tenderness  of  manner.  So  the  King  said  within  himself,  Extolled  be  the  perfection 
of  God,  the  Creator  of  this  damsel !  How  elegant  is  she,  saving  that  she  doth  not 
speak!  But  perfection  belongeth  unto  God,  whose  name  be  exalted! — Then  the 
King  asked  the  female  slaves  whether  she  had  spoken ;  and  they  answered  him, 
From  the  time  of  her  arrival  to  the  present  moment  she  hath  not  spoken  one  word, 
and  we  have  not  heard  her  talk.  The  King  therefore  caused  some  of  the  female 
slaves  and  concubines  to  come,  and  ordered  them  to  sing  to  her,  and  to  make  merry 
with  her,  thinking  that  then  she  might  perhaps  speak.  Accordingly  the  female 
slaves  and  concubines  played  before  her  with  all  kinds  of  musical  instruments,  and 
sports  and  other  performances,  and  they  sang  so  that  every  one  who  was  present  was 
moved  with  delight,  except  the  damsel,  who  looked  at  them  and  was  silent,  neither 
laughing  nor  speaking.  So  the  heart  of  the  King  was  contracted.  He  however  in- 
clined to  her  entirely,  paying  no  regard  to  others,  but  relinquishing  all  the  rest  of 
his  concubines  and  favourites. 

He  remained  with  her  a  whole  year,  which  seemed  as  one  day,  and  still  she  spoke 
not;  and  he  said  to  her  one  day,  when  his  love  of  her,  and  his  passion,  were  ex- 
cessive, 0  desire  of  souls,  verily  the  love  that  I  have  for  thee  is  great,  and  I  have  re- 
linquished for  thy  sake  all  my  female  slaves,  and  the  concubines  and  the  women  and 
the  favourites,  and  made  thee  my  worldly  portion,  and  been  patient  with  thee  a 
whole  year.  I  beg  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  that  He  will,  in  his  grace,  soften 
thy  heart  towards  me,  and  that  thou  mayest  speak  to  me.  Or,  if  thou  be  dumb,  ac- 
quaint me  by  a  sign,  that  I  may  give  up  hope  of  thy  speaking.  I  also  beg  of  God 
(whose  perfection  be  extolled !)  that  He  will  bless  me  by  thee  with  a  male  child  that 
may  inherit  my  kingdom  after  me ;  for  I  am  single  and  solitary,  having  none  to  be 
my  heir,  and  my  age  hath  become  great.  I  conjure  thee  then  by  Allah,  if  thou  love 
me,  that  thou  return  me  a  reply. — And  upon  this,  the  damsel  hung  down  her  head 
towards  the  ground,  meditating.  Then  she  raised  her  head,  and  smiled  in  the  face 
of  the  King,  whereat  it  appeared  to  the  King  that  lightning  filled  the  private  cham- 
ber; and  she  said,  0  magnanimous  King,  and  bold  lion,  God  hath  answered  thy 
prayer;  for  I  am  about  to  bear  thee  issue,  and  the  time  is  [almost]  come.  But  I 
know  not  whether  the  child  is  male  or  female.  And  were  it  not  for  my  being  in  this 
state,  I  had  not  spoken  to  thee  one  word. — And  when  the  King  heard  what  she  said, 
his  face  brightened  up  with  joy  and  happiness,  and  he  kissed  her  head  and  her  hands 
by  reason  of  the  violence  of  his  joy,  and  said,  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  favoured 
me  with  things  that  I  desired;  the  first,  thy  speaking  :  and  the  second,  thy  informa- 
tion that  thou  art  about  to  bear  me  issue.  Then  the  King  arose  and  went  forth  from 
her,  and  seated  himself  upon  the  throne  of  his  kingdom  in  a  state  of  exceeding  hap- 
piness; and  he  ordered  the  Vizier  to  give  out  to  the  poor  and  the  needy  and  the 
widows  and  others  a  hundred  thousand  pieces  of  gold  as  a  thank-offering  to  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted  !)  and  an  alms  on  his  part.  So  the  Vizier  did  as  the  King 
had  commanded  him.  And  after  that,  the  King  went  in  to  the  damsel,  and  sat  with 
her,  and  embraced  her  and  pressed  her  to  his  bosom,  saying  to  her,  0  my  mistress, 
who  ownest  me  as  thy  slave,  wherefore  hath  been  this  silence,  seeing  that  thou  hast 
been  with  me  a  whole  year,  night  and  day,  awake  and  asleep,  yet  hast  not  spoken  to 


566  GTJLNARE   OF  THE   SEA. 

me  during  this  year  except  on  this  day  ?     What  then  hath  been  the  cause  of  tby 
silence  ? 

The  damsel  answered,  Hear,  O  King  of  the  age,  and  know  that  I  am  a  poor  person, 
a  stranger,  broken-hearted:  I  have  become  separated  from  my  mother  and  my  family 
and  my  brother.  And  when  the  King  heard  her  words,  he  knew  her  desire,  and  he 
replied.  As  to  thy  saying  that  thou  art  poor,  there  is  no  occasion  for  such  an  asser- 
tion ;  for  all  my  kingdom  and  my  goods  and  possessions  are  at  thy  service,  and  I 
also  have  become  thy  mamlouk:  and  as  to  thy  saying,  I  have  become  separated  from 
my  mother  and  my  family  and  my  brother  —  inform  me  in  what  place  they  are,  and 
I  will  send  to  them,  and  bring  them  to  thee.  So  she  said  to  him,  Know,  0  fortunate 
King,  that  my  name  is  Gulnare  of  the  Sea.  My  father  was  one  of  the  Kings  of  the 
Sea,  and  he  died,  and  left  to  us  the  kingdom  ;  but  while  we  were  enjoying  it,  one  of 
the  Kings  came  upon  us,  and  took  the  kingdom  from  our  hands.  I  have  also  a 
brother  named  Saleh,  and  my  mother  is  of  the  women  of  the  sea;  and  I  quarrelled 
with  my  brother,  and  swore  that  I  would  throw  myself  into  the  hands  of  a  man  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  land.  Accordingly  I  came  forth  from  the  sea,  and  sat 
upon  the  shore  of  an  island  in  the  moonlight,  and  there  passed  by  me  a  man  who 
took  me  and  conducted  me  to  his  abode,  and  desired  to  make  me  his  concubine;  but 
I  smote  him  upon  his  head,  and  he  almost  died  ;  wherefore  he  went  forth  and  sold 
me  to  this  man  from  whom  thou  tookest  me,  and  he  was  an  excellent,  virtuous  man, 
a  person  of  religion  and  fidelity  and  kindness.  But  had  not  thy  heart  loved  me,  and 
hadst  thou  not  preferred  me  above  all  thy  concubines,  I  had  not  remained  with  thee 
one  hour;  for  I  should  have  cast  myself  into  the  sea  from  this  window,  and  gone  to 
my  mother  and  my  people,  I  was  ashamed,  however,  to  go  to  them  in  the  state  in  which 
I  am  ;  for  they  would  imagine  evil  of  me,  and  would  not  believe  me,  even  though  I 
should  swear  to  them,  when  I  told  them  that  a  King  had  purchased  me  with  his 
money,  and  had  made  me  his  worldly  portion,  and  chosen  me  in  preference  to  his 
wives  and  all  that  his  right  hand  possessed.  This  is  my  story,  and  peace  be  on  thee! 
— And  when  he  heard  her  words,  he  thanked  her,  and  kissed  her  between  her  eyes, 
and  said  to  her.  By  Allah,  O  my  mistress,  and  light  of  my  eyes,  I  cannot  endure  thy 
separation  for  one  hour  ;  and  if  thou  quit  me,  I  shall  die  instantly.  How  then  shall 
the  affi^ir  be?  —  She  answered,  0  my  master,  the  time  of  the  birth  is  near,  and  my 
family  must  come. — And  how,  said  the  King,  do  they  walk  in  the  sea  without  being 
wetted?  She  answered.  We  walk  in  the  sea  as  ye  walk  upon  the  land,  through  the 
influence  of  the  names  engraved  upon  the  seal  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David,  upon 
both  of  whom  be  peace !  But,  0  King,  when  my  family  and  my  brethren  come,  I 
will  inform  them  that  thou  boughtest  me  with  thy  money,  and  hast  treated  me  with 
kindness  and  beneficence,  and  it  will  be  meet  that  thou  confirm  my  assertion  to  them. 
They  will  also  see  thy  state  with  their  eyes,  and  will  know  that  thou  art  a  King,  the 
son  of  a  King.  —  And  thereupon  the  King  said,  O  my  mistress,  do  what  seemeth  fit 
to  thee,  and  what  thou  wishest;  for  I  will  comply  with  thy  desire  in  all  that  thou 
wilt  do.  And  the  damsel  said.  Know,  0  King  of  the  age,  that  we  walk  in  the  sea 
with  our  eyes  open,  and  see  what  is  in  it,  and  we  see  the  sun  and  the  moon  and  the 
stars  and  the  sky  as  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  and  this  hurteth  us  not.  Know  also, 
that  in  the  sea  are  many  peoples  and  various  forms  of  all  the  kinds  that  are  on  the 
land  ;  and  know,  moreover,  that  all  that  is  on  the  land,  in  comparison  with  what 
is  in  the  sea,  is  a  very  small  matter. — And  the  King  wondered  at  her  words. 

Then  the  damsel  took  forth  from  her  shoulders  two  pieces  of  Kamari  aloes-wood, 
and  took  a  bit  of  them,  and,  having  lighted  a  fire  in  a  perfuming-vessel,  threw  into 
it  that  bit,  and  she  uttered  a  loud  whistle,  and  proceeded  to  speak  words  which  no 
one  understood  ;  whereupon  a  great  smoke  arose,  while  the  King  looked  on.  After 
this,  she  said  to  the  King,  O  my  lord,  arise  and  conceal  thyself  in  a  closet,  that  I 
may  show  thee  my  brother  and  my  mother  and  my  family  without  their  seeing  thee ; 
for  I  desire  to  bring  them,  and  thou  shalt  see  in  this  place,  at  this  time,  a  wonder, 
and  shalt  wonder  at  the  various  shapes  and  strange  forms  that  God  (whose  name  be 


GULNARE   OF   THE   SEA.  567 

exalted  !)  hath  created.  So  the  King  arose  immediately,  and  entered  a  closet,  and 
looked  to  see  what  she  would  do.  And  she  proceeded  to  burn  perfume  and  repeat 
spells  until  the  sea  foamed  and  was  agitated,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  a  young 
man  of  comely  form,  of  beautiful  countenance,  like  the  moon  at  the  full,  with  shining 
forehead,  and  red  cheek,  and  hair  resembling  pearls  and  jewels ;  he  was,  of  all  the 
the  creation,  the  most  like  to  his  sister. 

Afterwards,  there  came  forth  from  the  sea  a  grizzly-haired  old  woman,  and  with 
her  five  damsels,  resembling  moons,  and  bearing  a  likeness  to  the  damsel  whose 
name  was  Gulnare.  Then  the  King  saw  the  young  man  and  the  old  woman  and 
the  damsels  walk  upon  the  surface  of  the  water  until  they  came  to  the  damsel 
Gulnare;  and  when  they  drew  near  to  the  window,  and  Gulnare  beheld  them,  she 
rose  to  them  and  met  them  with  joy  and  happiness.  On  their  seeing  her,  they  knew 
her,  and  they  went  in  to  her,  and  embraced  her,  weeping  violently ;  and  thev  said  to 
her,  0  Gulnare,  how  is  it  that  thou  leavest  us  for  four  years,  and  we  know  not  the 
place  in  which  thou  art?  By  Allah,  the  world  was  contracted  unto  us,  by  reason  of 
the  distress  occasioned  by  thy  separation,  and  we  had  no  delight  in  food  nor  in  drink 
a  single  day,  weeping  night  and  day  on  account  of  the  excess  of  our  longing  to  see 
thee. — Then  the  damsel  began  to  kiss  the  hand  of  the  young  man  her  brother,  and 
the  hand  of  her  mother,  and  so  also  the  hands  of  the  daughters  of  her  uncle,  and 
they  sat  with  her  a  while,  asking  her  respecting  her  state,  and  the  things  that  had 
happened  to  her,  and  her  present  condition. 

So  she  said  to  them,  Know  ye,  that  when  I  quitted  you,  and  came  forth  from  the 
sea,  I  sat  upon  the  shore  of  an  island,  and  a  man  took  me,  and  sold  me  to  a  merchant, 
and  the  merchant  brought  me  to  this  city,  and  sold  me  to  its  King  for  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  gold.  Then  he  treated  me  with  attention,  and  forsook  all  his  concubines 
and  his  women  and  his  favourites  for  my  sake,  and  was  diverted  by  his  regard  for 
me  from  everything  that  he  possessed  and  what  was  in  his  city.  —  And  when  her 
brother  heard  her  words,  he  said.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  reunited  us  with  thee ! 
But  it  is  my  desire,  0  my  sister,  that  thou  wouldst  arise  and  go  with  us  to  our 
country  and  our  family.  —  So  when  the  King  heard  the  words  of  her  brother,  his 
reason  fled  in  consequence  of  his  fear  lest  the  damsel  should  accept  the  proposal  of 
her  brother,  and  he  could  not  prevent  her,  though  he  was  inflamed  with  love  of  her ; 
wherefore  he  became  perplexed,  in  violent  fear  of  her  separation.  But  as  to  the 
damsel  Gulnare,  on  hearing  the  words  of  her  brother,  she  said.  By  Allah,  0  my 
brother,  the  man  who  purchased  me  is  the  King  of  this  city,  and  he  is  a  great  King, 
and  a  man  of  wisdom,  generous,  of  the  utmost  liberality.  He  hath  treated  me  with 
honour,  and  he  is  a  person  of  kindness,  and  of  great  wealth,  but  hath  no  male  child 
nor  a  female.  He  hath  shown  favour  to  me,  and  acted  well  to  me  in  every  respect ; 
and  from  the  day  when  I  came  to  him  to  the  present  time  I  have  not  heard  from  him 
a  bad  word  to  grieve  my  heart;  but  he  hath  not  ceased  to  treat  me  with  courtesy, 
and  hath  done  nothing  without  consulting  me,  and  I  am  living  with  him  in  the  best 
of  states,  and  the  most  perfect  of  enjoyments.  Moreover,  if  I  quitted  him  he  would 
perish :  for  he  can  never  endure  my  separation  even  for  a  single  hour.  I  also,  if  I 
quitted  him,  should  die,  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  my  love  for  him  in  consequence 
of  the  excess  of  his  kindness  to  me  during  the  period  of  my  residence  with  him ;  for 
if  my  father  were  living,  my  condition  with  him  would  not  be  like  my  condition  with 
this  great,  glorious  King.  Ye  have  seen,  too,  that  I  am  about  to  bear  him  issue; 
and  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  made  me  to  be  a  daughter  of  the  King  of  the  Sea, 
and  my  husband  the  greatest  of  the  Kings  of  the  Land.  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted  !)  aSlicted  me  not,  but  compensated  me  well  ;  and  as  the  King  hath  not  a 
male  child  nor  a  female,  I  beg  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  to  bless  me  with  a 
male  child,  that  may  inherit  of  this  great  King  these  buildings  and  palaces  and 
possessions  of  which  God  hath  made  him  owner.  —  And  when  her  brother,  and  the 
daughters  of  her  uncle,  heard  her  words,  their  eyes  became  cheerful  thereat,  and 
they  said  to  her,  0  Gulnare,  thou  knowest  the  place  which  thou  hast  in  our  estima-- 


568  GULNARE   OF   THE   SEA. 

tion,  and  art  acquainted  with  our  aflFection  for  thee,  and  thou  art  assured  that  thou 
art  the  dearest  of  all  persons  to  us,  and  art  certain  that  we  desire  for  thee  comfort, 
without  trouble  or  toil.  Therefore  if  thou  be  not  in  a  state  of  comfort,  arise  and 
accompany  us  to  our  country  and  our  family ;  but  if  thou  be  comfortable  here,  in 
honour  and  happiness,  this  is  our  desire  and  wish :  for  we  desire  not  aught  save  thy 
comfort  in  every  respect.  —  And  Gulnare  replied,  By  Allah,  I  am  in  a  state  of  the 
utmost  comfort  and  enjoyment,  in  honour  and  desirable  happiness.  So  when  the 
King  heard  these  words  from  her,  he  rejoiced,  and  his  heart  became  tranquillized, 
and  he  thanked  her  for  them  ;  his  love  for  her  increased,  and  penetrated  to  his  heart's 
core,  and  he  knew  that  she  loved  him  as  he  loved  her,  and  that  she  desired  to  remain 
with  him  to  see  his  child  which  she  was  to  bear  him. 

Then  the  damsel  Gulnare  of  the  Sea  gave  orders  to  the  female  slaves  to  bring 
forward  the  tables  and  the  viands  of  all  kinds  ;  and  Gulnare  herself  was  the  person 
who  superintended  the  preparation  of  the  viands  in  the  kitchen.  So  the  female 
slaves  brought  to  them  the  viands  and  the  sweetmeats  and  the  fruits ;  and  she  ate 
with  her  family.  But  afterwards  they  said  to  her,  0  Gulnare,  thy  master  is  a  man 
who  is  a  stranger  to  us,  and  we  have  entered  his  abode  without  his  permission  and 
without  his  knowledge  of  us,  and  thou  praisest  to  us  his  excellence,  and  hast  also 
brought  to  us  his  food,  and  we  have  eaten,  but  have  not  had  an  interview  with  him, 
nor  seen  him,  nor  hath  he  seen  us,  nor  come  into  our  presence,  nor  eaten  with  us, 
that  the  bond  of  bread  and  salt  might  be  established  between  us.  And  they  all 
desisted  from  eating,  and  were  enraged  at  her,  and  fire  began  to  issue  from  their 
mouths  as  from  cressets.  So  when  the  King  beheld  this,  his  reason  fled,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  violence  of  his  fear  of  them.  Then  Gulnare  rose  to  them,  and  soothed 
their  hearts ;  after  which  she  walked  along  until  she  entered  the  closet  in  which  was 
the  King  her  master;  and  she  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  didst  thou  see  and  didst 
thou  hear  my  thanks  to  thee,  and  my  praise  of  thee  in  the  presence  of  my  family  : 
and  didst  thou  hear  what  they  said  to  me,  that  they  desired  to  take  me  with  them  to 
our  family  and  our  country?  The  King  answered  her,  I  heard  and  saw.  May  God 
recompense  thee  for  us  well !  By  Allah,  I  knew  not  the  extent  of  the  love  that  thou 
feelest  for  me  until  this  blessed  hour,  and  I  doubt  not  of  thy  love  for  me.  —  She 
replied,  0  my  master,  is  the  recompense  of  beneficence  aught  but  beneficence  ?  Thou 
hast  treated  me  with  beneficence,  and  bestowed  upon  me  great  favours,  and  I  see 
that  thou  lovest  me  with  the  utmost  love,  and  thou  hast  shown  me  every  kindness, 
and  preferred  me  above  all  whom  thou  lovest  and  desirest.  How  then  could  my 
heart  be  happy  to  quit  thee,  and  to  depart  from  thee ;  and  how  could  that  be  when 
thou  bestowedst  benefits  and  favours  upon  me?  Now  I  desire  of  thy  goodness  that 
thou  come  and  salute  my  family,  and  see  them,  and  that  they  may  see  thee,  and  that 
pleasure  and  mutual  friendship  may  ensue.  But  know,  0  King  of  the  age,  that  my 
brother  and  my  mother  and  the  daughters  of  my  uncle  have  conceived  a  great  love 
for  thee  in  consequence  of  my  praising  thee  to  them,  and  they  have  said,  We  will  not 
depart  from  thee  to  our  country  until  we  have  an  interview  with  the  King,  and 
salute  him.  So  they  desire  to  behold  thee,  and  to  become  familiar  with  thee. — And 
the  King  said  to  her,  I  hear  and  obey ;  for  this  is  what  I  desire.  He  then  rose  from 
his  place,  and  went  to  them,  and  saluted  them  with  the  best  salutation  ;  and  they 
hastened  to  rise  to  hitfi:  they  met  him  in  the  most  polite  manner,  and  he  sat  with 
them  in  the  pavilion,  ate  with  them  at  the  table,  and  remained  with  them  for  a 
period  of  thirty  days.  Then  they  desired  to  return  to  their  country  and  abode.  So 
they  todk  leave  of  the  King,  and  the  Queen  Gulnare  of  the  Sea,  and  departed  from 
them,  after  the  King  had  treated  them  with  the  utmost  honour. 

After  this,  Gulnare  fulfilled  her  period,  and  she  gave  birth  to  a  boy,  resembling 
the  moon  at  the  full,  whereat  the  King  experienced  the  utmost  happiness,  because 
he  had  not  before  been  blessed  with  a  son  or  a  daughter  during  his  life.  They  con- 
tinued the  rejoicings,  and  the  decoration  [of  the  city],  for  a  period  of  seven  days,  iu 
the  utmost  happiness  and  enjoyment ;  and  on  the  seventh  day,  the  mother  of  the 


GULNARE   OF   THE   SEA.  569 

Queen  Gulnare,  and  her  brother,  and  the  daughters  of  her  uncle,  all  came,  when 
they  knew  that  Gulnare  had  given  birth  to  her  child.  The  King  met  them,  rejoicing 
at  their  arrival,  and  said  to  them,  I  said  that  I  would  not  name  my  son  until  ye 
should  come,  and  that  ye  should  name  him  according  to  your  knowledge.  And  they 
named  him  Beder  Basim ;  all  of  them  agreeing  as  to  this  name.  They  then  pre- 
sented the  boy  to  his  maternal  uncle,  Saleh,  who  took  him  upon  his  hands,  and, 
rising  with  him  from  among  them,  walked  about  the  palace  to  the  right  and  left; 
after  which,  he  went  forth  with  him  from  the  palace,  descended  with  him  to  the  sea, 
and  walked  on  until  he  became  concealed  from  the  eye  of  the  King.  So  when  the 
King  saw  that  he  had  taken  his  son,  and  disappeared  from  him  at  the  bottom  of  the 
sea,  he  despaired  of  him,  and  began  to  weep  and  wail.  But  Gulnare,  seeing  him  in 
this  state,  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  fear  not,  nor  grieve  for  thy  son  ;  for  I  love 
my  child  more  than  thou,  and  my  child  is  with  my  brother;  therefore  care  not  for 
the  sea,  nor  fear  his  being  drowned.  If  my  brother  knew  that  any  injury  would 
betide  the  little  one,  he  had  not  done  what  he  hath  done  ;  and  presently  he  will  bring 
thee  thy  son  safe,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! — And  but  a  short 
time  had  elapsed  when  the  sea  was  agitated  and  disturbed,  and  the  uncle  of  the  little 
one  came  forth  from  it,  having  with  him  the  King's  son  safe,  and  he  flew  from  the 
sea  until  he  came  to  them,  with  the  little  one  in  his  arms,  silent,  and  his  face 
resembling  the  moon  in  the  night  of  its  fulness.  Then  the  uncle  of  the  little  one 
looked  towards  the  King,  and  said  to  him.  Perhaps  thou  fearedst  some  injury  to  thy 
son  when  I  descended  into  the  sea,  having  him  with  me.  So  he  replied.  Yes,  0  my 
master,  I  feared  for  him,  and  I  did  not  imagine  that  he  would  ever  come  forth  from 
it  safe.  And  Saleh  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  Land,  we  applied  to  his  eyes  a  colly- 
rium  that  we  know,  and  repeated  over  him  the  names  engraved  upon  the  seal  of 
Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!),  for  when  a  child  is  born 
among  us,  we  do  to  him  as  I  have  told  thee.  Fear  not,  therefore,  on  his  account, 
drowning,  nor  suffocation,  nor  all  the  seas  if  he  descend  into  them.  Like  as  ye  walk 
upon  the  land,  we  walk  in  the  sea. 

He  then  took  forth  from  his  pocket  a  case,  written  upon,  and  sealed  ;  and  he  broke 
its  seal,  and  scattered  its  contents,  whereupon  there  fell  from  it  strung  jewels,  con- 
sisting of  all  kinds  of  jacinths  and  other  gems,  together  with  three  hundred  oblong 
emeralds,  and  three  hundred  oblong  large  jewels,  of  the  size  of  the  eggs  of  the 
ostrich,  the  light  of  which  was  more  resplendent  than  the  light  of  the  sun  and  the 
moon.  And  he  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  these  jewels  and  jacinths  are  a  present  from 
me  unto  thee;  for  we  never  brought  thee  a  present,  because  we  knew  not  the  place 
of  Gulnare's  abode,  nor  were  acquainted  with  any  trace  or  tidings  of  her.  So  when 
we  saw  thee  to  have  become  united  to  her,  and  that  we  all  had  become  orye,  we 
brought  thee  this  present ;  and  after  every  period  of  a  few  days,  we  will  bring  thee 
the  like  of  it,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  For  these  jewels 
and  jacinths  with  us  are  more  plentiful  than  the  gravel  upon  the  land,  and  we  know 
the  excellent  among  them,  and -the  bad,  and  all  the  ways  to  them,  and  the  places 
where  they  are  found,  and  they  are  easy  of  access  to  us. — And  when  the  King  looked 
at  those  jewels  and  jacinths,  his  reason  was  confounded  and  his  mind  was  bewil- 
dered, and  he  said,  By  Allah,  one  of  these  jewels  is  worth  my  kingdom!  Then  the 
King  thanked  Saleh  of  the  Sea  for  his  generosity,  and,  looking  towards  the  Queen 
Gulnare,  he  said  to  her,  I  am  abashed  at  my  brother;  for  he  hath  shown  favour  to 
me  and  presented  me  with  this  magnificent  present,  which  the  people  of  the  earth 
would  fail  to  procure.  So  Gulnare  thanked  her  brother  for  that  which  he  had  done; 
but  her  brother  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  thou  hadst  a  prior  claim  upon  us,  and  to 
thank  thee  hath  been  incumbent  on  us;  for  thou  hast  treated  my  sister  with  benefi- 
cence, and  we  have  entered  thine  abode,  and  eaten  of  thy  provision.  Then  Saleh 
said.  If  we  stood  serving  thee,  O  King  of  the  age,  a  thousand  years,  regarding 
nothing  else,  we  could  not  requite  thee,  and  our  doing  so  would  be  but  a  small  thing 
in  comparison  with  thy  desert. — The  King  therefore  thanked  him  eloquently.     And 


570  QULNAKE   OF   THE   SEA. 

Saleh  remained  with  the  King,  he  and  his  mother  and  the  daughters  of  his  uncle, 
forty  days;  after  which  he  arose  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the  King,  the  husband 
of  his  sister.  So  the  King  said  to  him,  What  dost  thou  desire,  0  Saleh  ?  And  he 
answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  thou  hast  conferred  favours  upon  us,  and  we  desire  of 
thy  goodness  that  thou  wouldst  grant  us  a  boon,  and  give  us  permission  to  depart; 
for  we  have  become  desirous  of  seeing  again  our  family  and  our  country  and  our  re- 
lations and  our  homes.  We  will  not,  however,  relinquish  the  service  of  thee,  nor 
my  sister,  nor  the  son  of  my  sister ;  and  by  Allah,  0  King  of  the  age,  to  quit  you  is 
not  pleasant  to  my  heart;  but  how  can  we  act,  when  we  have  been  reared  in  the  sea, 
and  the  land  is  not  agreeable  to  us? — So  when  the  King  heard  his  words,  he  rose  upon 
his  feet,  and  bade  farewell  to  Saleh  of  the  Sea  and  his  mother  and  the  daughters  of  his 
uncle,  and  they  wept  together  on  account  of  the  separation.  Then  they  said  to  the 
King,  In  a  short  time  we  shall  be  with  you,  and  we  will  never  relinquish  you,  but 
after  every  period  of  a  few  days,  we  will  visit  you.  And  after  this,  they  flew  to- 
wards the  sea,  and  descended  into  it,  and  disappeared. 

The  King  treated  Gulnare  with  beneficence,  and  honoured  her  exceedingly,  and 
the  little  one  grew  up  well;  and  his  maternal  uncle,  with  his  grandmother  and  the 
daughters  of  his  uncle,  after  every  period  of  a  few  days  used  to  come  to  the  residence 
of  the  King,  and  to  remain  with  him  a  month,  and  two  months,  and  then  return  to 
their  places.  The  boy  ceased  not,  with  increase  of  age,  to  increase  in  beauty  and 
loveliness  until  his  age  became  fifteen  years:  and  he  was  incomparable  in  his  per- 
fect beauty,  and  his  stature  and  his  justness  of  form.  He  had  learned  writing  and 
reading,  and  history  and  grammar  and  philology,  and  archery;  and  he  had  learned 
to  play  with  the  spear;  and  he  also  learned  horsemanship,  and  all  that  the  sons  of 
the  Kings  required.  There  was  not  one  of  the  children  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  men  and  women,  that  talked  not  of  the  charms  of  that  young  man;  for  he  was 
of  surpassing  loveliness  and  perfection;  and  the  King  loved  him  greatly.  Then  the 
King  summoned  the  Viziers  and  the  Emirs,  and  the  lords  of  the  empire  and  the 
great  men  of  the  kingdom,  and  made  them  swear  by  binding  oaths  that  they  would 
make  Beder  Basim  King  over  them  after  his  father ;  so  they  swore  to  him  by  bind- 
ing oaths,  and  rejoiced  thereat :  and  the  King  himself  was  beneficent  to  the  people, 
courteous  in  speech,  of  auspicious  aspect,  saying  nothing  but  what  was  for  the  good 
of  the  people.  And  on  the  following  day,  the  King  mounted,  together  with  the  lords 
of  the  empire  and  all  the  Emirs,  and  all  the  soldiers  walked  with  him  through  the 
city  and  returned ;  and  when  they  drew  near  to  the  palace,  the  King  dismounted  to 
wait  upon  his  son,  and  he  and  all  the  Emirs  and  the  lords  of  the  empire  bore  the 
ghashiyeh'  before  him.  Each  one  of  the  Emirs  and  the  lords  of  the  empire  bore  the 
ghashiyeh  awhile;  and  they  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  they  arrived  at  the  vestibule 
of  the  palace;  the  King's  son  riding.  Thereupon  he  alighted,  and  his  father  em- 
braced him,  he  and  the  Emirs,  and  they  seated  him  upon  the  throne  of  the  kingdom, 
while  his  father  stood,  as  also  did  the  Emirs,  before  him.  Then  Beder  Basim  judged 
the  people,  displaced  the  tyrannical  and  invested  the  just,  and  continued  to  give 
judgment  until  near  midday,  when  he  rose  from  the  throne  of  the  kingdom,  and 
went  in  to  his  mother  Gulnare  of  the  Sea,  having  upon  his  head  the  crown,  and  re- 
sembling the  moon.  So  when  his  mother  saw  him,  and  the  King  before  him,  she 
rose  to  him  and  kissed  him,  and  congratulated  him  on  his  elevation  to  the  dignity 
of  Sultan  ;  and  she  offered  up  a  prayer  in  favour  of  him  and  his  father  for  length 
of  life,  and  victory  over  their  enemies.  He  then  sat  with  his  mother  and  rested ; 
and  when  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers  arrived,  he  rode  with  the  Emirs  before  him 
until  he  came  to  the  horse-course,  where  he  played  with  arms  till  the  time  of  night- 
fall, together  with  his  father  and  the  lords  of  his  empire;  after  which  he  returned  to 
the  palace,  with  all  the  people  before  him.  Every  day  he  used  to  ride  to  the  horse- 
course ;  and  when  he  returned,  he  sat  to  judge  the  people,  and  administered  justice 

'  An  embroidered  saddle-cover,  borne  before  a  king. 


BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA.  571 

between  the  Emir  and  the  poor  man.  He  ceased  not  to  do  thus  for  a  -whole  year; 
and  after  that,  he  used  to  ride  to  the  chase,  and  to  go  about  through  the  cities  and 
provinces  that  were  under  his  rule,  making  proclamation  of  safety  and  security,  and 
doing  as  do  the  Kings;  and  he  was  incomparable  among  the  people  of  his  age,  in 
glory  and  courage,  and  injustice  to  the  people. 

Now  it  came  to  pass  that  the  old  King,  the  father  of  Beder  Basim,  fell  sick  one 
day,  whereupon  his  heart  throbbed,  and  he  felt  that  he  was  about  to  be  removed  to 
the  mansion  of  eternity.  Then  his  malady  increased  so  that  he  was  at  the  point  of 
death.  He  therefore  summoned  his  son,  and  charged  him  to  take  care  of  his  sub- 
jects and  his  mother  and  all  the  lords  of  his  empire  and  all  the  dependants.  He 
also  made  them  swear,  and  convenanted  with  them,  that  they  would  obey  his  son,  a 
second  time  ;  and  he  confided  in  their  oaths.  And  after  this  he  remained  a  few 
days,  and  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  His  son 
Beder  Basim,  and  his  wife  Gulnare,  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  the  lords  of  the 
empire,  mourned  over  him  ;  and  they  made  for  him  a  tomb,  and  buried  him  in  it, 
and  continued  the  ceremonies  of  mourning  for  him  a  whole  month.  Saleh,  the 
brother  of  Gulnare,  and  her  mother,  and  the  daughters  of  her  uncle,  also  came,  and 
consoled  them  for  the  loss  of  the  King;  and  they  said,  0  Gulnare,  if  the  King  hath 
died,  he  hath  left  this  ingenious  youth,  and  he  who  hath  left  such  as  he  is  hath  not 
died.  This  is  he  who  hath  not  an  equal,  the  crushing  lion,  and  the  splendid  moon. 
— Then  the  lords  of  the  empire,  and  the  grandees,  went  in  to  the  King  Beder  Basim, 
and  said  to  him,  0  King,  there  is  no  harm  in  mourning  for  the  King;  but  mourning 
becometh  not  any  save  women;  therefore  trouble  not  thy  heart  and  ours  by  mourning 
for  thy  father ;  for  he  hath  died  and  left  thee,  and  he  who  hath  left  such  as  thou  art 
hath  not  died.  They  proceeded  to  address  him  with  soft  words,  and  to  console  him, 
and  after  that  they  conducted  him  into  the  bath  :  and  when  he  came  forth  from  the 
bath,  he  put  on  a  magnificent  suit  woven  of  gold,  adorned  with  jewels  and  jacinths, 
and  he  put  the  royal  crown  upon  his  head,  seated  himself  upon  the  throne  of  hia 
kingdom,  and  performed  the  afi'airs  of  the  people,  deciding  equitably  between  the 
strong  and  the  weak,  and  exacting  for  the  poor  man  his  due  from  the  emir;  where- 
fore the  people  loved  him  exceedingly.  Thus  he  continued  to  do  for  the  space  of  a 
whole  year ;  and  after  every  short  period,  his  family  of  the  sea  visited  him ;  so  his 
life  was  pleasant,  and  his  eye  was  cheerful ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  live  in  this  state 
for  a  length  of  time. 


THE  STORY  OF  BEDER  BASIM  AND  GIOHARA. 

After  this  it  happened  that  his  maternal  uncle  came  in  one  night  to  Gulnare,  and 
saluted  her ;  whereupon  she  rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  and  seated  him  by  her 
side,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  how  art  thou,  and  how  are  my  mother  and  the 
daughters  of  my  uncle  ?  He  answered  her,  0  my  sister,  they  are  well,  in  prosperity 
and  great  happiness,  and  nothing  is  wanting  to  them  but  the  sight  of  thy  face.  Then 
she  ofi"ered  him  some  food,  and  he  ate;  and,  conversation  ensuing  between  them, 
they  mentioned  the  King  Beder  Basim,  and  his  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  his  stature 
and  justness  of  form,  and  his  horsemanship  and  intelligence  and  polite  accomplish- 
ments. Now  the  King  Beder  Basim  was  reclining;  and  when  he  heard  his  mother 
and  his  uncle  mentioning  him  and  conversing  respecting  him,  he  pretended  that  he 
was  asleep,  and  listened  to  their  talk.  And  Saleh  said  to  his  sister  Gulnare,  The 
age  of  thy  son  is  seventeen  years,  and  he  hath  not  married,  and  we  fear  that  some- 
thing may  happen  to  him,  and  he  may  not  have  a  son.  I  therefore  desire  to  marry 
him  to  one  of  the  Queens  of  the  Sea,  that  shall  be  like  him  in  beauty  and  loveliness. 
— So  Gulnare  replied.  Mention  them  to  me  ;  for  I  know  them.  Accordingly  he  pro- 
ceeded to  enumerate  them  to  her,  one  after  another,  while  she  said,  I  approve  not  of 
this  for  my  son,  nor  will  I  marry  him  save  to  her  who  is  like  him  in  beauty  and 


572  BEDER   BASIM   AND   GIOHABA. 

loveliness,  and  intelligence  and  religion,  and  polite  accomplishments  and  kindnesd 
of  nature,  and  dominion  and  rank  and  descent.  And  he  said  to  her,  I  know  not  one 
more  of  the  daughters  of  the  kings  of  the  Sea,  and  I  have  enumerated  to  thee  more 
than  a  hundred  damsels,  yet  not  one  of  them  pleaseth  thee:  but  see,  0  my  sister, 
■whether  thy  son  be  asleep  or  not.  She  therefore  felt  him,  and  she  found  that  he 
bore  the  appearance  of  sleep  ;  so  she  said  to  him.  He  is  asleep:  what  then  hast  thou 
to  say,  and  what  is  thy  desire  with  regard  to  his  sleeping? 

He  answered  her,  0  my  sister,  know  that  I  have  remembered  a  damsel,  of  the 
damsels  of  the  Sea,  suitable  to  thy  son;  but  I  fear  to  mention  her,  lest  thy  son  should 
be  awake,  and  his  heart  should  be  entangled  by  love  of  her,  and  perhaps  we  may 
not  be  able  to  gain  access  to  her:  so  he  and  we  and  the  lords  of  his  empire  would  be 
wearied,  and  trouble  would  befall  us  in  consequence  thereof. — And  when  his  sister 
heard  his  words,  she  replied,  Tell  me  what  is  the  condition  of  this  damsel,  and  what 
is  her  name  ;  for  I  know  the  damsels  of  the  Sea,  the  daughters  of  Kings  and  of 
others ;  and  if  I  see  her  to  be  suitable  to  him,  I  will  demand  her  in  marriage  of  her 
father,  though  I  expend  upon  her  all  that  my  hand  possesseth.  Acquaint  me  there- 
fore with  her,  and  fear  not  aught;  for  my  son  is  asleep. — He  said,  I  fear  that  he  may 
be  awake.  But  Gulnare  replied.  Say,  and  be  brief,  and  fear  not,  0  my  brother. 
And  he  said.  By  Allah,  0  my  sister,  none  is  suitable  to  thy  son  excepting  the  Queen 
Giohara,  the  daughter  of  the  King  Samandal,  and  she  is  like  him  in  beauty  and 
loveliness  and  elegance  and  perfection,  and  there  existeth  not  in  the  sea  nor  on  the 
land  any  one  more  graceful  or  more  sweet  in  natural  endowments  than  she.  For 
she  hath  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  handsome  stature  and  just  form,  and  red  cheek 
and  bright  forehead,  and  hair  like  jewels,  and  large  black  eye,  and  heavy  hips  and 
a  slender  waist,  and  a  lovely  countenance.  When  she  looketh  aside,  she  putteth  to 
shame  the  wild  cows  and  the  gazelles;  and  when  she  walketh  with  a  vacillating  gait, 
the  willow-branch  is  envious ;  and  when  she  displayeth  her  countenance,  she  con- 
foundeth  the  sun  and  the  moon,  and  captivateth  every  beholder:  she  is  sweet-lipped, 
gentle  in  disposition. — And  when  she  heard  the  words  of  her  brother,  she  replied, 
Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  my  brother.  By  Allah,  I  have  seen  her  many  times,  and 
she  was  my  companion  when  we  were  little  children;  but  now  we  have  no  acquaint- 
ance with  each  other,  because  of  the  distance  between  us ;  and  for  eighteen  years  I 
have  not  seen  her.     By  Allah,  none  is  suitable  to  my  son  except  her. 

Now  when  Beder  Basim  heard  their  words,  and  understood  what  they  said  from 
first  to  last  in  description  of  the  damsel  that  Saleh  mentioned,  Giohara  the  daughter 
of  the  King  Samandal,  he  became  enamoured  of  her  by  the  ear  ;  but  he  pretended  to 
them  that  he  was  asleep.  A  flame  of  fire  was  kindled  in  his  heart  on  her  account, 
and  he  was  drowned  in  a  sea  of  which  neither  shore  nor  bottom  was  seen.  Then 
Saleh  looked  towards  his  sister  Gulnare,  and  said  to  her.  By  Allah,  0  my  sister,  there 
is  not  among  the  Kings  of  the  Sea  any  one  more  stupid  than  her  father,  nor  is  there 
any  of  greater  power  than  he.  Therefore  acquaint  not  thy  son  with  the  case  of  this 
damsel  until  we  demand  her  in  marriage  for  him  of  her  father  ;  and  if  he  favour  us 
by  assenting  to  our  proposal,  we  praise  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !) ;  and  if  he 
reject  us,  and  marry  her  not  to  thy  son,  we  will  remain  at  ease,  and  demand  in 
marriage  another.  —  And  when  Gulnare  heard  what  her  brother  Saleh  said,  she 
replied.  Excellent  is  the  opinion  that  thou  hast  formed.  Then  they  were  silent;  and 
they  passed  that  night.  In  the  heart  of  the  King  Beder  Basim  was  a  flame  of  fire, 
kindled  by  his  passion  for  the  Queen  Giohara  ;  but  he  concealed  his  case,  and  said 
not  to  his  mother  nor  to  his  uncle  aught  respecting  her,  though  he  was  tortured  by 
love  of  her  as  though  he  were  on  burning  coals.  And  when  they  arose  in  the  morn- 
ing, the  King  and  his  uncle  entered  the  bath,  and  washed  :  then  they  came  forth,  and 
drank  some  wine,  and  the  attendants  placed  before  them  the  food  :  so  the  King 
Beder  Basim  and  his  mother  and  his  uncle  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  and  washed 
their  hands.  And  after  that,  Saleh  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  said  to  the  King  Beder 
Basim   and   his  mother  Gulnare,  With  your  permission,  I  would  go  to  my  mother ; 


BEDER    BASIM   AND    GIOHARA.  573 

for  I  have  been  with  you  a  period  of  days,  and  the  hearts  of  my  family  are  troubled 
respecting  me,  and  they  are  expecting  me.  But  the  King  Beder  Basim  said  to  his 
uncle  Saleh,  Remain  with  us  this  day.     And  he  complied  with  his  request. 

Beder  Basim  then  said.  Arise  with  us,  0  my  uncle,  and  go  forth  with  us  to  the 
garden.  So  they  went  to  the  garden,  and  proceeded  to  divert  and  recreate  them- 
selves; and  the  King  Beder  Basim  seated  himself  beneath  a  shady  tree,  desiring  to 
rest  and  sleep;  but  he  remembered  what  his  uncle  Saleh  had  said,  describing  the 
damsel  and  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  he  shed  many  tears.  Then  he  lamented 
and  groaned  and  wept.  So  when  his  uncle  Saleh  heard  what  he  said,  he  struck  hand 
upon  hand,  and  said.  There  is  no  deity  but  God:  Mahomet  is  the  Apostle  of  God 
and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  Then  he  said 
to  him,  Didst  thou  hear,  0  my  son,  what  I  and  thy  mother  said  respecting  the  Queen 
Giohara,  and  her  mention  of  her  qualities  ?  Beder  Basim  answered.  Yes,  0  my  uncle, 
and  I  became  enamored  of  her  from  hearsay,  when  I  heard  what  ye  said.  My  heart 
is  devoted  to  her,  and  I  have  not  patience  to  remain  absent  from  her. — Saleh  there- 
fore said  to  him,  0  King,  let  us  return  to  thy  mother  and  acquaint  her  with  the  case, 
and  I  will  ask  her  to  permit  me  to  take  thee  with  me  and  to  demand  in  marriage  for 
thee  the  Queen  Giohara.  Then  we  will  bid  her  farewell,  and  I  will  return  with  thee; 
for  I  fear  that,  if  I  took  thee  and  went  without  her  permission,  she  would  be  incensed 
against  me ;  and  she  would  be  right,  as  I  should  be  the  cause  of  your  separation, 
like  as  I  was  the  cause  of  her  separation  from  us.  The  city,  too,  would  be  without 
a  King,  its  people  having  none  to  govern  them,  and  to  see  to  their  cases;  so  the  state 
of  the  empire  would  become  adverse  unto  thee,  and  the  kingdom  would  depart  from 
thy  hand. — But  when  Beder  Basim  heard  the  words  of  his  uncle  Saleh,  he  replied, 
Know,  0  my  uncle,  that  if  I  return  to  my  mother  and  consult  her  on  this  subject, 
she  will  not  allow  me  to  do  it;  therefore  I  will  not  return  to  her,  nor  consult  her 
ever.  And  he  wept  before  his  uncle,  and  said  to  him,  I  will  go  with  thee,  and  I 
will  not  inform  her,  and  then  I  will  return.  So  when  Saleh  heard  the  words  of  his 
sister's  son,  he  was  perplexed  at  his  case,  and  said,  I  beg  aid  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !)  in  every  circumstance. 

Then  Saleh,  seeing  his  sister's  son  in  this  state,  and  knowing  that  he  desired  not 
to  return  to  his  mother,  but  would  go  with  him,  took  from  his  finger  a  seal-ring  on 
which  were  engraved  some  of  the  names  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  and 
handed  it  to  the  King  Beder  Basim,  saying  to  him,  Put  this  upon  thy  finger,  and 
thou  wilt  be  secure  from  drowning  and  from  other  accidents,  and  from  the  noxious- 
ness of  the  beasts  of  the  sea  and  its  great  fishes.  So  the  King  Beder  Basim  took 
the  seal-ring  from  his  uncle  Saleh,  and  put  it  upon  his  finger;  after  which  they 
plunged  into  the  sea,  and  ceased  not  in  their  course  until  they  arrived  at  the  palace 
of  Saleh,  when  they  entered  it,  and  Beder  Basim's  grandmother,  the  mother  of  his 
mother,  saw  him,  as  she  sat,  attended  by  her  relations.  When  they  went  in  to  them, 
they  kissed  their  hands  ;  and  as  soon  as  Beder  Basim's  grandmother  saw  him,  she 
rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  kissed  him  between  the  eyes,  and  said  to  him.  Thine 
arrival  is  blessed,  0  my  son  1  How  didst  thou  leave  thy  mother  Gulnare? — He  an- 
swered her.  Well ;  in  prosperity  and  health;  and  she  saluteth  thee  and  the  daughters 
of  her  uncle.  Then  Saleh  acquainted  his  mother  with  that  which  had  occurred  be- 
tween him  and  his  sister  Gulnare,  and  that  the  King  Beder  Basim  had  become 
enamoured  of  the  Queen  Giohara,  the  daughter  of  the  King  Samandal,  from  hearsay. 
He  related  to  her  the  story  from  beginning  to  end,  and  said.  He  hath  not  come  but  for 
the  purpose  of  demanding  her  in  marriage  of  her  father,  and  marrying  her. 

But  when  the  grandmother  of  the  King  Beder  Basim  heard  the  words  of  Saleh, 
she  was  violently  incensed  against  him,  and  was  agitated  and  grieved,  and  she  said 
to  him,  0  my  son,  thou  hast  erred  in  mentioning  the  Queen  Giohara,  the  daughter 
of  the  King  Samandal,  before  the  son  of  thy  sister;  for  thou  knowest  that  the  King 
Samandal  is  stupid,  overbearing,  of  little  sense,  of  great  power,  piggardly  of  his 
daughter  Giohara  towards  those  who  demand  her  in  marriage;  for  all  the  Kings  of 


574  BEDER   BASIM   AND    GIOHARA. 

the  Sea  have  demanded  her  of  him,  and  he  refused,  and  approved  not  one  of  them, 
but  rejected  them  all,  and  said  to  them,  Ye  are  not  equal  to  her  in  beauty  nor  in 
loveliness,  nor  in  other  qualities  than  those.  And  we  fear  to  demand  her  in  marriage 
of  her  father;  for  he  would  reject  us  as  he  hath  rejected  others  ;  and  vre  are  people 
of  kindness  ;  so  we  should  return  broken-hearted. — And  when  Saleh  heard  what  his 
mother  said,  he  replied,  0  my  mother,  what  is  to  be  done?  For  the  King  Beder 
Basim  became  enamoured  of  this  damsel  when  I  mentioned  her  to  my  sister  Gul- 
nare,  and  he  said.  We  must  demand  her  in  marriage  of  her  father  though  I  should 
give  away  all  my  kingdom.  And  he  hath  asserted,  that  if  he  marry  her  not  he  will 
die  of  love  and  desire  for  her. — Then  Saleh  said  to  his  mother.  Know  that  the  son 
of  my  sister  is  more  beautiful  and  more  lovely  than  she,  and  that  his  father  was 
King  of  all  the  Persians,  and  he  is  now  their  King,  and  Giohara  is  not  suitable  to 
any  but  him.  I  have  resolved  that  I  will  take  jewels,  consisting  of  jacinths  and 
other  gems,  and  convey  a  present  befitting  him,  and  demand  her  of  him  in  marriage. 
If  he  allege  as  a  pretext  to  us  that  he  is  a  King,  so  also  is  he  a  King,  the  son  of  a 
King.  And  if  he  allege  as  a  pretext  to  us  her  loveliness,  he  is  more  lovely  than  she. 
Again,  if  he  allege  as  a  pretext  to  us  the  extent  of  dominions,  he  hath  more  exten- 
sive dominions  than  she  and  than  her  father,  and  hath  more  numerous  troops  and 
guards  ;  for  his  kingdom  is  greater  than  the  kingdom  of  her  father.  I  must  en- 
deavour to  accomplish  this  affair  of  the  son  of  my  sister,  though  my  life  be  lost 
thereby,  since  I  was  the  cause  of  this  event;  and  as  I  cast  him  into  the  seas  of  her 
love,  I  will  strive  to  effect  his  marriage  to  her;  and  may  God  (whose  name  be  exalt- 
ed!) aid  me  to  do  that!  So  his  mother  said  to  him,  Do  as  thou  wilt,  and  beware  of 
speaking  rudely  to  him  when  thou  addressest  him  ;  for  thou  knowest  his  stupidity 
and  his  power,  and  I  fear  lest  he  make  a  violent  attack  upon  thee,  since  he  knoweth 
not  the  dignity  of  any  one.     And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 

He  then  arose,  and  took  with  him  two  leathern  bags  full  of  jewels  and  jacinths, 
and  oblong  emeralds,  and  precious  minerals  of  all  kinds  of  stones,  and,  having  made 
his  young  men  carry  them,  he  proceeded  with  them,  he  and  the  son  of  his  sister,  to 
the  palace  of  the  King  Samandal.  He  asked  permission  to  go  in  to  him,  and  per- 
mission was  given  him ;  and  when  he  entered,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and 
saluted  with  the  best  salutation.  And  when  the  King  Samandal  saw  him,  he  rose 
to  him,  treated  him  with  the  utmost  honour,  and  ordered  him  to  sit.  So  he  sat;  and 
after  he  had  been  seated  awhile,  the  King  said  to  him.  Thine  arrival  is  blessed. 
Thou  hast  made  us  desolate  by  thine  absence,  0  Saleh.  What  is  thy  want,  that  thou 
hast  come  unto  us  ?  Acquaint  me  with  thy  want,  that  I  may  perform  it  for  thee. — 
And  upon  this  he  rose,  and  kissed  the  ground  a  second  time,  and  said,  0  King  of 
the  age,  my  want  respecteth  God  and  the  magnanimous  King,  and  the  bold  lion,  the 
report  of  whose  good  qualities  the  caravans  have  borne  abroad,  and  whose  fame  hath 
been  published  in  the  provinces  and  cities,  for  liberality  and  beneficence,  and  pardon 
and  clemency  and  obliging  conduct.  Then  he  opened  the  two  leathern  bags,  and 
took  forth  from  them  the  jewels  and  other  things,  and  scattered  them  before  the 
King  Samandal,  saying  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  perhaps  thou  wilt  accept  my 
present,  and  show  ftivour  to  me,  and  comfort  my  heart  by  accepting  it  from  me. 
Upon  this,  the  King  Samandal  said  to  him.  For  what  reason  hast  thou  presented  to 
me  this  present?  Tell  me  thine  affair,  and  acquaint  me  with  thy  want;  and  if  I  be 
able  to  perform  it,  I  will  perform  it  for  thee  this  instant,  and  not  oblige  thee  to  weary 
thyself;  but  if  I  be  unable  to  perform  it,  God  imposeth  not  upon  a  person  aught 
save  what  he  is  able  to  accomplish. — Then  Saleh  arose,  and  kissed  the  ground  three 
times,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  verily  the  thing  that  I  require  thou  art  able  to 
perform,  and  it  is  in  thy  power,  and  thou  art  master  of  it.  I  impose  not  upon  the 
King  a  difficulty,  nor  am  I  mad,  that  I  should  ask  of  the  King  a  thing  that  he  ia 
unable  to  do ;  for  one  of  the  sages  hath  said.  If  thou  desire  that  thy  request  should 
be  complied  with,  ask  that  which  is  possible.  Now  as  to  the  thing  that  I  have  come 
to  demand,  the  King  (may  God  preserve  him  !)  is  able  to  do  it. — So  the  King  said 


BEDER   BASIM   AND   GIOHARA.  575 

to  him,  Ask  the  thing  that  thou  requirest,  and  explain  thine  affair,  and  demand 
what  thou  desirest.  And  he  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  know  that  I  have  come 
to  thee  as  a  marriage-suitor,  desiring  the  unique  pearl,  and  the  hidden  jewel,  the 
Queen  Giohara,  the  daughter  of  our  lord ;  then  disappoint  not,  0  King,  him  who 
applieth  to  thee. 

But  when  the  King  heard  his  words,  he  laughed  so  that  he  fell  backwards  in  de- 
rision of  him,  and  replied,  0  Saleh,  I  used  to  think  thee  a  man  of  sense,  and  an  ex- 
cellent young  man,  who  attempted  not  aught  but  what  was  right,  and  uttered  not 
aught  but  what  was  just.  What  hath  happened  to  thy  reason,  and  urged  thee  to 
this  monstrous  thing,  and  great  peril  that  thou  demandest  in  marriage  the  daughters 
of  Kings,  the  lords  of  cities  and  provinces?  Art  thou  of  a  rank  to  attain  to  this 
high  eminence,  and  hath  thy  reason  decreased  to  this  extreme  degree  that  thou  con- 
frontest  me  with  these  words  ? — So  Saleh  said.  May  God  amend  the  state  of  the 
King!  I  demanded  her  not  in  marriage  for  myself;  yet  if  I  demanded  her  for  my- 
self I  am  her  equal ;  nay  more  ;  for  thou  knowest  that  my  father  was  one  of  the 
Kings  of  the  Sea,  if  thou  art  now  our  King.  But  I  demanded  her  not  in  marriage 
save  for  the  King  Beder  Basini,  lord  of  the  provinces  of  Persia,  whose  father  was 
the  king  Shahzeman,  and  thou  knowest  his  power.  If  thou  assert  that  thou  art  a 
great  King,  the  King  Beder  Basim  is  a  greater  King ;  and  if  thou  boastest  that  thy 
daughter  is  lovely,  the  King  Beder  Basim  is  more  lovely  than  she,  and  more  beauti- 
ful in  form,  and  more  excellent  in  rank  and  descent;  and  he  is  the  horseman  of  his 
age.  So  if  thou  assent  to  that  which  I  have  asked  of  thee,  thou  wilt,  0  King  of  the 
age,  have  put  the  thing  in  its  proper  place;  and  if  thou  behave  arrogantly  towards 
us,  thou  treatest  us  not  equitably,  nor  pursuest  with  us  the  right  way.  Thou  know- 
est, 0  King,  that  this  Queen  Giohara,  the  daughter  of  our  lord  the  King,  must  be 
married ;  for  the  sage  saith.  The  inevitable  lot  of  the  damsel  is  either  marriage  or 
the  grave ; — and  if  thou  design  to  marry  her,  the  son  of  my  sister  is  more  worthy 
of  her  than  all  the  rest  of  men. — But  when  the  King  Samandal  heard  the  words  of 
the  King  Saleh,  he  was  violently  enraged  ;  his  reason  almost  departed,  and  his  soul 
almost  quitted  his  body,  and* he  said  to  him,  0  dog  of  men,  doth  such  a  one  as  thy- 
self address  me  with  these  words,  and  dost  thou  mention  my  daughter  in  the  assem- 
blies, and  say  that  the  son  of  thy  sister  Gulnare  is  her  equal  ?  Who  then  art  thou, 
and  who  is  thy  sister,  and  who  is  her  son,  and  who  was  his  father,  that  thou  sayest 
to  me  these  words,  and  addressest  me  with  this  discourse?  Are  ye,  in  comparison 
with  her,  aught  but  dogs? — Then  he  called  out  to  his  young  men,  and  said,  0  young 
men,  take  the  head  of  this  young  wretch ! 

So  they  took  the  swords  and  drew  them,  and  sought  to  slay  him  ;  but  he  turned 
his  back  in  flight  seeking  the  gate  of  the  palace ;  and  when  he  arrived  at  the  gate 
of  the  palace,  he  saw  the  two  sons  of  his  uncle,  and  his  relations  and  tribe  and  young 
men,  who  were  more  than  a  thousand  horsemen,  buried  in  iron  and  in  coats  of  mail 
put  one  over  another,  and  having  in  their  hands  spears  and  bright  swords.  On  their 
seeing  Saleh  in  this  state,  they  said  to  him,  What  is  the  news?  He  therefore  told 
them  his  story.  And  his  mother  had  sent  them  to  his  assistance.  So  when  they 
heard  his  words,  they  knew  that  the  King  was  stupid  and  of  great  power,  and  they 
alighted  from  their  horses,  and  drew  their  swords  and  went  in  to  the  King  Samandal. 
They  saw  him  sitting  upon  the  throne  of  his  kingdom,  heedless  of  these  people,  and 
violently  enraged  against  Saleh  ;  and  they  saw  his  servants  and  his  young  men  and 
his  guards  unprepared  ;  and  when  he  beheld  them,  with  the  drawn  swords  in  their 
hands,  he  called  out  to  his  people,  saying,  Oh  !  wo  to  you  !  Take  ye  the  heads  of 
these  dogs ! — But  there  had  not  elapsed  more  than  a  little  while  before  the  party  of 
the  King  Samandal  were  routed,  and  betook  themselves  to  flight;  and  Saleh  and  hia 
relations  had  seized  the  King  Samandal,  and  bound  his  hands  behind  him. 

Now  Giohara,  awaking  from  sleep,  was  informed  that  her  father  was  taken  a  cap- 
tive, and  that  his  guards  had  been  slain.  So  she  went  forth  from  the  palace,  and 
fled  to  one  of  the  islands,  where  she  repaired  to  a  lofty  tree,  and  she  concealed  her. 


576  BEDER   BASIM   AND   GIOHARA. 

self  upon  it.  And  when  these  two  parties  contended  together,  some  of  the  young 
men  of  the  King  Samandal  fled,  and  Beder  Basim,  seeing  them,  asked  them  respect- 
ing their  case ;  whereupon  they  acquainted  him  with  that  which  had  happened. 
Therefore,  on  his  hearing  that  the  King  Samandal  had  been  seized,  he  turned  his 
back  in  flight,  fearing  for  himself,  and  said  in  his  heart.  Verily  this  disturbance 
originated  on  my  account,  and  none  is  the  object  of  search  but  myself.  He  turned 
back  in  flight,  seeking  safety,  and  knew  not  whither  to  go.  But  the  destinies  fixed 
from  all  eternity  drove  him  to  that  island  upon  which  was  Giohara,  the  daughter  of 
the  King  Samandal ;  and  he  came  to  the  tree,  and  threw  himself  down  like  one  slain, 
desiring  to  take  rest  by  his  prostrate  position,  and  not  knowing  that  every  one  who 
is  an  object  of  search  resteth  not,  and  none  knoweth  what  is  hidden  from  him  in  the 
secrets  of  destiny.  And  when  he  lay  down,  he  turned  up  his  eyes  towards  the  tree, 
and  his  eye  met  that  of  Giohara:  so  he  looked  at  her,  and  saw  her  to  be  like  the 
moon  when  it  shineth  ;  and  he  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Creator  of  this 
surprising  form  !  and  He  is  the  Creator  of  everything,  and  is  Almighty  !  Extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  God,  the  Great,  the  Creator,  the  Maker,  the  Former !  By  Allah, 
if  my  imagination  tell  me  truth,  this  must  be  Giohara  the  daughter  of  the  King 
Samandal.  I  suppose  that  when  she  heard  of  the  conflict  happening  between  the 
two  parties,  she  fled,  and  came  to  this  island,  and  hid  herself  upon  this  tree  ;  but  if 
this  be  not  the  Queen  Giohara,  this  is  more  beautiful  than  she. — Then  he  proceeded 
to  meditate  upon  her  case,  and  said  within  himself,  I  will  rise  and  lay  hold  upon  her, 
and  ask  her  respecting  her  state;  and  if  this  be  she,  I  will  demand  her  in  marriage 
of  herself,  and  this  is  the  thing  I  seek.  So  he  stood  erect  upon  his  feet,  and  said  to 
Giohara,  0  utmost  object  of  desire,  who  art  thou,  and  who  brought  thee  unto  this 
place?  And  Giohara,  looking  at  Beder  Basim,  saw  him  to  be  like  the  full  moon 
when  it  appeareth  from  behind  the  black  clouds,  of  elegant  stature,  comely  in  his 
smile.  She  therefore  said  to  him,  0  thou,  endowed  with  comely  qualities,  I  am  the 
Queen  Giohara,  the  daughter  of  the  King  Samandal,  and  I  have  fled  to  this  place 
because  Saleh  and  his  troops  have  fought  with  my  father  and  slain  his  troops,  and 
made  him  a  captive,  together  with  some  of  his  troops:  so  I  fled  in  fear  for  myself. 
Then  the  Queen  Giohara  said  to  the  King  Beder  Basim,  And  I  came  not  to  this  place 
save  in  fliglit,  fearing  slaughter;  and  I  know  not  what  fortune  hath  done  with  my 
father.  And  when  Beder  Basim  heard  her  words,  he  wondered  extremely  at  this 
strange  coincidence,  and  said.  No  doubt  I  have  attained  my  desire  by  the  capture  of 
her  father.  He  then  looked  at  her,  and  said  to  her.  Descend,  0  my  mistress,  for  I 
am  a  victim  of  thy  love,  and  thine  eyes  have  captivated  me.  On  account  of  me  and 
thee  were  this  disturbance  and  these  conflicts.  Know  that  I  am  the  King  Beder 
Basim,  the  King  of  Persia,  and  that  Saleh  is  my  maternal  uncle,  and  he  is  the  person 
who  came  to  thy  fother  and  demanded  thee  of  him  in  marriage.  I  have  left  my 
kingdom  on  thine  account,  and  our  meeting  now  is  a  wonderful  coincidence.  Arise 
then,  and  descend  to  me,  that  I  may  go  with  thee  to  the  palace  of  thy  father,  and 
ask  my  uncle  Saleh  to  release  him,  and  marry  thee  lawfully. 

But  when  Giohara  heard  the  words  of  Beder  Basim,  she  said  within  herself.  On 
account  of  this  base  young  wretch  hath  this  event  happened,  and  my  father  been 
made  a  captive,  and  his  chamberlains  and  his  attendants  have  been  slain,  and  I  have 
become  separated  from  my  palace,  and  come  forth  an  exile  from  my  country  to  this 
island.  If  now  I  employ  not  some  stratagem  with  him,  thereby  to  defend  myself 
from  him,  he  will  gain  possession  of  me,  and  attain  his  desire;  for  he  is  in  love; 
and  the  lover,  whatever  he  doth,  is  not  to  be  blamed  for  it. — Then  she  beguiled  him 
with  words,  and  with  soft  discourse,  and  he  knew  not  what  artifices  she  had  devised 
against  him  ;  and  she  said  to  him,  O  my  master  and  light  of  my  eye,  art  thou  the 
King  Beder  Basim,  the  son  of  the  Queen  Gulnare?  So  he  answered  her.  Yes,  0  my 
mistress.  And  she  said.  May  God  cut  off  my  father,  and  deprive  him  of  his  king- 
dom, and  not  comfort  his  heart,  nor  restore  him  from  estrangement,  if  he  desire  a 
person    more   comely   than   thou,  and   aught   more   comely   than   these   charming 


BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA.  577 

endowments!     By  Allah  he  is  of  little  sense  and  judgment! — She  then  said  to  him 

0  King  of  the  age,  blame  not  my  father  for  that  which  he  hath  done.  If  the  measure 
of  thy  love  for  me  be  a  span,  that  of  my  love  for  thee  is  a  cubit.  I  have  fallen  into 
the  snare  of  thy  love,  and  become  of  the  number  of  thy  victims.  The  love  that  thou 
hadst  is  transferred  to  me,  and  there  remaineth  not  of  it  with  thee  aught  save  as  much 
as  the  tenth  part  of  what  I  feel. — Then  she  descended  from  the  tree,  and  drew  near  to 
him,  and  came  to  him  and  embraced  him,  pi-essing  him  to  her  bosom,  and  began  to  kiss 
him.  So  when  the  King  Beder  Basim  saw  what  she  did  to  him,  his  love  for  her  in- 
creased, and  his  desire  for  her  became  violent.  He  imagined  that  she  was  enamoured 
of  him,  and  he  confided  in  her,  and  proceeded  to  embrace  her,  and  kiss  her.  And  he 
said  to  her,  0  Queen,  by  Allah,  my  uncle  Saleh  did  not  describe  to  me  th-e  quarter  of 
the  tenth  part  of  thy  loveliness,  nor  the  quarter  of  a  carat  of  four-and-twenty  carats. 
Then  Giohara  pressed  him  to  her  bosom,  and  uttered  some  words  not  to  be  under- 
stood ;  after  which  she  spat  in  his  face,  and  said  to  him,  Be  changed  from  this  human 
form  into  the  form  of  a  bird,  the  most  beautiful  of  birds,  with  white  feathers,  and 
red  bill  and  feet.  And  her  words  were  not  ended  before  the  King  Beder  Basim 
became  transformed  into  the  shape  of  a  bird,  the  most  beautiful  that  could  be  of 
birds  ;  and  he  shook,  and  stood  upon  his  feet,  looking  at  Giohara.  Now  she  had  with 
her  a  damsel,  one  of  her  female  slaves,  named  Marsini,  and  she  looked  at  her  and 
said.  By  Allah,  were  it  not  that  I  fear  on  account  of  my  father's  being  a  captive  with 
his  uncle,  I  had  slain  him,  and  may  God  not  recompense  him  well ;  for  how  un- 
fortunate was  his  coming  unto  us;  all  this  disturbance  having  been  efl'ected  by  his 
means  1  But,  0  slave-girl,  take  him,  and  convey  him  to  the  Thirsty  Island,  and  leave 
him  there  that  he  may  die  of  thirst.  —  So  the  slave-girl  took  him,  and  conveyed  him 
to  the  island,  and  was  about  to  return  from  him  ;  but  she  said  within  herself.  By 
Allah,  the  person  endowed  with  this  beauty  and  loveliness  deserveth  not  to  die  of 
thirst.  Then  she  took  him  forth  from  the  Thirsty  Island,  and  brought  him  to  an 
island  abounding  with  trees  and  fruits  and  rivers,  and,  having  put  him  upon  it, 
returned  to  her  mistress,  and  said  to  her,  I  have  put  him  upon  the  Thirsty  Island. — 
Such  was  the  case  of  Beder  Basim. 

But  as  to  Saleh,  the  uncle  of  the  King  Beder  Basim,  when  he  had  got  possession 
of  the  King  Samandal,  and  slain  his  guards  and  servants,  and  the  King  had  become 
his  captive,  he  sought  Giohara,  the  King's  daughter,  but  found  her  not.  So  he  re- 
turned to  his  palace,  to  the  presence  of  his  mother,  and  said,  0  my  mother,  where 
is  the  son  of  my  sister,  the  King  Beder  Basim  ?     She  answered,  0  my  son,  by  Allah, 

1  have  no  knowledge  of  him,  nor  know  I  whither  he  hath  gone ;  for  when  he  waa 
told  that  thou  hadst  fought  with  the  King  Samandal,  and  that  conflicts  and  slaughter 
had  ensued  between  you,  he  was  terrified,  and  fled.  So  when  Saleh  heard  the  words 
of  his  mother,  he  grieved  for  the  son  of  his  sister,  and  said,  0  my  mother,  by  Allah, 
we  have  acted  negligently  with  respect  to  the  King  Beder  Basim,  and  I  fear  that  he 
will  perish,  or  that  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the  King  Samandal  may  fall  upon  him,  or 
that  the  King's  daughter  Giohara  may  fall  upon  him,  and  shame  will  betide  us  from 
his  mother,  and  good  will  not  betide  us  from  her  ;  for  I  took  him  without  her  per- 
mission. Then  he  sent  guards  and  spies  after  him,  through  the  sea  and  in  other 
directions,  but  they  met  with  no  tidings  of  him  ;  wherefore  they  returned,  and 
informed  the  King  Saleh  thereof;  and  his  anxiety  and  grief  increased,  and  his 
bosom  became  contracted  on  account  of  the  King  Beder  Basim.  —  Thus  was  it  with 
them. 

Next,  with  regard  to  Beder  Basim's  mother,  Gulnare  of  the  Sea,  when  her  son  had 
descended  into  the  sea  with  his  uncle  Saleh,  she  waited  expecting  him  ;  but  he 
returned  not  to  her,  and  tidings  of  him  were  long  kept  from  her.  So  she  remained 
many  days  expecting  him;  after  which  she  arose,  and  descended  into  the  sea,  and 
came  to  her  mother ;  and  when  her  mother  saw  her,  she  rose  to  her,  and  kissed  her 
and  embraced  her,  as  did  also  the  daughters  of  her  uncle.  She  then  asked  her 
tnother  respecting  the   King  Beder  Basim,   and  her  mother  answered  her,  0  my 


578  BEDER   BASIM   AND    GIOHARA. 

daughter,  he  came  with  his  uncle,  and  his  uncle  took  jacinths  and  jewels,  and  went 
with  them,  he  and  Beder  Basim,  to  the  King  Samandal,  and  demanded  in  marriage 
his  daughter:  but  the  King  assented  not  to  his  proposal,  and  he  was  violent  to  thy 
brother  in  his  words.  I  therefore  sent  to  thy  brother  about  a  thousand  horsemen, 
and  a  conflict  ensued  between  them  and  the  King  Samandal ;  but  God  aided  thy 
brother  against  them,  and  he  slew  his  guards  and  his  troops,  and  made  the  King 
Samandal  a  captive.  So  tidings  of  this  event  reached  thy  son,  and  apparently  he 
feared  for  himself;  wherefore  he  fled  from  us  without  our  will,  and  he  returned  not 
to  us  after  that,  nor  have  we  heard  any  tidings  of  him. — Then  Gulnare  inquired  of 
her  respecting  her  brother  Saleh,  and  she  informed  her,  saying,  He  is  sitting  upon 
the  throne  of  the  kingdom  in  the  place  of  the  King  Samandal,  and  he  hath  sent  in 
every  direction  to  search  for  thy  son  and  the  Queen  Giohara.  So  when  Gulnare 
heard  the  words  of  her  mother,  she  mourned  for  her  son  violently,  and  her  anger  was 
fierce  against  her  brother  Saleh,  because  he  had  taken  her  son  and  descended  with 
him  into  the  sea  without  her  permission.  She  then  said,  0  my  mother,  verily  I  fear 
for  our  kingdom ;  for  I  came  to  you  and  acquainted  not  any  one  of  the  people  of  the 
empire,  and  I  dread,  tf  I  remain  long  away  from  them,  that  the  kingdom  will  be 
alienated  from  us,  and  that  the  dominion  will  depart  from  our  hands.  The  right 
opinion  is,  that  I  shoald  return,  and  govern  the  empire  until  God  shall  order  for  us 
the  affair  of  my  son  ;  and  forget  not  ye  my  son  ;  nor  neglect  his  case  ;  for  if  mischief 
befall  him,  I  perish  inevitably ;  since  I  regard  not  the  world  save  in  connection  with 
him,  nor  delight  save  in  his  life.  —  So  her  mother  replied.  With  feelings  of  love  and 
honour  will  I  comply,  0  my  daughter.  Inquire  not  what  we  suffer  by  reason  of  his 
separation  and  absence.  Then  her  mother  sent  to  search  for  him,  and  Beder  Basim's 
mother  returned  with  mourning  heart  and  weeping  eye  to  the  empire.  The  world 
had  become  straight  to  her,  her  heart  was  contracted,  and  her  case  was  grievous. 

Now  again  as  to  the  King  Beder  Basim,  when  the  Queen  Giohara  had  enchanted 
him,  and  sent  him  with  her  female  slave  to  the  Thirsty  Island,  saying  to  her,  Leave 
him  upon  it  to  die  of  thirst — the  slave-girl  put  him  not  save  upon  a  verdant,  fruitful 
island,  with  trees  and  rivers.  So  he  betook  himself  to  eating  of  the  fruits,  and 
drinking  of  the  rivers:  and  he  ceased  not  to  remain  in  this  state  for  a  period  of  days 
and  nights,  in  the  form  of  a  bird,  not  knowing  whither  to  go,  nor  how  to  fly.  And 
while  he  was  one  day  upon  that  island,  lo,  there  came  thither  a  fowler,  to  catch 
something  wherewith  to  sustain  himself,  and  he  saw  the  King  Beder  Basim  in  the 
form  of  a  bird,  with  white  feathers  and  with  red  bill  and  feet,  captivating  the  be- 
holder, and  astonishing  the  mind.  So  the  fowler  looked  at  him,  and  he  pleased  him, 
and  he  said  within  himself,  Verily  this  bird  is  beautiful ;  I  have  not  seen  a  bird  like 
it  in  its  beauty  nor  in  its  form.  Then  he  cast  the  net  over  him,  and  caught 
him,  and  he  went  with  him  into  the  city,  saying  within  himself,  I  will  sell  it 
and  receive  its  price.  And  one  of  the  people  of  the  city  met  him,  and  said  to  him, 
For  how  much  is  this  bird  to  be  sold,  0  fowler?  The  fowler  said  to  him,  If  thou 
buy  it,  what  wilt  thou  do  with  it?  The  man  answered,  I  will  kill  it  and  eat  it.  But 
the  fowler  said  to  him.  Whose  heart  would  be  pleased  to  kill  this  bird  and  eat  it? 
Verily  I  desire  to  present  it  to  the  King,  and  he  will  give  me  more  than  the  sum  that 
thou  wouldst  give  me  as  its  price,  and  will  not  kill  it,  but  will  divert  himself  with 
beholding  it  and  observing  its  beauty  and  loveliness ;  for  during  my  whole  life,  while 
I  have  been  a  fowler,  I  have  not  seen  the  like  of  it  among  the  prey  of  the  sea  nor 
among  the  prey  of  the  land.  If  thou  be  desirous  of  it,  the  utmost  that  thou  wouldst 
give  me  as  its  price  would  be  a  piece  of  silver ;  and  I,  by  Allah  the  great,  will  not 
sell  it.  —  Then  the  fowler  went  with  hira  to  the  palace  of  the  King;  and  when  the 
King  saw  him,  his  beauty  and  loveliness  pleased  him,  and  the  redness  of  his  bill  and 
his  feet;  so  he  sent  to  the  fowler  a  eunuch  to  purchase  him  of  him  ;  and  the  eunuoh 
came  to  the  fowler  and  said  to  him,  Wilt  thou  sell  this  bird?  He  answered.  No;  it 
is  for  the  King,  as  a  present  from  me  unto  him.  The  eunuch  therefore  took  him, 
and  went  with  him  to  the  King,  and  acquainted  him  with  that  which  he  had  said  ; 


BEDER   BASIM   AND   GIOHARA. 


579 


The  Fowler  with  the  '. 


whereupon  the  King  took  the 
bird,  and  gave  to  the  fowler 
ten  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  he 
received  them,  and  kissed  the 
ground,  and  departed.  The 
eunuch  then  brought  the  bird 
to  the  King's  pavilion,  pot  him 
in  a  handsome  cage,  hung  it 
up,  and  put  with  him  what  he 
might  eat  and  drink.  And 
when  the  King  came  down,  he 
said  to  the  eunuch.  Where  is 
the  bird  ?  Bring  it  that  I  may 
see  it.  By  Allah,  it  is  beauti- 
ful !  —  So  the  eunuch  brought 
him  and  put  him  before  the 
King;  and  he  saw  that,  of  the 
food  that  was  with  him,  he  had 
not  eaten  aught ;  wherefore 
the  King  said,  By  Allah,  I 
know  not  what  he  will  eat, 
that  I  may  feed  him.  Then 
he  gave  orders  to  bring  the 
repast.  The  tables  therefore 
were  brought  before  him,  and 
the  King  ate  of  the  repast ;  and  when  the  bird  looked  at  the  flesh-meat  and  other 
viands,  and  the  sweetmeats  and  fruits,  he  ate  of  all  that  was  upon  the  table  before 
the  King,  and  the  King  was  amazed  at  him,  and  wondered  at  his  eating,  as  did  also 
the  other  persons  who  were  present.  And  upon  this  the  King  said  to  the  eunuchs 
and  mamlouks  who  were  around  him.  In  my  life  I  have  never  seen  a  bird  eat  like 
this  bird. 

The  King  then  commanded  that  his  wife  should  come  to  divert  herself  with  the 
sight  of  him.  So  the  eunuch  went  to  bring  her  ;  and  when  he  saw  her  he  said  to 
her,  0  my  mistress,  the  King  desireth  thy  presence,  in  order  that  thou  niayest  divert 
thyself  with  the  sight  of  this  bird  that  he  hath  bought ;  for  when  we  brought  the 
repast,  it  flew  from  the  cage,  and  pitched  upon  the  table,  and  ate  of  all  that  was 
upon  it.  Arise  then,  0  my  mistress;  divert  thyself  with  the  sight  of  it:  for  it  is 
beautiful  in  appearance,  and  it  is  a  wonder  among  the  wonders  of  the  age. — There- 
fore when  she  heard  the  words  of  the  eunuch,  she  came  quickly ;  but  as  soon  as  she 
looked  at  the  bird,  and  discovered  him,  she  veiled  her  face,  and  turned  back.  So 
the  King  rose  and  followed  her,  and  said  to  her,  Wherefore  didst  thou  cover  thy  face, 
when  there  are  not  in  thy  presence  any  but  the  female  slaves  and  the  eunuchs  who 
serve  thee,  and  thy  husband?  And  she  answered,  0  King,  verily  this  is  not  a  bird; 
but  it  is  a  man  like  thee.  But  when  he  heard  the  words  of  his  wife,  he  said  to  her. 
Thou  utterest  falsehood.  How  much  dost  thou  jest !  How  can  it  be  aught  but  a 
bird  ?  —  She  replied,  By  Allah,  I  jested  not  with  thee,  nor  did  I  tell  thee  anything 
but  truth.  Verily  this  bird  is  the  King  Beder  Basim,  the  son  of  the  King  Sliahze- 
man,  lord  of  the  countries  of  the  Persians,  and  his  mother  is  Gulnare  of  the  Sea. — 
And  how,  said  he,  hath  he  become  transformed  into  this  shape?  She  answered  hira. 
Queen  Gihhara,  the  daughter  of  the  King  Samandal,  hath  enchanted  him.  Then 
she  related  to  him  what  had  happened  to  hira  from  first  to  last,  telling  him  that  ho 
had  demanded  Giooara  in  marriage  of  her  father,  and  that  her  father  consented  not 
thereto,  and  that  his  maternal  uncle  Saleh  had  fought  with  the  King  Saraandal,  and 
that  Saleh  had  overcome  him  and  made  him  a  captive.  And  when  the  King  heard 
the  words  of  his  wife,  he  wondered  extremely.     Now  this  Queen,  his  wife,  was  the 


580 


BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA. 


-^^ 


ZJ^- 


The  Kiiis's  Wife  disenchanting  Beiler  Basin 


most  skilful  in  enchantment  among  the  people  of  her  age.  The  King  therefore  said 
to  her,  By  my  life,  I  conjure  thee  to  free  him  from  his  enchantment,  and  not  leave 
him  tormented.  May  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  cut  off  the  hand  of  Giohara ! 
How  vile  is  she,  and  how  little  is  her  religion,  and  how  great  are  her  deceit  and  her 
artitice  !  —  llis  wife  replied.  Say  to  him,  0  Beder  Basim,  enter  this  closet.  So  the 
King  ordered  hira  to  enter  the  closet;  and  when  he  heard  the  King's  words,  he 
entered  it.     Then  the  wife  of  the  King  arose,  and,  having  veiled  her  face,  took  in 

her  hand  a  cup  of  water,  and  entered  the 
closet ;  and  she  uttered  over  the  water 
some  words  not  to  be  understood,  and 
[sprinkling  him  with  it,]  said  to  him,  By 
virtue  of  these  great  names,  and  excel- 
lent verses  [of  the  Koran],  and  by  the 
power  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !), 
the  Creator  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
and  the  Reviver  of  the  dead,  and  the 
Distributor  of  the  means  of  subsistence 
and  the  terms  of  life,  quit  this  form  in 
which  thou  now  art,  and  return  to  the 
form  in  which  God  created  thee !  And 
her  words  were  not  ended  when  he  shook 
violently,  and  returned  to  his  original 
form,  whereupon  the  King  beheld  him  a 
comely  young  man,  than  whom  there  was  not  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  one  more 
beautiful. 

When  the  King  Beder  Basim  beheld  this  thing,  he  said.  There  is  no  deity  but  God  : 
Mahomet  is  the  Apostle  of  God  !  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Creator  of  the 
creatures,  and  the  Ordainer  of  their  means  of  subsistence  and  their  terms  of  life. — 
Then  he  kissed  the  hands  of  the  King,  and  prayed  for  long  life  for  him  ;  and  the 
King  kissed  the  head  of  Beder  Basim,  and  said  to  him,  0  Beder  Basim,  relate  to  me 
thy  story  from  beginning  to  end.  So  he  related  to  him  his  story,  not  concealing  from 
him  aught;  and  the  King  wondered  thereat,  and  said  to  him,  0  Beder  Basim,  God 
hath  delivered  thee  from  the  enchantment;  what  then  doth  thy  good  pleasure 
demand,  and  what  dost  thou  desire  to  do  ?  He  answered  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  I 
desire  of  thy  beneficence  that  thou  wouldst  prepare  for  me  a  ship,  and  a  company 
of  thy  servants,  and  all  that  I  require  ;  for  I  have  been  absent  a  long  time,  and  I 
fear  that  the  empire  may  depart  from  me.  Moreover,  I  imagine  not  that  my  mother 
is  alive,  on  account  of  my  separation.  What  seems  most  probable  to  me  is,  that  she 
hath  died  in  consequence  of  her  mourning  for  me  ;  since  she  knoweth  not  what  hath 
happened  to  me,  nor  whether  I  be  living  or  dead.  I  therefore  beg  thee,  0  King,  to 
complete  thy  beneficence  to  me  by  granting  that  which  I  have  requested  of  thee. — 
And  when  the  King  considered  his  beauty  and  loveliness  and  his  eloquence,  he 
replied  and  said  to  him,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  prepared  for  him  a  ship,  trans- 
ported to  it  what  he  required,  and  despatched  with  him  a  company  of  his  servants. 
So  he  embarked  in  the  ship,  after  he  had  bidden  farewell  to  the  King,  and  they  pro- 
ceeded over  the  sea. 

The  wind  aided  them,  and  they  ceased  not  to  proceed  for  ten  days  successively ; 
but  on  the  eleventh  day,  the  sea  became  violently  agitated,  the  ship  began  to  rise 
and  pitoh,  and  the  sailors  were  unable  to  manage  her.  They  continued  in  this  state, 
the  waves  sporting  with  them,  until  they  drew  near  to  one  of  the  rocks  of  the  sea, 
and  the  ship  fell  upon  that  rock,  and  went  to  pieces,  and  all  who  were  in  her  were 
drowned,  excepting  the  King  Beder  Basim  :  for  he  mounted  upon  one  of  the  planks, 
after  he  had  been  at  the  point  of  destruction.  The  plank  ceased  not  to  bear  him 
along  the  sea,  and  he  knew  not  whither  he  was  going,  nor  had  he  any  means  of 
checking  the  motion  of  the  plank :   it  carried  him  with  the  water  and  the  wind,  and 


581 


BEDEB    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA.  583 

continued  to  do  so  for  a  period  of  three  days.  But  on  the  fourth  day,  the  plank  was 
cast  with  him  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  he  found  there  a  city,  white  as  a  very 
■white  pigeon,  built  upon  an  island  by  the  shore  of  the  sea,  with  lofty  angles,  beauti- 
ful in  construction,  with  high  walls,  and  the  sea  beat  against  its  walls.  So  when 
the  King  Beder  Basim  beheld  the  island  upon  which  was  this  city,  he  rejoiced  greatly ; 
and  he  had  been  at  the  point  of  destruction  by  reason  of  hunger  and  thirst.  He 
therefore  landed  from  the  plank,  and  desired  to  go  up  to  the  city  ;  but  there  came  to 
him  mules  and  asses  and  horses,  numerous  as  the  grains  of  sand,  and  they  began  to 
strike  him,  and  to  prevent  his  going  up  from  the  sea  to  the  city.  So  he  swam  round 
behind  that  city,  and  landed  upon  the  shore,  and  he  found  not  there  any  one ;  where- 
fore he  wondered,  and  said,  To  whom  doth  this  city  belong,  not  having  a  King  nor 
any  one  in  it,  and  whence  are  these  mules  and  asses  and  horses  that  prevented  me 
from  landing?  And  he  proceeded  to  meditate  upon  his  case  as  he  walked  along,  not 
knowing  whither  to  go. 

Then,  after  that,  he  saw  a  sheikh,  a  grocer ;  and  when  the  King  Beder  Basim  saw 
him,  he  saluted  him  ;  and  the  sheikh  returned  the  salutation,  and,  looking  at  him, 
saw  him  to  be  a  comely  person  ;  so  he  said  to  him,  0  young  man,  whence  hast  thou 
come,  and  what  brought  thee  to  this  city  ?  He  therefore  related  to  him  his  story 
from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  he  wondered  at  it,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  didst 
thou  not  see  any  one  in  thy  way  ?  He  answered  him,  0  my  father,  I  only  wonder 
at  this  city,  seeing  that  it  is  devoid  of  people.  And  the  sheikh  said  to  him,  0  my 
son,  come  up  into  the  shop,  lest  thou  perish.  So  Beder  Basim  went  up  and  seated 
himself  in  the  shop.  And  the  sheikh  arose,  and  brought  him  some  food,  saying  to 
him,  0  my  son,  come  into  the  inner  part  of  the  shop.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of 
Him  who  hath  preserved  thee  from  this  she-devil ! — The  King  Beder  Basim  therefore 
feared  violently.  He  then  ate  of  the  food  of  the  sheikh  until  he  was  satisfied,  and 
washed  his  hands,  and,  looking  at  the  sheikh,  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  what  is  the 
reason  of  these  words?  For  thou  hast  made  me  to  be  frightened  at  this  city  and  its 
people. — And  the  sheikh  answered  him,  0  my  son,  know  that  this  city  is  the  City  of 
the  Enchanters,  and  in  it  is  a  Queen  who  is  an  enchantress  like  a  she-devil ;  she  is  a 
sorcerer,  a  great  enchanter,  abounding  in  artifice,  exceedingly  treacherous,  and  the 
horses  and  mules  and  asses  that  thou  sawest,  all  these  are,  like  me  and  thee,  of  the 
sons  of  Adam  ;  but  they  are  strangers  ;  for  whoever  entereth  this  city,  and  is  a  young 
man  like  thyself,  this  infidel  enchantress  taketh  him,  and  she  remaineth  with  him 
forty  days,  and  after  the  forty  days,  she  enchanteth  him,  and  he  becometh  a  mule  or 
a  horse  or  an  ass,  of  these  animals  that  thou  hast  seen  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea. 
Therefore  when  thou  desiredst  to  land,  they  feared  for  thee  lest  she  should  enchant 
thee  like  them,  and  they  said  to  thee  by  signs,  Land  not,  lest  the  enchantress  see 
thee — in  pity  for  thee  ;  for  perhaps  she  might  do  unto  thee  as  she  did  unto  them. — 
And  he  said  to  him,  She  got  possession  of  this  city  from  her  family  by  enchantment; 
and  her  name  is  the  Queen  Labe  ;  the  meaning  of  which  is  the  sun. 

Now  when  the  King  Beder  Basim  heard  these  words  from  the  sheikh,  he  feared 
violently,  and  began  to  tremble  like  the  reed  that  is  shaken  by  the  wind  ;  and  he 
said  to  him,  I  believed  not  that  I  had  escaped  from  the  calamity  in  which  I  was 
involved  by  enchantment,  and  now  destiny  casteth  me  into  a  situation  more  abomi- 
nable than  that !  And  he  proceeded  to  reflect  upon  his  case,  and  upon  the  events 
that  had  happened  to  him  ;  and  when  the  sheikh  looked  at  him,  he  saw  that  his  fear 
was  violent;  so  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  arise  and  sit  at  the  threshold  of  the  shop, 
and  look  at  those  creatures  and  at  their  dross  and  their  forms,  and  the  states  in  which 
they  are  through  enchantment;  but  fear  not ;  for  the  Queen,  and  every  one  that  is 
in  the  city,  loveth  me  and  regardeth  me,  and  agitateth  not  my  heart,  nor  wearieth 
my  mind.  Therefore  when  the  King  Beder  Basim  heard  these  words  of  the  sheikh, 
he  went  forth  and  sat  at  the  door  of  the  shop,  diverting  himself;  and  there  passed 
by  him  people,  and  he  beheld  creatures  not  to  be  numbered.  And  when  the  people 
saw  him,  they  advanced  to  the  sheikh,  and  said  to  him,  0  sheikh  is  this  thy  captive, 


584  BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA. 

and  a  prey  that  thou  hast  taken  during  these  days?  But  he  answered  them,  This  is 
the  son  of  my  brother.  I  heard  that  his  father  had  died:  so  I  sent  for  him,  and 
caused  him  to  come,  that  I  might  quench  the  fire  of  my  desire  by  his  company. — 
They  replied,  Verily  this  young  man  is  a  comely  youth  ;  but  we  fear  for  him  on 
account  of  the  Queen  Labe,  lest  she  turn  upon  thee  with  treachery  and  take  him  from 
thee ;  for  she  loveth  the  comely  young  men.  The  sheikh  however  said  to  them. 
Verily  the  Queen  will  not  thwart  me:  she  regardeth  me  favourably,  and  loveth  me: 
and  when  she  knoweth  that  he  is  the  son  of  ray  brother,  she  will  not  offer  him  any 
injury,  nor  afflict  me  with  respect  to  him,  nor  trouble  my  heart  on  his  account. — 
And  the  King  Beder  Basim  remained  with  the  sheikh  for  a  period  of  months,  eating 
and  drinking,  and  the  sheikh  loved  him  greatly. 

After  this  Beder  Basim  was  sitting  at  the  shop  of  the  sheikh  one  day  as  was  his 
custom,  and  lo,  a  thousand  eunuchs,  with  drawn  swords  in  their  hands,  clad  in 
various  kinds  of  apparel,  having  upon  their  waists  girdles  adorned  with  jewels, 
riding  upon  Arab  horses,  and  equipped  with  Indian  swords  ;  and  they  came  to  the 
shop  of  the  sheikh,  and  saluted  him,  and  passed  on.  Then,  after  them,  came  a 
thousand  damsels,  like  moons,  clad  in  various  dresses  of  silk  and  satin  embroidered 
with  gold  and  adorned  with  varieties  of  jewels,  and  all  of  them  were  armed  with 
spears,  and  in  the  midst  of  them  was  a  damsel  riding  upon  an  Arab  mare,  upon 
which  was  a  saddle  of  gold  set  with  varieties  of  jewels  and  jacinths.  —  They  ceased 
not  to  proceed  until  they  arrived  at  the  shop  of  the  sheikh,  when  they  saluted  him, 
and  passed  on.  And  lo,  the  Queen  Labe  approached,  in  a  magnificent  procession, 
and  she  ceased  not  to  approach  until  she  came  to  the  shop  of  the  sheikh  :  whereupon 
she  saw  the  King  Beder  Basim  sitting  at  the  shop,  resembling  the  moon  at  the  full. 
So  when  the  Queen  Labe  beheld  him,  she  was  confounded  at  his  beauty  and  loveli- 
ness, and  amazed,  and  she  became  distracted  with  love  of  him.  She  came  to  the  shop, 
and  alighted,  and,  having  seated  herself  by  the  King  Beder  Basim,  she  said  to  the 
sheikh.  Whence  obtainedst  thou  this  comely  person  ?  lie  answered.  This  is  the  son 
of  my  brother:  he  came  to  me  a  short  time  ago.  And  she  said.  Let  him  be  with  me 
to-night,  that  I  may  converse  with  him.  The  sheikh  said  to  her,  Wilt  thou  take  him 
from  me  and  not  enchant  him  ?  She  answered,  Yes.  lie  said.  Swear  to  me.  And 
she  swore  to  him  that  she  would  not  hurt  him  nor  enchant  him.  Then  she  gave 
orders  to  bring  forward  to  him  a  handsome  horse,  saddled,  and  bridled  with  a 
bridle  of  gold,  and  all  that  was  upon  him  was  of  gold  set  with  jewels ;  and  she  pre- 
senteJi  to  the  sheikh  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to  him.  Seek  aid  for  thyself 
therewith.  The  Queen  Labe  then  took  the  King  Beder  Basim,  and  departed  with 
him  ;  and  he  was  like  the  moon  in  its  fourteenth  night.  lie  proceeded  with  her ; 
and  the  people  as  often  as  they  looked  at  him,  and  observed  his  beauty,  were  pained 
for  him,  and  said.  By  Allah,  this  young  man  doth  not  deserve  that  this  accursed 
woman  should  enchant  him.  And  the  King  Beder  Basim  heard  the  words  of  the 
people  ;  but  he  was  silent,  and  had  committed  his  case  to  God,  whose  name  be 
exalted ! 

lie  ceased  not  to  proceed  with  the  Queen  Labe  and  her  retinue  until  they  arrived 
at  the  gate  of  the  palace  ;  when  the  emirs  and  eunuchs  and  the  great  men  of  the 
empire  alighted.  She  had  commanded  the  chamberlains  to  order  all  the  great  men 
of  the  empire  to  depart :  so  they  kissed  the  ground  and  departed.  And  the  Queen, 
with  the  eunuchs  and  the  female  slaves,  entered  the  palace  ;  and  when  the  King 
Beder  Basim  looked  at  the  palace,  he  beheld  a  palace  of  which  he  had  never  seen  the 
like.  Its  walls  were  constructed  of  gold,  and  in  the  midst  of  it  was  a  great  pool, 
abounding  with  water,  in  a  great  garden  ;  and  the  King  Beder  Basim  looked  at  the 
garden,  and  saw  in  it  birds  warbling  with  all  varieties  of  tongues  and  voices,  mirth- 
exciting  and  plaintive,  and  those  birds  were  of  all  forms  and  colours.  The  King 
Beder  Basim  beheld  great  majesty,  and  he  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God 
for  his  bounty  and  his  clemency  !  He  sustaineth  the  person  who  worshippetli  otlier 
than  Hinisclf ! — The  Queen  seated  herself  at  a  lattice-window  overlooking  tlie  garden, 


BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA.  585 

She  was  on  a  couch  of  ivory,  upon  which  was  magnificent  furniture;  and  the  King 
Beder  Basim  sat  by  her  side;  and  she  kissed  him,  and  pressed  him  to  her  bosom. 
Then  she  ordered  the  female  slaves  to  bring  a  table;  whereupon  there  was  brought 
a  table  of  red  gold  set  with  large  pearls  and  with  jewels,  and  upon  it  were  dishes  of 
all  kinds  of  viands.  So  they  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  and  washed  their  hands. 
The  female  slaves  next  brought  vessels  of  gold  and  silver  and  crystal,  and  they 
brought  also  all  kinds  of  flowers,  and  plates  of  dried  fruits  ;  after  which  the  Queen 
gave  orders  to  bring  singing  women  ;  and  there  came  ten  damsels  like  moons,  with 
all  kinds  of  musical  instruments  in  their  hands.  Then  the  Queen  filled  a  cup,  and 
drank  it;  and  she  filled  another,  and  handed  it  to  the  King  Beder  Basim,  who  took 
it  and  drank  it;  and  they  ceased  not  to  do  thus,  drinking  until  they  were  satisfied; 
when  the  Queen  ordered  the  female  slaves  to  sing.  So  they  sang  all  kinds  of 
melodies,  and  it  seemed  to  the  King  Beder  Basim  as  though  the  palace  danced  with 
delight  at  the  sounds.  His  reason  was  captivated,  and  his  bosom  was  dilated,  and 
he  forgot  his  estrangement  from  his  country,  and  said.  Verily  this  Queen  is  a  comely 
damsel!  I  will  never  henceforth  quit  her;  for  her  kingdom  is  larger  than  mine,  and 
she  is  preferable  to  the  Queen  Giohara.  —  He  ceased  not  to  drink  with  her  until  it 
was  evening,  and  the  lamps  and  candles  were  lighted,  and  the  attendants  gave  vent 
to  the  fumes  of  the  sweet-scented  substances  in  the  censers  ;  and  they  gave  not  over 
drinking  until  they  were  both  intoxicated,  while  the  female  singers  continued  sing- 
ing. And  when  the  Queen  Labe  was  intoxicated,  she  arose  from  her  place,  and 
slept  upon  her  couch,  having  commanded  the  female  slaves  to  depart ;  and  she 
ordered  the  King  Beder  Basim  to  lie  down  by  her  side.  Then,  on  the  followino- 
morning,  she  entered  the  bath  in  the  palace,  and  he  did  the  same:  and  when  they 
had  come  forth,  she  caused  him  to  be  clad  in  the  most  beautiful  apparel,  and  gave 
orders  to  bring  the  drinking-vessels.  Accordingly  the  female  slaves  brought  them, 
and  they  drank  ;  after  which  the  Queen  arose,  and  took  the  hand  of  the  King  Beder 
Basim,  and  they  sat  upon  the  throne,  and  she  gave  orders  to  bring  the  food :  so 
they  ate  and  washed  their  hands.  The  female  slaves  then  brought  to  them  the 
drinking-vessels,  and  the  fresh  fruits  and  the  flowers  and  the  dried  fruits:  and 
they  ceased  not  to  eat  and  drink,  while  the  female  slaves  sang  various  melodies,  till 
evening. 

They  continued  eating  and  drinking,  and  delighting  themselves,  for  a  period  of 
forty  days  ;  after  which  she  said  to  him,  0  Beder  Basim,  is  this  place  the  more  plea- 
sant, or  the  shop  of  thine  uncle  the  grocer?  He  answered  her.  By  Allah,  0  Queen, 
this  is  pleasant;  for  my  uncle  is  a  poor  man  who  selleth  beans.  And  she  laughed 
at  his  words.  Then  they  slept:  but  in  the  morning,  the  King  Beder  Basim  awoke 
from  his  sleep  and  found  not  the  Queen  Labe  by  his  side:  so  he  said.  Whither  can 
she  have  gone?  He  became  sad  on  account  of  her  absence,  and  perplexed  respect- 
ing his  case;  and  she  had  been  absent  from  him  along  time,  and  not  returned; 
wherefore  he  said  within  himself.  Whither  hath  she  gone?  He  then  put  on  his 
clothes,  and  proceeded  to  search  for  her:  but  he  found  her  not:  and  he  said  within 
himself,  Perhaps  she  hath  gone  to  the  garden.  He  therefore  went  to  the  garden, 
and  he  saw  in  it  a  running  river  by  the  side  of  which  was  a  white  bird,  and  on  the 
bank  of  that  river  was  a  tree,  whereon  were  birds  of  various  colours.  So  he  looked 
at  the  birds:  but  they  saw  him  not;  and  lo,  a  black  bird  alighted  by  that  white  bird, 
and  began  to  feed  her  with  his  bill  like  a  pigeon  :  and  after  a  while,  the  latter  bird 
became  changed  into  a  human  form,  at  which  he  looked  attentively,  and  lo,  she  was 
the  Queen  Labe.  He  therefore  knew  that  the  black  bird  was  an  enchanted  man,  and 
that  she  loved  him,  and  for  that  reason  transformed  herself  by  enchantment  into  a 
bird;  in  consequence  of  which,  jealousy  seized  him,  and  he  was  incensed  against  the 
Queen  Labe,  on  account  of  the  black  h'wd.  Then  he  returned  to  his  place,  and  laid 
himself  upon  his  bed  ;  and  after  a  while,  she  returned  to  him,  and  began  to  kiss  him 
and  to  jest  with  him  ;  but  he  was  violently  incensed  against  her,  and  uttered  not  to 
her  a  single  word.     So  she  knew  what  he  feit,  and  was  convinced  that  he  saw  her 


586  BEDEK    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA. 

wnen  she  became  a  bird.     She  however  did  not  manifest  to  him  anything ;  but  con- 
cealed her  feelings. 

After  this,  he  said  to  her,  0  Queen,  I  desire  thee  to  permit  me  to  go  to  the  shop  of 
my  uncle  ;  for  I  have  conceived  a  desire  to  visit  him,  and  for  forty  days  I  have  not  seen 
him.  And  she  replied,  Go  to  him  ;  but  be  not  long  absent  from  me,  since  I  cannot 
part  vrith  thee,  nor  endure  to  be  away  from  thee  for  one  hour.  So  he  said  to  her,  I 
hear  and  obey.  He  then  mounted,  and  went  to  the  shop  of  the  sheikh,  the  grocer, 
who  welcomed  him  and  rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  and  said  to  him.  How  art 
thou  with  this  infidel  woman?  He  therefore  answered  him,  I  was  well  in  prosperity 
and  health  :  but  she  was  this  last  night  sleeping  by  my  side,  and  I  awoke  and  saw 
her  not.  So  I  put  on  my  clothes,  and  went  about  searching  for  her  until  I  came  to 
the  garden. — And  he  informed  him  of  that  which  he  had  seen,  of  the  river,  and  the 
birds  upon  the  tree.  And  when  the  sheikh  heard  his  words,  he  said  to  him.  Beware 
of  her,  and  know  that  the  birds  that  were  upon  the  tree  were  all  young  men,  stran- 
gers, whom  she  loved,  and  she  transformed  them  by  enchantment  into  birds  ;  and 
that  black  bird  that  thou  sawest  was  of  the  number  of  her  mamlouks.  She  used  to 
love  him  greatly;  but  he  cast  his  eye  upon  one  of  the  female  slaves;  so  she  trans- 
formed him  by  enchantment  into  a  black  bird ;  and  whenever  she  desireth  to  visit 
him,  she  transformeth  herself  by  enchantment  into  a  bird :  for  she  still  loveth  him 
greatly.  And  when  she  knew  that  thou  wast  acquainted  with  her  case,  she  medi- 
tated evil  against  thee  ;  and  she  doth  not  oifer  thee  a  sincere  affection,  But  thou 
shalt  suffer  no  harm  from  her  as  long  as  I  have  a  care  for  thee  ;  therefore  fear  not; 
for  I  am  a  Mahometan,  and  my  name  is  Abdallah,  and  there  is  not  in  my  age  any 
one  more  skilled  in  enchantment  than  I:  yet  I  make  not  use  of  enchantment  save 
when  I  am  constrained  to  do  so.  Often  do  I  annul  the  enchantment  of  this  accursed 
woman,  and  deliver  people  from  her ;  and  I  care  not  for  her,  since  she  hath  no  way 
of  injuring  me;  on  the  contrary,  she  feareth  me  violentlj',  as  also  doth  every  one  in 
the  city  who  is  an  enchanter  like  her,  after  this  manner:  they  all  fear  me,  and  all 
of  them  are  of  her  religion,  worshipping  fire  instead  of  the  Almighty  King.  But  to- 
morrow come  to  me  again,  and  acquaint  me  with  that  which  she  shall  do  to  thee  ;  for 
this  night  she  will  exert  herself  to  destroy  thee,  and  I  will  tell  thee  what  thou  shalt 
do  with  her  that  thou  mayest  save  thyself  from  her  artifice. 

Then  the  King  Beder  Basim  bade  farewell  to  the  sheikh,  and  returned  to  her,  and 
found  her  sitting  expecting  him.  And  when  she  saw  him,  she  rose  to  him  and 
seated  him,  welcoming  him  ;  and  she  brought  him  food  and  drink.  So  they  ate 
until  they  were  satisfied,  and  washed  their  hands  ;  after  which,  she  gave  orders  to 
bring  the  wine.  It  was  therefore  brought,  and  they  drank  until  midnight,  when  she 
served  him  with  the  cups,  and  she  continued  to  ply  him  until  he  was  intoxicated, 
and  lost  his  sense  and  his  reason.  And  when  she  saw  him  in  this  state,  she  said  to 
him.  By  Allah  I  conjure  thee,  and  by  the  Object  of  thy  worship,  if  I  ask  thee  con- 
cerning a  thing,  tell  me,  wilt  thou  inform  me  thereof  truly,  and  reply  to  my  ques- 
tion? So  he  answered  her,  being  in  a  state  of  intoxication.  Yes,  0  my  mistress. 
And  she  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  and  light  of  my  eye,  when  thou  awokest  from 
tliy  sleep,  and  found  me  not,  thou  searchedst  for  me,  and  camest  to  me  in  the  gar- 
den, and  sawest  the  black  bird.  Now  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  the  truth  of  the 
case  of  this  bird.  He  was  one  of  my  mamlouks,  and  I  loved  him  greatly;  but  he 
cast  his  eye  one  day  upon  one  of  my  female  slaves  ;  eo  jealousy  came  upon  me,  and 
1  transformed  him  by  enchantment  into  a  black  bird.  And  as  to  the  slave-girl,  I 
killed  her.  But  now  I  cannot  bear  to  be  absent  from  him  one  hour;  and  whenever 
I  desire  to  visit  him,  I  transform  myself  by  enchantment  into  a  bird,  and  go  to  him. 
Art  thou  not  on  this  account  incensed  against  me,  although  I,  by  the  fire  and  the 
light  and  the  shade  and  the  heat,  have  increased  in  love  for  thee,  and  made  thee  my 
worldly  portion?  So  he  said,  being  intoxicated,  Verily,  what  thou  hast  understood, 
as  to  ray  anger  being  on  that  account,  is  true  ;  and  there  is  no  cause  for  my  anger 
excepting  that.    And  she  embraced  him  and  kissed  him,  and  made  a  show  of  love  to 


BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA. 


587 


him  ;  after  which  she  slept,  and  he  slept  by  her  side.  And  when  it  was  midnight, 
she  rose  from  the  bed  :  and  the  King  Beder  Basim  was  awake  ;  but  he  pretended 
that  he  was  asleep,  and  kept  stealing  looks,  and  observing  what  she  did  ;  and  he 
found  that  she  had  taken  forth  from  a  red  bag  something  red,  which  she  planted  in 
the  midst  of  the  palace ;  and  lo,  it  became  a  stream  running  like  a  large  river.  She 
then  took  a  handful  of  barley,  scattered  it  upon  the  dust,  and  watered  it  with  this 


Queen  I.;\be  peiiDrinins:  the  Incantation. 

water ;  whereupon  it  became  eared  corn ;  and  she  took  it  and  ground  it  into  fine 
flour,  after  which  she  put  it  in  a  place  and  returned  and  slept  by  Beder  Basim  until 
the  morning. 

So  when  the  morning  came,  the  King  Beder  Basim  arose,  and  having  washed  his 
face,  asked  permission  of  the  Queen  to  go  to  the  sheikh  ;  and  she  gave  him  permis- 
sion. He  therefore  repaired  to  the  shiekh,  and  acquainted  him  with  that  which  she 
had  done,  and  what  he  had  beheld  ;  and  when  the  sheikh  heard  his  words,  he  laughed, 
and  said,  By  Allah,  this  infidel  enchantress  had  formed  a  mischievous  scheme  against 
thee:  but  never  care  thou  for  her.  lie  then  produced  to  him  as  much  as  a  pound 
of  barley-meal,  and  said  to  him,  Take  this  with  thee,  and  know  that  when  she  seeth 
it  she  will  say  to  thee.  What  is  this,  and  what  wilt  thou  do  with  it?  Answer  her, 
A  superfluity  of  good  things  is  good: — and  do  thou  eat  of  it.  And  when  she  pro- 
duceth  her  meal,  and  saith  to  thee.  Eat  of  this  flour — pretend  to  her  that  thou  eatest 
of  it,  but  eat  of  this,  and  beware  of  eating  aught  of  her  barley,  even  one  grain  ;  for 
if  thou  cat  of  it  even  one  grain,  her  enchantment  will  have  power  over  thee,  and  she 
will  enchant  thee,  saying  to  thee.  Quit  this  human  form.  So  thou  wilt  quit  thy  form, 
and  assume  whatsoever  form  she  desireth.  —  But  if  thou  eat  not  of  it,  her  enchant- 
ment will  be  frustrated,  and  no  harm  will  result  to  thee  from  it;  wherefore  she  will 
become  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  abashment,  and  will  say  to  thee,  I  am  only  jesting 


588  BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA. 

with  thee.  Arid  she  will  make  profession  of  love  and  affection  to  thee  :  but  all  that 
will  be  hypocrisy  and  artifice  in  her.  Do  thou,  however,  make  a  show  of  love  to  her, 
and  say  to  her,  0  my  raistregs,  and  0  light  of  my  eye,  eat  of  this  meal,  and  see  how 
delicious  it  is.  And  when  she  hath  eaten  of  it,  if  only  one  grain,  take  some  water 
in  thy  hand,  and  throw  it  in  her  face,  and  say  to  her,  Quit  this  human  form  —  and 
tell  her  to  assume  whatsoever  form  thou  desirost.  Thereupon  leave  her  and  come  to 
me,  that  I  may  contrive  for  thee  a  mode  of  proceeding. 

Beder  Basim  then  bade  him  farewell,  and  pursued  his  way  until  he  went  up  into 
the  palace  and  entered  into  her  presence ;  and  when  she  saw  him,  she  said  to  hira, 
A  friendly  and  free  and  ample  welcome !  She  arose  to  him  and  kissed  him,  and  said 
to  him.  Thou  hast  wearied  me  by  thy  delay,  0  my  master.  He  replied,  I  was  with 
my  uncle.  And  he  saw  with  her  some  flour,  and  said  to  her.  And  my  uncle  hath 
given  me  to  eat  of  this  flour,  and  we  have  flour  better  than  it.  Then  she  put  his 
flour  into  a  dish,  and  hers  into  another,  and  said  to  him.  Eat  of  this,  for  it  is  nicer 
than  thy  flour.  So  he  pretended  to  her  that  he  ate  of  it ;  and  when  she  believed  that 
he  had  eaten  of  it,  she  took  in  her  hand  some  water,  and  sprinkled  him  Avith  it,  and 
said  to  him.  Quit  this  form,  0  young  wretch,  0  villain,  and  assume  the  form  of  a 
one-eyed  mule  of  hideous  appearance !  But  he  changed  not.  So  when  she  saw  him 
in  his  proper  state,  unchanged,  she  rose  to  him,  and  kissed  him  between  the  eyes, 
and  said  to  him,0  my  beloved,  I  was  only  jesting  with  thee;  therefore  be  not  changed 
in  mind  towards  me  on  that  account.  And  he  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  I 
am  not  at  all  changed  towards  thee;  but  I  am  convinced  that  thou  lovest  me:  eat 
then  of  this  my  flour.  She  therefore  took  a  morsel  of  it,  and  ate  it;  and  when  it 
had  settled  in  her  stomach,  she  was  agitated;  and  the  King  Beder  Basim,  having 
taken  some  water  in  his  hand,  sprinkled  her  with  it  upon  her  face,  saying  to  her. 
Quit  this  human  form,  and  assume  the  form  of  a  dapple  mule.  And  she  saw  not 
herself  save  in  that  form  ;  whereupon  her  tears  began  to  run  down  upon  her  cheeks, 
and  she  rubbed  her  cheeks  upon  his  feet.  lie  then  betook  himself  to  bridle  her; 
but  she  allowed  not  the  bridle  to  be  put.  He  therefore  left  her,  and  repaired  to  the 
sheikh,  and  acquainted  him  with  what  had  happened  ;  upon  which  the  sheikh  arose 
and  produced  to  him  a  bridle,  and  said  to  him.  Take  this  bridle,  and  bridle  her  with 
it.  So  he  took  it,  and  went  to  her ;  and  when  she  saw  him,  she  advanced  to  him, 
and  he  put  the  bit  in  her  mouth,  and,  having  mounted  her,  went  forth  from  the  pa- 
lace, and  repaired  to  the  sheikh  Abdallah,  who.  on  seeing  her,  rose  to  her,  and  said 
to  her,  May  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  abase  thee  by  aflliction,  0  accursed  wo- 
man! Then  the  sheikh  said  to  Beder  Basim,  0  my  son,  thou  hast  no  longer  an 
abode  in  this  city  ;  so  mount  her,  and  proceed  with  her  to  whatsoever  place  thou 
wilt,  and  beware  of  giving  up  the  bridle  to  any  one.  The  King  Beder  Basim  there- 
fore thanked  him,  and  bade  him  farewell,  and  departed. 

He  ceased  not  his  journey  for  three  days;  after  which  he  came  in  sight  of  a  city, 
and  there  met  him  a  sheikh,  of  comely  hoariness,  who  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  whence 
art  thou  come?  He  answered.  From  the  city  of  this  enchantress.  The  shiekh  then 
said  to  him.  Thou  art  my  guest  this  night.  And  he  consented,  and  proceeded  with 
him  along  the  way.  And  lo,  there  was  an  old  woman,  who,  when  she  saw  the  mule, 
wept,  and  said,  There  is  no  deity  but  God!  Verily  this  mule  resembleth  the  mule 
of  my  son,  which  hath  died,  and  my  heart  is  troubled  fur  her.  I  conjure  thee  by 
Allah,  then,  0  my  master,  that  thou  sell  her  to  me.  —  He  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my 
mother,  I  cannot  sell  her.  But  she  rejoined,  I  conjure  thee  by  Albih  that  thou  re- 
ject not  my  petition  ;  for  my  son,  if  I  buy  not  for  him  this  mule,  will  inevitably  die. 
Then  she  urged  her  request  in  many  words:  whereupon  ho  said,  I  will  not  sell  her 
but  for  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  And  Beder  Basim  said  within  himself,  How  can 
this  old  woman  procure  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold?  But  upon  this  she  took  forth 
from  her  girdle  a  thousand  pieces  of^gold.  So  when  the  King  Beilor  Basim  saw 
this,  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mother,  I  am  only  jesting  with  thee,  and  I  cjinnot  sell  her. 
The  sheikh,   liowever,  looked  at  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  mv  son,  no  one  may  utter  a 


BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA.  589 

falsehood  in  this  city ;  for  every  one  who  uttereth  a  falsehood  in  this  city,  they  slay. 
The  King  Beder  Basim  therefore  alighted  from  the  mule,  and  delivered  her  to  the 
old  woman  :  and  she  drew  forth  the  bit  from  her  mouth,  and,  having  taken  some 
water  in  her  hand,  sprinkled  her  with  it,  and  said,  0  my  daughter,  quit  this  form, 
and  return  to  the  form  in  which  thou  wast!  And  she  was  transformed  immediately, 
and  returned  to  her  first  shape ;  and  each  of  the  two  women  approached  each  other, 
and  they  embraced  one  another. 

So  the  King  Beder  Basim  knew  that  this  old  woman  was  the  mother  of  the  Queen, 
and  that  the  stratagem  had  been  accomplished  against  him,  and  he  desired  to  flee. 
But  lo,  the  old  woman  uttered  a  loud  whistle  ;  whereupon  there  presented  himself 
before  her  an  Afrite  like  a  great  mountain;  and  the  King  Beder  Basim  feared,  and 
stood  still.  The  old  woman  mounted  upon  his  back,  took  her  daughter  behind  her, 
and  the  King  Beder  Basim  before  her,  and  the  Afrite  flew  away  with  them,  and  there 
elapsed  but  a  short  time  before  they  arrived  at  the  palace  of  the  Queen  Labe,  after 
which,  when  she  had  seated  herself  upon  the  throne  of  her  kingdom,  she  looked  at 
the  King  Beder  Basim,  and  said  to  him,  0  young  wretch,  I  have  arrived  at  this  place, 
and  attained  what  I  desired,  and  I  will  show  thee  what  I  will  do  with  thee  and  with 
this  sheikh,  the  grocer.  How  many  benefits  have  I  conferred  upon  him,  and  he  doth 
evil  unto  me!  And  thou  hadst  not  attained  thy  desire  but  by  his  means.  —  Then 
she  took  some  water,  and  sprinkled  him  with  it,  saying  to  him.  Quit  this  form  in 
which  thou  now  art,  and  assume  the  form  of  a  bird  of  hideous  appearance,  the  most 
hideous  of  birds!  And  he  was  transformed  immediately,  and  became  a  bird  of 
hideous  appearance  ;  upon  which  she  put  him  into  a  cage,  and  withheld  from  him 
food  and  drink. 

But  a  slave-girl  looked  at  him,  and  had  compassion  on  him,  and  she  fed  him,  and 
gave  him  to  drink,  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Queen.  Then  the  slave-girl  found 
her  mistress  inadvertent  one  day,  and  she  went  forth  and  repaired  to  the  sheikh,  the 
grocer,  and  acquainted  him  with  the  case,  saying  to  him,  The  Queen  Labe  is  re- 
solved upon  the  destruction  of  the  son  of  thy  brother.  So  the  sheikh  thanked  her, 
and  said  to  her,  I  must  surely  take  the  city  from  her,  and  make  thee  Queen  in  her 
stead.  He  then  uttered  a  loud  whistle,  and  there  came  forth  to  him  an  Afrite  who 
had  four  wings,  and  he  said  to  him.  Take  this  slave-girl,  and  convey  her  to  the  city 
of  Gulnare  of  the  Sea,  and  to  her  mother  Farashah ;  for  they  two  are  the  most 
skilful  in  enchantment  of  all  existing  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  And  he  said  to 
the  slave-girl,  When  thou  hast  arrived  there,  inform  them  that  the  King  Beder  Basim 
is  a  captive  in  the  hands  of  the  Queen  Labe.  The  Afrite  therefore  took  her  up,  and 
flew  away  with  her,  and  but  a  short  time  had  elapsed  when  he  alighted  with  her 
upon  the  palace  of  the  Queen  Gulnare  of  the  Sea.  So  the  slave-girl  descended  from 
the  roof  of  the  palace,  and,  going  in  to  the  Queen  Gulnare,  kissed  the  ground,  and 
acquainted  her  with  the  events  that  had  happened  to  her  son  from  first  to  last;  upon 
which,  Gulnare  rose  to  her,  and  treated  her  with  honour,  and  thanked  her.  The 
drums  were  beaten  in  the  city  to  announce  the  good  tidings,  and  she  informed  her 
people,  and  the  great  men  of  her  empire,  that  the  King  Beder  Basim  had  been 
found. 

After  this,  Gulnare  of  the  Sea,  and  her  mother  Farashah,  and  her  brother  Saleh, 
summoned  all  the  tribes  of  the  Genii,  and  the  troops  of  the  sea;  for  the  Kings  of 
the  Genii  had  obeyed  them  after  the  captivity  of  the  King  Samandal.  Then  they 
flew  through  the  air,  and  alighted  upon  the  city  of  the  enchantress,  and  they  plun- 
dered the  palace,  and  slew  all  who  were  in  it.  They  also  plundered  the  city,  and 
slew  all  the  infidels  who  were  in  it  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye.  And  Gulnare  said 
to  the  slave-girl.  Where  is  my  son?  The  slave-girl  therefore  took  the  cage,  and 
brought  it  before  her,  and,  pointing  to  the  bird  that  was  within  it,  said.  This  is  thy 
son.  So  the  Queen  Gulnare  took  him  forth  from  the  cage,  and  she  took  in  her  hand 
some  water,  with  which  she  sprinkled  him,  saying  to  him,  Quit  this  form,  and  as- 
sume the  form  in  which  thou  wast !     And  her  words  were  not  ended  when  he  shook 


590  BEDER    BASIM    AND    GIOHARA. 

and  became  a  man  as  he  was  before  ;  and  when  his  mother  beheld  him  in  his  ori- 
ginal form,  she  rose  to  him  and  embraced  him,  and  he  wept  violently,  as  did  also 
his  maternal  uncle  Saleh,  and  his  grandmother  Farashah,  and  the  daughters  of  his 
uncle ;  and  they  began  to  kiss  his  hands  and  his  feet.  Then  Gulnare  sent  for  the 
sheikh  Abdallah,  and  thanked  him  for  his  kind  conduct  to  her  son  ;  and  she  mar- 
ried him  (the  sheikh)  to  the  slave-girl  whom  he  had  sent  to  her  with  the  news  of 
her  son.  So  he  took  her  as  his  wife  ;  and  Gulnare  made  him  King  of  that  city. 
And  she  summoned  those  Mahometans  who  remained  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  and  made  them  vow  allegiance  to  the  sheikh  Abdallah,  covenanting  with  them, 
and  making  them  swear,  that  they  would  ol)ey  and  serve  him  :  and  they  said,  We 
hear  and  obey. 

They  then  bade  farewell  to  the  sheikh  Abdallah  and  departed  to  their  city  ;  and 
when  they  entered  their  palace,  the  people  of  their  city  met  them  with  the  drums  to 
celebrate  the  good  news,  and  with  rejoicing.  They  decorated  the  city  for  three  days, 
on  account  of  their  exceeding  joy  at  the  arrival  of  their  King  Beder  Basim,  rejoic- 
ing greatly  at  his  return.  And  after  that,  the  King  Beder  Basim  said  to  his  mother, 
0  my  mother,  it  remaineth  only  that  I  marry,  and  that  we  all  be  united.  So  she 
replied,  0  my  son,  excellent  is  the  idea  that  thou  hast  formed ;  but  wait  until  we 
inquire  for  a  person  suitable  to  thee  among  the  daughters  of  the  Kings.  And  his 
grandmother  Farashah,  and  the  daughters  of  his  uncle,  and  his  maternal  uncle, 
said.  We,  0  Beder  Basim,  will  all  immediately  assist  thee  to  attain  what  thou  de- 
sirest.  Then  each  of  those  females  arose  and  went  to  search  through  the  countries, 
and  Gulnare  of  the  Sea  also  sent  her  female  slaves  upon  the  necks  of  the  Afrites, 
saying  to  them.  Leave  not  a  city,  nor  one  of  the  palaces  of  the  Kings,  without  at- 
tentively viewing  all  who  are  in  it  of  the  beautiful  damsels.  But  when  the  King 
Beder  Basim  saw  the  pains  that  they  were  taking  in  this  affair,  he  said  to  his  mo- 
ther Gulnare,  0  my  mother,  leave  this  affair;  for  none  will  content  me  save  Giohara 
the  daughter  of  the  King  Samandal,  since  she  is  a  jewel,  as  her  name  importeth. 
So  his  mother  replied,  I  know  thy  desire.  She  then  sent  immediately  persons  to 
bring  to  her  the  King  Samandal,  and  forthwith  they  brought  him  before  her;  where- 
upon she  sent  to  Beder  Basim  ;  and  when  he  came,  she  acquainted  him  with  the 
arrival  of  the  King  Samandal.  lie  therefore  went  in  to  him  ;  and  as  soon  as  the 
King  Samandal  saw  him  approaching,  he  rose  to  him  and  saluted  him  and  welcomed 
him.  Then  the  King  Beder  Basim  demanded  of  him  in  marriage  his  daughter  Gio- 
hara ;  and  he  replied.  She  is  at  thy  service,  and  she  is  thy  slave-girl,  and  at  thy  dis- 
posal. And  the  King  Samandal  sent  some  of  his  companions  to  his  country,  com- 
manding them  to  bring  his  daughter  Giohara,  and  to  inform  her  that  her  father  was 
with  the  King  Beder  Basim,  the  son  of  Gulnare  of  the  Sea.  So  they  flew  through 
the  air,  and  were  absent  a  while ;  after  wliich  they  came  back  accompanied  by  the 
Queen  Giohara ;  who,  when  she  beheld  her  father,  advanced  to  him  and  embraced 
him.  And  he  looked  at  her  and  said,  0  my  daughter,  know  that  I  have  married 
thee  to  this  magnanimous  King,  and  bold  lion,  the  King  Beder  Basim,  the  son  of 
the  Queen  Gulnare,  and  that  he  is  the  handsomest  of  the  people  of  his  age,  and  the 
most  lovely  of  them,  and  the  most  exalted  of  them  in  dignity,  and  the  most  noble 
of  them  in  rank  :  he  is  not  suitable  to  any  but  thee,  nor  art  thou  suitable  to  any  but 
him.  And  she  replied,  0  my  father,  I  cannot  oppose  thy  wish:  therefore  do  what 
thou  wilt;  for  anxiety  and  distress  have  ceased,  and  I  am  unto  him  of  the  number 
of  servants. 

So  thereupon  they  summoned  the  Cadies  and  the  witnesses,  and  they  performed 
the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  the  marriage  of  the  King  Beder  Basim,  the  son  of 
the  Queen  Gulnare  of  the  Sea,  to  the  Queen  Giohara.  The  people  of  the  city  deco- 
rated it,  sent  forth  the  announcers  of  the  glad  tidings,  and  released  all  who  were  in 
the  prisons;  and  the  King  clothed  the  widows  and  the  orphans,  and  conferred  robos 
of  honour  upon  the  lords  of  the  empire,  and  the  emirs  and  other  great  men.  Then 
they  celebrated  a  grand  festivity,  made  banquets,  and  continued  the  festivities  even- 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND   BEDIA   ELJKMAL.  591 

ing  and  morning  for  a  period  of  ten  days  ;  and  they  displayed  her  to  the  King  Beder 
Basim  in  nine  different  dresses.  After  this,  the  King  Beder  Basim  conferred  a  dress 
of  honour  upon  the  King  Samandal,  and  restored  him  to  his  country  and  his  family 
and  his  relations  ;  and  they  ceased  not  to  pass  the  most  delightful  life,  and  the  most 
agreeable  days,  eating  and  drinking,  and  enjoying  themselves,  until  they  were 
visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. 
This  is  the  end  of  their  story. — The  mercy  of  God  be  on  them  all. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Seven  Hundred  and  Fifty-sixth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  ^ 
Seven  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth. 


THE  STORY  OF  SEIFELMOLOUK  AND  BEDIA  ELJEMAL. 

There  was,  in  olden  times,  and  in  an  ancient  age  and  period,  in  Egypt,  a  King 
named  Asim  the  son  of  Safvran.  He  was  a  liberal,  munificent  King,  reverend  and 
dignified :  he  possessed  many  countries,  and  castles  and  fortresses,  and  troops  and 
soldiers,  and  he  had  a  Vizier  named  Faris  the  son  of  Saleh ;  and  they  all  worshipped 
the  sun  and  fire  instea,d  of  the  almighty  King,  the  Glorious,  the  Mighty  in  dominion. 
Now  this  King  became  a  very  old  man  ;  old  age  and  sickness  and  decrepitude  had 
rendered  him  infirm  ;  for  he  had  lived  a  hundred  and  eighty  years  ;  and  he  had  not 
a  male  child  nor  a  female  ;  on  account  of  which  he  was  in  a  state  of  anxiety  and 
grief  night  and  day.  And  it  happened  that  he  was  sitting  one  day  upon  the  throne 
of  his  kingdom,  with  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  the  chief  officers  and  the  lords  of 
the  empire  serving  him  according  to  their  custom  and  according  to  their  ranks  ;  and 
whosoever  of  the  Emirs  came  in  to  him  having  with  him  a  son,  or  two  sons,  the  King 
envied  him,  and  he  said  within  himself.  Every  one  is  happy  and  rejoicing  in  his 
children  ;  but  I  have  not  a  son,  and  to-morrow  I  shall  die,  and  leave  my  kingdom 
and  my  throne  and  my  lands  and  my  treasures  and  my  riches,  and  the  strangers  will 
take  them,  and  no  one  will  ever  remember  me ;  there  will  not  remain  any  memory 
of  me  in  the  world.  Then  the  King  Asim  became  drowned  in  the  sea  of  solicitude: 
and  in  consequence  of  the  rapid  succession  of  griefs  and  solicitudes  in  his  heart,  he 
wept,  and  descended  from  his  throne,  and  sat  up(m  the  floor,  weeping  and  humbling 
himself.  So  when  the  Vizier  and  the  assembly  of  the  great  men  of  the  empire  who 
were  present  saw  him  do  thus  with  himself,  they  called  out  to  the  people  and  said 
to  them,  Go  ye  to  your  abodes  and  rest  until  the  King  recover  from  the  state  in 
which  he  is. 

They  therefore  departed,  and  there  remained  not  any  excepting  the  King  and  the 
Vizier  ;  and  when  the  King  recovered,  the  Vizier  kissed  the  ground  before  him  and 
said  to  him,  0  king  of  the  age,  what  is  the  cause  of  this  weeping  ?  Inform  me  who 
of  the  Kings  and  the  lords  of  the  castles,  or  of  the  Emirs  and  the  lords  of  the  empire, 
hath  become  thine  enemy,  and  acquaint  me  who  opposeth  thee,  OKing,  that  we  may 
all  attack  him,  and  take  his  soul  from  between  his  sides.  — But  the  King  spoke  not 
nor  raised  his  head.  Then  the  Vizier  kissed  the  ground  before  him  a  second  time, 
and  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  am  like  thy  son  and  thy  slave;  nay,  I  have 


592  BEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL. 

reared  thee;  and  I  know  not  the  cause  of  thy  grief  and  thine  anxiety  and  thy  dis- 
tress and  the  state  in  which  thou  art.  Who  then  beside  me  can  know,  and  stand  in 
my  stead  before  thee?  Acquaint  me  therefore  with  the  cause  of  this  weeping  and 
mourning. — Yet  he  spoke  not,  nor  opened  his  mouth,  nor  raised  his  head  ;  but  ceased 
not  to  weep,  and  he  cried  out  with  a  loud  voice,  and  wailed  exceedingly,  and  cried, 
Ah  ! — while  the  Vizier  regarded  him  patiently.  And  after  that  the  Vizier  said  to 
him.  If  thou  tell  me  not  the  cause  of  this,  I  will  kill  myself  before  thee  immediately 
while  thou  lookest  on,  rather  than  see  thee  in  anxiety.  So  the  King  Asim  thereupon 
raised  his  head,  and  wiped  away  his  tears,  and  said,  0  faithful  Vizier,  leave  me  in 
my  anxiety  and  my  grief;  for  the  sorrows  in  my  heart  are  sufficient  for  me.  But 
the  Vizier  replied.  Tell  me,  0  King,  what  is  the  cause  of  this  weeping:  perhaps  God 
may  give  thee  relief  by  my 'means.  And  the  King  said  to  him,  O  Vizier,  my  weep- 
ing is  not  on  account  of  wealth  nor  on  account  of  horses  nor  on  account  of  anything 
but  this,  that  I  have  become  an  old  man,  and  my  age  is  about  a  hundred  and  eighty 
years,  and  I  have  not  been  blessed  with  a  male  child  nor  a  female ;  so  when  I  die, 
they  will  bury  me;  then  will  every  trace  of  me  be  obliterated,  and  my  name  v»'ill  be- 
come extinct,  and  strangers  will  take  my  throne  and  my  kingdom,  and  no  one  will 
ever  remember  me.  To  this  the  Vizier  replied,  O  King  of  the  age,  I  am  older  than 
thou  by  a  hundred  years,  and  have  never  been  blessed  with  a  child,  and  I  cease  not 
to  suffer  anxiety  and  grief  night  and  day  ;  and  what  shall  we  do,  I  and  thou?  But 
I  have  heard  of  the  fame  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace !), 
and  that  he  hath  a  mighty  Lord,  able  to  accomplish  everything.  It  is  meet  therefore 
that  I  repair  unto  him  with  a  present,  and  have  recourse  to  him,  that  he  may  petition 
his  Lord  :  perhaps  He  may  bless  each  of  us  with  a  child. — The  Vizier  then  prepared 
for  the  journey,  took  a  magnificent  present,  and  repaired  with  it  to  Solomon  the  son 
of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!). — Such  was  the  case  of  the  Vizier. 

Now  as  to  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!),  God  (whose 
perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted  !)  spoke  in  revelation  unto  him, 
and  said,  O  Solomon,  verily  the  King  of  Egypt  hath  sent  to  thee  this  chief  V^izier, 
with  presents  and  rarities,  which  are  such  and  such  things.  Send  thou  therefore 
unto  him  thy  Vizier  Asaph  the  son  of  Barkia,  to  meet  him  with  honour  and  with 
provisions  at  the  halting  places;  and  when  he  presenteth  himself  before  thee,  say  to 
him,  Verily  the  King  hath  sent  thee  to  demand  such  and  such  things,  and  thine  affair 
is  so  and  so.  Then  propose  to  him  the  faith. — So  upon  this  Solomon  ordered  his 
Vizier  Asaph  to  take  with  him  a  company  of  his  dependants,  to  meet  them  with 
honour  and  with  sumptuous  provisions  at  the  halting  places.  Accordingly  Asaph 
went  forth,  after  he  had  prepared  all  things  necessary,  to  meet  them,  and  he  pro- 
ceeded until  he  came  to  Faris,  the  Vizier  of  the  King  of  Egypt.  He  met  him  and 
saluted  him,  and  treated  him  and  those  who  accompanied  him  with  exceeding  honour, 
and  proceeded  to  present  to  them  the  provisions  and  the  provender  at  the  halting 
places ;  and  he  said  to  him,  A  friendly  and  free  and  ample  welcome  to  the  coming 
guests  !  Rejoice  ye  at  the  information  of  the  accomplishment  of  your  affair,  and  let 
your  hearts  be  glad  and  your  eyes  be  cheerful  and  your  bosoms  be  dilated  ! — So  the 
Vizier  said  within  himself.  Who  acquainted  them  with  this  ?  Then  he  said  to  Asaph 
the  son  of  Barkia,  And  who  informed  you  of  us  and  of  our  desires,  0  my  lord? 
Asaph  answered  him.  Verily  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace  !) ; 
he  it  was  who  informed  us  of  this.  And  who,  said  the  Vizier  Faris,  informed  our 
lord  Solomon?  He  answered  him.  The  Lord  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  the 
God  of  all  creatures,  informed  him.  And  the  Vizier  Faris  replied,  This  is  none  other 
than  a  mighty  God  !  So  Asaph  the  son  of  Barkia  said  to  him.  And  do  ye  not  worship 
lliin  ?  Faris  the  Vizier  of  the  King  of  Egypt  answered,  We  worship  the  sun,  and 
prostrate  ourselves  to  it.  Asaph  therefore  replied,  0  Vizier  Faris,  Verily  the  sun  is 
a  star,  of  the  number  of  the  stars  created  by  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and 
whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  Cat  be  it  from  being  a  Lord  !     For  the  sun  appcareth 


SEIFELMOLOUK  AND    BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  593 

at  times,  and  is  absent  at  times,  and  our  Lord  is  always  present,  never  absent,  and 
He  is  able  to  effect  everything. 

They  then  journeyed  on  a  little  until  they  came  near  to  the  seat  of  government  of 
Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace  !),  when  Solomon  ordered  his 
troops  of  mankind  and  of  the  Genii  and  other  creatures  to  range  themselves  in  their 
way  in  ranks.  So  the  wild  creatures  of  the  sea,  and  the  elephants  and  the  leopards 
and  the  lynxes,  all  stationed  themselves,  and  ranged  themselves  in  the  way  in  two 
ranks.  The  species  of  each  kind  collected  themselves  into  separate  bodies,  and  in 
like  manner  did  the  Genii ;  each  of  which  appeared  to  the  eyes  unhidden,  in  a  ter- 
rible form  ;  and  they  were  of  various  descriptions.  They  all  stood  in  two  ranks, 
and  the  birds  spread  their  wings  over  the  other  creatures  to  shade  them,  warbling 
one  to  another  with  all  tongues  and  with  all  notes.  Therefore  when  the  people  of 
Egypt  came  to  them,  they  dreaded  them,  and  dared  not  to  proceed  :  but  Asaph  said  to 
them.  Enter  amid  them  and  pass  on,  and  fear  them  not ;  for  they  are  the  subjects  of 
Solomon  the  son  of  David,  and  none  of  them  will  hurt  you  Then  Asaph  entered 
among  them  ;  and  all  the  people  entered  behind  him,  the  party  of  the  Vizier  of  the 
King  of  Egypt  being  among  them  :  but  they  were  in  fear.  They  ceased  not  to  pro-, 
ceed  until  they  arrived  at  the  city,  when  they  lodged  them  in  the  mansion  of  enter- 
tainment, treated  them  with  the  utmost  honour,  and  brought  to  them  sumptuous 
banquets  during  a  period  of  three  days. 

After  this,  they  brought  them  before  Solomon  the  Prophet  of  God  (peace  be  on 
him  !);  and  when  they  went  in  to  him,  they  desired  to  kiss  the  ground  before  him  ; 
but  he  prevented  their  doing  so,  and  said,  It  is  not  meet  that  a  man  prostrate  him- 
self upon  the  ground  save  unto  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!),  the 
Creator  of  the  earth  and  the  heavens  and  all  other  things  ;  and  whoever  among  you 
desireth  to  stand,  let  him  stand :  but  none  of  you  shall  stand  in  attendance  upon 
me.  They  therefore  complied,  and  the  Vizier  Faris  sat,  and  some  of  his  servants ; 
but  some  of  the  inferiors  stood  waiting  upon  him  ;  and  when  they  had  sat  awhile, 
the  servants  spread  for  them  the  tables,  and  the  people  all  ate  of  the  repast  until 
they  were  satisfied.  Then  Solomon  commanded  the  Vizier  of  Egypt  to  mention  his 
affair,  that  it  might  be  accomplished,  and  said  to  him,  Speak,  and  conceal  not  aught 
of  that  on  account  of  which  thou  hast  come :  for  thou  hast  not  come  save  for  the  ac- 
complishment of  an  affair;  and  I  will  inform  thee  thereof.  It  is  thus  and  thus:  the 
King  of  Egypt  who  sent  thee  is  named  Asim,  and  he  hath  become  a  very  old  man, 
decrepit,  infirm;  and  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath  not  blessed  him  with  a 
male  child  nor  a  female.  He  hath  therefore  been  in  a  state  of  grief  and  anxiety 
and  solicitude  night  and  day,  until  it  happened  to  him  that  he  was  sitting  upon  the 
throne  of  his  kingdom  one  day,  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  the  great  men  of  his 
empire  came  in  to  him,  and  he  saw  some  of  them  having  two  sons  each,  and  some 
having  one  son,  and  some  of  them  having  three  sons,  and  they  came  in  accompanied 
by  their  sons,  and  stood  in  attendance  upon  him.  So  he  meditated  in  himself,  and 
said,  by  reason  of  the  excess  of  his  sorrow,  Who  will  take  my  kingdom  after  my 
death  ?  And  will  any  but  a  stranger  take  it  ?  Thus  I  shall  be  as  though  I  had 
never  been.  lie  became  drowned  in  the  sea  of  solitude  on  account  of  this,  and 
ceased  not  to  remain  in  solitude  and  sorrow  until  his  eyes  overflowed  with  tears,  and 
he  covered  his  face  with  the  handkerchief,  and  wept  violently.  Then  he  arose  from 
his  throne,  and  sat  upon  the  floor,  weeping  and  lamenting,  and  none  knew  what  was 
in  his  heart,  excepting  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  while  he  thus  sat  upon  the 
floor. — And  when  the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom 
be  peace  !).  had  informed  the  Vizier  Faris  of  the  sorrow  and  weeping  of  the  King, 
and  what  had  happened  between  him  and  his  Vizier  from  first  to  last,  he  said  after 
that  to  the  Vizier  Faris,  Is  this  which  I  have  told  thee,  0  Vizier,  true?  So  the 
Vizier  Faris  answered,  0  Prophet  of  God,  verily  that  which  thou  hast  said  is  true 
and  correct;  but,  O  Prophet  of  God,  when  I  was  conversing  with  the  King  respect- 
ing this  matter,  there  was  not  with  us  any  one,  and  not  one  of  the  people  knew  our 
38 


594  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

case.  Who  then  informed  thee  of  all  these  things? — He  replied,  My  Lord,  who 
knoweth  the  furtive  glance  and  what  the  bosoms  conceal,  informed  me.  So  there- 
upon the  Vizier  Paris  said,  0  Prophet  of  God,  this  is  none  other  than  an  excellent, 
mighty  Lord,  able  to  accomplish  everything.  And  the  Vizier  Faris  embraced  the 
true  faith,  he  and  they  who  were  with  him. 

The  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon,  then  said  to  the  Vizier,  Verily  thou  hast  with  thee 
such  and  such  rarities  and  presents.  The  Vizier  replied,  Yes.  And  Solomon  said 
to  him,  I  accept  from  thee  all  of  them ;  but  I  give  them  unto  thee  ;  and  rest  thou, 
and  those  who  are  with  thee,  in  the  place  where  ye  took  up  your  quarters,  that  the 
fatigue  of  the  journey  may  quit  you,  and  to-morrow,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted !),  thine  affair  shall  be  accomplished  in  the  most  complete  manner, 
by  the  will  of  God,  the  Lord  of  the  earth  and  the  heaven,  and  the  Creator  of  all 
creatures.  Then  the  Vizier  Faris  went  to  his  place ;  and  he  repaired  to  the  lord 
Solomon  on  the  following  day;  whereupon  the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon,  said  to 
him,  When  thou  hast  come  unto  the  King  Asim  the  son  of  Safwan,  and  hast  an  in- 
terview with  him,  do  ye  both  ascend  such  a  tree,  and  sit  silent ;  and  when  it  is  the 
period  between  the  morning  and  evening-prayers,  and  the  midday-heat  hath  become 
assuaged,  descend  ye  to  the  foot  of  the  tree,  and  look  ye  there :  ye  will  find  two 
large  serpents  coming  forth  ;  the  head  of  one  being  like  the  head  of  the  ape,  and  the 
head  of  the  other  like  the  head  of  an  Afrite.  When  ye  see  them,  smite  ye  them 
with  arrows,  and  kill  them  ;  then  [cut  off  and]  throw  away,  from  the  head-part  of 
each  of  them,  as  much  as  one  span's  length,  and  of  the  tail-part  of  each  of  them 
likewise  :  so  their  flesh  will  remain,  and  do  ye  cook  it,  and  cook  it  well,  and  feed 
your  two  wives  with  it,  and  ye  will  obtain  by  them,  by  the  permission  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!),  male  children. — Then  Solomon  (on  whom  be  peace!)  caused  to 
be  brought  a  seal-ring  and  a  sword,  and  a  wrapper  containing  a  tunic  ornamented 
with  jewels,  and  he  said,  0  Vizier  Faris,  when  the  two  sons  of  you  twain  shall  have 
grown  up,  and  attained  to  manhood,  give  ye  to  each  one  of  them  one  of  these  things. 
And  after  this,  he  said  to  the  Vizier,  In  the  name  of  God!  May  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted!)  accomplish  thine  affair!  And  now  there  reniainoth  not  aught  for  thee 
to  do  but  that  thou  set  forth  on  thy  journey,  relying  upon  the  blessing  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!) ;  for  the  King  is  night  and  day  expecting  thine  arrival,  and  his 
eye  is  constantly  gazing  upon  the  way. — So  upon  this  the  Vizier  Faris  advanced  to 
the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!),  and 
bade  him  farewell,  and  went  forth  from  him,  after  he  had  kissed  his  hands. 

He  journeyed  on  during  the  rest  of  that  day,  full  of  joy  on  account  of  the  accom- 
plishment of  his  affair,  and  he  prosecuted  his  journey  with  diligence  night  and  day, 
and  ceased  not  to  travel  on  until  he  came  near  to  Egypt,  when  he  sent  one  of  his 
servants  to  acquaint  the  King  Asim  therewith.  So  when  the  King  Asim  heard  of 
his  arrival  and  of  the  accomplishment  of  his  affiiir,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly,  he  and 
his  chief  officers  and  the  lords  of  his  kingdom  and  all  his  troops,  and  especially  at 
the  safety  of  the  Vizier  Faris.  And  when  the  King  and  the  A''izier  met  each  other, 
the  Vizier  alighted,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  gave  the  King  the  glad 
tidings  of  the  accomplishment  of  his  affair  in  the  most  complete  manner;  after 
which  he  proposed  to  him  the  true  faith  ;  whereupon  the  King  Asim  embraced  the 
true  faith,  with  all  his  subjects,  and  said  to  the  Vizier  Faris,  Go  to  thy  house  and 
rest  thyself  this  night,  and  rest  thyself  also  for  a  week,  and  enter  the  bath:  after 
that,  come  to  me,  that  I  may  inform  thee  of  a  thing  respecting  which  we  must  de- 
liberate. So  the  Vizier  kissed  the  ground  and  departed,  he  and  his  dependants  and 
his  young  men  and  his  servants,  to  his  house,  and  he  rested  eight  days ;  after  which 
he  repaired  to  the  King,  and  related  to  him  all  that  had  occurred  between  him  and 
Solomon  the  son  of  David,  on  both  of  whom  be  peace  !  He  then  said  to  the  King, 
Arise  thou  alone,  and  come  with  me.  He  therefore  arose  with  the  Vizier,  and  they 
took  two  bows  and  two  arrows,  ascended  the  tree,  and  sat  silent  until  the  period  of 
midday  had  passed,  and  ceased  not  to  remain  so  until  near  the  time  of  afternoon- 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  695 

prayers,  when  they  descended,  and  looked,  and  saw  two  large  serpents  come  forth 
from  the  foot  of  the  tree.  The  King  looked  at  them,  and  liked  them  ;  for  they  ex- 
cited his  admiration  when  he  saw  them  with  collars  of  gold  ;  and  he  said,  0  Vizier, 
verily  these  two  serpents  are  adorned  with  collars  of  gold !  By  Allah,  this  is  a 
wonderful  thing!  let  us  take  them  and  put  them  into  a  cage,  and  divert  ourselves 
with  the  sight  of  them.  —  But  the  Vizier  replied,  These  hath  God  created  for  their 
use  :  so  smite  thou  one  with  an  arrow,  and  I  will  smite  one  with  an  arrow.  Ac- 
cordingly they  both  shot  at  them  with  the  arrows,  and  slew  them  ;  and  they  cut  off 
from  the  head-part  of  each  of  them  a  span,  and  from  the  tail-part  of  each  a  span, 
and  threw  away  these  pieces.  They  then  went  with  the  rest  to  the  King's  palace, 
demanded  the  cook,  and  gave  him  that  meat,  saying  to  him.  Cook  this  meat  nicely, 
with  onion-sauce  and  spices,  and  ladle  it  out  into  two  saucers,  and  bring  them  hither 
at  such  a  time  and  at  such  an  hour,  and  delay  not.  So  the  cook  took  the  meat,  and 
went  with  it  to  the  kitchen,  and  he  cooked  it  well,  with  excellent  onion-sauce ;  after 
which  he  ladled  it  out  into  two  saucers,  and  brought  them  before  the  King  and  the 
Vizier.  The  King  therefore  took  a  saucer,  and  the  Vizier  a  saucer,  and  they  fed 
with  them  their  two  wives ;  and  by  the  good  pleasure  of  God  (whose  perfection  be 
extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  his  power  and  will,  it  happened,  that 
night,  as  the  Prophet  of  God,  Solomon,  had  said. 

The  King  remained,  after  that,  three  months  disturbed  in  heart,  saying  within 
himself,  I  wonder  whether  this  thing  be  true  or  not  true.  Then  his  wife  was  sitting 
one  day,  and  she  felt  symptoms  of  becoming  a  mother,  and  she  was  pained,  and  her 
complexion  changed.  So  she  summoned  one  of  the  eunuchs  who  were  with  her,  and 
he  was  one  of  the  chief  of  them,  and  she  said,  Go  to  the  King,  wherever  he  is,  and 
say  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  give  thee  the  glad  tidings  that  our  mistress  hath 
felt  symptoms  of  her  becoming  a  mother.  The  eunuch  therefore  went  forth  quickly, 
full  of  joy,  and  he  saw  the  King  alone,  with  his  hand  upon  his  cheek,  meditating 
on  this  subject;  so  the  eunuch  approached  him,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him, 
and  informed  him  of  this  fact.  And  when  he  heard  the  words  of  the  eunuch,  he 
rose  upon  his  feet,  and,  in  the  excess  of  his  joy,  kissed  the  hand  of  the  eunuch,  and 
his  head,  and,  having  pulled  off  the  apparel  that  was  on  himself,  gave  it  to  him  ;  and 
he  said  to  those  who  were  present  in  his  hall  of  assembly,  Whosoever  loveth  me,  let 
him  bestow  favours  upon  him.  They  therefore  gave  him,  of  riches  and  jewels  and 
jacinths  and  horses  and  mules  and  gardens,  what  could  not  be  numbered  nor  calcu- 
lated. Then  the  Vizier  came  in  at  that  time  to  the  King,  and  said,  0  King  of  the 
age,  I  was  just  now  sitting  alone  in  the  house,  troubled  in  heart,  meditating  upon 
■  the  state  of  my  wife,  and  saying  within  myself,  I  wonder  whether  it  be  true,  and 
whether  Katoun  will  bear  me  a  child  or  not  —  when  lo,  the  eunuch  came  in  to  me, 
and  gave  me  the  glad  tidings  that  my  wife  Katoun  had  felt  symptoms  of  becoming  a 
mother,  and  that  her  complexion  was  changed  ;  whereupon,  in  my  joy,  I  pulled  off 
all  the  apparel  that  was  upon  me,  and  gave  it  to  the  eunuch  ;  and  I  gave  him  a  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold,  and  made  him  the  chief  of  the  eunuchs.  Then  the  King  Asim, 
said,  0  Vizier,  verily  God  (blessed  be  He,  and  exalted  be  his  name!)  hath  favoured 
us,  in  his  bounty  and  goodness  and  liberality  and  beneficence,  with  the  right  re- 
ligion, and  honoured  us  in  his  graciousness  and  bounty,  and  brought  us  out  from 
darkness  into  light;  and  I  desire  to  relieve  the  people,  and  to  rejoice  them.  So  the 
Vizier  replied.  Do  what  thou  desirest.  And  he  said,  0  Vizier,  go  down  immediately, 
and  take  forth  every  one  who  is  in  the  prison,  of  the  criminals  and  debtors ;  and 
whosoever  shall  be  guilty  of  an  offence  after  that,  we  will  requite  him  with  that 
which  he  shall  deserve.  We  will  also  take  off  from  the  people  the  tribute  for  three 
years,  and  do  thou  set  up  around  this  city  kitchens,  around  the  walls,  and  order  the 
cooks  to  suspend  there  all  kinds  of  cooking-pots,  to  cook  all  kinds  of  viands,  and  to 
continue  the  cooking  night  and  day  ;  and  all  who  are  in  this  city,  and  in  the  sur- 
rounding tracts,  near  and  distant,  shall  eat  and  drink  and  carry  to  their  houses. 


596  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

Order  them  also  to  make  merry,  and  to  decorate  the  city  seven  days,  and  not  to  shut 
their  shops  night  nor  day. 

So  the  Vizier  went  forth  immediately,  and  did  as  the  King  Asim  had  commanded 
him.  They  decorated  the  city  and  the  castle  and  the  towers  in  the  most  beautiful 
manner,  and  clad  themselves  in  the  best  of  apparel ;  and  the  people  passed  their 
time  in  eating  and  drinking  and  play  and  merriment  until  the  period  of  the  de- 
livery of  the  King's  wife,  after  the  fulfilment  of  her  days,  when  she  gave  birth  to  a 
male  child  like  the  moon  in  the  night  of  its  fulness,  and  the  King  named  hira 
Seifelmolouk.  Likewise  the  wife  of  the  Vizier  gave  birth  to  a  boy  like  a  lamp,  and 
he  named  him  Said.  When  they  had  attained  to  years  of  discretion,  the  King  Asim, 
whenever  he  beheld  them,  rejoiced  in  them  exceedingly ;  and  when  their  age  had 
become  twenty  years,  the  King  summoned  his  Vizier  Faris  to  a  private  interview, 
and  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  a  thing  hath  occurred  to  my  mind,  and  I  desire  to  do  it ; 
but  I  will  consult  thee  respecting  it.  The  Vizier  replied.  Whatever  hath  occurred 
to  thy  mind,  do  it ;  for  thy  judgment  is  blessed.  And  the  King  Asim  said,  0  Vizier, 
I  have  become  a  very  old,  decrepit  man  ;  for  I  am  far  advanced  in  years;  and  I  de- 
sire to  reside  in  a  mosque,  to  worship  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  give  my 
kingdom  and  my  empire  to  my  son  Seifelmolouk  ;  since  he  is  now  a  comely  young 
man,  perfect  in  horsemanship  and  intellect  and  polite  literature  and  gravity  and  the 
art  of  government.  What  then  sayest  thou,  0  Vizier,  of  this  idea?  —  The  Vizier 
answered,  Excellent  is  the  idea  that  thou  hast  formed.  It  is  a  blessed  and  fortunate 
idea ;  and  if  thou  do  this,  I  also  will  do  like  thee,  and  my  son  Said  shall  be  Vizier 
unto  him;  for  he  is  a  comely  young  man,  a  person  of  knowledge  and  judgment. 
Thus  the  two  shall  be  together,  and  we  will  arrange  their  affair,  and  will  not  be 
negligent  respecting  their  case,  but  guide  them  to  the  right  way.  —  Then  the  King 
Asim  said  to  his  Vizier,  Write  the  letters,  and  send  them  by  the  couriers  to  all  the 
provinces  and  districts  and  fortresses  and  castles  that  are  under  our  authority,  and 
order  their  chiefs  to  be  present  in  such  a  month  in  the  Horse-course  of  the  Elephant. 
The  Vizier  Faris  therefore  went  forth  immediately,  and  wrote  to  all  the  governors 
and  the  commanders  of  the  castles,  and  others  who  were  under  the  authority  of  the 
King  Asim,  commanding  them  all  to  be  present  in  that  month;  and  he  ordered  that 
every  one  who  was  in  the  city  should  be  present,  the  distant  and  the  near. 

Then  the  King  Asim,  after  the  expiration  of  the  greater  part  of  the  interval,  com- 
manded the  servants  to  pitch  the  tents  in  the  midst  of  the  horse-course,  and  to  deco- 
rate them  in  the  most  sumptuous  manner,  and  to  set  the  great  throne  upon  which 
the  King  sat  not  save  on  the  occasions  of  festivals.  So  they  did  immediately  all  that 
he  commanded  them  ;  they  set  the  throne,  and  the  lieutenants  and  chamberlains  and 
Emirs  went  forth.  The  King  also  went  forth,  and  commanded  to  proclaim  among 
the  people,  In  the  name  of  God  !  Come  forth  to  the  horse-course  ! — Accordingly  the 
Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  the  governors  of  the  provinces  and  the  cultivated  tracts, 
came  forth  to  that  horse-course,  and  betook  themselves  to  the  service  of  the  King  as 
was  their  custom,  and  they  all  remained  in  their  several  places :  some  of  them  sat 
and  some  stood,  until  all  the  people  had  collected,  when  the  King  gave  orders  to 
spread  the  table.  They  therefore  spread  it,  and  they  ate  and  drank,  and  prayed  for 
the  King.  Then  the  King  commanded  the  chamberlains  to  proclaim  among  the 
people  that  they  should  not  depart.  So  they  proclaimed,  and  said  in  their  proclama- 
tion. Not  one  of  you  shall  go  until  he  heareth  the  words  of  the  King  I  Then  they 
raised  the  curtains,  and  the  King  said.  Whoso  loveth  me,  let  him  remain  until  he 
heareth  my  words.  Wherefore  all  the  people  sat  with  tranquil  souls,  after  they  had 
been  fearful.  And  the  King  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  made  them  swear  that  none  of 
them  would  rise  from  his  place  ;  and  he  said  to  them,  0  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  lords 
of  the  empire,  great  and  small,  and  whosoever  is  present  of  all  the  people,  do  ye 
know  that  this  kingdom  was  an  heritage  unto  me  from  my  fathers  and  forefathers? 
They  answered  him,  Yes,  0  King:  all  of  us  know  that.  And  he  said  to  them,  I  and 
ye  all  worshipped  the  sun  and  the  moon,  and  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  1)  blest»od 


SEIFELMOLOTJK  AND   EEDIA   ELJEMAL.  597 

OS  with  the  true  faith,  and  delivered  us  from  darkness  into  light,  and  God  (whose 
perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted  !)  guided  us  unto  the  true  religion. 
Know  also  that  I  have  now  become  a  very  old  man,  decrepit,  impotent ;  and  I  desire 
to  sit  in  a  mosque,  there  to  worship  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  and  to  beg  his 
forgiveness  of  past  offences  ;  and  this  my  son  Seifelmolouk  shall  be  ruler.  Ye  know 
that  he  is  a  comely  young  man,  eloquent,  acquainted  with  the  aSairs  of  the  world, 
intelligent,  excelling  in  science,  just.  I  therefore  desire  at  this  present  time  to  give 
him  my  kingdom,  and  to  make  him  King  over  you  in  my  stead,  and  seat  him  as 
Sultan  in  my  place.  So  I  will  retire  to  worship  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  in  a 
mosque,  and  my  son  Seifelmolouk  will  be  invested  with  the  sovereignty,  and  judge 
between  you.  What  then  do  ye  all  say? — And  upon  this,  they  all  rose,  and,  having 
kissed  the  ground  before  him,  answered.  We  hear  and  obey.  And  they  said,  0  our 
King  and  our  defender,  shouldst  thou  set  over  us  one  of  thy  slaves,  we  would  obey 
him,  and  attend  to  thy  words,  and  comply  with  thy  command  ;  how  then  in  the 
case  of  thy  son  Seifelmolouk  ?  We  accept  him  and  approve  of  him,  on  the  eye  and 
the  head. 

So  thereupon  the  King  Asim  the  son  of  Safwan  arose,  and  descended  from  his 
throne,  and,  having  seated  his  son  on  the  great  throne,  took  the  crown  from  his  own 
head,  and  put  it  on  the  head  of  his  son,  and  he  girded  his  waist  with  the  royal  girdle. 
Then  the  King  Asim  seated  himself  upon  the  throne  of  his  kingdom,  by  the  side  of 
his  son;  and  the  Emirs  and  Viziers,  and  the  great  men  of  the  empire,  and  all  the 
people,  arose,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  stood  saying  one  to  another, 
He  is  worthy  of  the  sovereignty,  and  he  is  more  worthy  of  it  than  any  other.  They 
made  proclamation  of  safety,  and  offered  up  prayers  in  his  favour  for  victory  and 
good  fortune :  and  Seifelmolouk  scattered  gold  and  silver  over  the  heads  of  all  the 
people,  conferred  robes  of  honour,  and  gave  and  bestowed.  Then,  after  a  moment, 
the  Vizier  Faris  arose,  and  kissed  the  ground,  and  said,  0  Emirs,  0  lords  of  the 
empire,  do  ye  know  that  I  am  Vizier,  and  that  my  office  of  Vizier  commenced  of  old, 
before  the  King  Asim  the  son' of  Safwan  was  invested  with  the  sovereignty,  who  hath 
now  divested  himself  of  the  sovereignty  and  invested  his  son  in  his  stead?  They 
answered.  Yes :  we  know  that  thou  hast  inherited  thine  office  of  Vizier  from  father 
after  grandfather.  And  he  said.  And  now  I  divest  myself,  and  invest  this  my  son 
Said  ;  for  he  is  intelligent,  sagacious,  knowing.  What  then  say  ye  all? — And  they 
answered.  None  is  fit  to  be  Vizier  to  the  King  Seifelmolouk  except  thy  son  Said;  for 
they  are  suited  one  to  the  other.  So  thereupon  the  Vizier  Faris  arose,  and  took  off 
his  Vizier's  turban,  and  put  it  on  the  head  of  his  son  Said,  and  he  put  the  Vizier's 
ink-case  before  him  also.  And  the  chamberlains  and  emirs  said.  Verily  he  deserveth 
the  office  of  Vizier.  Then  the  King  Asim  and  the  Vizier  Faris  arose,  and  opened 
the  treasuries,  and  conferred  sumptuous  robes  of  honour  upon  the  Kings  and  Emirs 
and  Viziers,  and  the  great  men  of  the  empire,  and  all  the  people  ;  gave  salaries  and 
benefactions,  and  wrote  for  them  new  diplomas  and  mandates  with  the  signature  of 
Seifelmolouk  and  the  signature  of  the  Vizier  Said  the  son  of  the  Vizier  Faris ;  and 
the  people  [of  the  provinces]  remained  in  the  city  for  a  week,  after  which  each  of 
them  journeyed  to  his  district  and  his  place. 

The  King  Asim  then  took  his  son  Seifelmolouk,  and  Said  the  son  of  the  old  Vizier, 
and  they  entered  the  city,  went  up  to  the  palace,  and,  having  summoned  the 
Treasurer,  ordered  him  to  bring  the  seal-ring  and  the  sword  and  the  wrapper  ;  and 
the  King  Asim  said,  0  my  sons,  come:  each  of  you  shall  choose  something  from  this 
present  and  take  it.  And  the  first  who  put  forth  his  hand  was  Seifelmolouk,  who 
took  the  wrapper  and  the  seal-ring ;  and  Said  put  forth  his  hand,  and  took  the  sword  ; 
after  which  they  kissed  the  hands  of  the  Old  King,  and  departed  to  their  dwelling- 
places.  Now  when  Seifelmolouk  took  the  wrapper,  he  did  not  open  it,  nor  look  at 
what  was  in  it,  but  he  threw  it  upon  the  couch  on  which  he  slept  at  night,  together 
with  his  Vizier  Said  ;  for  it  was  their  custom  to  sleep  together.  They  spread  their 
bed,  and  the  two  lay  down  together  upon  it,  the  candles  shedding  their  light  upon 


598  SEIFELMOLOUZ  AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

them  ;  and  they  remained  until  midnight.  Then  Seifelmolouk  awoke  from  his  sleeps 
and,  seeing  the  wrapper  at  his  head,  he  said  within  himself,  I  wonder  what  is  in  this 
wrapper  which  the  King  hath  given  us  among  the  rarities.  So  he  took  it,  and  took 
a  candle,  and  descended  from  the  couch,  leaving  Said  asleep  ;  and  he  entered  a  closet, 
and  opened  the  wrapper;  whereupon  he  saw  in  it  a  tunic  of  the  fabric  of  the  Genii. 
He  then  opened  the  tunic,  and  spread  it  out,  and  found  upon  the  lining  of  the  back 
part  of  it  the  portrait  of  a  damsel,  delineated  in  gold;  but  her  loveliness  was  won- 
derful. When  he  saw  this  portrait,  his  reason  fled  from  his  head :  he  became  mad 
with  love  of  it,  and  fell  upon  the  floor  in  a  fit,  and  began  to  weep  and  wail,  and  to 
slap  his  face  and  his  bosom,  and  to  kiss  the  portrait. 

He  ceased  not  to  wail  and  weep,  and  to  slap  his  face  and  his  bosom,  until  the 
Vizier  Said  awoke,  and  looked  at  the  bed,  and  saw  not  Seifelmolouk  ;  but  he  saw  a 
candle;  and  he  said  within  himself,  Whither  is  Seifelmolouk  gone?     He  then  took 
the  candle,  and  proceeded  to  search  through  all  the  palace  until  he  came  to  the  closet 
in  which  Seifelmolouk  was,  when  he  saw  him  weeping  violently  and  wailing.     So  he 
said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  for  what  reason  is  this  weeping?     What  hath  happened 
to  thee  ?     Tell  me,  and  acquaint  me  with  the  cause  of  this. — But  Seifelmolouk  spoke 
not  to  him,  nor  raised  his  bead:  he  still  wept  and  wailed,  and  struck  his  hand  upon 
his  bosom.     Therefore  when  Said  saw  him  in  this  state,  he  said,  I  am  thy  Vizier 
and  thy  brother,  and  I  was  reared  with  thee  ;  and  if  thou  do  not  discover  to  me 
thine  affixirs,  and  make  me  acquainted  with  thy  secret,  to  whom  wilt  thou  reveal  thy 
secret,  and  whom  wilt  thou  make  acquainted  with  it  ?     And   Said  ceased  not  to 
humble  himself  and  to  kiss  the  ground  for  some  time,  while  Seifelmolouk  looked  not 
towards  him,  nor  spoke  to  him  a  single  word ;  but  continued  weeping.     And  when 
his  state  alarmed  Said,  and  his  case  wearied  him,  he  went  forth  from  him,  and, 
taking  a  sword,  entered  the  closet  in  which  was  Seifelmolouk,  and  put  the  point  of 
the  sword  to  his  own  bosom,  and  said  to  Seifelmolouk,  Rouse  thyself,  0  my  brother! 
If  thou  tell  me  not  what  hath  happened  to  thee,  I  will  slay  myself,  rather  than  see 
thee  in  this  state.  —  So  upon  this,  Seifelmolouk  raised  his  head  towards  his  Vizier 
Said,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  I  was  ashamed  to  tell  thee  and  to  acquaint 
thee  with  that  which  hath  happened  to  me.     But  Said  replied,  I  conjure  thee,  by 
Allah,  the  Lord  of  lords,  and  the  Liberator  of  necks,  and  the  Cause  of  causes,  the 
One,  the  Gracious,  the  Bountiful,  the  Liberal,  that  thou  tell  me  what  it  is  that  hath 
happened  to  thee,  and  be  not  abashed  at  me ;  for  I  am  thy  slave  and  thy  Vizier  and 
thy  counsellor  in  all  affiiirs.     And  Seifelmolouk  said,  Come,  look  at  this  portrait. 
And  when  Said  saw  that  portrait,  he  contemplated  it  for  some  time,  and  saw  in- 
scribed upon  the  head  of  it,  in  pearls  arranged,  This  is  the  portrait  of  Bedia  Eljemal 
the  daughter  of  Shahyal  the  son  of  Sharokh,  one  of  the  Kings  of  the  believing 
Genii,  who  sojourn  in  the  city  of  Babil,  and  dwell  in  the  Garden  of  Irem  of  the  son 
of  Ad  the  Greater. — Upon  this,  the  Vizier  Said  said  to  the  King  Seifelmolouk,  0  my 
brother,  knowest  thou  who  among  women  is  the  original  of  this  portrait,  that  we 
may  search  for  her?     Seifelmolouk  answered.  No,  by  Allah,  0  my  brother:  I  know 
not  the  original  of  this  portrait.     And  Said  replied.  Come,  read  this  inscription. 
So  Seifelmolouk  advanced,  and  read  the  inscription  that  was  upon  the  crown,  and 
knew  its  purport;    and  thereupon   he  uttered  a  loud  cry  from  the  bottom  of  his 
bosom,  and  said.  Ah  !  Ah  !  Ah  !— But  Said  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  if  the  original 
of  this  portrait  be  in  existence,  and   her  name  be  Bedia  Eljemal,  and  she  be  in  the 
world,  I  will  hasten  to  seek  her,  without  delay,  that  thou  mayest  attain  thy  desire. 
I  conjure  thee  then  by  Allah,  0  my  brother,  that  thou  relinquish  weeping,  in  order 
that  thou  mayest  introduce  the  people  of  the  empire  to  wait  upon  thee  :  and  when 
the  morning  cometh,  summon  the  merchants  and  the  poor  devotees  and  the  travellers 
and  the  needy,  and  inquire  of  them  respecting  the  particulars  of  this  city.     Perhaps 
some  one,  by  the  blessing  of  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be 
exalted  !)  and  by  his  aid,  may  direct  us  to  it,  and  to  the  Garden  of  Irem. 

Accordingly,  when  the  morning  came,  Seifelmolouk  arose,  and  ascended  the  throne, 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  599 

hugging  the  tunic ;  for  from  this  time  he  neither  rose  nor  sat  down,  nor  would  sleep 
come  to  him,  unless  it  were  with  him.  So  the  Emirs  and  Viziers  and  the  troops  and 
the  lords  of  the  empire  came  in  to  him  ;  but  when  the  court  was  fully  attended,  and 
the  assembly  was  ranged  in  order,  the  King  Seifelmolouk  said  to  his  Vizier  Said,  Go 
forth  to  them,  and  say  to  them,  that  the  King  hath  experienced  an  indisposition,  and 
that  he  passed  not  last  night  save  in  a  state  of  illness.  The  Vizier  Said  therefore 
went  forth  and  acquainted  the  people  with  that  which  the  King  had  said.  And 
when  the  King  Asim  heard  that,  the  case  of  his  son  was  not  a  light  matter  to  him  ; 
wherefore,  upon  this,  he  summoned  the  sages  and  the  astrologers,  and  went  in  with 
them  to  his  son  Seifelmolouk ;  and  they  looked  at  him,  and  prescribed  for  him  a 
beverage,  and  he  remained  in  his  place  during  a  period  of  three  months.  So  the 
King  Asim  said  to  the  sages  who  were  present,  being  enraged  against  them,  Wo  to 
you,  0  dogs!  Are  ye  all  unable  to  cure  my  son?  Now  if  ye  cure  him  not  im- 
mediately, I  will  slay  you  all!  —  Their  chief  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  we  know 
that  this  is  thy  son,  and  thou  knowest  that  we  are  not  neglectful  in  the  cure  of  the 
stranger:  how  then  should  we  be  so  with  respect  to  the  cure  of  thy  son?  But  thy 
son  hath  a  diflBcult  disease:  if  thou  desire  to  know  it,  we  will  mention  it  to  thee, 
and  inform  thee  of  it. — The  King  Asim  said.  What  hath  appeared  to  you  in  the  dis- 
ease of  my  son  ?  So  the  chief  sage  answered  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  verily  thy 
son  is  now  enamoured,  and  loveth  a  person  with  whom  there  is  no  way  of  effecting 
a  union.  And  upon  this,  the  King  Asim  was  enraged,  and  said,  How  learned  ye 
that  my  son  is  enamoured,  and  how  came  love  unto  my  son  ?  They  therefore  an- 
swered him.  Ask  his  brother  and  his  Vizier,  Said,  for  he  is  the  person  who  knoweth 
his  state.  And  the  King  Asim  arose,  and,  having  entered  a  close*  alone,  summoned 
Said,  and  said  to  him.  Tell  me  the  true  nature  of  the  disease  of  my  son.  But  he 
replied,  I  know  not  its  true  nature.  And  the  King  said  to  the  executioner,  Take 
Said,  bind  his  eyes,  and  smite  off  his  head.  So  Said  feared  for  himself,  and  said,  0 
King  of  the  age,  give  me  promise  of  indemnity.  And  he  replied.  Tell  me,  and  thou 
shalt  be  safe.  Then  Said  said  to  him.  Verily  thy  son  is  enamoured. — And  who, 
asked  the  King,  is  the  object  of  his  passion  ?  Said  answered.  The  daughter  of  one 
of  the  Kings  of  the  Genii;  for  he  saw  her  portrait  upon  a  tunic  in  the  wrapper 
which  Solomon  the  Prophet  of  God  gave  you. 

And  thereupon  the  King  Asim  arose  and  went  in  to  his  son  Seifelmolouk,  and 
said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  hath  aflBicted  thee,  and  what  is  this  portrait  of  which 
thou  hast  become  enamoured,  and  why  didst  thou  not  inform  me?  Seifelmolouk 
answered,  0  my  father,  I  was  abashed  at  thee,  and  I  was  not  able  to  mention  to 
thee  that  matter,  nor  could  I  acquaint  any  one  with  aught  of  it ;  but  now  thou  know- 
est my  state  :  see  then  how  thou  wilt  act  to  effect  my  cure.  His  fiither  said  to  him, 
What  expedient  shall  be  employed?  Were  this  of  the  daughters  of  mankind,  we 
would  contrive  an  expedient  to  obtain  access  to  her;  but  she  is  of  the  daughters  of 
the  Kings  of  the  Genii ;  and  who  is  able  to  gain  possession  of  her,  unless  it  be  Solo- 
mon the  son  of  David?  for  he  is  the  person  who  can  effect  that.  But,  0  my  son, 
arise  immediately,  and  strengthen  thyself,  and  mount,  and  go  to  the  chase,  and  to 
the  games  in  the  horse-course  ;  employ  thyself  also  in  eating  and  drinking,  and  dis- 
miss anxiety  and  grief  from  thy  heart.  I  will  bring  thee  a  hundred  damsels  of  the 
daughters  of  Kings,  and  thou  hast  no  need  of  the  daughters  of  the  Genii,  over  whom 
we  have  no  power,  and  who  are  not  of  our  species.  —  But  he  replied,  I  will  not  re- 
linquish her,  nor  will  I  seek  any  other  than  her.  So  his  father  said  to  him.  How 
shall  it  be  done,  0  my  son?  And  he  answered  him.  Bring  to  us  all  the  merchants 
and  the  travellers  and  wanderers  throughout  the  countries,  that  we  may  inquire  of 
them  respecting  this.  Perhaps  God  will  direct  us  to  the  garden  of  Irem  and  to  the 
city  of  Babil.  —  The  King  Asim  therefore  commanded  that  every  merchant  in  the 
city  should  present  himself,  and  every  stranger  in  it,  and  every  sea-captain  ;  and 
when  they  came,  he  asked  them  respecting  the  city  of  Babil  and  its  country,  and 
respecting  the  Garden  of  Irem.     Not  one  of  them,  however,  knew  these  places,  or 


600  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

gave  any  information  of  them.  But  on  the  breaking  up  of  the  assembly,  one  of 
them  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  if  thou  desire  to  know  that,  inquire  in  the  country  of 
China;  for  it  hath  a  great  city,  and  perhaps  some  one  of  that  place  may  direct  thee 
to  the  object  of  thy  desire.  And  upon  this  Seifelmolouk  said,  0  my  father,  fit  out 
for  me  a  ship  for  the  voyage  to  the  land  of  China.  His  father  replied,  0  my  son, 
sit  thou  upon  the  throne  of  thy  kingdom,  and  rule  the  people,  and  I  will  make  the 
voyage  to  the  land  of  China,  and  go  myself  on  this  business.  But  Seifelmolouk 
said,  0  my  father,  this  affiiir  concerneth  me,  and  no  one  can  seek  to  accomplish  it 
like  myself;  and  whatever  may  happen,  if  thou  give  me  permission  to  make  the 
voyage,  I  will  do  so,  and  be  absent  for  a  period  of  time.  If  I  find  any  tidings  of 
her,  my  desire  is  attained ;  and  if  I  find  no  tidings  of  her,  by  the  voyage  I  shall 
experience  dilatation  of  my  bosom,  and  enlivenment  of  my  heart:  by  thi.^  means 
my  case  will  become  easy;  and  if  I  live,  I  shall  return  to  thee  safe.— A.nd  the  King 
looked  at  his  son,  and  saw  for  himself  no  resource  but  doing  for  him  that  which 
would  content  him.  So  he  gave  him  permission  to  make  the  voyage,  and  fitted  out 
for  him  forty  ships,  and  a  thousand  mamlouks,  besides  servants,  and  gave  him 
wealth  and  treasures,  with  everything  that  he  required  of  implements  of  war ;  and 
he  said  to  him,  Set  forth  on  thy  voyage,  0  my  son,  in  prosperity  and  health  and 
safety.     I  commit  thee  unto  Him  with  whom  deposits  are  not  lost. 

Then  his  father  and  his  mother  bade  him  farewell,  the  ships  were  laden  with 
water  and  provisions,  and  arms  and  soldiers,  and  they  commenced  the  voyage.  They 
ceased  not  to  pursue  their  course  until  they  arrived  at  the  capital  of  China ;  and 
when  the  people  of  China  heard  that  there  had  come  to  them  forty  ships  filled  with 
men  and  equipages  and  arms  and  stores,  they  made  sure  that  they  were  enemies 
who  had  come  to  attack  them  and  besiege  them  ;  wherefore  they  closed  the  gates  of 
the  city  and  prepared  the  catapults.  So  when  the  King  Seifelmolouk  heard  of  this, 
he  sent  to  them  two  of  his  favourite  mamlouks,  and  said  to  them.  Go  ye  to  the  King 
of  China,  and  say  to  him.  This  is  Seifelmolouk,  the  son  of  the  King  Asim:  he  hath 
come  unto  thy  city  as  a  guest,  to  divert  himself  in  thy  country  for  a  period  of  time, 
and  not  to  fight,  nor  to  contend  :  so  if  thou  wilt  receive  him,  he  will  land  to  visit 
thee  ;  and  if  thou  wilt  not  receive  him,  he  will  return  and  not  trouble  thee  nor  the 
people  of  thy  city. — Accordingly  the  mamlouks,  on  their  arriving  at  the  city,  said  to 
its  inhabitants,  We  are  envoys  of  the  King  Seifelmolouk.  They  therefore  opened  to 
them  the  gate,  and  went  with  them,  and  presented  them  before  their  King.  His 
name  was  Faghfour'  Shah;  and  there  had  existed  between  him  and  the  King  Asim, 
before  that  period,  an  acquaintance.  So  when  he  heard  that  the  King  who  had  come 
to  him  was  Seifelmolouk,  the  son  of  the  King  Asim,  he  bestowed  robes  of  honour 
upon  the  envoys,  and  gave  orders  to  open  the  gates.  He  also  prepared  the  gifts  of 
hospitality,  and  went  forth  himself,  with  the  favourite  officers  of  his  empire,  and 
came  to  Seifelmolouk ;  and  they  embraced  each  other.  He  said  to  him,  A  friendly 
and  free  and  ample  welcome  to  him  who  hath  come  unto  us  1  I  am  thy  mamlouk, 
and  the  mamlouk  of  thy  fiither;  my  city  is  at  thy  disposal,  and  everything  that  thou 
demandest  shall  be  brought  unto  thee. — And  he  presented  to  him  the  gifts  of  hospi- 
tality, and  provisions  [for  him  and  his  people],  at  their  stations.  Then  the  King 
Seifelmolouk  mounted,  and  Said  his  Vizier,  and  with  them  their  favourite  officers 
and  the  rest  of  the  soldiers,  and  they  proceeded  along  the  sea-shore  until  they  en- 
tered the  city;  when  the  cymbals  were  beaten,  and  the  drums,  to  announce  the 
happy  event;  and  they  remained  there  for  a  period  of  forty  days  well  entertained. 

After  this,  the  King  of  China  said  to  Seifelmolouk,  0  son  of  my  brother,  how  art 
thou?  Hath  my  country  pleased  thee? — Seifelmolouk  answered  him,  May  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!)  make  it  ever  to  be  honoured  by  thy  rule,  0  King!  And 
tiie  King  Faghfour  Shah  said,  Nought  hath  brought  thee  hither  save  some  affair  that 
hath  occurred  to  thee ;  and  whatever  thing  thou  desirest  to  obtain  from  my  country, 

'  Faghfour  is  a  corruption  of  the  ancient  Persian  expression  Bag-puter,  or  Bag-putra,  meaning 
"  Son  of  the  Illustrious." 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  601 

I  will  accomplish  it  for  thee.  So  Seifelmolouk  replied,  0  King,  verily  my  case  is 
wonderful;  and  it  is  this:  I  have  become  enamoured  of  a  portrait  of  Bedia  Eljemal. 
And  upon  this  the  King  of  China  wept  in  pity  and  compassion  for  him,  and  said  to 
him.  And  what  desirest  thou  now,  0  Seifelmolouk?  He  answered  him,  I  desire  of 
thee  that  thou  bring  unto  me  all  the  wanderers  and  travellers,  and  those  who  are  ac- 
customed to  journeys,  that  I  may  inquire  of  them  respecting  the  original  of  this 
portrait.  Perhaps  some  one  of  them  may  give  me  information  respecting  her. — 
The  King  Faghfour  Shah  therefore  sent  the  lieutenants  and  chamberlains  and 
guards,  and  commanded  them  to  bring  all  the  wanderers  and  travellers  who  were  in 
the  country.  So  they  brought  them  ;  and  they  were  a  numerous  company;  and  they 
assembled  before  the  King  Faghfour  Shah.  Then  the  King  Seifelmolouk  inquired 
respecting  the  city  of  Babil  and  the  Garden  of  Irem:  but  none  of  them  returned  him 
an  answer;  wherefore  the  King  Seifelmolouk  was  perplexed  at  his  case.  After  that, 
however,  one  of  the  sea-captains  said,  0  King,  if  thou  desire  to  know  this  city  and 
that  garden,  inquire  in  the  islands  that  appertain  to  India. 

So  thereupon  Seifelmolouk  commanded  that  they  should  bring  the  ships;  and  they 
did  so,  and  stored  them  with  water  and  provisions  and  all  that  they  required  ;  after 
which,  Seifelmolouk  embarked  with  Said  his  Vizier,  having  bidden  farewell  to  the 
King  Faghfour  Shah,  and  they  continued  their  course  over  the  sea  for  a  period  of 
four  months,  with  a  fair  wind,  safe  and  secure.  But  it  happened  that  there  arose 
against  them  a  wind  one  day,  the  billows  came  upon  them  from  every  quarter,  the 
rain  descended  upon  them,  and  the  sea  became  changed  by  the  violence  of  the  wind. 
The  ships  dashed  one  against  another  by  reason  of  the  force  of  the  wind,  and  all  fell 
to  pieces,  as  also  did  the  small  boats  [excepting  one],  and  they  were  all  submerged 
but  Seifelmolouk  with  a  party  of  his  mamlouks  who  remained  in  a  small  boat.  Then 
the  wind  became  stilled  and  calmed  by  the  power  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !) 
and  the  sun  rose,  and  Seifelmolouk,  opening  his  eyes,  saw  not  any  of  the  ships,  nor 
saw  he  aught  save  the  sky  and  the  water  and  himself  and  those  who  were  with  him 
in  the  little  boat.  So  he  said  to  the  mamlouks  who  were  with  him.  Where  are  the 
ships  and  the  small  boats,  and  where  is  my  brother  Said?  They  answered  him,  0 
King  of  the  age,  there  remain  not  ships  nor  boats  nor  those  who  were  in  them  ;  for 
they  are  all  submerged,  and  have  become  food  for  the  fishes.  And  thereupon  Seifel- 
molouk called  out,  and  repeated  a  sentence  the  utterer  of  which  is  secure  from  con- 
fusion ;  that  is.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great! 
Then  he  began  to  slap  his  face,  and  desired  to  cast  himself  into  the  sea  ;  but  the 
mamlouks  prevented  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  King,  what  advantage  would  arise  to 
thee  from  this?  Thou  hast  done  with  thyself  thus,  and  hadst  thou  attended  to  tho 
words  of  thy  father,  nought  of  this  had  happened  to  thee.  But  all  this  was  written 
from  eternity  by  the  will  of  the  Creator  of  souls,  and  the  servant  must  experience 
the  accomplishment  of  that  which  God  hath  decreed  to  befall  him.  The  astrologers 
said  to  thy  father,  at  thy  birth.  Verily  all  these  difficulties  will  befall  this  thy  son. 
And  in  this  case  we  have  no  resource  but  to  be  patient  until  God  shall  dispel  from 
us  the  affliction  in  which  we  are  involved. — And  Seifelmolouk  said.  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  There  is  no  place  of  refuge 
from  that  which  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  decreeth,  nor  any  flight  therefrom. 

He  was  drowned  in  the  sea  of  solicitudes,  and  his  tears  ran  down  his  cheek  like 
a  copious  rain  ;  and  he  slept  for  a  period  of  the  day,  after  which  he  awoke,  and  de- 
manded some  food.  So  he  ate  until  he  was  satisfied,  and  they  removed  the  provision 
from  before  him.  The  boat  proceeded  with  them,  and  they  knew  not  whither  it  was 
conveying  them  ;  and  it  ceased  not  to  bear  them  along  with  the  waves  and  the  winds 
night  and  day  for  a  long  period  of  time,  until  their  provision  was  exhausted,  and 
they  were  confounded,  and  became  in  a  state  of  the  most  violent  hunger  and  thirst 
and  agitation.  But  lo,  an  island  appeared  to  them  in  the  distance,  and  the  winds 
drove  them  on  until  they  arrived  at  it ;  whereupon  they  made  fast  their  boat  to  it, 
and  lauded,  leaving  one  in  tho  boat.     They  went  on  upon  that  island,  and  saw  upon 


602  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

it  many  fniits  of  all  kinds,  and  ate  of  them  until  they  were  satisfied.  And  lo,  there 
was  a  person  sitting  among  the  trees,  long-faced,  of  strange  appearance,  with  white 
beard  and  skin  ;  and  he  called  to  one  of  the  mamlouks  by  his  name,  and  said  to  him, 
Eat  not  of  these  fruits ;  for  they  are  not  ripe  ;  but  come  to  me  that  I  may  give  thee 
to  eat  of  these  ripe  fruits.  And  the  mamlouk  looked  at  him,  and  imagined  that  he 
was  of  the  number  of  those  who  were  submerged,  and  that  he  had  landed  upon  this 
island.  So  he  rejoiced  extremely  at  the  sight  of  him,  and  walked  on  until  he  came 
near  to  him  ;  this  mamlouk  not  knowing  what  was  secretly  ordained  to  befall  him, 
and  what  was  written  upon  his  forehead.  And  when  he  came  near  to  him,  that 
person  leaped  upon  him  ;  for  he  was  a  Marid ;  and  mounting  upon  his  shoulders,  he 
wound  one  of  his  legs  round  his  neck,  and  hung  the  other  down  his  back,  and  said 
to  him.  Walk  on ;  there  remaineth  for  thee  no  escape  from  me,  and  thou  hast  become 
my  ass.  The  mamlouk  thereupon  called  out  to  his  companions,  and  began  to  weep, 
and  to  say,  Alas,  my  master!  Go  ye  forth  and  save  yourselves  from  this  wood,  and 
flee  ye;  for  one  of  its  inhabitants  hath  mounted  upon  my  shoulders,  and  the  rest 
seek  you,  and  desire  to  mount  you  like  me. — So  when  they  heard  these  words  which 
the  mamlouk  uttered,  they  all  fled,  and  embarked  in  the  boat;  and  the  inhabitants 
of  the  island  followed  them  into  the  sea,  saying  to  them,  Whither  go  ye?  Come 
and  remain  with  us,  that  we  may  ride  upon  your  backs,  and  we  will  give  you  food 
and  drink,  and  ye  shall  be  our  asses. — Therefore,  on  their  hearing  from  them  these 
words,  they  hastened  in  their  course  upon  the  sea  until  they  were  far  from  them ; 
and  they  proceeded  relying  upon  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 

They  ceased  not  to  proceed  in  this  manner  for  the  space  of  a  month,  till  another 
island  appeared  to  them  ;  and  they  landed  upon  that  island,  and  saw  there  fruits  of 
various  kinds.  So  they  busied  themselves  with  eating  the  fruits;  and  lo,  they  saw 
something  in  the  way,  appearing  in  the  distance  ;  and  when  they  drew  near  to  it, 
they  looked  at  it,  and  saw  it  to  be  a  creature  of  hideous  appearance,  lying  down,  like 
a  column  of  silver.  And  a  mamlouk  struck  it  with  his  foot ;  and  behold,  it  was  a 
person  with  long  eyes  and  cloven  hf  ad,  and  he  was  hidden  beneath  one  of  his  ears  ; 
for  it  was  his  habit,  when  ho  slept,  to  put  one  of  his  ears  beneath  his  head,  and  to 
cover  himself  with  the  other  ear.  He  then  seized  the  mamlouk  who  struck  him,  and 
went  with  him  into  the  midst  of  the  island  ;  and  lo,  it  was  all  occupied  by  Ghouls, 
who  ate  the  sons  of  Adam.  And  thereupon  that  mamlouk  called  out  to  his  com- 
panions and  said  to  them.  Save  yourselves  ;  for  this  island  is  the  island  of  the  Ghouls 
who  eat  the  sons  of  Adam,  and  they  desire  to  cut  me  up  and  eat  me.  So  when  they 
heard  these  words,  they  turned  back  in  flight,  and  descended  from  the  shore  into  the 
boat,  without  having  collected  aught  of  the  fruits. 

They  proceeded  for  some  days,  and  it  happened  that  there  appeared  to  them,  one 
day,  another  island  ;  and  when  they  arrived  at  it,  they  found  upon  it  a  high  moun- 
tain, which  they  ascended,  and  they  found  upon  the  mountain  a  wood  of  many  trees  ; 
and  they  were  hungry;  wherefore  they  busied  themselves  with  eating  of  the  fruits. 
But  they  were  not  aware  when  there  came  forth  to  them,  from  among  the  trees,  per- 
sons of  horrible  aspect,  and  tall ;  the  height  of  each  of  them  was  fifty  cubits,  and 
his  dog-teeth  protruded  from  his  mouth  like  the  tusks  of  the  elephant.  And  lo,  they 
found  a  person  sitting  upon  a  piece  of  black  felt  on  a  rock,  and  around  him  were 
the  Etliiopians,  a  numerous  company,  standing  in  attendance  upon  him.  Then 
these  Ethiopians  came  and  took  Seifelmolouk  and  his  mamlouks,  and,  having  sta- 
tioned them  before  their  King,  said.  We  found  these  birds  among  the  trees.  And 
the  King  was  hungry:  so  betook  two  of  the  mamlouks,  and  slaughtered  them  and 
ate  them.  Therefore  when  Seifelmolouk  beheld  this  thing,  he  feared  for  himself 
and  wept  and  lamented.  And  when  the  King  heard  his  weeping  and  lamentation, 
he  said,  Verily  these  birds  have  an  agreealil^  voice  and  modulation,  and  their  voices 
have  pleased  me:  so  put  ye  each  one  of  tli'-m  into  a  cage.  Accordingly  they  put 
each  of  them  into  a  cage,  and  they  hung  thoni  over  the  head  of  the  King  that  he 
might  hear  their  voices.     Thus  Seifelmolouk  and  his  mamlouks  became  imprisoned 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  603 

in  the  cages,  and  the  Ethiopians  gave  them  food  and  drink :  and  at  times  they  wept 
and  at  times  hxughed,  and  at  times  they  talked  and  at  times  were  silent;  the  King 
of  the  Ethiopians  all  the  while  delighting  in  their  voices  ;  and  they  ceased  not  to  re- 
main in  this  state  for  a  length  of  time. 

Now  the  King  had  a  married  daughter  in  another  island  ;  and  she  heard  that  her 
father  had  birds  of  agreeable  voices  ;  so  she  sent  a  party  of  her  people  to  her  father 
to  request  of  him  some  of  these  birds.  Her  father  therefore  sent  to  her  Seifelmolouk, 
and  three  mamlouks,  in  four  cages,  with  the  envoy  -who  came  to  request  them  ;  and 
when  they  were  brought  to  her,  and  she  beheld  them,  they  fileased  her,  and  she 
ordered  her  attendants  to  put  them  up  in  a  place  over  her  head.  So  Seifelmolouk 
wondered  at  the  events  that  had  befallen  him,  and  he  reflected  upon  the  glorious 
state  in  which  he  had  been  living,  and  began  to  weep  for  himself,  while  the  three 
mamlouks  also  wept  for  themselves ;  and  all  the  time  the  King's  daughter  believed 
that  they  were  singing.  It  was  the  custom  of  the  King's  daughter,  when  any  one 
of  the  land  of  Egypt  or  any  other  country  fell  into  her  possession,  and  pleased  her, 
to  hold  him  in  high  estimation  ;  and  it  happened,  by  the  decree  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted !)  and  his  predestination,  that  when  she  saw  Seifelmolouk,  his  beauty 
and  loveliness  pleased  her,  and  his  stature  and  justness  of  form.  She  therefore  gave 
orders  to  treat  him  and  his  companions  with  honour,  and  caressed  him  ;  but  he 
showed  a  dislike  to  her:  and  upon  this  she  was  incensed  against  him  and  his  mam- 
louks, and  commanded  them  to  serve  her,  and  to  convey  to  her  the  water  and  the 
fire-wood.  They  continued  to  do  thus  for  four  years,  and  this  state  wearied  Seifel- 
molouk: so  he  sent  to  intercede  with  the  Queen,  hoping  that  she  would  liberate 
them,  and  that  they  might  go  their  way  and  be  relieved  from  their  present  state; 
but  she  refused  ;  and  Seifelmolouk  and  the  mamlouks  remained  with  her  upon  the 
island  in  the  same  condition.  The  inhabitants  of  the  island  knew  that  they  were 
the  birds  of  the  King's  daughter:  wherefore  none  of  the  people  of  the  city  dared 
to  hurt  them  in  any  way ;  and  the  heart  of  the  King's  daughter  was  at  ease  respect- 
ing them,  and  she  felt  certain  that  there  was  no  escape  for  them  from  this  island. 
So  they  used  to  absent  themselves  from  her  for  two  days,  and  three,  and  to  go  about 
the  desert  to  collect  fire-wood  from  the  different  tracts  of  the  island,  and  to  bring  it 
to  the  kitchen  of  the  King's  daughter;  and  they  continued  in  this  state  five  years. 

After  this,  it  happened  that  Seifelmolouk  sat  with  his  mamlouks  one  day,  upon 
the  shore  of  the  sea,  conversing  upon  the  events  that  had  occurred,  and  Seifelmolouk, 
looking  aside,  and  seeing  himself  in  this  place  with  his  mamlouks,  thought  upon  his 
mother  and  his  father  and  his  brother  Said,  and  upon  the  state  of  glory  in  which  he 
had  lived,  and  he  wept  and  lamented  and  wailed  exceedingly,  as  did  also  the  mam- 
louks. Then  the  mamlouks  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  how  long  shall  we  weep? 
Weeping  will  not  profit.  This  is  an  event  written  upon  our  foreheads  by  the  pre- 
determination of  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory  !),  and  the  pen  hath 
written  what  He  hath  appointed,  and  nought  will  profit  us  Vjut  patience.  Perhaps 
God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted!),  who  hath  afilicted 
us  by  this  calamity,  will  dispel  it  from  us.  —  And  Seifelmolouk  said  to  them,  0  my 
brothers,  how  shall  we  contrive  our  escape  from  this  accursed  woman  ?  I  see  no 
way  of  escape  for  us  unless  God  deliver  us  from  her  by  his  favour.  But  it  hath 
occurred  to  my  mind  that  we  may  flee  and  be  at  ease  from  this  fatigue.  —  They  said 
to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  whither  can  we  go  from  this  island,  which  is  all  occupied 
by  Ghouls  who  eat  the  sons  of  Adam  ?  In  every  place  to  which  we  might  go  they 
would  find  us,  and  they  would  either  eat  us  or  take  us  prisoners  and  bring  us  back 
to  our  place,  and  the  King's  daughter  would  be  incensed  against  us. — But  Seifelmo- 
louk replied,  I  will  do  for  you  something,  and  perhaps  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !) 
will  aid  us  thereby  to  effect  our  deliverance,  and  we  shall  escape  from  this  island. 
So  they  said  to  him.  How  wilt  thou  act?  And  he  answered.  We  will  cut  some  of 
these  long  pieces  of  wood,  and  twist  ropes  of  their  bark,  and  bind  one  to  another, 
and  make  them  a  raft,  which  we  will  launch  into  the  sea,  and  lade  with  these  fruits ; 


604  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND    BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

and  we  wiil  make  for  it  oars,  and  embark  upon  it.  Perhaps  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted  !)  will  give  us  relief  by  means  of  it ;  for  he  is  able  to  accomplish  everything; 
and  perhaps  God  will  bless  us  with  a  fair  wind,  that  will  convey  us  to  the  land  of 
India,  and  we  shall  escape  from  this  accursed  woman.  — And  they  replied,  This  is  a 
good  idea.     And  they  rejoiced  at  it  exceedingly. 

They  began  immediately  to  cut  the  pieces  of  wood  for  making  the  raft.  Then  they 
twisted  the  ropes  to  bind  the  pieces  of  wood  together,  and  they  persevered  in  this 
work  for  the  space  of  a  month.  Every  day,  in  the  evening,  they  took  some  fire-wood, 
and  carried  it  to  the'liitchen  of  the  King's  daughter,  and  they  devoted  the  rest  of  the 
day  to  their  work  in  making  the  raft,  until  they  completed  it.  So  when  they  had 
finished  making  it,  they  launched  it  upon  the  sea,  and  laded  it  with  fruits  gathered 
from  the  trees  of  the  island,  and  prepared  themselves  at  the  close  of  the  day,  not 
having  acquainted  any  one  with  that  which  they  had  done.  Then  they  embarked 
upon  the  raft,  and  proceeded  over  the  sea  for  a  period  of  four  months,  not  knowing 
whither  they  were  borne.  Their  provisions  were  exhausted,  and  they  had  become  in 
a  state  of  the  most  violent  hunger  and  thirst,  when  lo,  the  sea  frothed  and  foamed, 
and  rose  in  high  waves,  and  there  came  to  them  a  horrible  crocodile,  which  put  forth 
its  fore-paw,  and  seized  one  of  the  mamlouks,  and  swallowed  him.  Therefore  when 
Seifelmolouk  saw  that  crocodile  do  thus  with  the  mamlouk,  he  wept  violently.  He 
remained  upon  the  raft  with  the  two  other  mamlouks  alone,  and  they  passed  on  to  a 
distance  from  the  place  of  the  crocodile,  in  a  state  of  fear.  They  ceased  not  to  remain 
in  this  state  until  there  appeared  to  them,  one  day,  a  great  mountain,  terrible  lofty, 
rising  high  into  the  air ;  and  they  were  glad  at  the  sight  of  it ;  and  after  that,  there 
appeared  to  them  an  island:  so  they  pursued  their  course  to  it  with  diligence, 
rejoicing  at  their  arriving  there.  But  while  they  were  in  this  condition,  lo,  the  sea 
became  agitated,  and  its  waves  rose  high,  and  its  waves  rose  high,  and  its  state 
became  changed.  Then  again  a  crocodile  raised  his  head,  stretched  forth  his  paw, 
and  took  the  two  remaining  mamlouks  of  Seifelmolouk,  and  swallowed  them. 

So  Seifelmolouk  remained  alone  until  he  arrived  at  the  island  ;  whereupon  he 
laboured  till  he  had  ascended  the  mountain,  and  he  looked,  and  saw  a  wood,  which 
ne  entered,  and  he  walked  among  the  trees,  and  began  to  eat  of  the  fruits ;  but  he 
saw  that  more  than  twenty  great  apes  had  ascended  some  of  the  trees ;  each  of  them 
larger  than  a  mule.  Therefore  when  Seifelmolouk  beheld  these  apes,  violent  fear 
came  upon  him.  Then  the  apes  descended,  and  surrounded  him  on  every  side ;  and 
after  that  they  walked  before  him,  making  a  sign  to  him  that  he  should  follow  them, 
and  went  on.  So  Seifelmolouk  walked  after  them  ;  and  they  ceased  not  to  proceed, 
with  him  following  them,  until  they  came  to  a  castle  of  high  structure,  with  lofty 
angles.  They  entered  this  castle,  and  Seifelmolouk  entered  behind  them,  and  he 
beheld  in  it,  of  all  kinds  of  rarities  and  jewels  and  minerals,  what  the  tongue  cannot 
describe.  lie  saw  also  in  this  castle  a  young  man,  upon  the  sides  of  whose  face  hairs 
had  not  begun  to  grow ;  but  he  was  tall,  exceedingly  tall ;  and  when  Seifelmolouk 
saw  this  young  man,  he  was  cheered  by  his  company  ;  and  there  was  not  in  that 
castle  any  one  of  mankind  besides  this  young  man.  The  young  man,  on  seeing 
Seifelmolouk,  was  pleased  with  him  extremely  ;  and  he  said  to  him.  What  is  thy 
name,  and  from  what  country  art  thou,  and  how  camest  thou  hither?  Acquaint  me 
with  thy  story,  and  conceal  not  of  it  aught.  —  Therefore  Seifelmolouk  replied,  I,  by 
Allah,  came  not  hither  by  my  own  choice,  nor  was  this  place  the  object  of  my  desire, 
nor  can  I  remain  in  a  place  until  I  attain  what  I  seek.  —  And  what  is  it,  said  the 
young  man,  that  thou  seekest?  Seifelmolouk  answered  him,  I  am  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  and  my  name  is  Seifelmolouk,  and  my  father  is  named  the  King  Asim  the 
son  of  Safwan.  He  then  related  to  him  the  events  that  had  happened  to  him  from 
the  first  of  the  case  to  the  last;  and  thereupon  that  young  man  arose  and  betook 
himself  to  the  service  of  Seifelmolouk,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  was  in  Egypt, 
and  heard  that  thou  hadst  gone  to  the  land  of  China ;  and  how  iar  is  this  land  from 
the  land  of  China!     Verily  this  is  a  wonderful  thing  and  an  extraordinary  case! — 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  605 

Seifelmolouk  replied,  Thy  -words  are  true;  but  after  that,  I  proceeded  from  the  land 
of  China  to  the  land  of  India,  and  a  wind  arose  against  us,  and  the  sea  became 
agitated,  and  all  the  ships  that  were  with  me  went  to  pieces.  And  he  told  him  all 
that  had  happened  to  him,  until  he  said,  And  I  have  come  unto  thee  in  this  place. 
The  young  man  then  said  to  him,  0  son  of  the  King,  what  thou  hast  experienced  in 
this  absence  from  thy  country,  and  in  the  difficulties  that  have  attended  it,  is  suffi- 
cient for  thee,  and  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  brought  thee  to  this  place !  Reside 
then  with  me,  that  I  rasiy  be  cheered  by  thy  society  until  I  die,  and  thou  shalt  be 
King  over  this  region  ;  for  it  compriseth  this  island,  of  which  no  limit  is  known. 
Moreover  these  apes  are  skilled  in  arts,  and  everything  that  thou  shalt  demand  thou 
wilt  find  here.  But  Seifelmolouk  replied,  0  my  brother,  I  cannot  remain  in  any 
place  until  my  afi'air  be  accomplished,  though  I  should  go  round  about  the  whole 
world  inquiring  respecting  the  object  of  my  desire.  Perhaps  God  will  cause  me  to 
attain  my  wish,  or  my  course  may  lead  me  to  a  place  wherein  my  appointed  term 
shall  end,  and  I  shall  die. 

The  young  man  then  looked  towards  an  ape,  and  made  a  sign  to  him ;  whereupon 
the  ape  absented  himself  for  a  while :  after  which  he  came  back,  accompanied  by 
apes  with  silken  napkins  tied  to  their  waists;  and  they  brought  forward  a  table,  and 
put  upon  it  about  a  hundred  dishes  of  gold  and  silver,  containing  all  kinds  of  viands, 
and  the  apes  stood  in  the  manner  of  servants  before  Kings.  Next  he  made  a  sign  to 
the  chamberlains  to  seat  themselves:  so  they  sat;  and  he  whose  custom  it  was  to 
serve  stood.  Then  they  ate  until  they  were  satisfied,  when  they  removed  the  table, 
and  brought  basins  and  ewers  of  gold,  and  they  washed  their  hands.  And  after 
that,  they  brought  wine-vessels,  about  forty  vessels,  each  containing  a  particular 
kind  of  wine ;  and  they  drank,  and  enjoyed  themselves,  and  were  merry,  and  their 
time  was  pleasant;  all  the  apes  dancing  and  playing,  while  the  eaters  were  occupied 
in  eating.  So  when  Seifelmolouk  beheld  this,  he  wondered  at  them,  and  forgot  the 
difficulties  that  had  happened  to  him.  And  when  night  came,  they  lighted  the  can- 
dles, and  put  them  in  candlesticks  of  gold  and  silver.  Then  they  brought  vessels 
of  dried  and  fresh  fruits,  and  they  ate;  and  when  the  time  for  sleep  came,  they  spread 
for  them  the  beds,  and  they  slept.  And  in  the  morning,  the  young  man  arose  as  he 
was  wont,  and  he  woke  Seifelmolouk,  and  said  to  him,  Put  forth  thy  head  from  this 
window,  and  see  what  is  standing  beneath  the  window.  lie  therefore  looked,  and 
he  saw  apes  that  filled  the  wide  waste  and  all  the  desert  tract,  and  none  knew  the 
number  of  those  apes  but  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted!).  So  Seifelmolouk  said, 
These  are  numerous  apes,  that  have  filled  the  open  country,  and  wherefore  have  they 
assembled  at  this  time?  And  the  young  man  answered  him,  This  is  their  custom: 
all  who  are  in  the  island  have  come  from  a  distance  of  two  days'  journey,  or  three 
days  ;  for  they  come  every  Saturday,  and  stand  here  until  I  awake  from  my  sleep 
and  put  my  head  forth  from  this  window;  and  when  they  see  me,  they  kiss  the 
ground  before  me ;  after  which  they  depart  to  their  occupations.  And  he  put  forth 
his  head  from  the  window  so  that  they  saw  him;  and  when  they  beheld  him,  they 
kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  departed. 

Seifelmolouk  remained  with  the  young  man  during  the  space  of  a  whole  month; 
and  after  that,  he  bade  him  farewell,  and  departed.  The  young  man  ordered  a 
party  of  the  apes,  about  a  hundred,  to  journey  with  him  ;  and  they  journeyed  in 
attendance  upon  Seifelmolouk  for  a  period  of  seven  days,  until  they  had  conducted 
him  to  the  extremity  of  their  country,  when  they  bade  him  farewell,  and  returned  to 
their  places.  Seifelmolouk  then  journeyed  alone  over  the  mountains  and  hills  and 
the  deserts  and  wastes  for  the  space  of  four  months,  one  day  hungry  and  another 
day  satiated,  one  day  eating  of  the  herbage  and  another  day  eating  of  the  fruits  of 
the  trees.  He  began  to  repent  of  that  which  he  had  done  with  himself,  and  of  his 
going  forth  from  that  young  man,  and  he  desired  to  retrace  his  steps  to  him.  But 
he  saw  an  indistinct  black  object  appearing  in  the  distance ;  so  he  said  within 
himself,  Is  this  a  black  city,  or  how  is  the  case?     But  I  will  not  return  until  I  see 


606  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BBDIA   ELJEMAL. 

what  this  indistinct  object  is. — And  when  he  came  near  to  it,  he  saw  it  to  be  a  palace 
of  lofty  structure.  He  who  built  it  was  Japhet  the  son  of  Noah  (on  whom  be 
peace  !),  and  it  was  the  palace  which  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath  mentioned 
in  his  Excellent  Book,  in  his  words,  And  an  abandoned  well,  and  a  lofty  palace. 
Seifelmolouk  seated  himself  at  the  door  of  the  palace,  and  said  within  himself,  I 
wonder  what  is  the  state  of  the  interior  of  this  palace,  and  who  of  the  Kings  is 
within  it.  Who  now  will  acquaint  me  with  the  truth  of  the  case,  and  are  its  inhabit- 
ants of  mankind  or  of  the  Genii? — He  sat  meditating  for  some  time,  and  found  not 
any  one  entering  it  nor  any  coming  forth  from  it.  So  he  arose  and  walked  forward, 
relying  upon  God,  until  he  entered  the  palace ;  and  he  counted  in  his  way  seven 
entrance-passages ;  but  saw  no  one.  He  beheld,  however,  on  his  right  hand,  three 
doors,  and  before  him  a  door  over  which  hung  a  curtain.  He  therefore  advanced  to 
that  door,  and  lifted  the  curtain  with  his  hand,  and  walked  on  within  the  door ;  and 
lo,  he  found  a  great  raised  floor  spread  with  silken  carpets,  and  at  the  upper  end  of 
the  floor  was  a  couch  of  gold,  whereon  sat  a  damsel  whose  face  was  like  the  moon  ; 
upon  her  was  the  apparel  of  Kings,  and  she  resembled  a  bride  on  the  night  of  her 
display.  And  at  the  feet  of  the  couch  were  forty  tables,  upon  which  were  dishes  of 
gold  and  silver,  all  of  them  filled  with  rich  viands.  When  Seifelmolouk  beheld  her, 
he  approached  her  and  saluted ;  and  she  returned  his  salutation,  and  said  to  him, 
Art  thou  of  mankind  or  of  the  Genii?  He  answered,  I  am  of  the  best  of  mankind  ; 
for  I  am  a  King,  the  son  of  a  King.  And  she  said  to  him.  What  dost  thou  desire? 
Avail  thyself  of  this  food,  and  after  that  relate  to  me  thy  story  from  first  to  last, 
and  tell  me  how  thou  camest  to  this  place. — Seifelmolouk  therefore  seated  himself 
at  a  table,  and  removed  the  cover  from  it,  and,  being  hungry,  he  ate  of  those  dishes 
until  he  was  satiated,  and  washed  bis  hands ;  after  which  he  ascended  the  couch, 
and  seated  himself  by  the  damsel,  who  thereupon  said  to  him.  Who  art  thou,  and 
what  is  thy  name,  and  whence  hast  thou  come,  and  who  brought  thee  hither?  Seifel- 
molouk replied,  As  to  me,  my  story  is  long.  And  she  said  to  him.  Tell  me  whence 
thou  art,  and  what  is  the  cause  of  thy  coming  hither,  and  what  is  thy  desire.  But 
he  replied.  Inform  thou  me  what  is  thy  state,  and  what  is  thy  name,  and  who  brought 
thee  hither,  and  wherefore  thou  art  residing  in  this  place  alone.  And  the  damsel 
said  to  him  : — 

My  name  is  Dowlet  Katoun  ;  I  am  daughter  of  the  King  of  India,  and  my  father 
dwelleth  in  the  city  of  Serendib.  He  hath  a  beautiful,  large  garden  :  there  is  not  in 
the  land  of  India  and  its  districts  any  superior  to  it :  and  in  it  is  a  large  tank ;  and 
I  entered  that  garden  one  day  with  my  female  slaves,  and  I  and  my  female  slaves 
approached  and  descended  into  the  tank,  and  we  proceeded  to  play  and  to  amuse 
ourselves.  But  I  was  not  aware  when  a  thing  like  a  cloud  came  down  upon  me,  and, 
having  snatched  me  away  from  among  my  female  slaves,  flew  with  me  between 
heaven  and  earth,  saying,  0  Dowlet  Katoun,  fear  not,  but  be  of  tranquil  heart.  Then 
he  flew  on  with  me  for  a  short  time ;  after  which  he  put  me  down  in  this  palace,  and 
immediately  became  transformed,  and  lo,  he  was  a  comely  young  man,  of  youthful 
beauty,  and  clean  in  apparel ;  and  he  said  to  me,  Dost  thou  know  me?  I  answered, 
No,  0  my  master.  And  he  said,  I  am  son  of  the  Blue  King,  King  of  the  Genii,  and 
my  father  dwelleth  in  the  Castle  of  Colzum,  and  hath  under  his  authority  six  hundred 
thousand  of  the  flying  and  the  diving  Genii.  It  happened  to  me  that  I  was  on  a 
journey,  going  on  my  way,  and  I  saw  thee  and  became  enamoured  of  thee,  and, 
descending  upon  thee,  seized  thee  from  among  the  female  slaves,  and  brought  thee 
to  this  lofty  palace,  which  is  my  place  and  my  abode.  No  one  ever  cometh  to  it; 
neither  any  of  the  Genii  nor  any  of  mankind  ;  and  from  India  to  this  place  is  a  jour- 
ney of  a  hundred  and  twenty  years:  so  be  sure  that  thou  wilt  never  see  again  the 
country  of  thy  father  and  thy  mother.  Reside  then  with  me  in  this  place  with 
tranquil  heart  and  mind,  and  I  will  bring  before  thee  whatever  thou  shalt  desire. — 
And  after  that  he  embraced  me  and  kissed  me,  and  said  to  me.  Reside  here,  and  fear 
not  aught.     Then  he  left  me,  and  was  absent  from  me  a  while ;  after  which  he  came 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  607 

bringing  these  tables  and  the  furniture  and  carpets.  But  he  cometh  to  me  every 
Tuesday,  and  remaineth  with  me  three  days;  and  on  Friday  he  remaineth  till  the 
middle  of  the  afternoon,  when  he  departeth,  and  he  is  absent  until  the  Tuesday  , 
then  again  he  remaineth  with  me  in  the  same  manner.  When  he  cometh,  he  eateth 
and  drinketh  with  me,  and  embraceth  me  and  kisseth  me  ;  but  he  hath  not  induced 
me  to  become  his  wife.  My  father  is  named  Tajelmolouk ;  and  he  knoweth  no 
tidings  of  me,  uor  hath  he  discovered  any  trace  of  me.  —  This.is  my  story  :  now  tell 
me  thy  story. 

Upon  this,  Seifelmolouk  said  to  her,  Verily  my  story  is  long,  and  I  fear  that,  if  I 
tell  it  thee,  the  time  which  it  will  require  will  be  too  long  for  us,  and  the  Afrite  will 
come.  But  she  replied.  He  did  not  depart  from  me  more  than  a  little  while  before 
thine  entrance,  and  he  cometh  not  save  on  Tuesday:  therefore  remain  and  be  at 
ease,  and  gladden  thy  heart,  and  relate  to  me  what  hath  happened  to  thee  from  first 
to  last.  So  Seifelmolouk  said,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  commenced  his  story,  and 
proceeded  with  it  until  he  had  related  the  whole  of  it  from  beginning  to  end;  and 
when  he  came  to  the  mention  of  Bedia  Eljemal,  her  eyes  filled  with  copious  tears,  . 
and  she  said,  It  is  not  as  I  imagined  of  thee,  0  Bedia  Eljemal  1  Alas,  for  the  conduct 
of  fortune !  0  Bedia  Eljemal,  dost  thou  not  remember  me,  nor  say.  My  sister  Dowlet 
Katoun,  whither  hath  she  gone?  —  Then  she  wept  exceedingly,  and  lamented  that 
Bedia  Eljemal  had  not  remembered  her.  Seifelmolouk  therefore  said  to  her,  0 
Dowlet  Katoun,  thou  art  a  human  being,  and  she  is  a  Fairy :  how  then  can  this  be 
thy  sister;  She  replied.  She  is  my  foster-sister;  and  the  cause  was  this:  my  mother 
went  down  to  divert  herself  in  the  garden,  and,  her  time  coming,  she  gave  birth  to 
me  in  the  garden:  and  the  mother  of  Bedia  Eljemal  was  in  the  garden,  she  and  her 
attendant  Genies,  and  her  time  came ;  so  she  sojourned  in  a  tract  of  the  garden,  and 
she  gave  birth  to  Bedia  Eljemal.  Then  she  sent  one  of  her  female  slaves  to  my 
mother  to  demand  of  her  some  food  and  necessary  clothing,  and  my  mother  sent  to 
her  what  she  demanded,  and  invited  her.  She  therefore  arose,  and,  taking  Bedia 
Eljemal  with  her,  came  to  my  mother,  and  my  mother  suckled  Bedia  Eljemal ;  and 
her  mother  and  she  remained  with  us  in  the  garden  for  the  space  of  two  months; 
after  which  she  journeyed  to  her  country  ;  and  she  gave  to  my  mother  a  thing,  say- 
ing to  her,  When  thou  wantest  me  I  will  come  to  thee  in  the  midst  of  the  garden. 
Bedia  Eljemal  used  to  come  with  her  mother  every  year,  and  they  used  to  remain 
with  us  some  time,  and  then  to  return  to  their  country;  and  if  I  were  with  my 
mother,  0  Seifelmolouk,  and  beheld  thee  with  us  in  our  country,  and  we  were  united 
as  usual,  I  would  employ  some  stratagem  against  Bedia  Eljemal  so  as  to  make  thee 
attain  thy  desire  ;  but  I  am  in  this  place,  and  they  know  not  my  case.  If  they  were 
acquainted  with  my  case,  and  knew  me  to  be  here,  they  could  efi"ect  my  deliverance 
from  this  place  ;  but  the  affair  is  God's  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose 
name  be  exalted  !),  and  what  can  I  do  ? 

Seifelmolouk  then  said  to  her.  Arise,  and  come  with  me:  vre  will  flee,  and  go 
whither  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  pleaseth.  But  she  replied.  We  cannot  do 
that.  By  Allah,  if  we  fled  to  the  distance  of  a  year's  journey,  this  accursed  wretch 
would  bring  us  back  immediately,  and  ho  would  destroy  us. — So  Seifelmolouk  said, 
I  will  hide  myself  in  a  place  ;  and  when  he  passeth  by  me,  I  will  smite  him  with  the 
sword  and  slay  him.  But  she  replied.  Thou  canst  not  slay  him  unless  thou  kill  his 
soul. — And  in  what  place,  said  he,  is  his  soul?  She  answered,  I  asked  him  respect- 
ing  it  many  times  ;  but  he  would  not  confess  to  me  its  place.  It  happened,  how- 
ever, that  I  urged  him,  one  day.  and  he  was  enraged  against  me,  and  said  to  me, 
IIow  often  wilt  thou  ask  me  respecting  my  soul?  What  is  the  reason  of  thy  ques- 
tion respecting  my  soul?  So  I  answered  him,  0  Ilatim,  there  remaineth  to  me  no 
one  but  thoe,  excepting  God  ;  and  I,  as  long  as  I  live,  would  not  cease  to  hold  thy 
soul  in  my  embrace  ;  and  if  I  do  not  take  care  of  thy  soul,  and  put  it  in  the  midst 
of  my  eye,  how  can  I  live  after  thee  ?  If  I  knew  thy  soul,  I  would  take  care  of  it  as 
of  my  right  eye. — And  thereupon  he  said  to  me.  When  I  was  born,  the  astrologers 


608  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA    ELJEMAL. 

declared  that  the  destruction  of  my  soul  would  be  effected  by  the  hand  of  one  of  the 
sons  of  the  human  Kings.  I  therefore  took  my  soul,  and  put  it  into  the  crop  of  a 
sparrow,  and  I  imprisoned  the  sparrow  in  a  little  box,  and  put  this  into  another 
small  box,  and  this  I  put  within  seven  other  small  boxes,  and  I  put  these  within 
seven  chests,  and  the  chests  I  put  into  a  coffer  of  marble  within  the  verge  of  this 
circumambient  ocean  ;  for  this  part  is  remote  from  the  countries  of  mankind,  and 
none  of  mankind  can  gain  access  to  it.  Now  I  have  told  thee ;  and  tell  not  thou  any 
one  of  this  ;  for  it  is  a  secret  between  me  and  thee.  —  So  I  said  to  him.  To  whom 
should  I  relate  it?  None  but  thee  cometh  unto  me,  that  I  should  tell  him. — Then  I 
said  to  him.  By  Allah,  thou  hast  put  thy  soul  in  a  most  strongly-secured  place,  to 
•which  no  being  can  gain  access.  How  then  should  any  one  of  mankind  gain  access 
to  it,  unless  what  is  impossible  be  ordained,  and  God  have  predetermined,  like  as 
the  astrologers  have  said?  How  can  one  of  mankind  gain  access  to  this? — But 
he  replied.  Perhaps  one  of  them  may  have  upon  his  finger  the  seal-ring  of  Solomon 
the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace  !),  and  he  may  come  hither,  and  put  his 
hand  with  this  seal-ring  upon  the  face  of  the  water,  and  say.  By  virtue  of  these  name-s 
let  the  soul  of  such-a-one  come  up  I  Thereupon  the  coffer  will  come  up,  and  he  will 
break  it,  and  the  chests  in  like  manner,  and  the  small  boxes  ;  and  the  sparrow  will 
come  forth  from  the  little  box,  and  he  will  strangle  it,  and  I  shall  die. 

So  thereupon  Seifelmolouk  said.  That  King's  son  is  myself,  and  this  is  the  ring 
of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!)  upon  my  finger.  Arise 
then  and  come  with  us  to  the  shore  of  this  sea,  that  we  may  see  whether  these  his 
words  be  false  or  true. — The  two,  therefore,  arose  and  walked  on  until  they  came  to 
the  sea,  when  Dowlet  Katoun  stood  upon  the  sea-shore,  and  Seifelmolouk  entered 
the  water  to  his  waist,  and  said.  By  virtue  of  the  names  and  talismans  that  are  upon 
this  seal-ring,  and  by  the  influence  of  Solomon  (on  whom  be  peace  !),  let  the  soul  of 
such-a-one,  the  son  of  the  Blue  King,  the  Genie,  come  forth  1  And  immediately  the 
sea  became  agitated,  and  the  coffer  came  up.  So  Seifelmolouk  took  it,  and  struck  it 
against  the  rock.  And  broke  it,  and  he  broke  the  chests  and  the  small  boxes,  and  took 
forth  the  sparrow  from  the  little  box.  They  then  returned  to  the  palace,  and 
ascended  the  couch  ;  and,  lo,  a  horrible  dust  arose,  and  a  huge  thing  came  flying  and 
saying.  Spare  me,  0  son  of  the  King,  and  slay  me  not,  but  make  me  thy  emancipated 
slave,  and  I  will  cause  thee  to  attain  thy  desire.  But  Dowlet  Katoun  said  to  him, 
The  Genie  hath  come ;  therefore  kill  the  sparrow,  lest  this  accursed  wretch  enter  the 
palace,  and  take  the  sparrow  from  thee,  and  slay  thee,  and  slay  me  after  thee.  So 
upon  this  he  strangled  the  sparrow,  and  it  died,  and  the  Genie  fell  upon  the  ground, 
a  heap  of  black  ashes. 

Then  Dowlet  Katoun  said.  We  have  escaped  from  the  hand  of  this  accursed  wretch, 
and  how  shall  we  now  act?  Seifelmolouk  answered,  We  must  seek  aid  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!),  who  hath  afiiicted  us;  for  He  will  order  our  affair,  and 
will  aid  us  to  effect  our  deliverance  from  our  present  state.  And  he  arose,  and  pulled 
off,  of  the  doors  of  the  palace,  about  ten  doors.  These  were  of  sandal-wood  and 
aloes-wood,  and  their  nails  were  of  gold  and  silver.  And  he  took  some  robes  which 
were  there,  of  common  silk  and  floss-silk,  and  bound  the  doors  together;  after  which, 
he  and  Dowlet  Katoun  helped  each  other  so  that  they  conveyed  them  to  the  sea  and 
cast  them  into  it;  they  having  become  a  raft;  and  they  tied  it  to  the  shore.  They 
then  returned  to  the  palace,  and  carried  off  the  dishes  of  gold  and  silver,  and  like- 
wise the  jewels  and  jacinths  and  precious  minerals.  They  transported  all  that  was 
in  the  palace  of  such  things  as  were  light  to  carry  and  of  high  price,  and  put  them 
upon  that  raft,  and  they  embarked  upon  it,  placing  their  reliance  upon  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted!),  who  satisfieth,  and  doth  not  disappoint,  him  who  relieth  upon 
Ilim.  They  also  made  for  themselves  two  pieces  of  wood  as  oars  ;  and  they  loosed 
the  ropes,  and  let  the  raft  take  its  course  with  them  over  the  sea.  They  ceased  not 
to  proceed  in  this  manner  for  a  period  of  four  months,  until  their  provisions  were 
exhausted,  and  their  affliction  became  violent,  and  their  spirits  were  oppressed:  so 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL.  609 

tliey  begged  God  to  grant  them  deliverance  frum  the  state  in  which  they  were.  Seif- 
elniolduk,  during  the  course  of  their  voynge,  used,  when  he  slept,  to  put  Dowlet 
Katotin  behind  his  back  ;  and  when  he  turned  over,  the  sword  was  between  them. 
And  while  they  were  in  this  state  one  night,  it  happened  that  Seifelmolouk  was 
asleep,  and  Dowlet  Katoun  awake,  and  lo,  the  raft  inclined  to  the  shore,  and  came 
to  a  harbour  in  which  were  ships.  So  Dowlet  Katoun  saw  the  ships,  and  she  heard 
a  man  talking  with  the  sailors,  and  the  man  who  was  talking  was  the  chief  captain. 
Therefore  when  she  heard  the  voice  of  the  captain,  she  knew  that  this  was  the  har- 
bour of  some  city,  and  that  they  had  arrived  at  the  habitations  of  men  ;  and  she  re- 
joiced greatly,  and,  having  roused  Seifelmolouk  from  his  sleep,  she  said  to  him,  Arise 
and  ask  this  captain  respecting  the  name  of  this  city  and  respecting  this  harbour. 
And  thereupon  Seifelmolouk  arose,  joyful,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  what  is 
the  name  of  this  city,  and  what  is  this  harbo\ir  called,  and  what  is  the  name  of  its 
King?  But  the  captain  replied,  0  lying-faced!  0  silly-bearded  !  if  thou  know  not 
this  harbour  nor  this  city,  how  camest  thou  hither?  Seifelmolouk  said,  I  am  a 
stranger,  and  I  was  in  a  vessel,  one  of  the  merchant-vessels,  and  it  was  wrecked,  and 
sank  with  all  that  was  in  it;  but  I  got  upon  a  plank,  and  have  arrived  here,  and  I 
asked  thee  a  question,  which  is  not  disgraceful.  So  the  captain  said,  This  is  the 
city  called  Emaria,  and  this  harbour  is  called  the  harbour  Kemein  el-Bahrein. 

Now  when  Dowlet  Katoun  heard  these  words,  she  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  said, 
Praise  be  to  God!  So  Seifelmolouk  said.  What  is  the  news?  And  she  answered,  0 
Seifelmolouk,  rejoice  at  the  announcement  of  speedy  relief;  for  the  King  of  this  city 
is  my  uncle,  the  brother  of  my  father,  and  his  name  is  Ali-elmolouk.  Then  she 
said  to  him.  Ask  him  and  say  to  him.  Is  the  Sultan  of  this  city,  Ali-elmolouk,  well? 
He  therefore  asked  him  that  question  ;  and  the  captain,  enraged  at  him,  replied. 
Thou  sayest.  In  my  life  I  never  came  hither;  but  am  a  stranger:  —  who,  then, 
acquainted  thee  with  the  name  of  the  lord  of  this  city? — And  Dowlet  Katoun  was 
glad,  and  she  knew  the  captain  ;  his  name  was  Moineddin,  and  he  was  one  of  her 
fixther's  captains  :  he  had  come  forth  to  search  for  her,  when  she  was  lost,  and  found 
her  not,  and  he  ceased  not  to  search  about  until  he  came  to  the  city  of  her 
uncle.  Then  she  said  to  Seifelmolouk,  Say  to  him,  0  captain  Moineddin,  come 
and  answer  the  summons  of  thy  mistress.  So  he  called  to  him  in  the  words 
which  she  had  said;  and  when  the  captain  heard  his  words,  he  was  violently 
enraged,  and  said  to  him,  0  dog,  who  art  thou,  and  how  knewest  thou  me?  And  he 
said  to  some  of  the  sailors.  Hand  me  an  ashen  staff,  that  I  may  go  to  this  unlucky 
fellow  and  break  his  head.  He  then  took  the  staff,  and  went  towards  Seifelmolouk; 
and  he  saw  the  raft,  and  saw  upon  it  an  object  wonderful  and  beautiful,  whereat  his 
mind  was  amazed  ;  and  looking,  and  taking  a  sure  view,  he  beheld  Dowlet  Katoun 
sitting,  like  a  piece  of  the  moon.  He  therefore  said,  What  is  with  thee?  And  Seif- 
elmolouk answered  him,  With  me  is  a  damsel  named  Dowlet  Katoun.  And  when 
the  captain  heard  these  words  he  fell  down  in  a  fit,  on  his  hearing  her  name,  and 
knowing  that  she  was  his  mistress  and  the  daughter  of  his  King.  Then,  as  soon  as 
he  recovered,  he  left  the  raft  with  what  was  upon  it,  and  repaired  to  the  city,  went 
up  to  the  palace  of  the  King,  and  asked  permission  to  go  in  to  him.  So  the  chamber- 
lain went  in  to  the  King,  and  said,  The  captain  Moineddin  hath  come  to  thee  to  give 
thee  good  news.  Wherefore  he  gave  him  permission  to  enter,  and  he  went  in  to  the 
King,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  said  to  him,  O  King,  thou  hast  to  give 
a  present  for  good  news ;  for  the  daughter  of  thy  brother,  Dowlet  Katoun,  hath 
arrived  at  the  city,  in  good  health  and  prosperity,  and  she  is  upon  a  raft,  accom- 
panied by  a  young  man  like  the  moon  in  the  night  of  its  fulness.  And  when  the 
King  heard  the  tidings  of  the  daughter  of  his  brother,  ho  rejoiced,  and  conferred  a 
sumptuous  robe  of  honour  upon  the  captain.  He  ordered  also  immediately  that  they 
should  decorate  the  city  for  the  safety  of  the  daughter  of  his  brother,  and  sent  to  her, 
and  caused  her  to  be  brought  to  him,  together  with  Seifelmolouk,  and  saluted  them, 
and  po'inrr-itnlMtc'd  them  on  their  safety.  He  then  sent  to  his  brother  to  inform  him 
3U 


610  SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL. 

that  his  daughter  had  been  found,  and  that  she  was  with  him  ;  and  when  the  mes- 
Hienger  came  to  him,  he  prepared  himself,  and  the  troops  assembled,  and  Tajelmolouk, 
the  father  uf  Dowlet  Katoun,  set  forth,  and  proceeded  until  he  came  to  his  brother 
Ali-elmolouk,  when  he  met  his  daughter,  and  they  rejoiced  exceedingly. 

Tajelmolouk  remained  with  his  brother  a  week  :  after  which  he  took  his  daughter, 
and  likewise  Seifelmolouk,  and  they  proceeded  until  they  came  to  Serendib,  her 
father's  country,  when  Dowlet  Katoun  met  her  mother,  and  they  rejoiced  at  her 
safety,  and  celebrated  festivities  ;  and  it  was  a  great  day,  the  like  of  which  is  not 
seen.  As  to  the  King,  he  treated  Seifelmolouk  with  honour,  and  said  to  him,  0 
Seifelmolouk,  thou  hast  done  unto  me  and  my  daughter  all  this  benefit,  and  I  am 
not  able  to  requite  thee  for  it,  nor  can  any  one  requite  thee  save  the  Lord  of  all  crea- 
tures; but  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  sit  upon  the  throne  in  my  place,  and  govern  in 
the  land  of  India;  for  I  have  given  to  thee  my  kingdom  and  my  throne  and  my  trea- 
sures and  my  servants,  and  all  this  is  a  present  from  me  unto  thee.  So  thereupon 
Seifelmolouk  arose  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the  King,  and  thanked  him,  and 
said  unto  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  have  accepted  all  that  thou  hast  given  to  me, 
and  it  is  returned  from  me  unto  thee  as  a  present  also  ;  for  I,  0  King  of  the  age, 
desire  not  kingdom  nor  empire,  nor  desire  I  aught  but  that  God  (whose  name  be  ex- 
alted!) may  cause  me  to  attain  my  desire.  The  King  then  said  to  him,  These  my 
treasures  are  at  thy  disposal,  0  Seifelmolouk :  whatsoever  thou  desire  of  them,  take 
it,  and  consult  me  not  respecting  it,  and  may  God  recompense  thee  for  me  with  every- 
thing good!  But  Seifelmolouk  replied.  May  God  strengthen  the  King!  There  is  no 
delight  for  me  in  sovereignty  nor  in  wealth  until  I  attain  my  wish  ;  but  I  desire  now 
to  divert  myself  in  this  city,  and  to  see  its  great  thoroughfare-streets  and  its  markets. 
—  So  Tajelmolouk  ordered  that  they  should  bring  him  a  horse  of  excellent  breed: 
and  accordingly  they  brought  him  a  horse  saddled  and  bridled,  of  excellent  breed, 
and  he  mounted  it,  and  went  forth  into  the  market,  and  rode  through  the  great 
thoroughfare-streets  of  the  city.  And  while  he  was  looking  to  the  right  and  left,  he 
saw  a  young  man,  with  a  tunic,  crying  it  at  the  price  of  fifteen  pieces  of  gold  ;  and, 
looking  attentively  at  him,  he  found  him  to  resemble  his  brother  Said  ;  and,  in  truth, 
he  was  Said  himself;  but  his  complexion  and  condition  were  changed  by  protracted 
estrangement  and  the  difBculties  of  travel ;  so  he  did  not  know  him.  lie  then  said 
to  those  who  were  around  him,  Bring  this  young  man,  that  I  may  interrog.tte  him.- 
And  they  brought  him  to  him,  and  he  said,  Take  him  and  convey  him  to  the  palace 
in  which  I  am  staying,  and  let  him  remain  with  you  until  I  return  from  diverting 
myself.  But  they  imagined  that  he  said  to  them,  Take  him  and  convey  him  to  the 
prison.  And  they  said.  Perhaps  this  is  one  of  his  mamlouks,  who  hath  fled  from 
him. 

Accordingly  they  took  him  and  conveyed  him  to  the  prison,  and  shackled  him,  and 
left  him  sitting  there.  Then  Seifelmolouk  returned  from  diverting  himself,  and 
went  up  into  the  palace  ;  but  he  forgot  his  brother  Said,  and  no  one  mentioned  him 
to  liim.  So  Said  remained  in  the  prison  ;  and  when  they  went  forth  with  the  pri- 
soners to  employ  theni  in  constructions  and  repairs  and  similar  works,  they  took 
Said  with  them,  and  he  worked  with  the  prisoners,  and  dirt  increased  upon  him. 
He  remained  in  this  state  for  the  space  of  a  month,  reflecting  upon  his  circumstances, 
and  saying  within  himself,  What  is  the  cause  of  my  imprisonment?  Arxl  Seifel- 
molouk was  occupied  by  his  joj's  and  other  things.  But  it  happened  that  he  was 
sitting  one  day,  and  remembered  his  brother  Said;  so  he  said  to  the  mamlouks  who 
were  with  him.  Where  is  the  mamlouk  who  was  with  you  on  such  a  day  ?  They  re- 
plied, Didst  thou  not  say  to  us.  Convey  him  to  the  prison?  He  said.  I  did  not  say 
to  you  these  words  ;  but  I  said  to  you,  C(mvey  him  to  the  palace  in  which  I  am  stay- 
ing. Then  he  sent  the  chamberlains  to  Said  :  so  they  brought  him  to  him,  shackled  ; 
and  they  loosed  him  from  his  shackles,  and  stationed  him  before  Seifelmolouk,  who 
said  to  him,  0  young  man,  from  what  country  art  thou?  And  lie  answered  him,  I 
am  from  Egypt,  and  my  name  is  Said,  the  son  of  the  Vizier  Faris.     AVhen  Srifel- 


They  Rejoiced  at  her  Safety.    (Page  610.) 


611 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL.  613 

molouk,  therefore,  heard  his  words,  he  arose  from  the  throne,  threw  himself  upon 
him,  and  clung  to  hit?  neck  ;  and  by  reason  of  his  joy,  he  wept  violently,  and  he 
said,  O  my  brother,  0  Said,  praise  be  to  God  that  thou  art  living,  and  that  I  have 
seen  thee  ;  for  I  am  thy  brother  Seifelmolouk,  the  son  of  the  King  Asim.  So  when 
Said  heard  the  words  of  his  brother,  and  knew  him,  they  embraced  one  another,  and 
wept  together ;  and  the  persons  who  were  present  wondered  at  them.  Then  Seifel- 
molouk ordered  that  they  should  take  Said  and  conduct  him  to  the  bath.  Accord- 
ingly they  conducted  him  thither:  and  on  his  coming  forth  from  the  bath,  they  c^Ad 
him  in  sumptuous  apparel,  and  brought  him  back  to  the  chamber  of  Seifelmolouk, 
who  seated  him  with  him  on  the  throne.  And  when  Tajelmolouk  knew  of  this,  he 
rejoiced  greatly  at  the  meeting  of  Seifelmolouk  with  his  brother  Said  ;  and  he  came, 
and  the  three  sat  conversing  upon  the  events  that  had  happened  to  them  from  first 
to  last. 

Then  Said  said,  0  my  brother,  0  Seifelmolouk,  when  the  ship  was  submerged  and 
the  mamlouks  also  were  submerged,  I  and  a  party  of  the  mamlouks  got  upon  a 
plank,  and  it  proceeded  with  us  over  the  sea  for  a  period  of  a  whole  month  ;  after 
which  the  wind  cast  us,  by  the  decree  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  upon  an 
island.  So  we  landed  upon  it:  and  we  were  hungry  :  wherefore  we  went  in  among 
the  trees,  and  ate  of  the  fruits,  and  were  busied  with  eating:  and  we  were  not 
aware  when  there  come  forth  upon  us  people  like  Afrites,  who  sprang  upon  us,  and 
mounted  upon  our  shoulders,  saying  to  us,  Go  on  with  us  ;  for  ye  have  become  our 
asses.  I  therefore  said  to  him  who  had  mounted  me,  What  art  thou,  and  why  hast 
thou  mounted  me?  And  when  he  heard  from  me  these  words,  he  wound  his  leg 
round  my  neck  in  such  a  manner  that  I  nearly  died,  and  he  beat  me  upon  my  back 
with  his  other  leg  so  that  I  thought  he  had  broken  my  back.  I  then  fell  upon  the 
ground  on  my  face,  and  no  strength  remained  in  me  by  reason  of  my  hunger  and 
thirst.  So  when  I  fell,  he  knew  that  I  was  hungry,  and,  taking  me  by  my  hand,  he 
brought  me  to  a  tree  abounding  with  fruit,  and  it  was  a  pear-tree;  and  he  said  to 
me.  Eat  from  this  tree  until  thou  art  satiated.  I  'herefore  ate  from  that  tree  until 
I  was  satiated,  and  I  arose  to  walk,  without  desiring  to  do  so  ;  but  I  had  not  gone 
more  than  a  little  way  before  that  person  turned  back  and  mounted  again  upon  my 
shoulders.  A  while  I  walked,  and  a  while  I  ran,  and  a  while  I  trotted  ;  and  he, 
riding  upon  me,  laughed,  and  said.  In  my  life  I  have  never  seen  an  ass  like  thee. 

Now  it  happened  that  we  gathered  some  bunches  of  grapes  one  day,  and  put  them 
into  a  trench,  and  trod  them  with  our  feet,  and  that  trench  became  a  great  pool. 
Then  we  waited  some  time,  and  coming  again  to  the  trench,  we  found  that  the  sun 
had  heated  that  juice,  and  that  it  had  become  wine.  So  after  that,  we  used  to  drink 
of  it,  and  intoxicate  ourselves,  and  our  faces  became  red,  and  we  used  to  sing  and 
dance,  by  reason  of  the  exhilaration  produced  by  intoxication  :  whereupon  they 
said.  What  is  it  that  reddeneth  your  faces,  and  maketh  you  dance  and  sing?  We 
replied,  Ask  ye  not  respecting  this.  And  what  desire  ye  by  asking  respecting  it? — 
They  said.  Inform  us,  that  we  may  know  the  truth  of  the  case.  And  we  replied, 
The  expressed  juice  of  grapes.  And  upon  this  they  took  us  to  a  valley,  of  which 
we  knew  not  the  length  nor  the  breadth,  and  in  that  valley  were  grape-vines  of  which 
neither  the  beginning  nor  the  end  were  known  :  every  one  of  the  bunches  that  were 
upon  them  was  as  much  as  twenty  pounds  in  weight,  and  every  one  was  within  easy 
reach  :  and  they  said  to  us.  Gather  of  these.  We  therefore  gathered  of  them  a  great 
quantity;  and  I  saw  there  a  large  trench,  larger  than  a  great  tank,  which  we  filled 
with  grapes,  and  we  trod  them  with  our  feet,  and  did  as  we  had  done  the  first  time : 
so  it  became  wine,  and  we  said  to  them.  It  hath  come  to  perfection. — With  what  then 
will  ye  drink?  Whereupon  they  answered  us.  There  were  in  our  possession  some 
asses  like  you,  and  we  ate  them,  and  their  heads  remain  :  therefore  give  us  to  drink 
in  their  skulls.  And  we  gave  them  to  drink,  and  they  became  intoxicated  :  after 
which  they  lay  down  ;  and  they  were  about  two  hundred.  Upon  this  we  said  one 
to  another.  Is  it  not  enough  for  these  to  ride  us,  but  will  thev  eat  us  also  ?     There 


614  SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL. 

is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  Gnd,  the  Ilijih,  the  Great!  But  we  will  make  in- 
toxication to  overcome  them,  and  then  we  will  kill  them,  and  be  secure  from  them, 
and  escape  from  their  hands.  —  Accordingly  we  roused  them,  and  proceeded  to  fill 
for  them  those  skulls,  and  to  give  them  to  drink  ;  but  they  said,  This  is  bitter.  So 
we  said  to  them,  Wherefore  do  ye  say  that  this  is  bitter?  Every  one  who  saith  that, 
if  he  drink  not  of  it  ten  times  he  will  die  the  same  day.  —  They  therefore  feared 
death,  and  said  to  us.  Give  us  to  drink  all  the  ten  times.  And  when  they  had  drunk 
what  remained  of  the  ten  draughts,  they  were  intoxicated,  and  their  intoxication 
was  excessive,  and  their  strength  entirely  failed:  so  we  dragged  them  by  their 
hands,  and  collected  a  great  quantity  of  the  sticks  of  those  vines,  and  put  them 
around  them  and  upon  them;  after  which  we  set  fire  to  the  sticks,  and  stood  at  a 
distance,  to  see  what  would  become  of  them.  We  then  approached  them,  after  the 
fire  had  become  low,  and  we  saw  that  they  were  reduced  to  a  heap  of  ashes. 

We  therefore  praised  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  who  had  saved  us  from  them, 
and  going  forth  from  the  midst  of  that  island,  we  sought  the  shore  of  the  sea.  Then 
we  parted,  one  from  another.  But  as  to  me  and  two  of  the  mamlouks,  we  walked 
until  we  came  to  a  great  wood,  abounding  with  trees,  where  we  busied  ourselves 
with  eating.  And  lo,  a  person  of  tall  stature,  with  a  long  beard,  with  long  ears, 
and  with  two  eyes  like  two  cressets,  before  whom  were  many  sheep  which  he  was 
tending,  and  with  him  was  a  party  of  persons  like  himself.  And  when  he  saw  us, 
he  rejoiced  at  our  coming,  and  was  glad  ;  and  he  welcomed  us,  saying,  A  friendly 
and  free  welcome!  Come  to  my  abode,  that  I  may  slaughter  for  you  one  of  these 
sheep,  and  roast  it,  and  feed  you.  —  So  we  said  to  him.  And  where  is  thy  place? 
And  he  answered.  Near  to  this  mountain  :  go  ye  then  in  this  direction  until  ye  see 
a  cave,  which  enter  ye  ;  for  in  it  are  many  guests  like  you.  Go  and  sit  with  them 
until  we  prepare  for  you  the  entertainment.  —  And  we  felt  sure  that  his  words  were 
true,  and  went  in  that  direction,  and  entered  that  cave  ;  but  we  saw  the  guests  that 
were  in  it  all  of  them  blind  ;  and  when  we  went  in  to  them,  one  of  them  said,  I  am 
sick:  — and  another  said,  I  am  infirm.  So  we  said  to  them.  What  are  these  words 
that  ye  utter  ?  What  is  the  cause  of  your  infirmity  and  your  disease?  —  And  they 
asked  us,  saying.  Who  are  ye  ?  We  answered  them.  We  are  guests.  And  they 
said  to  us.  What  hath  thrown  you  into  the  hand  of  this  accursed  wretch  ?  There  is 
no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  This  is  a  Ghoul,  that 
eateth  the  sons  of  Adam,  and  he  hath  blinded  us,  and  desireth  to  eat  us. — We  there- 
fore said  to  them,  IIow  hath  this  Ghoul  blinded  you?  They  replied.  Verily  forth- 
with he  will  blind  you  like  us. — But  how,  said  we,  will  he  blind  us?  They  answered 
us.  He  will  bring  you  cups  of  milk,  and  will  say  to  you,  Ye  are  wearied  by  youi 
journey:  therefore  take  this  milk,  and  drink  of  it.  And  when  ye  drink  of  it,  ye 
will  become  like  us. — So  I  said  within  myself,  There  remaineth  for  us  no  escape  save 
by  sti'atagom.  And  I  dug  a  hole  in  the  ground,  and  sat  over  it.  Then,  after  a 
while,  the  accursed  Ghoul  came  in  to  us,  bringing  cups  of  milk,  and  he  handed  to 
me  a  cup,  and  handed  a  cup  to  each  of  those  who  were  with  me,  saying  to  us.  Ye 
have  come  from  the  desert  thirsty;  therefore  take  this  milk,  and  drink  of  it,  while 
I  roast  for  you  the  meat.  Now  as  to  myself,  I  took  the  cup,  and  put  it  near  to  my 
mouth,  and  emptied  it  into  the  hole  ;  after  which  I  cried  out.  Ah  !  my  sight  is  gone, 
and  I  have  become  blind  !  And  I  held  my  eyes  with  my  hand,  and  began  to  weep 
and  cry  out,  while  he  laughed,  and  said.  Fear  not.  But  as  to  the  two  who  were  my 
companions,  they  drank  the  milk,  and  became  blind.  And  thereupon  the  accursed 
arose  immediately,  and,  having  closed  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  drew  near  to  me, 
and  felt  my  ribs,  and  ho  found  me  lean,  having  no  meat  upon  me;  wherefore  he 
felt  another,  and  he  saw  that  he  was  fat,  and  rejoiced  thereat.  He  then  slaughtered 
three  sheep,  and  skinned  them,  and  he  brought  some  spits  of  iron,  upon  which  he 
put  the  flesh  of  the  sheep,  and  he  put  them  over  a  fire,  and  roasted  the  meat ;  after 
which  he  brought  it  to  my  two  companions,  who  ate,  and  he  ate  with  them.     He 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  615 

next  brought  a  leathern  bottle  full  of  wine,  and  drank  it,  and  laid  himsell'  down 
upon  his  face  and  snored. 

So  upon  this  I  said  within  myself,  Verily  he  is  immersed  in  sleep,  and  how  shall 
I  slay  him?  Then  I  remembered  the  spits  ;  and  I  took  two  of  them,  and  put  them 
into  the  fire,  and  waited  until  they  had  become  like  redhot  coals  ;  whereupon  I 
girded  myself,  and,  having  risen  upon  my  feet,  took  the  two  iron  spits  in  my  hand, 
and  drew  near  to  the  accursed,  and  thrust  them  into  his  eyes,  pressing  upon  them 
with  all  my  strength.  So  by  reason  of  the  sweetness  of  life  he  rose  erect  upon  hia 
feet  and  desired  to  lay  hold  upon  me,  after  he  had  become  blind.  But  I  fled  from 
him  into  the  inner  part  of  the  cave,  while  he  pursued  me  ;  and  I  said  to  the  blind 
men  who  were  with  him.  What  is  to  be  done  with  this  accursed?  Upon  which  one 
of  them  said,  0  Said,  arise  and  ascend  to  this  aperture  ;  thou  wilt  find  in  it  a  polished 
sword  ;  and  do  thou  take  it,  and  come  to  me,  that  I  may  tell  thee  what  thou  shalt  do. 
Accordingly  I  ascended  to  the  aperture,  and  took  the  sword,  and  came  to  that  man  ; 
and  he  said  to  me,  Take  it,  and  smite  him  upon  his  waist,  and  he  will  die  instantly. 
I  therefore  arose  and  ran  after  him,  and  he  was  tired  with  running,  and  he  came  to 
the  blind  men  to  kill  them  ;  so  I  came  to  him,  and  smote  him  with  the  sword  upon 
his  waist,  and  he  became  divided  in  twain  :  upon  which  he  cried  out  to  me,  saying, 

0  man,  since  thou  desirest  my  slaughter,  smite  me  a  second  time.  Wherefore  I  re- 
solved to  smite  him  a  second  time  ;  but  he  who  directed  me  to  the  sword  said.  Smite 
him  not  a  second  time  ;  for  in  that  case  he  will  not  die,  but  will  live,  and  will  de- 
stroy us.  So  I  complied  with  the  direction  of  that  man,  and  smote  him  not;  and 
the  accursed  died.  The  man  then  said  to  me,  Arise ;  open  the  cave,  and  let  us  go 
forth  from  it.     Perhaps  God  will  aid  us,  and  we  shall  be  safe  from  this  place.  —  But 

1  replied.  No  harm  remaineth  for  us.  We  will  rather  rest,  and  slaughter  some  of 
these  sheep,  and  drink  of  this  wine  ;  for  the  land  is  far-extending. — And  we  remained 
in  this  place  for  a  period  of  two  months,  eating  of  these  sheep  and  of  the  fruits. 

After  this,  it  happened  that  we  were  sitting  upon  the  shore  of  the  sea,  one  day, 
and  I  saw  a  large  ship  appearing  upon  the  sea  in  the  distance:  so  we  made  a  sign 
to  the  persons  on  board  of  it,  and  called  out  to  them.  But  they  feared  that  Ghoul ; 
for  they  knew  that  upon  this  island  was  a  Ghoul  that  ate  human  beings  ;  wherefore 
they  desired  to  escape.  We  however  made  signs  to  them  with  the  ends  of  our 
turbans,  and  drew  nearer  to  them,  and  proceeded  to  call  out  to  them  ;  and  there- 
upon one  of  the  passengers,  who  was  sharp-sighted,  said,  0  company  of  passengers, 
verily  I  see  these  indistinct  objects  to  be  human  beings  like  us,  and  they  have  not 
the  form  of  Ghouls.  Then  they  came  towards  us  by  little  and  little  until  they  drew 
near  to  us  ;  and  when  they  were  convinced  that  we  were  human  beings,  they  saluted 
us,  and  we  returned  their  salutation,  and  gave  them  the  good  news  of  the  slaughter 
of  the  accursed  Ghoul ;  whereupon  they  thanked  us.  We  then  provided  ourselves 
from  the  island  with  some  of  the  fruits  that  were  upon  it,  and  embarked  on  board 
the  ship,  and  it  bore  us  along  with  a  fair  wind  for  the  space  of  three  days.  But 
after  that,  a  wind  arose  against  us,  and  the  darkness  of  the  sky  became  excessive, 
and  not  more  than  one  hour  had  elapsed  when  the  wind  bore  the  ship  to  a  mountain, 
and  it  was  wrecked,  and  its  planks  were  rent  asunder.  However,  God  the  Great 
decreed  that  I  should  lay  hold  of  one  of  its  planks,  and  I  got  upon  it,  and  it  bore  me 
along  for  two  days.  A  fair  wind  had  then  come,  and  I,  sitting  upon  the  plank, 
proceeded  to  row  with  my  feet  for  some  time,  until  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !) 
caused  me  to  reach  the  shore  in  safety,  and  I  landed  at  this  city.  But  I  had  become 
a  stranger,  alone,  solitary,  not  knowing  what  to  do,  and  hunger  had  tormented  me, 
and  extreme  trouble  had  befallen  me.  I  therefore  came  to  the  market  of  the  city, 
after  I  had  hidden  myself,  and  pulled  oif  this  tunic,  saying  within  myself,  I  will  sell 
it,  and  sustain  myself  with  its  price  until  God  shall  accomplish  what  he  will  accom- 
plish. Then,  0  my  brother,  I  took  the  tunic  in  my  hand,  and  the  people  were  look- 
ing at  it,  and  bidding  up  for  its  price,  until  thou  earnest  and  sawest  me,  and  gavest 
orders  to  convey  me  to  the  palace  ;  whereupon  the  young  men  took  me  and  im- 


616  SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL. 

prisoned  me ;  and  after  this  period  thou  rememberedst  me,  and  caused  me  to  be 
brouojht  to  thee.  Thus  I  have  acquainted  thee  with  the  events  that  have  happened 
to  me  ;  and  praise  be  to  God  for  the  meeting! 

And  when  Seifelmolouk  and  Tajelmolouk  the  father  of  Dowlet  Katoun  heard  the 
story  of  the  Vizier  Said,  they  wondered  at  it  greatly.  Tajelmolouk  had  prepared  a 
pleasant  place  for  Seifelmolouk  and  his  brother  Said ;  and  Dowlet  Katoun  used  to 
come  to  Seifelmolouk,  and  to  thank  him,  and  converse  with  him  respecting  his  kind 
conduct.  Then  the  Vizier  Said  said,  0  Queen,  I  desire  thine  aid  to  accomplish  his 
wish.  And  she  replied,  Yes;  I  will  exert  myself  in  his  favour  so  that  he  shall  attain 
his  wish,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  And  looking  towards 
Seifelmolouk,  he  said  to  him.  Be  of  good  heart,  and  cheerful  eye.  —  Thus  was  the 
case  of  Seifelmolouk  and  his  Vizier  Said.  And  now,  as  to  the  Queen  Bedia  Eljemal, 
information  was  brought  to  her  of  the  return  of  her  sister  Diwlet  Katoun  to  her 
father  and  her  country;  and  she  said,  I  must  visit  her  and  salute  her  in  beautiful 
trim  and  ornaments  and  apparel.  So  she  repaired  to  her ;  and  when  she  drew  near 
to  her  abode,  the  Queen  Dowlet  Katoun  met  her,  and  saluted  her  and  embraced  her, 

and  kissed  her  between  her  eyes  ;  and 
the  Queen  Bedia  Eljemal  congratulated 
her  on  her  safety.  Then  they  sat  con- 
versing, and  Bedia  Eljemal  said  to  Dow- 
let Katoun,  What  happened  to  thee 
during  thine  absence  from  thy  country? 
— 0  my  sister,  replied  Dowlet  Katoun, 
ask  me  not  respecting  the  things  that 
befell  me.  Oh,  what  difficulties  do 
human  creatures  endure! — And  how  so? 
\  asked  Bedia  Eljemal.  She  answered,  0 
my  sister,  I  was  in  the  Lofty  Palace,  and 
in  it  the  son  of  the  Blue  King  had  pos- 
session of  me.  And  she  related  to  her 
the  rest  of  the  story  from  first  to  last,  and 
the  story  of  Seifelmolouk,  and  what 
happened  to  him  in  the  palace,  and  the 
Bedia  Eijemai  and  Dowlet  Katoun.  difficulties  and  horrors  that  he  had  en- 

dured until  he  came  to  the  Lofty  Palace  : 
also  how  he  had  killed  the  son  of  the  Blue  King,  and  how  he  had  pulled  off  the 
doors,  and  made  them  into  a  raft,  and  made  for  it  oars;  and  how  he  came  hither; 
whereat  Bedia  Eljemal  wondered.  Then  she  said.  By  Allah,  0  my  sister,  verily 
this  was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  of  wonderful  cases,  and  I  desire  to  acquaint 
thee  with  the  origin  of  his  tale  :  but  bashfulness  preventeth  my  doing  so.  Bedia 
Eljemal  therefore  said  to  her.  What  is  the  cause  of  thy  bashfulness,  when  thou  art 
my  sister  and  my  companion,  and  we  have  much  between  us,  and  I  know  that  thou 
desirest  not  forme  aught  save  what  is  good?  Wherefore  then  shouldst  thou  be 
abashed  at  me  ?  Acquaint  me  with  that  which  thou  hast  to  say,  and  be  not  abashed 
at  me,  nor  conceal  from  me  aught  of  the  matter. 

So  Dowlet  Katoun  replied.  Verily  he  saw  thy  portrait  on  the  tunic  which  thy 
father  sent  to  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on  both  of  whom  be  peace!).  Solomon 
opened  it  not,  nor  saw  what  was  on  it,  but  sent  it  to  the  King  Asim  the  son  of  Saf- 
wan,  the  King  of  Egypt,  among  other  presents  and  rarities  which  ho  sent  to  him  ; 
and  the  King  Asim  gave  it  to  his  son  Seifelmolouk  before  he  opened  it.  And  when 
Seifelmolouk  took  it,  he  opened  it,  desiring  to  put  it  on  himself,  and  he  saw  on  it  thy 
portrait,  and  became  enamoured  of  it ;  wherefore  he  came  forth  to  seek  thee,  and  he 
endured  all  these  difficulties  on  thine  account.  —  But  Bedia  Eljemal  said  (and  her 
face  had  become  red,  and  she  was  abashed  at  Dowlet  Katoun).  Verily  this  is  a  thing 
that  can  never  be  ;  for  mankind  agree  not  with  the  Genii.     So  Dowlet  Katoun  pro- 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  617 

ceeded  to  describe  to  her  Seifelmolouk  and  the  excellence  of  his  form  and  his 
conduct  and  his  horsemanship;  and  she  ceased  not  to  praise  him  and  to  mention  to 
her  his  qualities  until  she  said,  0  my  sister,  for  the  sake  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted  !)  and  for  my  sake,  come  and  converse  with  him,  though  thou  speak  but  a 
single  word.  But  Bedia  Eljemal  replied.  Verily  these  words  that  thou  utterest  I 
will  not  hear,  nor  will  I  yield  to  thy  wish  expressed  in  them.  And  she  seemed  as 
though  she  heard  not  of  them  aught,  and  as  though  no  love  for  Seifelmolouk  and  the 
excellence  of  his  form  and  his  conduct  and  his  horsemanship  entered  her  heart. 
Then  Dowlet  Katoun  humbled  herself  to  her,  and  kissed  her  feet,  and  said,  0  Bedia 
Eljemal,  by  the  milk  that  we  have  sucked.  I  and  thou,  and  by  the  characters  en- 
graved upon  the  seal  of  Solomon  (on.  whom  be  peace!),  hear  these  my  words;  for  I 
pledged  myself  to  him  in  the  Lofty  Palace  that  I  would  show  him  thy  face.  I  conjure 
thee  then  by  Allah  to  show  him  thy  form  once,  for  my  sake,  and  that  thou  also  see 
him. — And  she  proceeded  to  weep  to  her,  and  to  humble  herself  to  her,  and  to  kiss 
her  hands  and  her  feet,  until  she  consented,  and  said.  For  thy  sake  I  will  show  him 
my  face  once. 

Upon  this,  therefore,  the  heart  of  Dowlet  Katoun  was  comforted.  She  kissed  her 
hands  and  her  feet,  and  went  forth,  and  came  to  the  largest  palace,  which  was  in  the 
garden  ;  and  she  ordered  the  female  slaves  to  spread  the  furniture  in  it,  to  set  in  it  a 
couch  of  gold,  and  to  place  the  wine-vessels  in  order.  She  then  arose  and  went  in  to 
Seifelmolouk  and  Said  his  Vizier,  who  were  sitting  in  their  place,  and  gave  to  Seif- 
elmolouk the  good  news  of  the  attainment  of  his  desii-e  and  accomplishment  of  hie 
wish:  and  she  said  to  him,  Repair  to  the  garden,  thou  and  thy  brother,  and  enter 
the  palace,  and  conceal  yourselves  from  the  eyes  of  the  people,  so  that  no  one  of  those 
who  are  in  the  palace  may  see  you,  until  I  and  Bedia  Eljemal  come.  So  Seifelmo- 
louk and  Said  arose,  and  repaired  to  the  place  to  which  Dowlet  Katoun  had  directed 
them  ;  and  when  they  entered  it,  they  saw  a  couch  of  gold  set,  with  the  cushions 
upon  it,  and  there  were  viands  and  wine.  And  they  sat  a  while.  Then  Seifelmolouk 
thought  upon  his  beloved,  and  his  bosom  thereupon  became  contracted,  and  love  and 
desire  assailed  him:  he  therefore  arose  and  walked  on  until  he  went  forth  from  thf 
entrance-passage  of  the  palace.  His  brother  Said  followed  him  ;  but  he  said  to  him 
O  my  brother,  sit  thou  in  thy  place,  and  follow  me  not,  until  I  return  to  thee.  So 
Said  sat.  and  Seifelmolouk  descended  and  entered  the  garden,  intoxicated  by  the 
wine  of  desire,  perplexed  by  excess  of  passion  and  distraction ;  love  had  agitated  him, 
and  ecstacy  had  overcome  him.  Then  he  wept  again,  and  recited  verses ;  and  thus 
he  continued  to  do,  now  weeping  and  now  reciting,  till  Said,  thinking  him  slow  to 
return,  went  forth  from  the  palace  to  search  for  him  in  the  garden,  and  saw  him 
walking  there,  perplexed,  and  reciting  verses.  Thereupon  Seifelmolouk  and  Said 
his  brother  met,  and  they  proceeded  to  divert  themselves  in  the  garden,  and  to  eat 
of  the  fruits. 

But  as  to  Dowlet  Katoun,  when  she  and  Bedia  Eljemal  came  to  the  palace,  they 
entered  it,  after  the  eunuchs  had  decorated  it  with  varieties  of  ornaments,  and  done 
in  it  all  that  Dowlet  Katoun  had  ordered  them,  having  prepared  for  Bedia  Eljemal  a 
couch  of  gold  that  she  might  sit  upon  it.  So  when  Bedia  Eljemal  saw  that  couch, 
she  seated  herself  upon  it;  and  there  was  by  her  side  a  window  overlooking  the 
garden.  The  eunuchs  had  brought  varieties  of  exquisite  viands,  and  Bedia  Eljemal 
and  Dowlet  Katoun  ate,  the  latter  putting  morsels  into  the  mouth  of  the  former 
until  she  was  satisfied  ;  when  she  called  for  various  sweetmeats,  and  the  eunuchs 
brought  them,  and  the  two  ladies  ate  of  them  as  much  as  sufficed  them,  and  washed 
their  hands.  Next  Dowlet  Katoun  prepared  the  wine  and  the  wine-vessels,  arranged 
the  ewers  and  the  cups,  and  proceeded  to.  fill  and  to  hand  to  Bedia  Eljemal ;  after 
which  she  filled  the  cup  and  drank.  Then  Bedia  Eljemal  looked  from  the  window 
that  was  by  her  side  into  that  garden,  and  saw  its  fruits  and  branches  ;  and  happen- 
ing to  turn  her  eyes  in  the  direction  of  Seifelmolouk,  she  beheld  him  wandering 
about  in  the  garden,  with  the  Vizier  Said  behind  him,  and  heard  Seifelmolouk  re- 


618  SEIFELMOLOUK   AND   BEDIA   ELJEMAL. 

citing  verses,  while  he  poured  forth  copious  tears ;  and  when  she  beheld  him,  the 
sight  occasioned  her  a  thousand  sighs.  She  therefore  looked  towards  Dowlet  Katoun 
(and  the  wine  had  made  sport  with  her  affections),  and  she  said  to  her,  0  my  sister, 
who  is  this  young  man  that  I  see  in  the  garden,  perplexed,  distracted,  melancholy, 
sighing?  So  Dowlet  Katoun  said  to  her,  Wilt  thou  permit  his  presence  with  us, 
that  we  may  see  him  ?  She  answered.  If  thou  canst  bring  him,  do  so.  And  upon 
this,  Dowlet  Katoun  called  him,  saying  to  him,  0  son  of  the  King,  come  up  to  us  and 
approach  us  with  thy  beauty  and  loveliness.  Wherefore  Seifelmolouk,  knowing  the 
voice  of  Dowlet  Katoun,  went  up  into  the  palace ;  and  when  his  eye  fell  upon  Bedia 
Eljemal,  he  fell  down  in  a  fit:  so  Dowlet  Katoun  sprinkled  upon  him  a  little  rose- 
water,  and  he  recovered  from  his  fit.  He  then  arose,  and  kissed  the  ground  before 
Bedia  Eljemal,  who  was  confounded  by  his  beauty  and  loveliness  ;  and  Dowlet  Ka- 
toun said,  Know,  0  Queen,  that  this  is  Seifelmolouk,  through  whose  means  my  de- 
liverance was  effected,  by  the  decree  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  he  is  the 
person  whom  all  kinds  of  difficulties  have  befallen  on  thine  account ;  wherefore  I 
desire  that  thou  regard  him  favourably.  Upon  this,  Bedia  Eljemal,  after  laughing, 
said,  And  who  fulfilleth  vows,  that  this  young  man  should  fulfil  them  ?  For  man- 
kind are  destitute  of  affection. — So  Seifelmolouk  replied,  0  Queen,  verily  faithless- 
ness will  never  be  in  me  ;  and  all  people  are  not  alike. 

Then  he  wept  violently,  and  recited  verses  ;  and  when  he  had  ended  them,  he 
wept  again  violently;  whereupon  Bedia  Eljemal  said  to  him,  0  son  of  the  King, 
verily  I  fear  to  give  myself  up  to  thee  entirely,  lest  I  should  not  experience  from 
thee  affection  nor  love ;  for  often  the  good  qualities  of  mankind  are  found  to  be  few, 
and  their  perfidy  is  great.  And  know  that  the  lord  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on 
both  of  whom  be  peace!)  took  Balkis  lovingly;  and  when  he  saw  another  more 
beautiful  than  she,  he  turned  from  her  to  that  other  person. — But  Seifelmolouk  re- 
plied, 0  my  eye  and  my  soul,  God  hath  not  created  all  mankind  alike,  and  I,  if  it  be 
the  will  of  God,  will  fulfil  my  vow,  and  will  die  beneath  thy  feet.  Thou  shalt  see 
what  I  will  do  agreeably  with  that  which  I  say,  and  on  God  I  depend  for  my  doing 
as  I  say. — So  upon  this,  Bedia  Eljemal  said  to  him,  Sit,  and  be  at  ease,  and  swear 
to  me  by  thy  religion,  and  let  us  covenant  with  each  other,  that  neither  of  us  will  be 
treacherous  to  the  other;  and  may  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  execute  vengeance 
on  the  one  who  is  treacherous  to  the  other!  And  when  Seifelmolouk  heard  from 
her  these  words,  he  sat;  and,  with  the  hand  of  each  in  the  hand  of  the  other,  they 
swore  that  neither  of  them  would  prefer  to  the  other  any  person,  whether  of  man- 
kind or  of  the  Genii.  Then  they  remained  a  while  embracing  one  another,  and 
weeping  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  their  joy.  And  after  Bedia  Eljemal  and  Seifel- 
molouk had  sworn,  each  to  the  other,  Seifelmolouk  arose  to  walk,  and  Bedia  Eljemal 
arose  also  to  walk,  attended  by  a  slave-girl  carrying  some  food,  and  carrying  likewise 
a  bottle  full  of  wine.  And  Bedia  Eljemal  sat,  and  the  slave-girl  put  before  her  the 
food  and  the  wine  ;  but  they  had  not  remained  more  than  a  short  time  when  Seifel- 
molouk approached ;  whereupon  she  met  him  with  salutation,  and  they  embraced 
each  other. 

After  this,  they  sat  a  while  eating  and  drinking;  and  Bedia  Eljemal  said,  0  son 
of  the  King,  when  thou  enterest  the  Garden  of  Irem,  thou  wilt  see  a  large  tent 
pitched,  of  red  satin,  and  its  lining  of  green  silk.  Enter  the  tent,  and  fortify  thy 
heart.  Thou  wilt  there  see  an  old  woman  sitting  upon  a  couch  of  red  gold  set  with 
large  pearls  and  with  jewels ;  and  when  thou  enterest,  salute  her  with  politeness  and 
reverence  ;  and  look  towards  the  couch  :  thou  wilt  find  beneath  it  a  pair  of  slippers 
interwoven  with  gold  and  adorned  with  minerals.  Take  those  slippers  and  kiss 
them,  and  put  them  upon  thy  head;  theij  put  them  beneath  thy  right  arm-pit,  and 
•stand  before  the  old  woman,  silent,  and  hanging  down  thy  head.  And  when  she 
asketh  thee  and  saith  to  thee.  Whence  hast  thou  come,  and  how  arrivedst  thou  here, 
and  who  made  known  to  thee  this  place,  and  for  what  reason  tookest  thou  these 
slippers?— be  thou  silent  until  this  my  slave-girl  enteretli  and  converseth  witn  her, 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND    BEDIA   ELJEMAL.  619 

and  endeavoureth  to  render  her  favourable  to  thee,  and  striveth  to  content  her 
mind  by  words.  Perhaps  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  may  incline  her  heart  to 
thee,  and  she  may  consent  to  that  which  thou  desirest. — She  then  called  that  slave- 
girl  ;  and  her  name  was  MarjTina  ;  and  she  said  to  her.  By  thy  love  of  me,  accom- 
plish this  affair  this  day,  and  be  not  slothful  in  doing  it.  If  thou  accomplish  it  this 
day,  thou  shalt  be  free  for  the  sake  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  thou 
shalt  receive  generous  treatment,  and  there  shall  not  be  any  dearer  in  my  estimation 
than  thou,  nor  will  I  reveal  my  secret  to  any  but  thee. — So  she  replied,  0  my  mis- 
tress, and  light  of  my  eye,  tell  me  what  is  thine  affair,  that  I  may  accomplish  it  for 
thee  on  my  head  and  my  eye.  And  she  said  to  her.  It  is,  that  thou  carry  this 
human  being  upon  thy  shoulders,  and  convey  him  to  the  Garden  of  Irem,  to  the 
presence  of  my  grandmother,  the  mother  of  my  father;  that  thou  convey  him  to  her 
tent,  and  take  care  of  him.  And  when  thou  enterest  the  tent,  thou  with  him,  and 
seest  him  take  the  slippers  and  pay  homage  to  them,  and  she  saith  to  him.  Whence 
art  thou,  and  by  what  way  camest  thou,  and  who  brought  thee  to  this  place,  and  for 
what  reason  tookest  thou  these  slippers,  and  what  is  thine  affair  that  I  may  accom- 
plish it  for  thee? — thereupon  enter  quickly,  and  salute  her,  and  say  to  her,  0  my 
mistress,  I  am  the  person  who  brought  him  hither,  and  he  is  the  son  of  the  King 
of  Egypt,  and  he  is  the  person  who  went  to  the  Lofty  Palace,  and  killed  the  son  of 
the  Blue  King,  and  delivered  the  Queen  Dowlet  Katoun,  and  conveyed  her  to  her 
father  safe  ;  and  I  have  brought  him  to  thee  that  he  may  acquaint  thee  and  give  thee 
the  glad  tidings  of  her  safety:  therefore  be  gracious  unto  him. — Then  after  that, 
say  to  her.  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  tell  me,  is  not  this  young  man  comely,  0  my 
mistress?  And  she  will  answer  thee.  Yes.  And  thereupon  say  to  her,  0  my  mis- 
tress, verily  he  is  perfect  in  honour  and  generosity  and  courage,  and  he  is  the  lord 
of  Egypt,  and  its  King,  and  he  compriseth  all  praiseworthy  qualities.  And  when 
she  saith  to  thee.  What  is  his  affair? — reply.  My  mistress  saluteth  thee,  and  asketh 
thee,  how  long  shall  she  remain  in  the  house  a  maiden,  unmarried?  For  the  time 
hath  become  tedious  to  her.  What  then  is  your  desire  in  not  marrying  her,  and 
wherefore  dost  thou  not  marry  her  during  thy  life  and  the  life  of  her  mother,  like 
other  damsels? — And  if  she  say  to  thee.  How  shall  we  act  to  marry  her?  If  she 
know  any  one,  or  if  any  one  have  occurred  to  her  mind,  let  her  inform  us  respecting 
him,  and  we  will  do  for  her  as  she  wisheth  as  far  as  may  be  possible : — then  do  thou 
reply,  0  my  mistress,  thy  daughter  saith  to  thee.  Ye  were  desirous  of  marrying  me 
to  Solomon  (on  whom  be  peace  !),  and  ye  designed  for  him  my  portrait  on  the  tunic. 
But  he  had  no  lot  in  me:  and  he  sent  the  tunic  to  the  King  of  Egypt,  who  gave  it 
to  his  son,  and  he  saw  my  portrait  delineated  upon  it,  and  became  enamoured  of 
me  ;  wherefore  he  abandoned  the  kingdom  of  his  father  and  his  mother,  turning 
from  the  world  and  what  it  containeth,  and  came  forth  wandering  over  the  earth 
without  regard  to  anything,  and  endured  the  greatest  of  troubles  and  horrors  on  my 
account. 

The  slave-girl  then  took  up  Seifelmolouk,  and  said  to  him.  Close  thine  eyes.  He 
therefore  did  so;  and  she  flew  up  with  him  to  the  sky;  and  after  a  while,  she  said 
to  him,  0  son  of  the  King,  open  thine  eyes.  So  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  beheld  the 
garden,  the  Garden  of  Irem  ;  and  the  slave-girl  Marjana  said  to  him,  Enter,  0  Seifel- 
molouk, this  tent.  Upon  this,  Seifelmolouk  uttered  the  name  of  God,  and  entered, 
and,  casting  a  look  in  the  garden,  he  saw  the  old  woman  sitting  upon  the  couch, 
with  the  female  slaves  in  attendance  upon  her;  wherefore  he  approached  her  with 
politeness  and  reverence,  took  the  slippers  and  kissed  them,  and  did  as  Bedia  Elje- 
mal  had  directed  him.  The  old  woman  then  said  to  him.  Who  art  thou,  and  whence 
hast  thou  come,  and  from  what  country  art  thou,  and  who  brought  thee  to 'this  place, 
and  for  what  reason  tookest  thou  these  slippers  and  kissedst  them,  and  when  didst 
thou  tell  me  of  a  want  and  I  did  not  perform  it  for  thee?  So  upon  this  the  slave- 
girl  Marjana  entered,  and  saluted  her  with  politeness  and  reverence;  after  which 
she  repeated  what  Bedia  Eljemal  had  told  her.     But  when  the  old  woman  heard 


620 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEUIA    ELJEMAL. 


Marjana  carrying;  Seifelmolouk. 

these  words,  she  cried  out  at  her,  and  was  incensed  against  her,  and  said,  How  can 
there  be  agreement  between  mankind  and  the  Genii?  Seifelmolouk  therefore  re- 
plied, I  will  agree  with  thee,  and  be  thy  page,  and  die  loving  thee,  and  keep  thy 
covenant,  and  see  none  but  thee,  and  thou  shalt  see  my  veracity  and  my  freedom 
from  falsehood,  and  the  excellence  of  my  generosity  towards  thee,  if  it  be  the  will 
of  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted!).  Then  the  old  woman  reflected  for  some  time, 
with  her  head  hung  down  ;  and  after  that,  she  raised  her  head,  and  said,  0  comely 
young  man,  wilt  thou  keep  the  covenant,  and  the  compact?  He  answered  her.  Yes, 
by  him  who  raised  the  heaven  and  spread  out  the  earth  upon  the  water,  verily  I  will 
keep  the  covenant.  And  upon  this  the  old  woman  said,  I  will  accomplish  for  thee 
thine  aflfair,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !);  but  go  now  into  the 
garden,  and  divert  thyself  in  it,  and  eat  of  the  fruits  of  which  the  equals  exist  not, 
and  to  which  there  are  not  in  the  world  the  like,  while  I  send  to  my  son  Shahyal, 
who  will  come,  and  I  will  talk  with  him  on  that  affair,  and  nought  but  good  will 
happen,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !);  for  he  will  not  oppose 
me,  nor  disobey  my  command.  I  will  marry  to  thee  his  daughter  Bedia  Eljemal : 
so  be  of  good  heart;  for  she  shall  be  thy  wife,  0  Seifelmolouk. — And  when  Seifel- 
molouk heard  from  her  these  words,  he  thanked  her,  and  kissed  her  hands  and  her 
feet,  and  went  forth  from  her  into  the  garden.  The  old  woman  then  looked  towards 
that  slave-girl,  and  said  to  her.  Go  forth  and  search  for  my  son  Shahyal,  seek  for  him 
in  whatsoever  quarter  and  place  he  is,  and  bring  him  unto  me.  So  the  slave-girl 
went  and  searched  for  the  King  Shahyal,  and  she  met  with  him,  and  brought  him  to 
his  mother. 

Meanwhile,  Seifelmolouk  was  diverting  himself  in  the  garden,  when  five  of  the 
Genii,  who  were  of  the  subjects  of  the  Blue  King,  saw  him  ;  and  they  said.  Whence 
is  this  man,  and  who  brought  him  to  this  place?     Perhaps  he  is  the  person  who 


SEIFELMOLOUK    AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL.  621 

killed  the  son  of  the  Blue  King. — Then  they  said,  one  to  another,  We  will  employ  a 
stratagem  against  him,  and  interrogate  him,  and  ask  information  of  him.  So  they 
walked  on  by  little  and  little  until  they  came  to  Seifelmolouk  in  aside  of  the  garden, 
when  they  seated  themselves  by  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  comely  young  man,  thou 
failedst  not  in  killing  the  son  of  the  Blue  King,  and  delivering  Dowlet  Katoun  fron. 
him.  He  was  a  perfidious  dog,  and  had  circumvented  her;  and  had  not  God  sent 
thee  to  her  for  that  purpose,  she  had  never  escaped.  But  how  didst  thou  kill  him? 
And  Seifelmolouk  looked  at  them  and  answered  them,  I  killed  him  by  means  of  this 
seal-ring  that  is  upon  my  finger.  So  it  was  evident  to  them  that  he  was  the  person 
who  killed  him:  therefore  two  of  them  seized  his  hands,  and  two  his  feet,  and  the 
other  held  his  mouth,  lest  he  should  call  out,  and  the  people  of  the  King  Shahyal 
should  hear  him  and  deliver  him  from  their  hands.  Then  they  took  him  up  and 
flew  away  with  him,  and  they  ceased  not  in  their  flight  until  they  alighted  in  the 
presence  of  their  King,  when  they  stationed  him  before  him,  and  said,  0  King  of 
the  age,  we  have  brought  thee  him  who  killed  thy  son. — And  where  is  he?  said  the 
King.  They  answered,  This  is  he.  And  the  Blue  King  said  to  him.  Didst  thou  kill 
my  son,  and  the  vital  spark  of  my  heart,  and  the  light  of  my  eye,  without  right, 
and  without  any  ofi"ence  that  he  had  committed  against  thee?  Seifelmolouk  answered 
him,  Yes,  I  killed  him;  but  on  account  of  his  tyranny  and  his  iniquity;  for  he  took 
the  children  of  the  King  and  conveyed  them  to  the  Abandoned  Well  and  the  Lofty 
Palace,  and  separated  them  from  their  families,  and  acted  impudently  towards  them. 
I  killed  him  by  means  of  this  ring  that  is  upon  my  finger,  and  God  hurried  his  soul 
to  the  fire,  and  miserable  is  the  abode  to  which  he  hath  gone. — So  it  was  evident 
to  the  Blue  King  that  this  was  the  person  who  killed  his  son,  without  doubt ;  and 
thereupon  he  called  for  his  Vizier,  and  said  to  him,  This  is  the  person  who  killed 
my  son,  without  any  uncertainty  or  doubt.  What  then  dost  thou  counsel  me  to  do  in 
his  case?  Shall  I  slay  him  in  the  most  abominable  manner,  or  torture  him  with  the 
most  grievous  torture,  or  how  shall  I  act? — The  chief  Vizier  answered,  Gut  off  one 
of  his  limbs.  Another  said.  Inflict  upon  him  every  day  a  severe  beating.  Another 
said,  Cut  him  through  the  middle.  Another  said.  Cut  ofl"  all  his  fingers,  and  burn 
them  with  fire.  Another  said,  Crucify  him.  And  every  one  of  them  proceeded  to 
epeak  according  to  his  judgment. 

But  there  was  with  the  Blue  King  a  great  Emir,  acquainted  with  afi'airs  and  with 
the  circumstances  of  the  times,  and  he  said  to  the  King,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  will 
say  to  thee  some  words,  and  it  is  thine  to  judge  whether  thou  wilt  attend  to  that 
which  I  counsel  thee  to  do.  He  was  the  counsellor  of  his  kingdom,  and  the  chief 
officer  of  his  empire,  and  the  King  used  to  attend  to  his  words,  and  act  according  to 
his  judgment,  and  not  oppose  him  in  aught.  Now  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  if  I  give  thee  advice  in  this 
aff'air,  wilt  thou  follow  it,  and  wilt  thou  grant  me  indemnity?  And  the  King 
answered  him.  Show  thine  opinion,  and  thou  shalt  be  safe.  Then  said  he,  0  King, 
if  thou  kill  this  man,  and  receive  not  my  advice,  nor  consider  my  words,  the  slaughter 
of  him  at  this  time  will  not  be  right;  for  he  is  in  thy  hand  and  in  thine  asylum,  and 
he  is  thy  captive,  and  when  thou  desirest  him  thou  findest  him,  and  mayest  do 
with  him  as  thou  wilt.  Be  patient  then,  0  King  of  the  age;  for  this  man  hath 
entered  the  Garden  of  Irem,  and  married  Bedia  Eljemal,  the  daughter  of  the  King 
Shahyal,  and  become  one  of  them,  and  thy  people  seized  him  and  brought  him  unto 
thee,  and  he  hath  not  concealed  his  case  from  them  nor  from  thee.  So  if  thou  slay 
him,  the  King  Shahyal  will  demand  of  thee  his  blood-revenge,  and  will  act  hostilely 
to  thee,  and  come  to  thee  with  forces  on  account  of  his  daughter,  and  thou  art  not 
able  to  prevail  against  his  forces,  nor  hast  thou  power  to  contend  with  him.  —  The 
King  therefore  attended  to  this  his  advice,  and  gave  orders  to  imprison  Seifelmolouk. 
— Thus  did  it  happen  unto  him. 

Now  the  lady  Bedia  Eljemal,  having  met  with  her  father  Shahyal,  sent  the  slave- 
girl  to  search  for  Seifelmolouk:  and  she  found  him  not;  wherefore  she  returned  to 


622  SEIFELMOLOFK    ANT)    BEBIA    ELJEM.AL, 

her  mistress,  and  said,  I  have  not  found  him  in  the  garden.  And  she  sent  to  the 
gardeners,  and  asked  them  respecting  Seifelmolouk  :  and  they  answered,  We  saw 
him  sitting  beneath  a  tree,  and  lo,  five  persons,  of  the  people  of  the  BUie  King 
alighted  by  him,  and  conversed  with  him  :  then  they  took  him  up,  and  stopped  his 
mouth,  and  flew  with  him,  and  departed.  So  when  the  lady  Bedia  Eljemal  heard 
these  words,  the  affair  was  not  a  light  matter  to  her.  She  was  violently  enraged, 
and,  rising  upon  her  feet,  she  said  to  her  father  the  King  Shahyal,  How  is  it  that 
thou  art  King,  and  the  people  of  the  Blue  King  come  to  our  garden  and  take  our 
guest  and  depart  with  him  in  safety  while  thou  art  living?  In  like  manner  his 
mother  also  began  to  provoke  him,  and  to  say,  It  is  not  fit  that  any  one  should  trans- 
gress against  us  while  thou  art  living.  But  he  replied,  0  my  mother,  this  human 
being  killed  the  son  of  the  Blue  King,  a  Genie  ;  so  God  cast  him  into  his  hand  :  how 
then  should  I  go  to  him,  and  act  hostilely  towards  him  on  account  of  the  human 
being?  Ilis  mother  however  said  to  him,  Go  to  him,  and  demand  of  him  our  guest: 
and  if  he  be  living,  and  he  deliver  him  to  thee,  take  him,  and  come  back  ;  but  if  he 
have  slain  him,  seize  the  Blue  King  alive,  him  and  his  children  and  his  harem,  and 
every  one  who  hath  his  protection  among  his  dependants,  and  bring  them  alive  unto 
me,  that  I  may  slaughter  them  with  mine  own  hand,  and  devastate  his  dwellings. 
If  thou  do  not  that  which  I  have  commanded  thee,  I  will  not  hold  thee  lawfully 
acquitted  of  the  obligation  that  thou  owest  me  for  my  milk,  and  my  rearing  of  thee 
shall  be  as  though  it  were  to  thee  unlawful. — So  upon  this  the  King  Shahyal  arose, 
and  commanded  his  troops  to  go  forth,  and  repaired  unto  him,  in  honour  of  his 
mother,  and  from  a  regard  to  the  feelings  of  herself  and  of  those  who  were  beloved 
of  her,  and  in  order  to  the  accomplishment  of  a  thing  that  had  been  decreed  from 
eternity. 

Shahyal  set  forth  with  his  troops,  and  they  ceased  not  to  pursue  their  way  until 
they  came  to  the  Blue  King,  and  the  two  armies  met;  whereupon  the  Blue  King 
was  defeated  with  his  array,  and  the  victors  seized  his  children,  great  and  small,  and 
the  lords  of  his  empire  and  its  sreat  men,  and  bound  them,  and  brought  them  before 
the  King  Shahyal,  who  said  to  the  Blue  King,  0  Blue,  where  is  Seifelmolouk,  the 
human  being,  who  was  my  guest?  The  Blue  King  said  to  him,  0  Shahyal,  thou  art 
a  Genie  and  I  am  a  Genie,  and  on  account  of  a  human  being  who  hath  killed  my  son 
dost  thou  do  these  deeds?  He  is  the  destroyer  of  my  son  and  the  vital  spark  of  my 
heart  and  the  ease  of  my  soul,  and  how  hast  thou  done  all  these  deeds  and  spilt  the 
blood  of  so  many  thousand  Genii?  — But  Shahyal  replied,  Desist  from  these  words: 
and  if  he  be  living,  bring  him,  and  I  will  liberate  thee,  and  will  liberate  every  one 
of  thy  children  whom  I  have  seized  :  but  if  thou  hast  slain  him,  I  will  slaughter 
thee  and  thy  children.  The  Blue  King  said  to  him,  0  King  is  this  more  dear  unto 
thee  than  my  son  ?  The  King  Shahyal  answered  him.  Verily  thy  son  was  a  tyrant; 
for  he  carried  off  the  children  of  men,  and  the  daughters  of  Kings,  and  put  them  in 
the  Lofty  palace  and  the  Abandoned  W(dl,  and  acted  impudently  towards  them. 
And  the  Blue  King  said  to  him,  He  is  with  me  ;  but  make  thou  reconciliation  be- 
tvPeen  us  and  him.  So  he  reconciled  them,  and  conferred  upon  them  robes  of  honour, 
and  he  wrote  a  voucher  agreed  upon  between  the  Blue  King  and  Seifelmolouk  re- 
specting the  slaughter  of  the  son  of  the  former;  after  which,  the  King  Shahyal 
received  Seifelmolouk,  and  entertained  them  handsomely:  and  the  Bkie  King 
remained  with  him,  he  and  his  army,  three  days.  Then  Shahyal  took  Seifelmolouk, 
and  brought  him  to  his  mother,  who  rejoiced  e.Kceedingly  at  seeing  him,  and  Shahyal 
wondered  at  the  beauty  of  Seifelmolouk,  and  his  perfection  and  loveliness;  and 
Seifelmolouk  related  to  him  his  story  from  beginning  to  end,  telling  iiim  what  had 
befallen  him  with  Bedia  Eljemal. 

The  King  Shahyal  then  said,  0  my  mother,  since  thou  hast  consented  to  this,  I 
hear  and  obey  all  that  thou  desirest:  so  take  him  and  go  with  him  to  S(>rendib,  and 
celebrate  there  a  magnificent  festivity  :  for  he  is  a  comely  young  man,  and  hath  en- 
dured horrors  on  her  account.     Accordingly  she  proceeded  with  lier  female  slaves 


SEIFELMOLOUK   AND    BEDIA    ELJEMAL.  623 

until  they  arriveil  at  Serendib,  and  entered  the  garden  belonging  to  the  mother  of 
Dowlet  Katoun.  Bedia  Eljemal  saw  Seifelmolouk,  after  they  had  gone  to  the  tent 
and  met  one  another,  and  the  old  woman  related  to  them  what  he  had  experienced 
from  the  Blue  King,  and  how  he  had  been  at  the  point  of  death  in  the  prison  of  the 
Blue  King.  Then  the  King  Tajelmolouk,  the  father  of  Dowlet  Katoun,  summoned 
the  great  men  of  his  empire,  and  they  performed  the  ceremony  of  the  c(mtract  of 
the  marriage  of  Bedia  Eljemal  to  Seifelmolouk,  and  married  her  to  him  ;  and  when 
the  ceremony  of  the  contract  was  performed,  the  ushers  of  the  court  cried  out.  May 
it  be  blessed  !  He  deserveth  ! — and  they  scattered  the  gold  and  the  silver  upon  the 
head  of  Seifelmolouk,  conferred  costly  robes  of  honour,  and  made  banquets.  Seif- 
elmolouk then  said  to  Tajelmolouk,  0  King,  pardon  !  I  would  ask  of  thee  a  thing, 
and  I  fear  that  thou  mayest  refuse  it  me  and  disappoint  me.  But  Tajelmolouk  re- 
plied. By  Allah,  wert  thou  to  demand  my  soul,  I  would  not  withhold  ii,  from  thee,  on 
account  of  the  kind  actions  that  thou  hast  done.  So  Seifelmolouk  said,  I  desire  that 
thou  marry  Dowlet  Katoun  to  my  brother  Said,  that  we  may  both  be  thy  pages. 
And  Tajelmolouk  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  forthwith  assembled  the  great  men 
of  his  empire  a  second  time,  and  performed  the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  the  mar- 
riage of  his  daughter  Dowlet  Katoun  to  Said ;  and  when  they  had  finished  the  cere- 
mony of  the  contract,  they  scattered  the  gold  and  silver,  and  the  King  commanded 
that  they  should  decorate  the  city.  They  then  celebrated  the  festivity,  and  Seifel- 
molouk took  Bedia  Eljemal  as  his  wife,  and  Said  took  Dowlet  Katoun  as  his  wife  the 
same  night.  Seifelmolouk  ceased  not  to  remain  in  retirement  with  Bedia  Eljemal 
for  forty  days ;  and  she  said  to  him  one  day,  O  son  of  the  King,  doth  there  remain 
in  thy  heart  a  regret  for  anything?  Seifelmolouk  answered,  God  forbid!  I  have 
accomplished  my  want,  and  no  regret  remaineth  in  my  heart ;  but  I  desire  to  meet 
my  father  and  mother  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  and  to  see  if  they  have  continued  well 
or  not.  So  she  ordered  a  party  of  her  servants  to  convey  him  and  Said  to  the  land 
of  Egypt ;  and  they  conveyed  them  to  their  families  in  Egypt ;  and  Seifelmolouk 
met  his  father  and  his  mother,  as  also  did  Said,  and  they  remained  with  them  a 
week.  Then  each  of  them  bade  farewell  to  his  father  and  his  mother,  and  they  de- 
parted to  the  city  of  Serendib  ;  and  whenever  they  desired  to  see  their  families,  they 
used  to  go  and  return.  Thus  Seifelmolouk  lived  with  Bedia  Eljemal  a  most  pleasant 
and  most  agreeable  life,  and  in  like  manner  did  Said  with  Dowlet  Katoun,  until 
they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. — 
Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Living  who  dieth  not,  who  created  the  creatures, 
and  sentenced  them  to  death,  and  who  is  the  First,  without  beginning,  and  the  Last, 
without  end ! 


624  THE    STORY    OF    HASSAN    OF    BALSORA. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Seven  Hundred  and  Seventy-eighth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  ot 
the  Eight  Hundred  and  Thirty-first. 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA. 

There  was,  in  ancient  times,  a  certain  merchant  residing  in  Balsora,  and  that 
merchant  had  two  male  children,  and  great  wealth.  And  it  happened,  as  God,  who 
heareth  and  knoweth,  decreed,  that  the  merchant  was  admitted  to  the  mercy  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted!),  and  left  that  wealth.  So  his  two  sons  betook  themselves 
to  prepare  him  for  the  grave  and  to  bury  him;  after  which  they  divided  the  wealth 
between  them  equally,  and  each  of  them  took  his  portion,  and  they  opened  fur  them- 
selves two  shops.  One  of  them  was  a  dealer  in  copper-wares,  and  the  other  was  a 
goldsmith. 

Now  while  the  goldsmith  was  sitting  in  his  shop,  one  day,  lo,  a  Persian  walked 
along  the  market-street  among  the  people  until  he  came  to  the  shop  of  the  young 
goldsmith,  when  he  looked  at  his  work,  and  examined  it  knowingly,  and  it  pleased 
him.  And  the  name  of  the  young  goldsmith  was  Hassan.  Then  the  Persian  shook 
his  head,  and  said,  By  Allah,  thou  art  an  excellent  goldsmith  !  And  he  proceeded 
to  look  at  his  work,  while  he  (the  young  man)  was  looking  at  an  old  book  that  was 
in  his  hand,  and  the  people  were  occupied  with  the  contemplation  of  his  beauty  and 
loveliness  and  his  stature  and  justness  of  form.  And  when  the  time  of  afternoon- 
prayers  arrived,  the  shop  was  quitted  by  the  people,  and  thereupon  the  Persian  ac- 
costed Hassan  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  thou  art  a  comely  young  man!  What  is 
this  book  ?  I  have  not  a  son,  and  I  know  an  art  than  which  there  is  none  better  that 
is  practised  in  the  world.  Numbers  of  people  have  asked  me  to  teach  it  them,  and 
I  would  not  teach  it  to  any  one  of  them  ;  but  my  soul  hath  consented  that  I  should 
teach  it  to  thee,  and  make  thee  my  son,  and  put  a  barrier  between  thee  and  poverty ; 
so  thou  shalt  rest  from  this  work  and  labouring  with  the  hammer  and  the  charcoal 
and  the  fire. — Hassan  therefore  said  to  him,  O  my  master,  and  when  wilt  thou  teach 
me?  He  replied.  To-morrow  I  will  come  to  thee,  and  will  make  for  thee,  of  copper, 
pure  gold  in  thy  presence. 

Upon  this,  Hassan  nyoiced,  and  he  bade  farewell  to  the  Persian,  and  went  to  his 
mother.  He  entered,  and  saluted  her,  and  ate  with  her ;  but  he  was  stupified,  with- 
out memory  or  intellect.  So  his  mother  said  to  him,  What  is  the  matter  with  thee, 
0  my  son  ?  Beware  of  listening  to  the  words  of  the  people  ;  especially  the  Persians  ; 
and  comply  not  with  their  counsel  in  aught;  for  these  people  are  great  deceivers, 
who  know  the  art  of  alchemy,  and  trick  people,  and  take  their  wealth,  and  devour  it 
by  means  of  false  pretences. — But  he  replied,  O  my  mother,  we  are  poor  people,  and 
we  have  nothing  to  be  coveted,  that  any  one  should  trick  us.  A  Persian  hath  come 
to  me;  but  he  is  a  virtuous  sheikh,  bearing  marks  of  virtue,  and  God  hath  inclined 
him' towards  me.  —  And  thereupon  his  mother  kept  silence  in  her  anger;  and  her 
son  became  busied  in  heart:  sleep  visited  him  not  that  night  by  reason  of  the  vio- 
lence of  his  joy  at  what  the  Persian  had  said  to  him.  And  when  the  morning  came, 
he  rose,  took  the  keys,  and  opened  the  shop ;  and  lo,  the  Persian  approached  him. 


THE    STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  627 

So  he  rose  to  him,  and  desired  to  kiss  his  hands  ;  but  the  Persian  refused,  and  would 
not  consent  to  his  doing  that ;  and  said,  0  Hassan,  prepare  the  crucible,  and  place 
the  bellows.  He  therefore  did  as  the  Persian  ordered  him,  and  lighted  the  charcoal ; 
after  which  the  Persian  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  hast  thou  by  thee  any  copper?  He 
answered,  I  have  a  broken  plate.  And  he  ordered  him  to  press  upon  it  with  the 
shears,  and  to  cut  it  into  small  pieces ;  and  he  did  as  he  told  him.  He  cut  it  into 
small  pieces,  and  threw  it  into  the  crucible,  and  blew  upon  it  with  the  bellows  until 
it  became  liquid ;  when  the  Persian  put  his  hand  to  his  turban,  and  took  forth  from 
it  a  paper  folded  up,  which  he  opened,  and  he  sprinkled  some  of  its  contents  into 
the  crucible,  as  much  as  half  a  drachm.  That  thing  resembled  yellow  kohl :  and  he 
ordered  Hassan  to  blow  upon  it  with  the  bellows ;  and  he  did  as  he  ordered  him 
until  the  contents  of  the  crucible  became  a  lump  of  gold.  So  when  Hassan  beheld 
this,  he  was  stupified,  and  his  mind  was  confounded  by  reason  of  the  joy  that  he  ex- 
perienced. He  took  the  lump  and  turned  it  over,  and  he  took  the  file  and  filed  it, 
and  saw  it  to  be  pure  gold,  of  the  very  best  quality.  His  reason  fled,  and  he  was 
stupified  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  his  joy.  Then  he  bent  down  over  the  hand  of 
the  Persian  to  kiss  it;  and  the  Persian  said  to  him,  Take  this  lump,  and  go  down 
with  it  into  the  market,  and  sell  it,  and  take  its  price  quickly,  without  speaking. 
Accordingly,  Hassan  went  down  into  the  market,  and  gave  the  lump  to  the  broker, 
who  took  it  of  him,  and  rubbed  it  [on  the  touchstone],  and  found  it  to  be  pure  gold. 
They  opened  the  bidding  for  it  at  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  pieces  of  silver,  and  the 
merchants  increased  their  offers  for  it,  so  that  he  sold  it  for  fifteen  thousand  pieces 
of  silver. 

He  received  its  price,  and  went  home,  and  related  to  his  mother  all  that  he  had 
done,  saying  to  her,  0  my  mother,  I  have  learnt  this  art.  But  she  laughed  at  him, 
and  said,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  And 
she  kept  silence  in  her  anger.  Then  Hassan,  in  his  ignorance,  took  a  brass  mortar, 
and  went  with  it  to  the  Persian,  who  was  sitting  in  the  shop,  and  put  it  before  him. 
So  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  desirest  thou  to  do  with  this  mortar?  He  an- 
swered, We  will  put  it  into  the  fire,  and  make  it  into  lumps  of  gold.  And  the 
Persian  laughed,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  art  thou  mad,  that  thou  wouldst  go 
down  into  the  market  with  two  lumps  in  one  day  ?  Knowest  thou  not  that  the  people 
would  suspect  us,  and  that  our  lives  would  be  lost?  But,  0  my  son,  when  I  have 
taught  thee  this  art,  do  not  thou  practise  it  in  a  year  more  than  once  ;  for  that  will 
suffice  thee  from  year  to  year. — And  Hassan  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  my 
master.  Then  he  sat  in  the  shop,  and  put  on  the  crucible,  and  threw  the  charcoal 
into  the  fire.  The  Persian  therefore  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  dost  thou  desire? 
He  answered.  Teach  me  this  art.  But  the  Persian  laughed,  and  said,  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  Thou,  0  my  son,  art  of  little 
sense.  Thou  art  not  suited  for  this  art  at  all.  Doth  any  one  in  his  life  learn  this 
art  in  the  beaten  way,  or  in  the  markets?  For  if  we  occupy  ourselves  with  it  in 
this  place,  the  people  will  say  of  us,  Verily  these  are  practising  alchemy : — and  the 
magistrates  will  hear  of  us,  and  our  lives  will  be  lost.  If  therefore,  0  my  son,  thou 
desirest  to  learn  this  art,  repair  with  me  to  my  house. — So  Hassan  arose  and  closed 
his  shop,  and  went  with  the  Persian.  But  while  he  was  on  the  way,  he  remembered 
the  words  of  his  mother,  and  revolved  in  his  mind  a  thousand  thoughts ;  and  he 
stopped,  hanging  down  his  head  towards  the  ground  for  some  time  ;  whereupon  the 
Persian  looked  aside,  and,  seeing  him  stopping,  laughed,  and  said  to  him.  Art  thou 
mad?  How  is  it  that  I  purpose  in  my  heart  to  do  thee  good,  and  thou  imaginest 
that  I  will  injure  thee?  Then  the  Persian  said  to  him,  If  thou  be  afraid  to  go  with 
me  to  my  house,  I  will  go  with  thee  to  thy  house,  and  will  teach  thee  there.  So 
Hassan  replied.  Yes,  0  uncle.     And  the  Persian  said  to  him.  Walk  before  me. 

Hassan  therefore  went  on  before  him  to  his  abode,  and  the  Persian  followed  him 
until  he  arrived  there,  when  Hassan  entered  his  house,  and  found  his  mother,  and 
irformed  her  of  the  Persian's  arrival  with  him,  while  the  Persian  stood  at  the  door. 


628 


THE    STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 


So  she  furnished  for  them  the  chamber,  and  put  it  in  order,  and  when  she  had 
finished  her  affair,  she  went  away.  Then  Hassan  gave  permission  to  the  Persian  to 
enter,  and  he  entered ;  and  Hassan,  having  taken  in  his  hand  a  plate,  wont  with  it 
to  the  market  to  bring  in  it  something  to  eat.  He  went  forth,  and  brought  some 
food,  and  put  it  before  him,  saying  to  him,  Eat,  0  my  master,  that  the  bond  of  bread 
and  salt  may  be  established  between  us;  and  may  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!) 
execute  vengeance  upon  him  who  is  unfaithful  to  the  bond  of  bread  and  salt!  And 
the  Persian  said  to  him,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  my  son.  Then  he  smiled,  and 
said,  0  my  son,  who  knoweth  the  due  estimation  of  bread  and  salt?     And  the  Persian 

advanced,  and  ate  with  Hassan  until 
they  were  satisfied ;  when  he  said 
to  him,  0  my  son,  0  Hassan,  bring 
for  us  some  sweetmeat.  Hassan 
therefore  went  to  the  market,  and 
brought  ten  cups  of  sweetmeat ;  and 
he  was  rejoiced  at  the  words  of  the 
Persian.  And  when  he  presented 
to  him  the  sweetmeat,  he  ate  of  it, 
and  Hassan  ate  with  him.  The 
Persian  then  said  to  him,  May  God 
recompense  thee  well,  0  my  son ! 
With  such  an  one  as  thou  art  should 
men  associate,  and  him  should  they 
acquaint  with  their  secrets,  and 
:  teach  what  will  profit  him.  —  And 
he  said,  0  Hassan,  bring  the  appa- 
ratus. And  Hassan  scarcely  be- 
lieved these  words,  when  he  went 
forth  like  the  colt  dismissed  to  the 
spring-pasturage,  and  proceeded  un- 
til he  arrived  at  the  shop,  and  he 
took  the  apparatus,  and  returned, 
and  placed  it  before  him.  The 
Persian  thereupon  took  forth  a  piece  of  paper,  and  said,  0  Hassan,  by  the  bread 
and  salt,  wert  thou  not  dearer  than  my  son,  I  would  not  acquaint  thee  with  this  art. 
There  remaineth  not  in  my  possession  aught  of  this  elixir  save  the  contents  of  this 
paper.  But  observe  when  I  compound  the  simples  and  put  them  before  thee;  and 
know,  0  my  son,  0  Hassan,  that  thou  must  put,  to  every  ten  pounds  of  copper,  half 
a  drachm  of  this  which  is  in  the  paper,  and  the  ten  pounds  will  become  pure,  un- 
alloyed gold.  —  Then  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  0  Hassan,  in  this  paper  are  three 
ounces,  of  Egyptian  weight;  and  after  the  contents  of  this  paper  are  exhausted,  I 
will  make  for  thee  more.  And  Hassan  took  the  paper,  and  saw  in  it  something 
yellow,  finer  than  the  first ;  and  he  said,  0  my  master,  what  is  the  name  of  this,  and 
where  is  it  found,  and  in  what  is  it  made?  Upon  this,  the  Persian  laughed,  and 
longed  to  get  possession  of  Hassan,  and  said  to  him.  Respecting  what  dost  thou  ask? 
Do  the  work  and  be  silent.  —  And  he  took  forth  a  cup  belonging  to  the  house,  cut  it 
up,  and  threw  it  into  the  crucible,  and  threw  upon  it  a  little  of  what  was  in  the 
paper,  whereupon  it  became  a  lump  of  pure  gold.  So  when  Hassan  beheld  this,  he 
rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  became  perplexed  in  his  mind,  entirely  occupied  by  medi- 
tation upon  that  lump  of  gold. 

The  Persian  then  hastily  took  forth  a  packet  from  his  turban,  cut  it  open,  and  put 
it  into  a  piece  of  the  sweetmeat,  and  said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  thou  hast  become  my 
son,  and  hast  become  dearer  to  me  than  my  soul  and  my  wealth,  and  I  have  a 
daughter  to  whom  I  will  marry  thee.  Hassan  replied,  I  am  thy  page,  and  what- 
soever thou  dost  with  me,  it  will  be  a  deposit  with  God,  whose  name  be  exahed ! 


Bahrain  the  Magiaii. 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  629 

And  the  Persian  said,  0  my  son,  have  patience,  and  restrain  thyself,  and  good  fortune 
will  betide  thee.  Then  he  handed  to  him  the  piece  of  sweetmeat,  and  he  took  it, 
and  kissed  his  hand,  and  put  it  into  his  mouth,  not  knowing  what  was  secretly  de- 
creed to  befall  him.  He  swallowed  the  piece  of  sweetmeat,  and  his  head  sunk  down 
before  his  feet,  and  he  became  lost  to  the  world  ;  and  when  the  Persian  saw  that  the 
calamity  had  come  upon  him,  he  rejoiced  exceedingly.  Rising  upon  his  feet,  he 
said  to  him.  Thou  hast  fallen  into  the  snare,  0  young  wretch  !  0  dog  of  the  Arabs  ! 
For  many  years  have  I  been  searching  for  thee,  until  I  got  thee,  0  Hassan  !  —  He 
then  girded  himself,  and  tied  Hassan's  hands  behind  his  back,  and  bound  his  feet 
to  his  hands  !  after  which  he  took  a  chest,  emptied  it  of  the  things  that  were  in  it, 
put  Hassan  into  it,  and  locked  it  upon  him.  He  emptied  also  another  chest,  and 
put  into  it  all  the  wealth  that  was  in  Hassan's  abode,  with  the  lump  of  gold  that  he 
had  made,  and,  having  locked  it,  he  went  forth  running  to  the  market,  and  brought 
a  porter,  carried  off  the  two  chests,  and  drew  near  to  the  moored  vessel.  That 
vessel  was  fitted  out  for  the  Persian,  and  her  master  was  expecting  him  :  so  when 
her  crew  saw  him,  they  came  to  him,  and  carried  the  two  chests,  and  put  them  on 
board  the  ship.  The  Persian  then  cried  out  to  the  master  and  to  all  the  sailors, 
saying  to  them,  Rise  ye !  The  affair  is  accomplished,  and  we  have  attained  our 
desire. — The  master  therefore  cried  out  to  the  sailors,  and  said  to  them,  Pull  up  the 
anchors,  and  loose  the  sails  !  And  the  ship  proceeded  with  a  fair  wind. — Such  was 
the  case  with  the  Persian  and  Hassan. 

But  as  to  the  mother  of  Hassan,  she  remained  expecting  him  until  nightfall,  and 
heard  no  sound  of  him  nor  any  tidings  whatever.  Then  she  came  to  the  house,  and 
saw  it  open,  and  beheld  not  in  it  any  one,  nor  found  the  chests  nor  the  wealth.  She 
therefore  knew  that  her  son  was  lost,  and  that  fate  had  taken  effect  upon  him  ;  and 
she  slapped  her  face,  and  rent  her  garments,  cried  out  and  wailed,  and  began  to  say, 
Oh,  my  son  !  Oh,  the  delight  of  my  heart!  —  She  continued  to  weep  and  wail  till 
the  morning,  when  the  neighbours  came  in  to  her,  and  asked  her  respecting  her  son, 
and  she  informed  them  of  that  which  had  happened  to  him  with  the  Persian.  She 
felt  certain  that  she  should  never  see  him  after  that,  and  went  about  the  house  weep- 
ing;  and  while  she  thus  went  about,  lo,  she  saw  two  lines  written  upon  the  wall: 
wherefore  she  brought  a  learned  man,  who  read  them  to  her ;  and  they  were  these : 
—  Leyla's  phantom  came  by  night,  when  drowsiness  had  overcome  me,  towards 
morning,  while  my  companions  were  sleeping  in  the  desert ;  but  when  we  awoke  to 
behold  the  nightly  phantom,  I  saw  the  air  vacant,  and  the  place  of  visitation  was 
distant.  So  when  the  mother  of  Hassan  heard  these  words,  she  called  out  and  said, 
Yes,  0  my  son  !  Verily  the  house  is  desolate,  and  the  place  of  visitation  is  distant ! 
— Then  the  neighbours  bade  her  farewell,  after  they  had  prayed  for  her  that  she 
might  have  patience,  and  that  she  might  soon  experience  a  reunion,  and  departed. 
But  the  mother  of  Hassan  ceased  not  to  weep  during  the  hours  of  the  night  and  the 
periods  of  the  day  ;  and  she  built  in  the  midst  of  the  house  a  tomb,  on  which  she 
inscribed  the  name  of  Hassan,  with  the  date  of  his  loss.  She  quitted  not  that  tomb  ; 
and  such  was  her  habit  incessantly  from  the  time  that  her  son  was  separated  from 
her. 

Now  again  as  to  her  son  Hassan  with  the  Persian.  —  This  Persian  was  a  Magian  : 
he  hated  the  Mahometans  greatly,  and  whenever  he  got  power  over  any  one  of 
them,  he  destroyed  him.     He  was  a  wicked,  vile  alchemist. 

The  name  of  that  accursed  wretch  was  Bahram  the  Magian,  and  he  used  every 
year  to  take  a  Mahometan  and  to  slaughter  him  over  a  hidden  treasure.  And  when 
his  stratagem  was  accomplished  against  Hassan  the  goldsmith,  and  he  had  pro- 
ceeded with  him  from  the  commencement  of  day  until  night,  the  ship  moored  on  the 
shore  till  morning ;  and  at  sunrise,  when  the  ship  continued  her  course,  the  Persian 
ordered  his  black  slaves  and  his  pages  to  bring  to  him  the  chest  in  which  was  Hassan. 
So  they  brought  it  to  him,  and  he  opened  it,  and  took  him  forth  from  it.  He  then 
poured  some  vinegar  into  his  nostrils,  and  blew  a  powder  into  his  nose ;  whereupon 


630  THE    STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

he  sneezed,  and  vomited  the  bhang,  and,  opening  his  eyes,  he  looked  to  the  right  and 
left,  and  found  himself  in  the  midst  of  the  sea,  the  ship  in  its  course,  and  the  Persian 
sitting  by  him.  He  therefore  knew  that  it  was  a  stratagem  practised  against  him, 
that  the  accursed  Magian  had  done  it,  and  that  he  had  fallen  into  the  calamity  against 
which  his  mother  had  cautioned  him.  So  he  pronounced  the  words  of  which  the 
utterer  is  secure  from  confusion,  and  which  are  these:  — There  is  no  strength  nor 
power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  Verily  to  God  w^e  belong,  and  verily  unto 
Him  we  return !  0  Allah,  act  graciously  with  me  in  thine  appointment,  and  make 
me  to  endure  with  patience  thine  affliction,  0  Lord  of  all  creatures !  —  Then  looking 
towards  the  Persian,  he  spoke  to  him  with  soft  words,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  father, 
what  are  these  deeds,  and  where  is  thy  respect  for  the  bread  and  salt  and  the  oath 
that  thou  sworest  to  me  ?  But  he  looked  at  him  and  said  to  him,  0  dog,  doth  such 
a  one  as  myself  know  an  obligation  imposed  by  bread  and  salt?  I  have  slain  a 
thousand  youths  like  thee,  save  one  youth,  and  thou  shalt  complete  the  thousand. — 
And  he  cried  out  at  him ;  so  he  was  silent,  and  he  knew  that  the  arrow  of  fate  had 
pierced  him. 

The  accursed  then  gave  orders  to  loose  his  bonds ;  after  which  they  gave  him  to 
drink  a  little  water,  while  the  Magian  laughed,  and  said.  By  the  fire  and  the  light 
and  the  shade  and  the  heat,  I  did  not  imagine  that  thou  wouldst  fall  into  my  net ; 
but  the  fire  strengthened  me  against  thee,  and  aided  me  to  seize  thee,  that  I  might 
accomplish  my  affair,  and  return,  and  make  thee  a  sacrifice  to  it,  that  it  might  be 
pleased  with  me.  So  Hassan  replied,  Thou  hast  been  unfaithful  to  the  bond  of  bread 
and  salt.  And  upon  this  the  Magian  raised  his  hand  and  gave  him  a  blow,  and 
he  fell,  and  bit  the  deck  with  his  teeth,  and  fainted,  his  tears  running  down  his 
cheek.  The  Magian  then  ordered  that  they  should  light  for  him  a  fire ;  therefore 
Hassan  said  to  him.  What  wilt  thou  do  with  it?  He  answered  him,  This  is  the  fire, 
that  emitteth  light  and  sparks,  and  it  is  what  I  worship  ;  and  if  thou  wilt  worship 
it  as  I  do,  I  will  give  thee  half  my  wealth,  and  marry  to  thee  my  daughter.  But 
Hassan  cried  out  at  him,  and  said  to  him,  Wo  to  thee  !  Thou  art  surely  an  infidel 
Magian:  thou  worshippest  the  fire  instead  of  the  Almighty  King,  the  Creator  of  the 
night  and  the  day,  and  this  is  nought  but  an  evil  among  religions. — And  thereupon 
the  Magian  was  enraged,  and  said,  Wilt  thou  not  agree  with  me,  0  dog  of  the  Arabs, 
and  embrace  my  religion?  But  Hassan  agreed  not  with  him  therein,  and  the 
accursed  Magian  arose,  and  prostrated  himself  to  the  fire,  and  ordered  his  young 
men  to  throw  Hassan  down  upon  his  face.  So  they  threw  him  down  upon  his  face, 
and  the  Magian  proceeded  to  beat  him  with  a  whip  of  plaited  thongs  until  he  lace- 
rated his  sides,  while  he  cried  for  aid,  but  was  not  aided,  and  implored  protection, 
but  none  protected  him  ;  and  he  raised  his  eye  to  the  Avenging  King,  and  endeavoured 
to  propitiate  Him  by  appealing  to  the  Chosen  Prophet.  He  had  lost  patience,  and 
his  tears  ran  down  upon  his  cheeks  like  rain.  Then  the  Magian  ordered  the  slaves 
to  make  him  sit,  and  to  bring  him  some  food  and  drink.  So  they  brought  it;  but 
he  would  not  eat  nor  drink.  The  Magian  proceeded  to  torture  him  night  and  day 
during  the  voyage,  while  he  endured  with  patience,  and  humbled  himself  to  God  (to 
whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory  !) ;  and  the  heart  of  the  Magian  was  hardened 
against  him. 

They  ceased  not  to  pursue  their  Voyage  over  the  sea  for  a  period  of  three  months, 
during  which  Hassan  continued  to  suffer  torture  from  the  Magian  ;  but  when  the 
three  months  were  completed,  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  sent  against  the  ship 
a  wind,  and  the  sea  became  black,  and  tossed  the  ship  with  violence  by  reason  of  the 
greatness  of  the  wind.  And  thereupon  the  master  and  the  sailors  said,  This,  by 
Allah,  is  all  occasioned  by  the  crime  committed  against  this  young  man,  who  hath 
been  for  three  months  suffering  torment  from  this  Magian,  and  this  is  not  allowed 
by  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  Then  they  rose  against  the  Magian,  and  slew  his 
young  men  and  all  who  were  with  him.  So  when  the  Magian  saw  that  they  had 
elain  the  young  men,  he  made  sure  of  destruction,  and  feared  for  himself;  wherefore 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  631 

he  loosed  Hassan  from  his  bonds,  pulled  off  from  him  the  tattered  garments  that 
were  upon  him,  and  clad  him  with  others ;  and  he  made  peace  with  him,  promising 
that  he  would  teach  him  the  art,  and  restore  him  to  his  country,  and  said  to  him,  0 
my  son,  blame  me  not  for  that  which  I  have  done  unto  thee.  But  Hassan  said  to 
him,  How  can  I  any  longer  rely  upon  thee?  He  rejoined,  0  my  son,  were  it  not  for 
offence,  there  were  no  such  thing  as  pardon  ;  and  I  did  not  unto  thee  these  deeds 
save  for  the  purpose  of  my  seeing  thy  patience ;  and  thou  knowest  that  the  case  is 
wholly  in  the  hand  of  God.  The  sailors,  therefore,  and  the  master,  rejoiced  at  his 
release,  and  Hassan  prayed  for  them,  and  praised  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!), 
and  thanked  Him.  Then  the  winds  became  stilled,  the  darkness  was  withdrawn, 
and  the  wind  and  the  voyage  became  pleasant.  And  Hassan  said  to  the  Magian,  0 
Persian,  whither  repairest  thou  ?  He  answered,  0  my  son,  I  am  going  to  the  Moun- 
tain of  the  Clouds,  on  which  is  the  elixir  wherewith  we  practise  alchemy.  And  the 
Magian  swore  to  him  by  the  fire  and  the  light  that  he  no  longer  meditated  to  do 
Hassan  aught  that  might  frighten  him.  So  the  heart  of  Hassan  was  comforted ;  he 
■was  rejoiced  at  the  words  of  the  Magian,  and  proceeded  to  eat  with  him,  and  drink 
and  sleep  ;  and  the  Magian  clad  him  with  his  own  apparel. 

They  continued  their  voyage  for  three  months  more  ;  after  which  the  vessel  moored 
on  a  long  coast,  all  of  it  composed  of  pebbles,  white  and  yellow  and  blue  and  black 
and  of  every  other  colour.  And  when  the  vessel  moored,  the  Persian  rose,  and  said, 
O  Hassan,  arise  and  land  ;  for  we  have  arrived  at  the  place  of  our  desire  and  our 
■wish.  So  Hassan  arose  and  landed  with  the  Persian,  and  the  Magian  charged  the 
master  to  attend  to  his  affairs.  Then  Hassan  walked  on  with  the  Magian  until  they 
were  far  from  the  ship  and  had  disappeared  from  before  the  eyes  of  the  crew  ;  where- 
upon the  Magian  seated  himself,  and  took  forth  from  his  pocket  a  drum  of  copper, 
and  a  tassel  of  silk  worked  with  gold  and  bearing  talismans,  and  he  beat  the  drum  ; 
and  when  he  beat  it,  there  appeared  a  dust  from  the  further  part  of  the  desert.  Has 
san  therefore  wondered  at  his  action,  and  feared  him  ;  and  he  repented  of  his  having 
landed  with  him,  and  his  complexion  changed.  So  upon  this  the  Magian  looked  at 
him  and  said  to  him.  What  aileth  thee,  0  my  son  ?  By  the  fire  and  the  light  thou 
hast  nothing  to  fear  from  me  ;  and  were  it  not  that  my  affair  cannot  be  accomplished 
save  by  thy  means,  I  had  not  brought  thee  out  from  the  ship.  Rejoice  at  the  pros- 
pect of  everything  good.  This  dust  is  the  dust  occasioned  by  a  thing  that  we  shall 
mount,  and  it  will  aid  us  to  cross  this  desert,  and  will  render  easy  unto  us  the  incon- 
venience thereof.  —  And  but  a  little  while  had  elapsed  when  the  dust  dispersed  and 
discovered  three  excellent  she-camels.  Then  the  Persian  mounted  one  of  them, 
and  Hassan  mounted  one,  and  they  put  their  provisions  on  the  third  ;  and  they  pro- 
ceeded for  seven  days,  after  which  they  came  to  an  extensive  tract;  and  whe'Vi  they 
alighted  at  that  tract,  they  beheld  a  cupola  constructed  upon  four  columns  of  red 
gold.  They  alighted  from  the  she-camels,  and,  having  entered  beneath  the  cupola, 
ate  and  drank  and  rested ;  and  Hassan  happened  to  look  aside,  and  he  saw  some- 
thing lofty  ;  so  he  said  to  the  Magian,  What  is  this,  0  uncle?  The  Magian  answered. 
This  is  a  palace.  And  Hassan  said  to  him,  Wilt  thou  not  arise,  that  we  may  enter 
it  to  rest  ourselves  in  it,  and  to  divert  ourselves  with  the  sight  of  it?  But  the  Magian 
upon  this  went  away,  saying  to  him.  Mention  not  to  me  this  palace  ;  for  in  it  is 
my  enemy,  and  with  him  there  happened  to  me  ati  event  of  which  this  is  not  the 
time  to  inform  thee. 

Then  he  beat  the  drum,  and  the  she-camels  approached:  so  they  mounted;  and 
they  proceeded  for  seven  days  more ;  and  when  the  eighth  day  arrived,  the  Magian 
said,  0  Hassan,  what  is  it  that  thou  seest?  Hassan  answered,  I  see  clouds  and  mists 
between  the  east  and  the  west.  And  the  Magian  replied.  This  is  not  clouds  nor 
mists ;  but  is  a  great  lofty  mountain,  whereon  the  clouds  divide,  and  there  are  not 
any  clouds  above  it,  on  account  of  its  excessive  height  and  vast  elevation.  This 
mountain  is  the  object  of  my  desire,  and  upon  it  is  that  which  we  want.  For  the 
sake  of  this  I  brought  thee  with  me,  and  my  affair  will  be  accomplished  by  thy 


632  THE   STORY   OF  HASSAN   OF  BALSORA. 

means. —  So  tl  ereupon  Hassan  despaired  of  life.  He  then  said  to  the  Magian,  By 
the  object  of  thy  worship,  and  by  what  thou  believest  in  thy  religion,  what  is  the 
thing  on  account  of  which  thou  hast  brought  me?  And  he  answered  him,  The  art 
of  alchemy  will  not  succeed  save  by  means  of  an  herb  that  groweth  in  the  place 
where  the  clouds  pass,  and  on  which  they  are  separated  ;  and  it  is  this  mountain  ; 
the  herb  is  upon  it;  and  when  we  have  obtained  the  herb,  I  will  show  thee  what  is 
this  art.  And  Hassan  replied,  by  reason  of  his  fear.  Yes,  0  my  master.  He  had 
despaired  of  life,  and  he  wept  on  account  of  his  separation  from  his  mother  and  his 
family  and  his  home,  repenting  of  his  having  opposed  his  mother. 

They  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  they  arrived  at  that  mountain,  and  stopped 
beneath  it,  when  Hassan  saw  upon  that  mountain  a  palace :  so  he  said  to  the  Magian 
What  is  this  palace  ?  And  the  Magian  answered,  This  is  the  abode  of  the  Genii 
and  the  Ghouls  and  the  Devils.  Then  the  Magian  alighted  from  his  camel,  and 
ordered  Hassan  to  alight  also ;  and  he  came  to  him  and  kissed  his  head,  and  said  to 
him.  Blame  me  not  for  that  which  I  did  to  thee.  I  will  preserve  thee  when  thou 
ascendest  to  the  palace,  and  it  behooveth  thee  that  thou  be  not  dishonest  to  me  in 
aught  of  that  which  thou  wilt  bring  thence:  I  will  share  it  with  thee  equally. — 
And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  The  Persian  then  opened  a  leathern  bag,  and 
took  forth  from  it  a  mill,  and  he  also  took  forth  from  it  a  quantity  of  wheat,  and 
ground  it  with  that  mill ;  after  which  he  kneaded  the  flour,  and  made  of  it  three 
round  cakes,  and  lighted  a  fire,  and  baked  the  cakes.  He  next  took  forth  the  copper 
drum  and  the  figured  silk-tassel,  and  beat  the  drum;  whereupon  the  camels  came; 
and  he  chose  one  of  them,  and  slaughtered  it,  and  stripped  off  its  skin.  Then  look- 
ing towards  Hassan,  he  said  to  him,  Hear,  0  my  son,  0  Hassan,  what  I  charge  thee 
to  do.  He  replied,  Well.  And  the  Magian  said,  Enter  this  skin,  and  I  will  sew  it 
up  over  thee,  and  will  lay  thee  upon  the  ground ;  thereupon  the  Rocs  will  come,  and 
carry  thee  off,  and  fly  with  thee  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  And  take  thou  this 
knife  with  thee,  and  when  the  birds  have  finished  their  flight,  and  thou  knowest  that 
they  have  put  thee  upon  the  mountain,  cut  open  with  it  the  skin,  and  go  forth  ;  for 
the  birds  will  fear  thee  and  will  fly  away  from  thee  ;  and  do  thou  look  down  to  me 
from  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and  speak  to  me,  that  I  may  inform  thee  of  that 
which  thou  shalt  do.  —  He  then  prepared  for  him  the  three  cakes,  and  a  leathern 
bottle  containing  water,  and  put  them  with  him  into  the  skin  ;  after  which  he  sewed 
it  up  over  him,  and  went  to  a  distance  from  him.  And  the  Rocs  came,  and  carried 
him  off,  flew  with  him  to  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  and  there  put  him  down.  So 
when  Hassan  knew  that  they  had  put  him  upon  the  mountain,  he  cut  open  the  skin 
and  came  forth  from  it,  and  spoke  to  the  Magian,  who,  on  hearing  his  words, 
rejoiced,  and  danced  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  his  joy  ;  and  he  said  to  him.  Go  in 
the  direction  to  which  thy  back  is  turned,  and  tell  me  what  thou  seest.  Hassan 
therefore  went,  and  he  beheld  many  rotten  bones,  by  which  was  much  wood,  and  he 
informed  him  of  all  that  he  saw  ;  upon  which  the  Magian  said.  This  is  the  object  of 
desire  and  search.  Take  then,  of  the  wood,  six  bundles,  and  throw  them  down  to 
me ;  for  this  wood  is  the  material  with  which  we  shall  perform  the  alchemical  pro- 
cess. —  So  he  threw  down  to  him  the  six  bundles ;  and  when  the  Magian  saw  that 
those  bundles  had  come  down  to  him,  he  said  to  Hassan,  0  young  wretch,  the  thing 
that  I  desired  of  thee  hath  been  accomplished  ;  and  if  thou  wilt,  remain  upon  this 
mountain,  or  cast  thyself  down  upon  the  ground  that  thou  mayest  perish.  Then  the 
Magian  departed. 

Upon  this,  Hassan  exclaimed,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the 
High,  the  Great!  This  dog  hath  circumvontod  me! — He  sat  wailing  for  himself, 
and  reciting  verses.  He  then  stood  upon  his  feet,  and  looked  to  the  right  and  left, 
and  walked  along  the  summit  of  the  mountain.  He  made  sure  of  his  death,  and  he 
proceeded  to  walk  along  until  he  came  to  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  when  he 
saw,  by  the  side  of  the  mountain,  a  blue  sea,  agitated  with  waves;  and  it  was  foamy, 
and  every  wave  of  it  was  like  a  great  mountain.     Thereupon  he  sat,  and  recited  an 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OP  BALSORA.  633 

easy  portion  of  the  Koran,  and  begged  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  to  alleviate 
his  trouble,  either  by  death,  or  by  deliverance  from  these  difficulties ;  after  which  he 
recited  for  himself  the  funeral-prayer,  and  cast  himself  into  the  sea.  The  waves, 
however,  bore  him  along  safely,  by  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  until 
he  came  forth  from  the  sea  safe,  by  the  decree  of  God.  So  he  rejoiced,  and  praised 
God  (exalted  be  his  name!),  and  thanked  Him. 

He  then  arose  and  walked  along,  searching  for  something  to  eat ;  and  while  he 
was  doing  thus,  lo,  he  came  to  the  place  where  he  was  with  Bahram  the  Magian. 
And  he  walked  on  a  while,  and  saw  a  great  palace,  rising  high  into  the  air.  He 
therefore  went  to  it;  and  behold,  it  was  the  palace  respecting  which  he  asked  the 
Magian,  and  of  which  he  said  to  him.  In  this  palace  is  ray  enemy.  And  upon  this, 
Hassan  said.  By  Allah,  I  must  enter  this  palace.  Perhaps  I  may  experience  relief 
in  it. — And  when  he  came  to  it,  he  saw  its  door  open.  So  he  entered  the  door-way; 
and  he  saw  a  seat  in  the  entrance-passage,  and  on  the  seat  two  damsels  like  two 
moons,  with  a  chess-table  before  them,  and  they  were  playing ;  and  one  of  them, 
raising  her  head  towards  him,  cried  out  by  reason  of  her  joy,  and  said,  By  Allah, 
this  is  a  human  being,  and  I  imagine  that  he  is  the  person  whom  Bahram  the  Ma- 
gian brought  this  year.  Therefore  when  Hassan  heard  her  words,  he  cast  himself 
down  before  them,  and  wept  violently,  and  said,  0  my  mistresses,  I  am  that  poor 
person.  And  upon  this  the  younger  damsel  said  to  her  sister  the  elder,  Bear  wit- 
ness against  me,  0  my  sister,  that  this  is  my  brother  by  a  covenant  and  compact 
before  God,  and  that  I  will  die  for  his  death  and  live  for  his  life,  and  rejoice  for  his 
joy  and  mourn  for  his  mourning.  Then  she  rose  to  him,  and  embraced  and  kissed 
him,  and,  taking  him  by  his  hand,  led  him  into  the  palace,  her  sister  accompanying 
her;  and  she  pulled  off  from  him  the  tattered  clothing  that  was  upon  him,  and 
brought  him  a  suit  of  royal  apparel,  with  which  she  clad  him.  She  also  prepared 
for  him  viands  of  every  kind,  and  presented  them  to  him,  and  she  and  her  sister  sat 
and  ate  with  him ;  and  they  said  to  him.  Relate  to  us  thine  adventure  with  the 
wicked  dog,  the  enchanter,  from  the  time  of  thy  falling  into  his  hand  to  the  time  of  thine 
escape  from  him,  and  we  will  relate  to  thee  what  hath  happened  to  us  with  him  from 
the  first  of  the  case  to  the  last,  that  thou  mayest  be  on  thy  guard  if  thou  see  him 
again.  And  vrhen  Hassan  heard  from  them  these  words,  and  saw  their  ki»d  recep- 
tion of  him,  his  soul  was  tranquillized,  and  his  reason  returned  to  him,  and  he  pro- 
ceeded to  i-elate  to  them  what  had  happened  to  him  with  the  Magian  from  first  to 
last;  whereupon  they  said  to  him,  Didst  thou  ask  him  respecting  this  palace?  He 
answered,  Yes,  I  asked  him,  and  he  said  to  me,  I  like  not  the  mention  of  it;  for 
this  palace  belongeth  to  the  Devils  and  Demons.  So  the  two  damsels  were  viol^iitly 
enraged,  and  said.  Did  this  infidel  call  us  Devils  and  Demons?  He  answered  them. 
Yes.  And  the  younger,  the  sister  of  Hassan,  said.  By  Allah,  I  will  surely  slay  him 
in  the  most  abominable  manner,  and  I  will  surely  deprive  him  of  the  air  of  the 
world  ! — And  how,  said  Hassan,  wilt  thou  get  to  him  and  slay  him?  She  answered, 
He  is  in  a  garden  called  Mashid,  and  I  must  without  fail  slay  hira  soon.  And  her 
sister  said  to  her,  Hassan  hath  spoken  truth,  and  all  that  he  hath  said  of  this  dog  is 
true :  but  relate  to  him  our  whole  story,  that  it  may  remain  in  his  memory.  So  the 
young  damsel  said  :  — 

Know,  0  my  brother,  that  we  are  of  the  daughters  of  the  Kings.  Our  father  is 
one  of  the  Kings  of  the  Genii,  of  great  dignity,  and  he  hath  troops  and  guards  and 
servants,  consisting  of  Marids ;  and  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  hath  blessed  him 
with  seven  daughters  by  one  wife;  but  such  folly  and  jealousy  and  pride  as  cannot 
be  surpassed  affected  him,  so  that  he  married  us  not  to  any  one.  Then  he  sum- 
moned his  Viziers  and  his  companions,  and  said  to  them.  Do  ye  know  any  place  for 
me  that  no  one  can  invade,  neither  any  of  mankind  nor  any  of  the  Genii,  and  that 
aboundeth  with  trees  and  fruits  and  rivers?  So  they  said  to  him.  What,  wouldst 
thou  do  there,  0  King  of  the  age  ?     He  answered,  I  desire  to  place  in  it  my  sjven 


634  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

daughters.  And  thereupon  they  said  to  him,  0  King,  the  Palace  of  the  Mountain 
of  the  Clouds,  which  an  Afrite  of  the  refractory  Genii  who  stubbornly  disobeyed 
the  vow  exacted  by  Solomon  (on  whom  be  peace  !)  founded,  and  which  palace,  after 
that  Afrite  perished,  none  inhabited  after  him,  neither  any  of  the  Genii  nor  any  of 
mankind,  will  be  suitable  for  them  ;  for  it  is  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  world. 
None  gaineth  access  to  it;  and  around  it  are  trees  and  fruits  and  rivers,  and  around 
it  is  running  water  sweeter  than  honey  and  colder  than  snow:  no  one  having  the 
leprosy  or  elephantiasis  or  other  diseases  ever  drank  of  it  without  being  cured  im- 
mediately. So  when  our  father  heard  of  this,  he  sent  us  to  this  palace,  and  sent 
with  us  soldiers  and  troops,  and  collected  for  us  what  we  require  in  it.  He  used, 
when  he  desired  to  ride,  to  beat  the  drum ;  whereupon  all  the  troops  presented  them- 
selves to  him,  and  he  chose  whom  of  them  he  would  mount,  and  the  rest  departed. 
And  when  our  father  desireth  that  we  should  visit  him,  he  ordereth  the  enchanters 
his  dependants  to  bring  us,  and  they  come  to  us  and  take  us  and  convey  us  to  his 
presence,  that  he  may  cheer  himself  by  our  society,  and  that  we  may  accomplish 
our  desires  by  seeing  him:  then  he  sendeth  us  back  to  our  place.  We  have  five 
sisters,  who  have  gone  to  hunt  in  this  adjacent  desert:  for  in  it  are  wild  beasts  that 
cannot  be  numbered  nor  calculated.  Each  two  of  us  have  their  turn  to  remain  at 
home  for  the  purpose  of  cooking  the  food,  and  the  turn  came  to  us,  me,  and  this  my 
sister;  therefore  we  remained  to  cook  for  them  the  food  ;  and  we  were  begging  God 
(whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name  be  exalted !)  that  He  would  bless  us 
with  a  human  being  to  cheer  us  by  his  company.  Then  praise  be  to  God  who  hath 
brought  thee  unto  us !  And  do  thou  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye.  No  harm 
shall  befall  thee. 

So  Hassan  rejoiced,  and  said.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  guided  us  to  the  way  of 
deliverance,  and  hath  moved  hearts  with  affection  and  compassion  for  us !  Then 
his  sister  arose  and  took  him  by  his  hand,  led  him  into  a  private  chamber,  and 
brought  out  from  it  linen  and  furniture  such  as  no  creature  could  procure.  And 
after  a  while  their  sisters  returned  from  the  chase,  and  they  acquainted  them  with 
the  case  of  Hassan ;  whereupon  they  rejoiced  at  his  arrival,  and,  coming  in  to  him 
in  the  private  chamber,  they  saluted  him  and  congratulated  him  on  his  safety.  He 
remained  with  them,  passing  the  most  pleasant  life,  and  enjoying  the  most  agree- 
able happiness,  and  he  used  to  go  forth  with  them  to  the  chase,  and  slaughter  the 
game.  Thus  Hassan  became  familiar  with  them,  and  he  ceased  not  to  reside  with 
them  in  this  condition  until  bis  body  became  healthy,  and  he  recovered  from  the 
state  in  which  he  was;  his  frame  was  invigorated,  and  he  became  stout  and  fat,  by 
reason  of  the  generous  treatment  that  he  enjoyed,  and  his  residence  with  them  in 
that  place.  He  amused  and  diverted  himself  with  them  in  that  decorated  palace, 
and  in  all  the  gardens  and  among  the  flowers,  while  they  treated  him  with  courtesy, 
and  cheered  him  with  discourse,  and  his  sadness  ceased.  The  damsels  became  ex- 
ceedingly joyful  and  happy  in  his  society,  and  he  rejoiced  in  their  society  more  than 
they  rejoiced  in  him.  And  afterwards,  his  sister,  the  young  damsel,  related  to  her 
sisters  the  story  of  Bahram  the  Magian,  telling  them  that  he  had  called  them  Devils 
and  Demons  and  Ghouls  ;  whereupon  they  swore  to  her  that  he  should  surely  be 
slain. 

Then,  in  the  following  year,  the  accursed  came,  having  with  him  a  comely  young 
man,  a  Mahometan,  resembling  the  moon,  shackled,  and  tortured  in  the  most  cruel 
manner;  and  he  alip;hted  with  him  beneath  the  palace  where  Hassan  introduced 
himself  to  the  damsels.  Now  Hassan  was  sitting  by  the  river,  beneath  the  trees  ; 
and  when  he  beheld  the  Magian,  his  heart  palpitated,  his  complexion  changed,  and 
he  struck  his  hands  together,  and  said  to  the  damsels.  By  Allah,  0  my  sisters,  aid 
me  to  slay  this  accursed  wretch  ;  for  here  he  hath  come,  and  he  hath  fallen  into 
your  hands,  and  with  him  is  a  young  Mahometan,  a  captive,  of  the  sons  of  the  great, 
whom  he  is  torturing  with  varieties  of  painful  torture.  I  desire  to  slay  him,  that 
I  may  heal  my  soul  by  taking  vengeance   upon   him,  that  I  may  also  release  this 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA.  635 

young  man  from  his  torture,  and  gain  the  recompense  thereof  [from  God],  and  that 
the  young  Mahometan  may  return  to  his  home,  and  be  reunited  to  his  brethren  and 
his  family  and  friends.  That  action  will  be  as  an  alma  proceeding  from  you,  and  ye 
will  acquire  the  reward  thereof  from  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  — And  the  dam 
sels  replied.  We  hear  and  obey  God  and  thee,  0  Hassan.  They  then  threw  clost 
veils  over  their  faces,  equipped  themselves  with  the  implements  of  war,  and  slung 
on  the  swords ;  and  they  brought  to  Hassan  a  courser  of  the  best  breed,  furnished 
him  with  complete  accoutrements,  and  armed  him  with  beautiful  weapons.  Having 
done  this,  they  proceeded  all  together;  and  they  found  that  the  Magian  had 
slaughtered  a  camel  and  skinned  it,  and  was  tormenting  the  young  man,  and  saying 
to  him,  Eater  this  skin.  So  Hassan  came  behind  him,  while  the  Magian  knew  not 
of  his  presence,  and  cried  out  at  him,  so  that  he  stupified  and  confounded  him. 
Then,  advancing  to  him,  he  said  to  him.  Withhold  thy  hand,  0  accursed !  0  enemy 
of  God,  and  enemy  of  the  Mahometans  !  0  dog!  0  perfidious  wretch  !  0  worshipper 
of  fire!  0  pursuer  of  the  way  of  the  wicked,  who  worshippest  the  fire  and  the  light, 
and  swearest  by  the  shade  and  the  heat ! — The  Magian  therefore  looked  aside,  and, 
seeing  Hassan,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  how  didst  thou  escape,  and  who  brought 
thee  down  to  the  ground?  Hassan  answered  him,  God  delivered  me:  He  who  hath 
caused  thy  life  to  be  taken  by  the  hands  of  thine  enemies.  As  thou  torturedst  me 
all  the  way,  0  infidel !  0  impious  wretch  !  thou  hast  fallen  into  afiliction,  and  turned 
aside  from  the  way  ;  and  neither  mother  shall  profit  thee,  nor  brother,  nor  friend, 
nor  firm  covenant;  for  thou  saidst,  Whoso  shall  be  unfaithful  to  the  bond  of  bread 
and  salt,  may  God  execute  vengeance  upon  him  ! — and  thou  hast  been  unfaithful  to 
the  bond  of  bread  and  salt ;  wherefore  God  hath  thrown  thee  into  my  power,  and 
thy  deliverance  from  me  hath  become  remote. — Upon  this,  the  Magian  said  to  him, 
By  Allah,  0  my  son,  thou  art  dearer  in  my  estimation  than  my  soul  and  than  the 
light  of  mine  eye !  But  Hassan  advanced  to  him,  and  quickly  smote  him  upon  his 
shoulders  so  that  the  sword  came  forth  glittering  from  his  vitals,  and  God  hurried 
his  soul  to  the  fire ;  a  miserable  abode  !  Then  Hassan  took  the  leathern  bag  that 
was  with  him,  and  opened  it,  and,  having  taken  forth  from  it  the  drum  and  the 
plectrum,  beat  with  this  the  drum  ;  whereupon  the  camels  came  to  him  like  light- 
ning; and  he  loosed  the  young  man  from  his  bonds,  mounted  him  upon  a  camel,  on 
which  he  put  for  him  the  remaining  food  and  water,  and  said  to  him.  Repair  to  the 
place  of  thy  desire.  He  therefore  departed,  after  God  had  thus  delivered  him  from 
his  affliction  by  the  hand  of  Hassan.  Then  the  damsels,  when  they  had  seen  Hassan 
smite  the  neck  of  the  Magian,  rejoiced  in  him  greatly ;  and  they  came  round  him, 
wondering  at  his  courage  and  his  exceeding  intrepidity,  and  thanked  him  for  that 
which  he  had  done,  congratulated  him  on  his  safety,  and  said  to  him,  0  Hassan, 
thou  hast  done  a  deed  by  which  thou  hast  healed  the  sick,  and  pleased  the  Glorious 
King.     And  he  and  the  damsels  returned  to  the  palace. 

He  remained  with  them,  eating  and  drinking,  and  sporting  and  laughing.  His 
residence  with  them  was  pleasant  to  him,  and  he  forgot  his  mother.  But  while  he 
was  with  them,  passing  the  most  delightful  life,  there  came  towards  them  a  great 
dust  from  the  further  part  of  the  desert,  whereby  the  sky  was  darkened.  So  the 
damsels  said  to  him.  Arise,  0  Hassan,  and  enter  thy  private  chamber,  and  conceal 
thyself;  or,  if  thou  wilt,  enter  the  garden  and  hide  thyself  among  the  trees  and  the 
grape-vines  ;  and  no  harm  shall  befall  thee.  And  he  arose  and  went  in  and  con- 
cealed himself  in  his  private  chamber,  having  closed  the  door  upon  him,  within  the 
palace.  And  after  a  while,  the  dust  dispersed,  and  there  appeared  beneath  it  numer- 
ous encumbered  troops,  like  the  roaring  sea,  approaching  from  the  King,  the  father 
of  the  damsels.  When  the  troops  arrived,  the  damsels  lodged  them  in  the  best 
manner,  and  entertained  them  during  three  days ;  after  which  the  damsels  asked 
them  respecting  their  state  and  their  tidings  ;  and  they  replied.  We  have  come  from 
the  King  to  summon  you.  So  the  damsels  said  to  them.  And  what  doth  the  King 
desire  of  us?     One  of  them  answered,  One  of  the  Kings  celebrateth  a  marriajje- 


636  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

festivity,  and  he  desireth  that  ye  should  be  present  at  that  festivity,  that  ye  may 
divert  yourselves.  —  And  how  long,  said  the  damsels,  shall  we  be  absent  from  onr 
place?  They  answered,  The  time  of  going  and  coming,  and  a  residence  of  two 
months.  The  damsels  therefore  arose,  and,  entering  the  palace,  went  in  to  Hassan, 
and  acquainted  him  with  the  case,  and  they  said  to  him,  Verily  this  place  is  thy 
place,  and  our  house  is  thy  house :  so  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye,  and  fear 
not,  nor  grieve ;  for  no  one  can  gain  access  to  us  in  this  place.  Then  be  of  tranquil 
heart  and  joyful  mind  until  we  come  to  thee  again.  These  keys  of  our  private 
chambers  we  leave  with  thee ;  but,  0  our  brother,  we  beg  thee  by  the  bond  of  bro- 
therhood that  thou  open  not  this  door,  [pointing  to  one  of  the  doors,]  for  thou  hast 
no  need  of  opening  it. — Then  they  bade  him  farewell,  and  departed  in  company  with 
the  troops. 

So  Hassan  remained  in  the  palace  alone.  His  bosom  was  contracted,  and  his 
patience  became  exhausted,  his  affliction  was  excessive,  and  he  was  sad,  mourning 
for  their  separation  greatly  ;  the  palace,  notwithstanding  its  amplitude,  was  strait 
unto  him,  and  when  he  found  himself  solitary  and  sad,  he  reflected  upon  the  damsels, 
and  recited  verses.  He  used  to  go  alone  to  hunt  in  the  deserts,  and  bring  back  the 
game  and  slaughter  it,  and  eat  alone.  His  gloominess  and  disquietude,  on  account 
of  his  solitariness,  became  excessive.  So  he  arose  and  went  about  through  the  palace, 
exhausted  every  part  of  it,  and  opened  the  private  chambers  of  the  damsels ;  and  he 
saw  in  them  riches  such  as  would  ravish  the  minds  of  beholders.  But  he  delighted 
not  in  aught  thereof,  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  the  damsels;  and  a  fire  burned  in 
his  heart  on  account  of  the  door  which  his  sister  had  charged  him  not  to  open,  and 
respecting  which  she  commanded  him  that  he  should  not  go  near  to  it,  nor  ever  open 
it.  He  said  within  himself,  My  sister  did  not  charge  me  not  to  open  this  door  save 
because  within  it  is  a  thing  with  which  she  desireth  that  no  one  should  become  ac- 
quainted. By  Allah,  I  will  arise  and  open  it  and  see  what  is  within  it,  though  with- 
in may  be  death.  Accordingly,  he  took  the  key,  and  opened  it,  and  he  saw  in  it  a 
flight  of  stairs  at  the  upper  end  of  the  place,  vaulted  with  stones  of  the  onyx  of 
Yemen  ;  and  he  ascended  those  stairs,  and  went  up  until  he  arrived  at  the  roof  of 
the  palace,  saying  within  himself,  This  is  what  she  forbade  me  to  visit.  He  then 
went  about  the  top  of  the  palace,  and  he  looked  down  upon  a  place  beneath  it 
entirely  occupied  by  sown  fields,  and  gardens  and  trees  and  flowers,  and  wild  beasts, 
and  birds  which  were  warbling  and  proclaimining  the  perfection  of  God,  the  One, 
the  Omnipotent.  He  gazed  upon  those  places  of  diversion,  and  saw  a  roaring  sea, 
agitated  with  waves  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  go  round  about  the  palace,  on  the  right 
and  left,  until  he  came  to  a  pavilion  upon  four  columns,  in  which  he  saw  a  saloon 
decorated  with  all  kinds  of  stones,  such  as  the  jacinth  and  the  emerald  and  the 
balass-ruby,  and  various  other  jewels.  It  was  built  with  one  brick  of  gold  and 
another  brick  of  silver  and  another  brick  of  jacinth  and  another  brick  of  emerald  ; 
and  in  the  midst  of  that  pavilion  was  a  pool  full  of  water,  over  which  was  a  trellis 
of  sandal-wood  and  aloes-wood,  reticulated  with  bars  of  red  gold  and  oblong  emeralds, 
and  adorned  with  varieties  of  jewels  and  pearls,  every  bead  of  which  was  of  the  size 
of  a  pigeon's  egg.  Also  by  the  side  of  the  pool  was  a  couch  of  aloes-wood  adorned 
with  large  pearls  and  with  jewels,  reticulated  with  red  gold,  and  comprising  all  kinds 
of  coloured  gems  and  precious  minerals,  set  so  as  to  correspond,  one  with  another. 
Around  it  the  birds  warbled  with  various  tongues,  proclaiming  the  perfection  of  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted  !)  by  the  sweetness  of  their  notes  and  the  diversity  of  their 
tongues  ;  and  the  like  of  this  palace  neither  a  Kosrou  nor  a  Caesar  ever  possessed. 
So  Hassan  was  amazed  when  he  beheld  it,  and  he  sat  in  it,  looking  at  what  was 
around  it. 

And  while  he  sat  in  it,  wondering  at  the  beauty  of  its  construction,  and  at  the 
lustre  of  the  large  pearls  and  the  jacinths  that  it  comprised,  and  at  all  the  artificial 
works  that  it  contained,  wondering  also  at  those  sown  fields,  and  at  the  birds  that 
proclaimed  the  perfection  of  God,  the  One,  the  Omnipotent,  and  contemplating  the 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA,  637 

memorials  of  him  whom  God  (exalted  be  his  name  !)  enabled  to  construct  this  pavil- 
ion (for  he  was  of  mighty  condition),  lo,  he  beheld  ten  birds,  which  approached  from 
the  direction  of  the  desert,  coming  to  that  pavilion  and  that  pool.  Hassan,  therefore, 
knew  that  they  sought  the  pool  to  drink  of  its  water:  so  he  concealed  himself  from 
them,  fearing  that  they  would  see  him  and  fly  from  him.  They  then  alighted  upon  a 
great,  beautiful  tree,  and  they  went  round  it;  and  he  saw  among  them  a  great  and 
beautiful  bird,  the  handsomest  among  them  ;  and  the  rest  encompassed  it,  and 
attended  it  as  servants ;  whereat  Hassan  wondered.  That  bird  began  to  peck  the 
nine  others  with  its  bill,  and  to  behave  proudly  towards  them,  and  they  fled  from  it, 
while  Hassan  stood  diverting  himself  with  the  sight  of  them  from  a  distance.  Then 
they  seated  themselves  upon  the  couch,  and  each  of  them  rent  open  its  skin  with  its 
talons,  and  came  forth  from  it ;  and  lo,  it  was  a  dress  of  feathers.  There  came  forth 
from  the  dresses  ten  damsels,  virgins,  who  shamed  by  their  beauty  the  lustre  of  the 
moon  ;  and  when  they  had  divested  themselves,  they  all  descended  into  the  pool,  and 
washed,  and  proceeded  to  play  and  to  jest  together;  the  bird  who  surpassed  the 
others  throwing  them  down  and  plunging  them,  and  they  fleeing  from  her,  and  un- 
able to  put  forth  their  hands  to  her.  When  Hassan  beheld  her,  he  lost  his  reason, 
and  his  mind  was  captivated,  and  he  knew  that  the  damsels  forbade  him  not  to  open 
the  door  save  on  this  account.  He  became  violently  enamoured  of  her  by  reason  of 
what  he  beheld  of  her  beauty  and  loveliness  and  her  stature  and  justness  of  form, 
while  she  was  sporting  and  jesting,  and  they  were  sprinkling  one  another  with  the 
water.  Hassan  stood  looking  at  them,  sighing  that  he  was  not  with  them  ;  his  mind 
was  perplexed  by  the  beauty  of  the  young  damsel,  his  heart  was  entangled  in  the 
snare  of  her  love,  and  he  had  fallen  into  the  snare  ;  the  eye  was  looking,  in  the  heart 
a  fire  was  burning;  and  the  soul  is  prone  to  evil.  He  wept  with  desire  by  reason 
of  her  beauty  and  loveliness,  fires  were  shot  into  his  heart  on  her  account ;  a  flame, 
of  which  the  sparks  could  not  be  extinguished,  increased  in  him,  and  a  desire  of 
which  the  signs  could  not  be  hidden. 

Then,  after  that,  the  damsels  came  up  from  the  pool,  while  Hassan  stood  looking 
at  them  ;  but  they  saw  him  not ;  and  he  was  wondering  at  their  beauty  and  loveliness 
and  gracefulness  and  elegance.  And  when  they  came  forth  from  the  water,  each  of 
them  put  on  her  dress  and  ornaments.  The  chief  damsel  put  on  a  green  dress,  and 
surpassed  in  her  loveliness  the  beauties  of  the  world,  and  the  lustre  of  her  face  out- 
shone the  bright  full  moon  :  she  surpassed  the  branches  in  the  beauty  of  her  bend- 
ing motions,  and  confounded  the  minds  with  apprehension  of  incurring  calumny. 
The  damsels  then  sat  conversing  and  laughing  together,  while  Hassan  stood  looking 
at  them,  drowned  in  the  sea  of  his  passion,  and  bewildered  in  the  valley  of  his  soli- 
citude, and  he  said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  my  sister  said  not  to  me.  Open  not  this 
door — save  on  account  of  these  damsels,  and  in  fear  of  my  becoming  enamoured  of 
one  of  them.  He  continued  to  gaze  at  the  beauties  of  the  chief  damsel,  who  was 
the  most  lovely  person  that  God  had  created  in  her  time,  surpassing  in  her  beauty 
all  human  beings.  She  had  a  mouth  like  the  seal  of  Solomon,  and  hair  blacker  than 
the  night  of  estrangement  is  to  the  afflicted,  distracted  lover,  and  a  forehead  like  the 
new  moon  of  the  Festival  of  Ramadan,  and  eyes  resembling  the  eyes  of  the  gazelles, 
and  an  aquiline  nose  brightly  shining,  and  cheeks  like  anemones,  and  lips  like  coral, 
and  teeth  like  pearls  strung  on  necklaces  of  native  gold,  and  a  neck  like  molten 
silver,  above  a  figure  like  a  willow  branch.  —  The  damsels  ceased  not  to  laugh  and 
sport,  while  he  stood  upon  his  feet  looking  at  them,  and  forgot  food  and  drink,  until 
the  time  of  afternoon-prayer  drew  near,  when  the  chief  damsel  said  to  her  compan- 
ions, O  daughters  of  Kings,  the  time  hath  become  late  to  us,  and  our  country  is  dis- 
tant, and  we  are  tired  of  staying  here.  Arise,  therefore,  that  we  may  depart  to  our 
place. — Accordingly  each  of  them  arose,  and  put  on  her  dress  of  feathers  ;  and  when 
they  were  enveloped  in  their  dresses,  they  became  birds  as  they  were  at  first,  and 
all  flew  away  together,  the  chief  damsel  being  in  the  midst  of  them. 

Hassan  therefore  despaired  of  them,  and  he  desired  to  arise  and  descend  from  bis 


638  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN    OF   BALSORA. 

place ;  but  he  could  not  rise.  His  tears  ran  down  upon  his  cheek,  and  his  desire 
ijoname  violent.  Then  he  walked  a  little,  but  without  being  led  aright,  until  he 
descended  to  the  lower  part  of  the  palace ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  drag  himself  along 
in  a  sitting  posture  till  he  came  to  the  door  of  the  private  chamber;  whereupon  he 
passed  through,  and  locked  it  after  him  ;  and  he  lay  upon  his  side,  sick,  neither  eat- 
ing nor  drinking.  He  was  drowned  in  the  sea  of  his  solicitudes,  and  he  wept  and 
lamented  for  himself  until  the  morning.  And  when  the  sun  rose,  he  opened  the  door 
of  the  private  chamber,  and  ascended  to  the  place  in  which  he  was  before,  and  sat 
before  the  saloon  until  the  approach  of  night ;  but  not  one  of  the  birds  came  while 
he  sat  expecting  them.  So  he  wept  violently,  till  he  fainted,  and  fell  prostrate  upon 
the  ground;  and  when  he  recovered  from  his  fit,  he  dragged  himself  along  in  a  sit- 
ting posture,  and  descended  to  the  lower  part  of  the  palace.  The  night  had  come, 
and  the  whole  world  was  strait  unto  him,  and  he  ceased  not  to  weep  and  lament  for 
himself  all  the  night  until  the  morning  came  and  the  sun  rose  over  the  hills  and  the 
lowlands.  He  ate  not,  nor  drank,  nor  slept,  nor  had  he  any  rest ;  during  the  day  he 
was  perplexed,  and  during  the  night  sleepless,  confounded,  intoxicated  by  his  solici- 
tude, expressing  the  violence  of  his  desire  in  some  verses  of  a  distracted  poet. 

Now,  while  he  was  in  this  violent  state  of  distraction  by  reason  of  his  passion,  lo, 
a  dust  arose  from  the  desert ;  whereupon  he  arose  and  ran  down  and  hid  himself. 
He  knew  that  the  mistresses  of  the  palace  had  come ;  and  but  a  little  while  had 
elapsed  when  the  troops  alighted,  and  encompassed  the  palace.  The  seven  damsels 
also  alighted,  and  they  entered  the  palace,  and  took  off  their  arms  and  all  the  imple- 
ments of  war  that  were  upon  them,  except  the  youngest  damsel,  his  sister,  who  took 
not  off  the  implements  of  war  that  were  upon  her,  but  came  to  the  private  chamber 
of  Hassan  ;  and  she  saw  him  not.  So  she  searched  for  him,  and  fuund  him  in  one 
of  the  closets,  infirm  and  lean  ;  his  body  had  become  languid  and  his  bones  were 
wasted,  his  complexion  had  become  sallow  and  his  eyes  were  sunk  in  his  face,  in 
consequence  of  the  little  food  and  drink  that  he  had  taken,  and  the  abundance  of  his 
tears  by  reason  of  his  attachment  to  the  damsel,  and  his  passion  for  her.  Therefore 
when  his  sister  the  Fairy  saw  him  in  this  state,  she  was  confounded,  and  her  reason 
quitted  her,  and  she  asked  him  respecting  his  condition,  and  the  state  in  which  he 
was,  and  what  had  befixllen  him,  saying  to  him.  Inform  me,  0  my  brother,  that  I 
may  devise  some  stratagem  for  thee  to  remove  thine  affliction,  and  I  will  be  thy  sacri- 
fice. And  upon  this  he  wept  violently,  and  said.  The  lover,  when  his  beloved  is 
separated  from  him,  hath  nothing  except  sorrow  and  affliction.  Within  him  is  dis- 
ease, and  without  is  burning:  the  beginning  is  remembrance,  and  the  end  is  solici- 
tude. So  when  his  sister  heard  these  words,  she  wondered  at  his  eloquence  and  his 
fluency  of  speech,  and  at  his  beauty  of  expression  and  his  reply  to  her  ;  and  she 
said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  when  didst  thou  fall  into  this  predicament  in  which  thou 
art,  and  when  did  this  happen  to  thee?  For  I  see  thee  speak  in  verses,  and  shed 
copious  tears.  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0  my  brother,  and  by  the  sacred  nature  of 
the  love  that  existeth  between  us,  that  thou  inform  me  of  thy  state,  and  acquaint  me 
with  thy  secret,  and  conceal  not  from  me  aught  of  that  which  hath  befallen  thee 
during  our  absence ;  for  my  bosom  hath  become  contracted,  and  my  life  is  perturbed 
on  thine  account. — And  thereupon  he  sighed,  and  shed  tears  like  rain,  and  replied, 
I  fear,  0  my  sister,  if  I  inform  thee,  that  thou  wilt  not  aid  me  to  attain  my  desire, 
but  wilt  leave  me  to  die  sorrowing,  in  my  anguish.  And  she  said,  No,  by  Allah,  0 
my  brother,  I  will  not  abandon  thee,  though  my  life  should  be  lost  in  consequence 
thereof. 

So  he  told  her  what  had  befallen  him,  and  what  he  beheld  when  he  had  opened 
the  door,  and  informed  her  that  the  cause  of  his  affliction  and  distress  was  his  pas- 
sion for  the  damsel  whom  he  had  seen,  and  his  affection  for  her,  and  that  for  ten 
days  he  had  not  desired  food  nor  drink.  Then  he  wept  violently.  And  his  sister 
wept  at  his  weeping :  she  was  moved  with  compassion  for  his  case,  and  pitied  him 
for  his  distance  from  home ;  and  she  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  be  of  good  heart 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  639 

and  cheerful  eye ;  for  I  will  expose  myself  to  peril  with  thee,  and  give  my  life  to 
content  thee,  and  contrive  for  thee  a  stratagem  even  if  it  occasion  the  loss  of  my 
precious  things  and  my  soul,  that  I  may  accomplish  thy  desire,  if  it  be  the  will  of 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted!  But  I  charge  thee,  0  my  brother,  to  conceal  the 
secret  from  my  sisters.  Therefore  reveal  not  thy  state  to  any  one  of  them,  lest  my 
life  and  thine  be  lost ;  and  if  they  ask  thee  respecting  the  opening  of  the  door, 
answer  them,  I  never  opened  it ;  but  I  was  troubled  in  heart  on  account  of  your 
absence  from  me,  and  sadness  for  your  loss,  and  my  residence  in  the  palace  by  my- 
self.— And  he  replied.  Yes:  this  is  the  right  course.  He  kissed  her  head,  and  his 
bosom  became  dilated.  He  had  been  in  fear  of  his  sister  on  account  of  his  having 
opened  the  door ;  so  now  his  soul  was  restored  to  him,  after  he  had  thought  himself 
at  the  point  of  destruction  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  his  fear. 

He  then  demanded  of  his  sister  something  to  eat;  whereupon  she  arose  and  went 
forth  from  him  :  and  afterwards  she  went  in  to  her  sisters,  mourning  and  weeping 
for  him.  So  they  asked  her  respecting  her  state,  and  she  informed  them  that  her 
heart  was  troubled  for  her  brother,  and  that  he  was  sick,  and  for  ten  days  no  food 
had  entered  his  stomach.  They  therefore  asked  her  respecting  the  cause  of  his  sick- 
ness ;  and  she  answered  them.  Its  cause  was  our  absence  from  him,  and  our  leaving 
him  desolate ;  for  these  days  during  which  we  were  absent  from  him  were  to  him 
longer  than  a  thousand  years,  and  he  is  excusable,  seeing  that  he  is  a  stranger  and 
alone,  and  we  left  him  solitary,  without  any  one  to  cheer  him  by  society,  or  any  one 
to  comfort  his  heart.  Besides,  he  is,  at  all  events,  but  a  youth,  and  probably  he 
remembered  his  family  and  his  mother,  who  is  an  old  woman,  and  he  imagined  that 
she  was  weeping  for  him  during  the  hours  of  the  night  and  the  periods  of  the  day, 
and  that  she  ceased  not  to  mourn  for  him  ;  but  we  used  to  console  him  by  our  society. 
— And  when  her  sisters  heard  her  words,  they  wept  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  their 
sorrow  for  him,  and  said  to  her.  By  Allah,  he  is  excusable.  Then  they  went  forth 
to  the  troops  and  dismissed  them  ;  after  which  they  went  in  to  Hassan  and  saluted 
him  ;  and  they  saw  that  his  charrhs  had  become  altered,  and  his  complexion  had 
become  sallow,  and  his  body  had  become  lean  ;  wherefore  they  wept  in  pity  for  him, 
and  they  sat  with  him,  and  cheered  him  and  comforted  his  heart  by  conversation, 
relating  to  him  all  that  they  had  seen  of  wonders  and  strange  things,  and  what 
happened  to  the  bridegroom  with  the  bride.  The  damsels  remained  with  him 
during  the  period  of  a  whole  month,  cheering  him  by  their  society,  and  caressing 
him  ;  but  every  day  he  became  more  ill ;  and  whenever  they  beheld  him  in  this  state, 
they  wept  for  him  violently,  the  youngest  damsel  being  the  one  of  them  who  wept 
the  most. 

Then  after  the  month,  the  damsels  were  desirous  of  riding  forth  to  hunt,  and  they 
resolved  to  do  so,  and  asked  their  youngest  sister  to  mount  with  them  ;  but  she  said 
to  them.  By  Allah,  0  my  sisters,  I  cannot  go  forth  with  you  while  my  brother  is  in 
this  state,  until  he  is  restored  to  health,  and  the  affliction  that  he  suffereth  quitteth 
him.  I  will  rather  sit  with  him  to  soothe  him.  —  And  when  they  heard  her  words, 
they  thanked  her  for  her  kindness,  and  said  to  her.  Whatever  thou  dost  with  this 
stranger,  thou  wilt  be  recompensed  for  it.  Then  they  left  her  with  him  in  the  palace, 
and  mounted,  taking  with  them  provisions  for  twenty  days.  And  when  they  were 
far  from  the  palace,  their  sister  knew  that  they  had  traversed  a  wide  space :  so  she 
came  to  her  brother,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  arise  ;  show  me  this  place  in 
which  thou  sawest  the  damsels.  And  he  replied,  In  the  name  of  Allah  :  on  the  head: 
— rejoicing  at  her  words,  and  feeling  sure  of  the  attainment  of  his  desire.  He  then 
desired  to  arise  and  go  with  her,  and  to  show  her  the  place ;  but  he  was  unable  to 
walk  ;  wherefore,  she  carried  him  in  her  bosom,  and  conveyed  him  to  the  [top  of 
the]  palace  ;  and  when  he  was  upon  it,  he  showed  her  the  place  in  which  he  had 
seen  the  damsels,  and  he  showed  her  the  saloon  and  the  pool.  And  his  sister  said 
to  him,  Describe  to  me,  0  my  brother,  their  state,  and  how  they  came.  He  therefore 
described  to  her  what  he  had  observed  of  them,  and  especially  the  damsel  of  whom 


640  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN    OF   BALSORA. 

he  had  becoine  enamoured ;  and  when  she  heard  the  description  of  her,  she  knew 
her,  and  her  countenance  became  sallow,  and  her  state  became  changed.  So  he  said 
to  her,  0  my  sister,  thy  countenance  hath  become  sallow,  and  thy  state  is  changed  ; 
and  she  replied  : — 

0  my  brother,  know  that  this  damsel  is  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  Kings  of  the 
Genii,  of  great  dignity.  Her  father  had  obtained  dominion  over  men  and  Genii,  and 
enchanters  and  diviners,  and  tribes  and  guards,  and  regions  and  cities  in  great 
numbers,  and  hath  vast  riches.  Our  father  is  one  of  his  viceroys,  and  no  one  is 
able  to  prevail  against  him,  on  account  of  the  abundance  of  his  troops,  and  the 
extent  of  his  dominions,  and  the  greatness  of  his  wealth.  He  hath  assigned  to  his 
children,  the  damsels  whom  thou  sawest,  a  tract  of  a  whole  year's  journey  in  length 
and  breadth,  and  to  that  tract  is  added  a  great  river  encompassing  it,  and  no  one 
can  gain  access  to  that  place,  neither  any  of  mankind,  nor  any  of  the  Genii.  He 
hath  an  army  of  damsels  who  smite  with  swords  and  thrust  with  spears,  five  and 
twenty  thousand  in  number,  every  one  of  whom,  when  she  mounteth  her  courser  and 
equippeth  herself  with  her  implements  of  war,  will  withstand  a  thousand  brave 
horsemen  ;  and  he  hath  seven  daughters  who  in  bravery  and  horsemanship  equal 
their  sisters,  and  excel  them.  He  hath  set  over  this  tract,  of  which  I  have  informed 
thee,  his  eldest  daughter,  the  chief  of  her  sisters ;  and  she  is  distinguished  by  bravery 
and  horsemanship,  and  guile  and  artifice  and  enchantment,  by  which  she  can  over- 
come all  the  people  of  her  dominions.  But  as  to  the  damsels  who  were  with  her, 
they  are  the  chief  ladies  of  her  empire,  and  her  guards,  and  her  favourites  among 
the  people  of  her  dominions ;  and  these  feathered  skins  wherewith  they  fly  are  the 
work  of  the  enchanters  among  the  Genii.  Now  if  thou  desire  to  possess  this  damsel, 
and  to  marry  her,  sit  here  and  wait  for  her ;  for  they  come  on  the  first  day  of  every 
month  to  this  place ;  and  when  thou  seest  that  they  have  come,  conceal  thyself,  and 
beware  of  appearing;  for  the  lives  of  all  of  us  would  be  lost.  Know  then  what  I  tell 
thee,  and  keep  it  in  thy  memory.  Sit  in  a  place  that  shall  be  near  unto  them,  so 
that  thou  shalt  see  them  and  they  shall  not  see  thee ;  and  when  they  take  oS  their 
dresses,  cast  thine  eye  upon  the  dress  of  feathers  belonging  to  the  chief  damsel,  who 
is  the  object  of  thy  desire,  and  take  it;  but  take  not  aught  beside  it;  for  it  is  the 
thing  that  conveyeth  her  to  her  country.  So  if  thou  possess  it,  thou  possesseth  her ; 
and  beware  of  her  beguiling  thee,  and  saying,  0  thou  who  hast  stolen  my  dress, 
restore  it  to  me,  and  here  I  am  with  thee  and  before  thee  and  in  thy  possession  : — 
for,  if  thou  give  it  her,  she  will  slay  thee,  and  will  demolish  the  pavilions  over  ua, 
and  slay  our  father.  Know  therefore  thy  case,  and  how  thou  shalt  act. — When  her 
sisters  see  that  her  dress  hath  been  stolen,  they  will  fly  away,  and  leave  her  sitting 
alone:  so  thereupon  go  thou  to  her  and  seize  her  by  her  hair  and  drag  her  along; 
and  when  thou  shalt  have  dragged  her  to  thee,  thou  wilt  have  obtained  her,  and  she 
will  be  in  thy  possession.  Then,  after  this,  take  care  of  the  dress  of  feathers;  for  as 
long  as  it  remaineth  with  thee,  she  is  in  thy  power,  and  in  captivity  to  thee ;  since 
she  cannot  fly  away  to  her  country  save  with  it.  And  when  thou  hast  taken  her, 
carry  her  and  descend  with  her  to  thy  private  chamber,  and  reveal  not  to  her  that 
thou  hast  taken  the  dress. 

So  when  Hassan  heard  the  words  of  his  sister,  his  heart  was  tranquillized,  and  his 
terror  was  quieted,  and  the  pain  that  he  suffered  ceased.  He  then  rose  erect  upon 
his  feet,  and  kissed  the  head  of  his  sister;  after  which  he  descended  from  the  top  of 
the  palace,  he  and  his  sister,  and  they  slept  that  night.  He  studied  to  restore  him- 
self until  the  morning  came ;  and  when  the  sun  rose,  he  arose  and  opened  the  door 
and  ascended  to  the  top.  He  sat  there,  and  ceased  not  to  sit  until  nightfall,  when 
his  sister  came  up  to  him  with  some  food  and  drink,  and  changed  his  clothes,  and 
he  slept.  She  continued  to  do  thus  with  him  every  day  until  the  next  month  com- 
menced. So  when  he  saw  the  new  moon,  he  watched  for  them :  and  while  he  was 
doing  thus,  lo,  they  approached  him,  like  lightning.  On  hia  seeing  them,  therefore, 
be  concealed  himself  in  a  place  so  that  he  could  see  them  and  they  could  not  see 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF    BALSORA.  641 

him.  The  birds  alighted,  each  bird  of  them  seating  herself  in  a  place,  and  they  rent 
open  their  dresses,  and  the  damsel  of  whom  he  was  enamoured  did  the  same  as  tlie 
rest.  This  was  done  in  a  place  near  unto  Hassan.  She  then  descended  into  the  pool 
with  her  sisters:  and  thereupon  Hassan  arose  and  walked  forward  a  little,  still 
concealing  himself;  and  God  veiled  him  :  so  he  took  the  dress,  and  not  one  of  them 
saw  him  ;  for  they  were  playing  together.  And  when  they  had  ended,  they  came 
forth,  and  each  of  them  put  on  her  dress  of  feathers,  except  his  beloved,  who  came 
to  put  on  her  dress  and  found  it  not.  Upon  this  she  cried  out,  and  slapped  her 
face,  and  tore  her  clothes.  Her  sisters  therefore  came  to  her,  and  asked  her  respect- 
ing her  state,  and  she  informed  them  that  her  dress  of  feathers  had  been  lost; 
whereupon  they  wept  and  cried  out,  and  slapped  their  faces.  And  when  the  night 
overtook  them,  they  could  not  remain  with  her:  so  they  left  her  upon  the  top  of  thi 
palace  alone.  Then,  when  Hassan  saw  that  they  had  flown  away  and  were  absent 
from  her,  he  listened  to  her,  and  he  heard  her  say,  0  thou  who  hast  taken  my  dress, 
and  stripped  me,  I  beg  thee  to  restore  it  to  me,  and  may  God  never  make  thee  to 
taste  my  grief!  And  on  his  hearing  these  her  words,  his  reason  was  captivated  by 
his  passion  for  her,  his  love  for  her  increased,  and  he  could  not  withhold  himself 
from  her.  He  therefore  arose  from  his  place,  and  ran  forward  until  he  rushed  upon 
her  and  laid  hold  of  her.  Then  he  dragged  her  to  him,  and  descended  with  her  to 
the  lower  part  of  the  palace,  and,  having  taken  her  into  his  private  chamber,  threw 
over  her  his  cloak,  while  she  wept,  and  bit  her  hands.  He  locked  the  door  upon  her, 
and  went  to  his  sister,  and  told  her  that  he  had  got  her  and  obtained  possession 
of  her,  and  hfid  brought  her  down  to  his  private  chamber,  and  he  said  to  her, 
She  is  DOW  sitting  weeping,  and  biting  her  hands. 

His  sister,  therefore,  when  she  heard  his  words,  arose  and  repaired  to  the  private 
chamber,  and,  going  in  to  her,  she  saw  her  weeping  and  mourning.  She  kissed  the 
ground  before  her,  and  then  saluted  her;  and  the  damsel  said  to  her,  0  daughter  of 
the  King,  do  people  such  as  ye  are  do  these  vile  deeds  with  the  daughters  of  Kings? 
Thou  knowest  that  my  father  is  a  great  King,  and  that  all  the  Kings  of  the  Genii 
are  terrified  at  him,  and  fear  his  awful  power,  and  that  he  hath,  of  enchanters  and 
sages  and  diviners  and  devils  and  marids,  those  against  whom  none  can  prevail,  and 
that  under  his  authority  are  people  whose  number  none  knoweth  but  God.  How 
then  can  it  be  right  for  you,  0  daughters  of  Kings,  to  lodge  men  of  human  kind 
with  you,  and  to  acquaint  them  with  our  circumstances  and  yours?  If  ye  did  not 
80,  how  could  this  man  gain  access  to  us? — So  the  sister  of  Hassan  answered  her, 
O'daughter  of  the  King,  verily  this  human  being  is  perfect  in  kindness  of  disposi- 
tion, and  his  desire  is  not  to  do  any  shameful  action :  he  only  loveth  thee ;  and 
women  were  not  created  save  for  men.  Were  it  not  that  he  loveth  thee,  he  had  not 
fallen  sick  on  thine  account,  and  his  soul  had  not  almost  departed  by  reason  of  his 
love  of  thee. — And  she  related  to  her  all  that  Hassan  had  told  her,  with  respect  to 
his  passion  for  her,  and  how  the  damsels  had  acted  in  their  flight  and  their  washing 
themselves,  and  told  her  that  none  of  them  all  had  pleased  him  excepting  her;  for 
all  of  them  were  her  slave-girls  ;  and  that  she  was  plunging  them  into  the  pool,  and 
not  one  of  them  could  stretch  forth  her  hand  to  her.  And  when  she  heard  her 
words,  she  despaired  of  escape.  Then  the  sister  of  Hassan  arose  and  went  forth 
from  her,  and  brought  to  her  a  sumptuous  dress,  with  which  she  clad  her.  She  also 
brought  to  her  some  food  and  drink,  and  ate  with  her,  and  comforted  her  heart  and 
appeased  her  terror.  She  ceased  net  to  caress  her  with  gentleness  and  kindness, 
and  said  to  her.  Have  compassion  upon  him  who  saw  thee  once  and  became  a 
victim  of  thy  love.  Thus  she  continued  to  caress  and  gratify  her,  and  to  address 
her  with  pleasing  words  and  expressions ;  but  she  wept  until  daybreak  came,  when 
her  heart  was  comforted  and  she  abstained  from  weeping,  knowing  that  she  had  fallen 
into  the  snare,  and  that  her  escape  was  impossible.  So  she  said  to  the  sister  of 
Hassan,  0  daughter  of  the  King,  thus  hath  God  appointed  [and  written]  upon  my 
41 


642  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

forehead,  with  respect  to  my  estrangement  and  my  disjunction  from  my  country  an^. 
my  fiimily  and  my  sisters  ;  therefore  I  must  endure  with  becoming  patience  what 
my  Lord  hath  decreed.  Then  the  sister  of  Hassan  appropriated  to  her  alone  a 
private  chamber  in  the  palace,  than  which  chamber  there  was  none  handsomer 
there ;  and  she  ceased  not  to  sit  with  her  and  console  her,  and  to  comfort  her  heart, 
until  she  was  content,  and  her  bosom  became  dilated,  and  she  laughed,  and  her 
trouble  and  contraction  of  bosom  on  account  of  her  separation  from  her  family  and 
home,  and  her  separation  from  her  sisters  and  her  parents  and  her  dominions, 
ceased. 

The  sister  of  Hassan  then  went  forth  to  him,  and  said  to  him,  Arise,  go  in  to  her 
in  her  private  chamber,  and  kiss  her  hands  and  her  feet.  He  therefore  entered,  and 
did  so;  and  he  kissed  her  between  her  eyes,  and  said  to  her,  0  mistress  of  beauties, 
and  life  of  souls,  and  delight  of  beholders,  be  tranquil  in  heart.  I  have  not  taken 
thee  but  that  I  may  be  thy  slave  till  the  day  of  resurrection,  and  this  my  sister  will 
be  thy  slave-girl.  I,  0  my  mistress,  desire  not  aught  save  to  marry  thee,  agreeably 
with  the  ordinance  of  God  and  his  Apostle,  and  to  journey  to  my  country,  and  I 
will  reside  with  thee  in  the  city  of  Bagdad.  I  will  purchase  for  thee  female  slaves 
and  male  slaves  ;  and  I  have  a  mother,  of  the  best  of  women,  who  will  be  thy  ser- 
vant. There  is  not  a  country  there  better  than  our  country:  everything  that  is  in  it 
is  better  than  what  is  in  any  other  of  all  the  countries,  and  its  inhabitants  and  its 
people  are  good  people,  with  comely  faces. 

But  while  he  was  addressing  her  and  cheering  her  by  conversation,  and  she  ad- 
dressed him  not  with  a  single  letter,  some  one  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  palace. 
So  Hassan  went  forth  to  see  who  was  at  the  door ;  and  lo,  there  were  the  damsels, 
who  had  returned  from  the  chase.  He  rejoiced  at  their  coming,  and  met  and  saluted 
them  ;  whereupon  they  offered  up  prayers  in  his  favour  for  safety  and  health,  and 
he  prayed  for  them  also.  They  then  alighted  from  their  horses,  and  entered  the 
palace,  and  each  of  them  went  into  her  private  chamber,  where  she  pulled  off  the 
worn  clothes  that  were  upon  her,  and  put  on  comely  apparel,  after  which  they  came 
forth,  and  demanded  the  game;  and  they  brought  an  abundance  of  gazelles  and 
wild  oxen  and  hares  and  lions  and  hyenas,  and  other  beasts,  some  of  which  they 
brought  forward  for  slaughter,  and  they  left  the  rest  with  them  in  the  palace. 
Hassan  stood  among  them  with  girded  waist,  slaughtering  for  them,  while  they 
sported  and  amused  themselves,  rejoicing  exceedingly  at  his  doing  thus.  And  when 
they  had  finished  the  slaughter,  they  sat  preparing  something  whereof  to  make  their 
dinner.  Then  Hassan  advanced  to  the  eldest  damsel,  and  kissed  her  head  :  and  he 
proceeded  to  kiss  all  their  heads,  one  after  another.  So  they  said  to  him.  Thou  hast 
greatly  humbled  thyself  to  us,  0  our  brother,  and  we  wonder  at  the  excess  of  thine 
affection  for  us,  thou  being  a  man  of  the  sons  of  Adam,  and  we  being  of  the  Genii. 
And  thereupon  his  eyes  shed  tears,  and  wept  violently;  wherefore  they  said.  What 
is  the  news,  and  what  causeth  thee  to  weep  ?  Thou  hast  troubled  our  life  by  thy 
weeping  this  day.  It  seemeth  that  thou  hast  conceived  a  longing  to  see  thy  mother 
and  thy  country;  and  if  the  case  be  so,  we  will  equip  thee,  and  will  journey  with 
thee  to  thy  home  and  thy  friends. — He  replied.  By  Allah,  my  desire  is  not  to  be 
separated  from  you.  They  therefore  said  to  him.  Then  who  of  us  hath  disturbed 
thee,  that  thou  art  thus  troubled?  And  he  was  ashamed  to  say.  Nought  hath  dis- 
turbed me  but  love  of  the  damsel  —  fearing  that  they  would  deny  him  their  ap- 
proval: wherefore  he  was  silent,  and  did  not  acquaint  them  with  aught  of  his  case. 
So  his  sister  arose  and  said  to  them.  He  hath  caught  a  bird  from  the  air,  and  he  de- 
sireth  of  you  that  ye  aid  him  to  make  her  his  wife.  And  they  all  looked  at  him, 
and  said  to  him,  We  are  all  before  thee,  and  whatsoever  thou  demandest,  we  will  do 
it.  But  tell  us  thy  tale,  and  conceal  not  aught  of  thy  state. — He  therefore  said  to 
his  sister.  Tell  thou  my  tale  to  them ;  for  I  am  abashed  at  them,  and  I  cannot  face 
them  with  these  words. 

Accordingly,   his  sister  said  to  them,  0  my  sisters,  when  we  departed  on  our 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA.  643 

journey  and  left  this  poor  young;  man  alone,  the  palace  became  strait  unto  him,  and 
ne  feared  that  some  one  might  come  in  to  him  ;  and  ye  know  that  the  intellects  of 
the  sons  of  Adam  are  weak.  He  opened  the  door  that  leadeth  to  the  roof  of  the 
palace,  when  his  bosom  was  contracted  and  he  had  become  solitary  and  lone,  and  he 
ascended  upon  it,  and  sat  there,  looking  down  upon  the  valley,  and  looking  down 
also  towards  the  door,  fearing  lest  some  one  should  come  to  the  palace.  And  while 
he  was  sitting  one  day,  lo,  ten  birds  approached  him,  coming  to  the  palace;  and  they 
ceased  not  to  pursue  their  course  until  they  seated  themselves  upon  the  margin  of 
the  pool  that  is  above  the  mandhara ;  whereupon  he  looked  at  the  bird  that  was  the 
most  beautiful  of  them,  and  she  was  pecking  the  others,  among  which  there  was 
not  one  that  could  stretch  forth  her  claw  to  her.  Then  they  put  their  talons  to  their 
necks,  rent  open  their  dresses  of  feathers,  and  came  forth  from  them,  and  each  of 
them  became  a  damsel  like  the  moon  in  the  night  of  its  fulness.  After  that,  they 
disrobed  themselves,  while  Hassan  stood  looking  at  them,  and  they  descended  into 
the  water,  and  proceeded  to  sport;  the  chief  damsel  plunging  the  others,  among 
whom  there  was  not  one  who  could  put  forth  her  hand  to  her;  and  she  was  the  most 
beautiful  of  them  in  face,  and  the  most  just  of  them  in  stature,  and  the  most  clean 
of  them  in  apparel.  They  ceased  not  to  do  thus  until  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers 
drew  near,  when  they  came  forth  from  the  pool,  put  on  their  garments,  and  entered 
the  apparel  of  feathers,  in  -which  they  wrapped  themselves,  and  they  flew  away. 
Thereupon  his  mind  was  troubled,  and  his  heart  was  inflamed  with  fire,  on  account 
of  the  chief  bird,  and  he  repented  that  he  had  not  stolen  her  apparel  of  feathers. 
He  became  sick,  and  remained  upon  the  palace  expecting  her  return,  and  he 
abstained  from  food  and  drink  and  sleep.  He  continued  in  that  state  until  the  new 
moon  appeared ;  and  while  he  was  sitting,  lo,  they  approached  according  to  their 
custom,  and  pulled  ofi"  their  garments,  and  descended  into  the  pool.  So  he  stole  the 
dress  of  the  chief  damsel,  and,  knowing  that  she  could  not  fly  save  with  it,  he  took 
it  and  hid  it,  fearing  that  they  would  discover  it  and  slay  him.  Then  he  waited  until 
the  others  had  flown  away:  when  he  arose  and  seized  her,  and  brought  her  down 
from  the  top  of  the  palace.  —  Upon  this,  her  sisters  said  to  her,  And  where  is  she? 
She  answered  them.  She  is  in  his  possession  in  such  a  closet.  And  they  said, 
Describe  her  to  us,  0  our  sister.  She  therefore  said,  She  is  more  beautiful  than  the 
moon  in  the  night  of  its  fulness,  and  her  face  is  more  splendid  than  the  sun,  and  the 
moisture  of  her  mouth  is  sweeter  than  wine,  and  her  figure  is  more  elegant  than  the 
slender  branch.  She  hath  black  eyes,  and  brilliant  face,  and  bright  forehead,  and 
a  bosom  like  pearl,  in  which  are  seen  the  forms  of  two  pomegranates  ;  and  she  hath 
cheeks  like  two  apples.  She  captivateth  the  hearts  by  her  eyes  bordered  with  kohl, 
and  by  the  slenderness  of  her  delicate  waist,  and  by  her  heavy  hips,  and  speech  that 
cureth  the  sick.  She  is  comely  in  shape,  beautiful  in  her  smile,  like  the  full  moon. 
And  when  the  damsels  heard  these  descriptions,  they  looked  towards  Hassan,  and 
said'^to  him.  Show  her  to  us.  So  he  arose  with  them,  distracted  with  love,  and  pro- 
ceeded until  he  had  conducted  them  to  the  closet  in  which  was  the  King's  daughter; 
whereupon  he  opened  it  and  entered,  and  they  entered  behind  him  ;  and  when  they 
saw  her,  and  beheld  her  loveliness,  they  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  wondering  at 
the  beauty  of  her  form,  and  at  her  elegance.  They  then  saluted  her,  and  said  to 
her.  By  Allah,  0  daughter  of  the  supreme  King,  this  is  an  egregious  thing;  but 
hadst  thou  heard  the  description  of  this  human  being  among  the  women,  thou 
wouldst  have  wondered  at  him  all  thy  life.  He  is  enamoured  of  thee  to  the  utmost 
degree;  yet,  0  daughter  of  the  King,  he  desireth  not  aught  that  is  dishonest;  he 
desireth  thee  not  save  as  his  lawful  wife  ;  and  if  we  knew  that  damsels  were  content 
without  husbands,  we  would  have  prevented  him  from  attaining  the  object  of  his 
desire,  though  he  sent  not  to  thee  a  messenger,  but  came  to  thee  himself;  and  he 
hath  informed  us  that  he  hath  burnt  the  dress  of  feathers ;  otherwise  we  would  have 
taken  it  from  him. — Then  one  of  the  damsels  agreed  with  her  and  became  her  deputy 
for  the  performance  of  the  ceremony  of  the  marriage-contract.     She  performed  the 


644  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN    OF   BALSORA. 

ceremony  of  the  contract  of  her  marriage  to  Hassan,  who  took  her  hand,  putting  his 
hand  in  hers,  and  she  married  her  to  him  with  her  permission  ;  after  which  they 
celebrated  her  marriage-festivity  in  the  manner  befitting  the  daughters  of  Kings,  and 
introduced  him  to  her ;  and  he  congratulated  himself  thereupon,  and  eulogized  her 
in  verses.  The  damsels  were  standing  at  the  door,  and  when  they  heard  the  verses, 
they  said  to  her,  0  daughter  of  the  King,  hast  thou  heard  the  words  of  this  human 
being?  How  canst  thou  blame  us,  when  he  hath  recited  these  verses  on  the  subject 
of  his  love  for  thee? — And  on  her  hearing  that,  she  was  happy  and  cheerful  and 
glad.  Then  Hassan  remained  with  her  for  a  period  of  forty  days,  in  pleasure  and 
happiness  and  delight  and  joy,  the  damsels  renewing  for  him,  every  day,  festivity 
and  beneficence,  and  presents  and  rarities,  and  he  passing  bis  time  among  them  in 
happiness  and  cheerfulness;  and  the  residence  of  the  King's  daughter  among  them 
became  pleasant  to  her,  so  that  she  forgot  her  family. 

But  after  the  forty  days,  Hassan  was  sleeping,  and  he  saw  his  mother  mourning 
for  him :  her  bones  had  wasted,  and  her  body  had  become  emaciated,  and  her  com- 
plexion had  become  sallow,  and  her  state  was  altered,  while  he  was  in  good  condi- 
tion. And  when  she  beheld  him  in  this  state  [as  he  thought],  she  said  to  him,  0  my 
son,  0  Hassan,  how  is  it  that  thou  livest  in  the  world,  blessed  with  a  pleasant  life, 
and  forgettest  me  ?  Look  at  the  state  in  which  I  have  been  since  thy  departure.  I 
will  not  forget  thep,  nor  will  my  tongue  cease  to  mention  thee  until  I  die:  and  I  have 
made  for  thee  a  tomb  in  my  house,  that  I  may  never  forget  thee.  Shall  I  live,  0  my 
son,  and  see  thee  with  me,  and  shall  we  again  be  united  as  we  were?  —  So  Hassan 
awoke  from  his  sleep  weeping  and  lamenting;  his  tears  ran  down  upon  his  cheeks 
like  rain,  and  he  became  sorrowful  and  afilicted  ;  his  tears  ceased  not,  nor  did  sleep 
visit  him,  nor  had  he  any  rest,  nor  did  any  patience  remain  to  him.  And  when  he 
arose,  the  damsels  came  in  to  him,  and  wished  him  good  morning,  and  were  cheerful 
with  him  as  they  were  wont ;  but  he  looked  not  towards  them.  They  therefore 
asked  his  wife  respecting  his  state ;  and  she  answered  them,  I  know  not.  So  they 
said  to  her,  Ask  thou  him  respecting  his  state.  Accordingly  she  advanced  to  him, 
and  said  to  him.  What  is  the  matter,  0  my  master?  And  thereupon  he  sighed  and 
was  oppressed,  and  acquainted  her  with  that  which  he  had  seen  in  his  sleep.  His 
wife,  therefore  acquainted  them  with  that  which  he  had  said  to  her:  and  they  were 
moved  with  pity  for  his  state,  and  said  to  him,  Favour  us  [by  doing  as  thou  desirest]  ; 
in  the  name  of  Allah.  We  cannot  prevent  thee  from  visiting  her;  we  will  rather 
aid  thee  to  do  so  by  every  means  in  our  power.  But  it  behooveth  thee  to  visit  us,  and 
not  sever  thyself  from  us,  though  in  every  year  thou  come  but  once. — And  he  replied, 
I  hear  and  obey. 

Then  the  damsels  arose  immediately,  prepared  for  him  the  provisions,  and  equip- 
ped for  him  the  bride  with  ornaments  and  apparel  and  everything  costly,  such  as 
language  would  fail  to  describe  ;  and  they  also  prepared  for  him  rarities  which  pens 
cannot  enumerate.  After  that,  they  beat  the  drum,  and  thereupon  the  she-camels 
came  to  them  from  every  quarter,  and  they  chose  of  them  such  as  should  carry  all 
that  they  had  prepared.  They  mounted  the  damsel  and  Hassan,  and  put  upon  the 
camels,  and  brought  to  them,  five-and-twenty  chests  full  of  gold,  and  fifty  of  silver. 
Then  they  proceeded  with  them  for  three  days,  during  which  they  traversed  a  space 
of  three  months'  journey ;  and  having  done  so,  they  bade  them  farewell,  and  desired 
to  return  from  them.  Upon  this,  Hassan's  sister,  the  youngest  damsel,  embraced 
him,  and  wept  until  she  fainted  ;  and  when  she  recovered,  she  bade  him  farewell, 
and  strictly  charged  him  that,  when  he  had  arrived  at  his  city  and  met  his  mother, 
and  his  heart  was  tranquillized,  he  should  not  fail  to  visit  her  once  in  every  six 
months;  and  she  said  to  him.  When  an  affair  rendereth  thee  anxious,  or  thou  fearest 
anything  disagreeable,  beat  the  drum  of  the  Magian  :  thereupon  the  she-camels  will 
come  to  thee,  and  do  thou  mount,  and  return  to  ua,  and  remain  not  away  from  us. 
And  he  swore  to  her  that  he  would  do  so;  after  which  he  conjured  them  to  return. 
So  they  returned,  after  they  had  bidden  him  farewell,  and  mourned  for  his  separa- 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  645 

tion  ;  and  she  who  mourned  most  was  his  sister,  the  youngest  damsel ;  for  she  found 
no  rest,  nor  did  patience  obey  her:  she  wept  night  and  day. 

Hassan  proceeded  all  the  night  and  day,  traversing  with  his  wife  the  deserts  and 
wastes,  and  the  valleys  and  rugged  tracts,  during  the  mid-day  heat  and  the  early 
dawn,  and  God  decreed  them  safety.  So  they  were  safe,  and  arrived  at  the  city  of 
Balsora;  and  they  ceased  not  to  pursue  their  way  until  they  made  their  camels 
kneel  down  at  the  door  of  his  house.  He  then  dismissed  the  camels,  and  advanced 
to  the  door  to  open  it ;  and  he  heard  his  mother  weeping  and  lamenting  with  a  soft 
voice,  that  proceeded  from  a  bosom  which  had  experienced  the  torture  of  fire.  And 
Hassan  wept  when  he  heard  his  mother  weeping  and  lamenting;  and  he  knocked  at 
the  door  with  alarming  violence.  So  his  mother  said.  Who  is  at  the  door?  And  he 
replied.  Open  :  —  wherefore  she  opened  the  door,  and  looked  at  him;  and  when  she 
knew  him,  she  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  caress  her  until  she  recovered, 
when  he  embraced  her,  and  she  embraced  him  and  kissed  him.  He  then  conveyed 
his  goods  and  property  into  the  house,  while  the  damsel  looked  at  him  and  at  his 
mother. 

Hassan  and  his  mother  then  sat  conversing  together,  and  she  said  to  him.  How 
was  thy  state,  0  my  son,  with  the  Persian  ?  He  answered  her,  0  my  mother,  he 
was  not  [only]  a  Persian,  but  he  was  a  Magian,  who  worshipped  fire  instead  of  the 
Almighty  King.  And  he  informed  her  of  what  he  had  done  with  him  ;  that  he  had 
travelled  with  him,  and  put  him  into  the  skin  of  the  camel,  and  sewed  it  up  over 
him,  and  that  the  birds  had  carried  him  ofi",  and  put  him  down  upon  the  top  of  the 
mountain.  He  told  her  too  what  he  had  seen  upon  the  mountain,  namely  the  dead 
men,  whom  the  Magian  had  deluded  and  left  upon  the  mountain  after  they  had  ac- 
complished his  affair;  and  how  he  cast  himself  into  the  sea  from  the  top  of  the 
mountain,  and  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  preserved  him,  and  conducted  him  to 
the  palace  of  the  damsels  ;  and  of  the  sisterly  love  of  the  youns:est  damsel  for  him, 
and  his  residence  with  the  damsels;  and  how  God  had  conducted  the  Magian  to  the 
place  in  which  he  was  residing.  He  also  told  her  of  his  passion  for  the  damsel 
whom  he  had  married,  and  how  he  caught  her,  and  her  whole  story  [and  the  subse- 
quent events]  until  God  reunited  them.  And  when  his  mother  heard  his  story,  she 
wondered,  and  praised  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  for  his  health  and  safety. 
She  then  arose  and  went  to  those  packages,  and  looked  at  them,  and  asked  him 
respecting  them  :  and  he  acquainted  her  with  their  contents;  whereat  she  rejoiced 
exceedingly.  And  after  that,  she  advanced  to  the  damsel,  to  converse  with  her  and 
to  cheer  her  by  her  company  ;  and  when  her  eye  fell  upon  her,  her  mind  was  stupi- 
fied  by  her  comeliness,  and  she  rejoiced  and  wondered  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness 
and  her  stature  and  justness  of  form.  Then  she  said  to  Hassan,  0  my  son,  praise 
be  to  God  for  thy  safety,  and  for  thy  safe  return  !  And  she  sat  by  the  side  of  the 
damsel,  cheering  her  by  her  company,  and  comforting  her  heart;  after  which,  early 
the  next  day,  she  went  down  into  the  market,  and  bought  ten  suits,  the  most  sump- 
tuous garments  that  were  in  the  city.  She  also  brought  for  her  magnificent  furni- 
ture, and  clad  the  damsel,  and  adorned  her  with  everything  beautiful.  Then  she 
accosted  her  son,  and  said,  0  my  son,  with  this  wealth  we  cannot  live  in  this  city; 
for  thou  knowest  that  we  were  poor,  and  the  people  will  accuse  us  of  practising 
alchemy.  Therefore  arise  with  us,  and  let  us  go  to  the  city  of  Bagdad,  the  Abode 
of  Peace,  that  we  may  reside  in  the  sacred  asylum  of  the  Caliph,  and  thou  shalt  sit 
in  a  shop  and  sell  and  buy,  and  fear  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory  !)  : 
then  will  God  open  to  thee  the  doors  of  prosperity  by  means  of  this  wealth.  —  And 
when  Hassan  heard  her  words,  he  approved  them. 

He  arose  immediately,  and  went  forth  from  her,  sold  the  house,  and  summoned 
the  she-camels :  and  he  put  upon  them  all  his  riches  and  goods,  together  with  his 
mother  and  his  wife.  He  set  forth,  and  ceased  not  to  pursue  his  journey  until  he 
arrived  at  the  Tigris  ;  when  he  hired  a  vessel  to  convey  them  to  Bagdad,  embarked 
in  it  all  his  wealth  and  effects,  and  his  mother  and  his  wife,  and  everything  that 


646  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

was  with  him,  and  went  on  board  the  vessel,  which  conveyed  them  with  a  fair  wind 
for  a  period  of  ten  days,  until  they  came  in  sight  of  Bagdad  ;  and  when  they  came 
in  sight  of  it,  they  rejoiced.  The  vessel  brought  them  into  the  city,  and  Hassan 
landed  there  forthwith,  and  hired  a  magazine  in  one  of  the  khans.  He  then  re- 
moved his  goods  from  the  vessel  to  the  magazine,  and  went  up,  and  remained  one 
night  in  the  khan  ;  and  when  he  arose  in  the  morning,  he  changed  bis  clothes ;  and 
the  broker,  seeing  him,  asked  him  respecting  his  affair,  and  what  he  desired:  so  he 
said  to  him,  I  desire  a  house,  handsome  and  ample.  And  the  broker  showed  him 
the  houses  that  he  had  to  let,  and  a  house  that  had  belonged  to  one  of  the  Viziers 
pleased  him  ;  wherefore  he  bought  it  of  him  for  a  hundred  tl)ousand  pieces  of  gold, 
and  gave  him  the  price.  Then  he  returned  to  the  khan  in  which  be  had  taken 
lodging,  and  removed  thence  all  his  wealth  and  his  goods  to  the  house;  after  which 
he  went  forth  into  the  market,  and  bought  what  was  requisite  for  the  house,  of  uten- 
sils and  furniture  and  other  things.  He  purchased  also  eunuchs,  and  among  them 
was  a  young  black  slave,  for  the  house.  And  he  resided  in  ease  with  his  wife,  en- 
joying the  most  delightful  life  and  happiness,  for  the  space  of  three  years,  during 
which  he  was  blessed  by  her  with  two  boys,  one  of  whom  he  named  Nasir,  and  the 
other  Mansour. 

Then,  after  this  period,  he  remembered  his  sisters,  the  damsels  before  mentioned, 
and  he  remembered  their  kindness  to  him,  and  how  they  had  aided  him  to  attain  his 
desire.  So  he  longed  to  see  them  ;  and,  having  gone  forth  to  the  markets  of  the  city, 
he  bought  there  some  ornaments,  and  costly  stuffs,  and  dried  fruits,  the  like  of  which 
they  had  never  seen  nor  known.  His  mother  therefore  asked  him  the  reason  of  his 
buying  those  rarities,  and  he  answered  her,  I  have  determined  to  repair  to  my  sisters, 
who  treated  me  with  all  kindness,  and  from  whose  goodness  and  beneficence  to  me 
my  present  good  fortune  proceeded ;  for  I  desire  to  go  to  them  and  to  see  them,  and 
I  will  return  soon,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted!  So  she  replied, 
0  my  son,  be  not  long  absent  from  me.  And  he  said  to  her,  Know,  0  my  mother, 
how  thou  shalt  manage  with  my  wife.  Here  is  her  dress  of  feathers,  in  a  chest 
buried  in  the  earth:  then  be  careful  of  it,  lest  she  light  upon  it  and  take  it,  and  fly 
away  with  her  children,  and  depart,  and  I  shall  not  find  any  tidings  of  her;  so  I 
shall  die  in  sorrow  on  account  of  them.  Know  also,  0  my  mother,  that  I  caution 
thee  not  to  mention  this  to  her.  And  know  that  she  is  the  daughter  of  the  King  of 
the  Genii,  and  there  is  not  among  the  Kings  of-the  Genii  any  greater  than  her  father, 
nor  any  that  hath  more  numerous  troops,  or  more  wealth,  than  he.  Know  likewise 
that  she  is  the  mistress  of  her  people,  and  the  dearest  of  the  things  that  her  father 
hath.  Moreover,  she  is  excessively  high-minded :  therefore  do  thou  thyself  serve 
her ;  and  allow  her  not  to  go  forth  from  the  door,  or  to  look  from  the  window,  or 
from  over  a  wall ;  for  I  fear  on  her  account  the  wind  when  it  bloweth  ;  and  if  any 
event  of  the  events  of  the  world  befall  her,  I  shall  slay  myself  on  her  account.  — 
And  his  mother  replied,  Allah  preserve  me  from  disobeying  thee,  O  my  son  !  Am  I 
mad,  that  when  thou  givest  me  this  charge  I  should  disobey  thee  with  respect  to  it? 
Set  forth,  0  my  son,  and  be  of  good  heart,  and  thou  shalt  come  back  happily,  and 
see  her,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  she  shall  acquaint 
thee  with  my  conduct  to  her.  But,  0  my  son,  remain  not  away  more  than  the  time 
required  for  going  and  returning.  —  And  his  wife,  as  was  decreed,  heard  his  words 
to  his  mother;  and  they  knew  it  not. 

Hassan  then  arose  and  went  forth  from  the  city,  and  beat  the  drum  ;  so  thereupon 
the  she-camels  came  to  him,  and  he  laded  twenty  with  the  rarities  of  Irak  ;  after 
which  he  bade  farewell  to  his  mother  and  his  wife  and  his  children.  The  age  of  one 
of  his  two  children  was  a  year,  and  the  age  of  the  other  was  two  years.  Then  he 
returned  to  his  mother,  and  charged  her  a  second  time ;  and  having  done  this,  he 
mounted,  and  journeyed  to  his  sisters.  He  ceased  not  to  pursue  his  journey  night 
and  day,  traversing  the  valleys  and  the  mountains,  and  the  plains  and  too  rugged 
tracts,  for  the  space  of  ten  days  ;  and  on  the  eleventh  day  he  arrived  at  the  palace 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA.  647 

and  went  in  to  his  sisters,  having  with  him  the  things  that  he  had  brought  for  them. 
And  when  they  saw  him,  they  rejoiced  at  his  arrival,  and  congratulated  him  on  his 
safety ;  and  as  to  his  sister,  the  youngest  damsel,  she  decorated  the  palace  without 
and  within.  They  took  the  present,  and  lodged  Hassan  in  a  private  chamber  as 
before,  and  asked  him  respecting  his  mother  and  his  wife.  So  he  informed  them 
that  his  wife  had  borne  him  two  sons.  Then  his  sister,  the  youngest  damsel,  when 
she  saw  him  in  health  and  prosperity,  rejoiced  exceedingly. 

He  remained  with  them,  entertained  and  treated  with  honour,  for  a  period  of  three 
months,  and  he  passed  his  time  in  joy  and  happiness  and  comfort  and  cheerfulness, 
and  in  hunting. 

But  as  to  his  mother  and  his  wife,  when  Hassan  had  set  forth  on  his  journey, 
his  wife  remained  a  day  and  a  second  day  with  his  mother,  and  she  said  to  her 
on  the  third  day.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God  !  Do  I  reside  with  him  three 
years  and  not  enter  the  bath  !  —  And  she  wept.  So  his  mother  compassionated 
her  state,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  we  are  here  strangers,  and  my  husband  is 
not  in  the  city.  If  he  were  present,  he  would  take  upon  himself  to  serve  thee  ;  but 
as  for  me,  I  know  not  any  one.  However,  0  my  daughter,  I  will  heat  for  thee  the 
water,  and  will  wash  thy  head  in  the  bath  that  is  in  the  house. — To  this  the  damsel 
replied,  0  my  mistress,  hadst  thou  said  these  words  to  one  of  the  female  slaves,  she 
would  have  demanded  to  be  sold  in  the  market,  and  would  not  have  remained  with 
you.  But,  0  my  mistress,  men  are  excusable;  for  they  are  jealous,  and  their  minds 
say  to  them,  that  the  woman,  if  she  go  forth  from  her  house,  will  perhaps  commit  a 
dishonest  action  ;  and  women,  0  my  mistress,  are  not  all  alike.  Thou  knowest  too 
that  a  woman,  if  she  have  a  desire  for  a  thing,  no  one  can  overcome  her,  nor  can  any 
one  set  a  guard  over  her  or  preserve  her,  or  debar  her  from  the  bath  or  anything 
else,  or  from  doing  all  that  she  desireth.  —  Then  she  wept,  and  cursed  herself,  and 
began  to  bewail  for  herself,  and  for  her  absence  from  her  native  country.  So  the 
mother  of  her  husband  pitied  her  state,  and  knew  that  all  which  she  said  must  be 
done.  Wherefore  she  arose  and  prepared  the  things  that  they  required  for  the  bath, 
and  took  her  and  went  to  the  bath.  And  when  they  entered  it,  they  pulled  off  their 
clothes,  and  all  the  women  began  to  look  at  her,  and  to  extol  the  perfection  of  God 
(to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!),  contemplating  the  beautiful  form  that  He 
had  created.  Every  woman  who  passed  by  the  bath  entered  and  diverted  herself  by 
viewing  her.  The  fame  of  her  spread  through  the  city,  and  the  women  crowded 
upon  her,  and  the  bath  could  not  be  passed  through  by  reason  of  the  number  of 
women  who  were  in  it.  Now  it  happened  in  consequence  of  this  wonderful  event, 
that  there  came  to  the  bath  that  day  one  of  the  slave-girls  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, Haroun  Alrashid,  called  Tohfa  the  lute-player  ;  and  seeing  the  women  crowding 
together,  and  the  bath  not  to  be  passed  through  by  reason  of  the  number  of  the 
women  and  girls,  she  asked  what  was  the  matter,  and  they  informed  her  of  the 
damsel.  So  she  came  in  to  her  and  looked  at  her,  and  viewed  her  attentively,  and 
her  mind  was  confounded  by  her  beauty  and  loveliness.  She  extolled  the  perfection 
of  God  (greatly  be  He  glorified!)  for  the  beautiful  forms  that  he  had  created,  and 
entered  not  [the  inner  apartment]  nor  washed ;  but  sat  confounded  at  the  sight  of 
the  damsel  until  the  damsel  had  made  an  end  of  washing,  and  come  forth  and  put 
on  her  clothes,  when  she  appeared  still  more  beautiful.  And  when  she  came  forth 
from  the  bath,  she  sat  upon  the  carpet  and  the  cushions,  the  women  gazing  at  her; 
and  she  looked  at  them  and  went  forth. 

Tohfa  the  lute-player,  the  slave-girl  of  the  Caliph,  arose  and  went  forth  with  her, 
and  proceeded  with  her  until  she  knew  her  house,  when  she  bade  her  farewell,  and 
she  returned  to  the  palace  of  the  Caliph.  She  ceased  not  to  pass  on  until  she  came 
before  the  lady  Zobeide,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  her:  whereupon  the  lady 
Zobeide  said,  0  Tohfa,  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  loitering  in  the  bath  ?  So  she 
answered,  0  my  mistress,  I  saw  a  wonder,  the  like  of  which  I  have  not  seen  among 
women,  and  that  was  the  thing  which  diverted  my  attention  and  amazed  my  mind 


648  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

and  confounded  me  so  that  I  did  not  wash  my  head.  And  the  lady  Zobeide  said, 
And  whot  was  it,  0  Tohfa?  She  answered,  0  my  mistress,  I  saw  a  damsel  in  the 
bath,  having  with  her  two  young  children,  like  two  moons,  and  none  hath  beheld 
the  like  of  her,  neither  before  her  nor  after  her,  nor  doth  there  exist  the  like  of  her 
form  in  the  whole  world.  By  thy  beneficence,  0  my  mistress,  if  thou  acquaintedst 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  with  her,  he  would  slay  her  husband,  and  take  her  from 
him  ;  for  there  existeth  not  one  like  her  among  women.  I  inquired  respecting  her 
husband,  and  they  said  that  her  husband  is  a  merchant,  whose  name  is  Hassan  of 
Balsora.  And  I  followed  her  when  she  went  forth  from  the  bath,  until  she  entered 
her  houde,  whereupon  I  saw  it  to  be  the  house  of  the  Vizier,  that  hath  two  entrances, 
an  entrance  on  the  side  of  the  river  and  an  entrance  on  the  side  of  the  land.     I  fear, 

0  my  mistress,  that  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  may  hear  of  her,  and  that  he  will  dis- 
obey the  law,  and  slay  her  husband,  and  marry  her.  —  Upon  this,  the  lady  Zobeide 
said.  Wo  to  thee,  0  Tohfa!  Is  this  damsel  endowed  with  such  beauty  and  loveliness 
that  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  would  sell  his  religion  for  his  worldly  enjoyments, 
and  disobey  the  law  on  her  account?  By  Allah,  I  must  have  a  sight  of  this  damsel ; 
and  if  she  be  not  as  thou  hast  described,  I  will  give  orders  to  strike  off  thy  head,  O 
wicked  woman  !  In  the  palace  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  are  three  hundred  and 
sixty  slave-girls,  according  to  the  number  of  the  days  of  the  year,  among  whom  there 
is  not  one  such  as  thou  hast  described.  —  And  she  replied,  0  my  mistress,  no,  by 
Allah  ;  nor  is  there  in  all  Bagdad  the  like  of  her  ;  nay,  neither  among  the  foreigners 
nor  among  the  Arabs,  nor  hath  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!)  created 
the  like  of  her. 

So  upon  this  the  lady  Zobeide  summoned  Mesrour,  who  came  and  kissed  the 
ground  before  her;  and  she  said  to  him,  0  Mesrour,  go  to  the  house  of  the  Vizier, 
that  hath  two  entrances,  an  entrance  towards  the  river  and  an  entrance  towards  the 
land,  and  bring  to  me  the  damsel  who  is  there,  together  with  her  children,  and  the 
old  woman  who  is  with  her,  quickly,  and  loiter  not.  And  Mesrour  replied,  I  hear 
and  obey.  He  went  forth  from  before  her,  and  proceeded  until  he  arrived  at  the 
door  of  the  house,  whereupon  he  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  old  woman,  the  mother 
of  Hassan,  came  forth  to  him,  saying,  Who  is  at  the  door?  He  answered  her, 
Mesrour,  the  eunuch  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  So  he  opened  the  door,  and  he 
entered,  and  saluted  her,  and  she  saluted  him,  and  asked  him  respecting  his  business. 
He  therefore  said  to  her,  the  lady  Zobeide  the  daughter  of  Kasim,  the  wife  of  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Haroun  Alrashid,  the  fifth  of  the  sons  of  Abbas  the  uncle  of 
the  Prophet  (whom  may  God  favour  and  preserve!),  summoneth  thee  to  her,  thee 
and  the  wife  of  thy  son  and  her  children  ;  for  the  women  have  informed  her  respect- 
ing her  and  respecting  her  beauty.  Upon  this,  the  mother  of  Hassan  said,  0  Mesrour, 
we  are  strangers,  and  the  damsel's  husband,  my  son,  is  not  in  the  city,  and  he  did  not 
order  me  to  go  forth,  neither  me  nor  she,  to  anyone  of  the  creatures  of  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !) ;  and  I  fear,  if  any  thing  happen  and  my  son  come,  he  will  slay  himself. 

1  beg  then  of  thy  kindness,  0  Mesrour,  that  thou  impose  not  upon  us  a  command 
which  we  are  unable  to  perform.  —  But  Mesrour  replied,  0  my  mistress,  if  I  knew 
that  in  this  were  aught  to  be  feared  on  your  account,  I  would  not  require  you  to  go. 
The  desire  of  the  lady  Zobeide  is  only  to  see  her,  and  she  shall  return  :  therefore 
disobey  not;  for  thou  wouldst  repent;  and  like  as  I  take  you  I  will  bring  you  back 
hither  safe,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  —  So  the  mother  of 
Hassan  could  not  disobey  him  ;  wherefore  she  entered,  and  made  ready  the  damsel, 
and  took  her  forth,  together  with  her  children.  They  followed  Mesrour,  wiio  pre- 
ceded them  to  the  palace  of  the  Caliph,  and  led  them  up  and  stationed  them  before 
the  lady  Zobeide,  whereupon  they  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  pri«yed  for  her. 
The  damsel  had  her  face  covered :  so  the  lady  Zobeide  said  to  her,  W  ilt  thou  not 
uncover  thy  face,  that  I  may  see  it?  The  damsel  therefore  kissed  the  ground  before 
her,  and  displayed  a  face  that  put  to  shame  the  full  moon  in  the  horizon  of  the  sky  ; 
and  when  the  lady  Zobeide  beheld  her,  she  fixed  her  eyes  in  astonishment  upon  her, 


Entering  the  House.    (Page  648.) 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA.  651 

and  let  them  wander  over  her,  and  the  palace  was  illumined  by  her  splendour  and 
by  the  light  of  her  countenance.  Zobeide  vras  amazed  at  her  beauty,  and  so  also 
was  every  one  in  the  palace,  and  every  one  who  beheld  her  became  insane,  unable  to 
speak  to  another.  The  lady  Zobeide  then  arose,  and  made  the  damsel  stand,  and 
she  pressed  her  to  her  bosom,  seated  her  with  herself  upon  the  couch,  and  com- 
manded that  they  should  decorate  the  palace  ;  after  which  she  gave  orders  to  bring 
for  her  a  suit  of  the  most  magnificent  apparel,  and  a  necklace  of  the  most  pre- 
cious jewels,  and  decked  the  damsel  with  them,  and  said  to  her,  0  mistress  of  beauties, 
verily  thou  hast  pleased  me,  and  filled  my  eye  with  delight.  What  hast  thou  among 
thy  treasures?  So  the  damsel  answered,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  a  dress  of  feathers: 
if  I  were  to  put  it  on  before  thee,  thou  wouldst  see  a  thing  of  '-he  most  beautiful 
make,  that  thou  wouldst  wonder  at,  and  every  one  who  would  see  it  would  talk  of  its 
beauty,  generation  after  generation.  —  And  where,  said  Zobeide,  is  this  thy  dress  ? 
She  answered,  It  is  in  the  possession  of  the  mother  of  my  husband ;  so  demand  it  for 
me  of  her. 

The  lady  Zobeide  therefore  said,  0  my  mother,  by  my  life  I  conjure  thee  that  thou 
go  down  and  bring  to  her  her  dress  of  feathers,  that  she  may  amuse  us  with  the  sight 
of  that  which  she  will  do,  and  take  thou  it  again.  The  old  woman  replied,  0  my 
mistress,  this  damsel  is  a  liar.  Have  we  seen  any  woman  possessing  a  dress  of 
feathers?  This  is  a  thing  that  pertaineth  not  to  any  but  birds.  —  The  damsel  how- 
ever said  to  the  lady  Zobeide,  By  thy  life,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  in  her  possession  a 
dress  of  feathers,  and  it  is  in  a  chest  buried  in  the  closet  that  is  in  the  house.  So 
the  lady  Zobeide  pulled  off  from  her  neck  a  necklace  of  jewels  worth  the  treasures 
of  a  Kosru  and  a  Caesar,  and  said  to  her,  O  my  mother,  receive  this  necklace.  And 
she  handed  it  to  her,  saying  to  her.  By  my  life  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  go  down  and 
bring  that  dress,  that  we  may  divert  ourselves  with  the  sight  of  it.  and  take  thou  it 
again  after  that.  But  she  swore  to  her  that  she  had  not  seen  this  dress,  and  that 
she  knew  not  where  to  find  it.  And  upon  this,  the  lady  Zobeide  cried  out  at  the  old 
woman,  and  having  taken  from  her  the  key,  called  Mesrour,  who  came,  and  she  said 
to  him.  Take  this  key,  and  go  to  the  house,  and  open  it,  and  enter  the  closet  of  which 
the  door  is  of  such  and  such  a  description  ;  in  the  midst  of  it  is  a  chest,  which  take 
thou  up,  and  break  it,  and  bring  the  dress  of  feathers  that  is  in  it  before  me.  So  he 
replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  took  the  key  from  the  hand  of  the  lady  Zobeide,  and 
went;  and  the  old  woman,  the  mother  of  Hassan,  arose,  with  weeping  eye,  repenting 
of  her  compliance  with  the  desire  of  the  damsel,  and  of  having  gone  to  the  bath  with 
her  ;  for  the  damsel  had  not  desired  to  go  to  the  bath  save  for  the  purpose  of  prac- 
tising a  stratagem.  Then  the  old  woman  entered  the  house  with  Mesrour;  then  he 
opened  the  door  of  the  closet:  so  he  entered,  and  took  forth  the  chest,  took  from  it 
the  dress  of  feathers,  and,  having  wrapped  it  in  a  napkin  that  he  had  with  him, 
brought  it  to  the  lady  Zobeide,  who  took  it  and  turned  it  over,  wondering  at  the 
beauty  of  its  make.  She  then  handed  it  to  the  damsel,  saying  to  her.  Is  this  thy 
dress  of  feathers?  She  answered.  Yes,  0  my  mistress.  And  she  stretched  forth  her 
hand  to  it  and  took  it  from  her,  full  of  joy. 

The  damsel  examined  it,  and  saw  that  it  was  perfect  as  it  was  when  upon  her, 
not  a  single  feather  of  it  being  lost.  She  was  therefore  delighted  with  it,  and  rose 
from  the  side  of  the  lady  Zobeide,  took  the  dress  and  opened  it,  and  took  her  chil- 
dren in  her  bosom  ;  after  which  she  wrapped  herself  in  it,  and  became  a  bird,  by 
the  power  of  God,  to  whom  be  ascribed  might  and  glory!  So  the  lady  Zobeide  won- 
dered at  that,  as  also  did  every  one  who  was  present;  all  of  them  wondering  at  that 
which  she  did.  The  damsel  leant  from  side  to  side,  and  walked  about,  and  danced 
and  played  ;  and  the  persons  present  had  fixed  their  eyes  in  astonishment  upon  her, 
wondering  at  her  actions.  She  then  said  to  them,  with  an  eloquent  tongue,  0  my 
mistresses,  is  this  beautiful  ?  The  persons  present  answered  her,  Yes,  0  mistress 
of  beauties  ;  all  that  thou  hast  done  is  beautiful.  And  she  said  to  them.  And  this 
that  1  am  about  to  do  will  be  more  beautiful,  0  my  mistresses.     And  she  expanded 


652  THE    STORY    OF   HASSAN   OP  BALSORA. 

her  wfngs,  and  flew  up  with  her  children  above  the  cupola,  and  stood  upon  the  roof 
of  tho  saloon.  So  they  looked  at  her  and  said  to  her,  By  Allah,  this  is  an  extra- 
ordinary and  a  beautiful  art,  that  we  have  never  before  beheld!  Then  the  damsel, 
when  she  desired  to  fly  away  to  her  country,  remembered  Hassan,  and  exclaimed. 
Hear,  0  my  mistresses!  And  she  said,  0  thou  who  hast  quitted  these  mansions,  and 
departed  to  the  objects  of  thy  love  with  rapid  flight!  Dost  thou  think  that  I  continue 
in  comfort  among  you,  and  that  your  life  hath  not  become  a  life  of  troubles?  When 
I  was  taken  captive  in  the  snare  of  love,  he  made  love  my  prison,  and  went  far 
away.  When  my  dress  was  hidden,  he  felt  sure  that  I  should  not  implore  the  One, 
the  Omnipotent,  to  restore  it.  He  charged  his  mother  to  keep  it  carefully  in  a  closet, 
and  transgressed;  against  me,  and  oppressed.  But  I  heard  their  words,  and  kept 
them  in  my  memory,  and  conceived  hopes  of  abundant  good  fortune.  My  going  to 
the  bath  was  the  means  of  making  the  minds  of  people  to  be  confounded  at  the 
sight  of  me.  And  the  spouse  of  Alrashid  wondered  at  my  beauty,  when  she  beheld 
me  on  the  right  and  left.  Then  I  said,  0  wife  of  the  Caliph,  I  possess  a  dress  of 
feathers  of  great  magnificence.  If  it  were  upon  me,  thou  wouldst  see  wonders  that 
would  efi"ace  sorrow  and  disperse  troubles.  So  the  spouse  of  the  Caliph  asked.  Where 
is  it?  And  I  answered,  In  the  house  of  him  who  hath  hidden  it.  And  Mesrour 
pounced  down  and  brought  it  to  her;  and  lo,  it  was  here,  beaming  with  light.  There- 
upon I  took  it  from  his  hand  and  opened  it,  and  I  saw  its  bosom  and  its  buttons. 
Then  I  entered  it,  having  my  children  with  me,  and  expanded  my  wings,  and  flew 
away.  0  mother  of  my  husband,  tell  him  when  he  cometh,  if  he  wish  to  meet  me, 
he  must  leave  his  home. — And  when  she  had  ended,  the  lady  Zobeide  said  to  her, 
Wilt  thou  not  descend  to  us,  that  we  may  continue  to  enjoy  thy  beauty,  0  mistress 
of  the  comely?  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Ilim  who  hath  endowed  tliee  with 
eloquence  and  beauty! — But  she  replied,  Far  from  returning  be  that  which  hath 
passed !  She  then  said  to  the  mother  of  Hassan,  the  mourning,  the  wretched.  By 
Allah,  0  my  mistress,  0  mother  of  Hassan,  thou  wilt  render  me  desolate  by  thine 
absence ;  but  when  thy  son  hath  come,  and  the  days  of  separation  have  become 
tedious  to  him,  and  he  desireth  approach  and  meeting,  and  the  winds  of  love  and 
longing  desire  agitate  him,  let  him  come  to  me  in  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak. — And 
she  flew  away  with  her  children,  and  sought  her  country. 

When  the  mother  of  Hassan  beheld  this,  she  wept,  and  slapped  her  face,  and 
wailed  until  she  fainted  ;  and  when  she  recovered,  the  lady  Zobeide  said  to  her,  0 
my  mistress  the  pilgrim,  I  did  not  know  that  this  would  happen  ;  and  if  thou  hadst 
acquainted  me  with  it,  I  w^ould  not  have  opposed  thee.  I  knew  not  that  she  was  of 
the  Flying  Genii  before  the  present  time ;  and  had  I  known  that  she  was  of  this 
nature,  I  would  not  have  allowed  her  to  put  on  the  dress,  nor  would  I  have  suffered 
her  to  take  her  children.  But,  O  my  mistress,  absolve  me.— And  the  old  woman  re- 
plied, having  no  way  of  avoiding  it,  Thou  art  absolved.  She  then  went  forth  from 
the  palace  of  the  Caliph,  and  ceased  not  to  pursue  her  way  until  she  entered  her 
house,  when  she  proceeded  to  slap  her  face  until  she  fainted  again  ;  and  when  she 
recovered  from  her  fit,  she  sorrowfully  longed  for  the  damsel  and  for  her  children, 
and  for  the  sight  of  her  son.  Then  she  arose,  and  dug  in  the  house  three  graves  ; 
and  she  betook  herself  to  them,  weeping  night  and  day. 

But  as  to  her  son  Hassan,  when  he  came  to  the  damsels,  they  conjured  him  to  stay 
with  them  for  three  months.  And  after  that  period,  they  prepared  for  him  the 
wealth,  and  made  ready  for  hiraten  loads,  five  of  gold  and  five  of  silver,  and  also  of 
provisions  one  load  ;  after  which  they  bade  him  commence  his  journey,  and  went 
forth  with  him  ;  but  he  conjured  them  to  return.  So  they  advanced  to  embrace  him, 
for  the  purpose  of  bidding  him  farewell.  The  youngest  damsel  first  advanced  to 
him,  and  she  embraced  him,  and  wept  until  she  fainted.  The  second  damsel  next 
approached,  and  embraced  him,  and  recited  a  couplet.  In  like  manner  also  did  tho 
other  damsels ;  each  embracing  him  and  reciting  a  couplet.  Then  Hassan  bade 
them  farewell.     He  then  pursued  his  journey  with   assiduity,  night  and  day,  until 


THE    STORY    OF    HASSAN    OF   BALSORA.  653 

he  arrived  at  Bagdad,  the  Abode  of  Peace,  and  the  sacred  asylum  of  the  Caliphs  of 
the  race  of  Abbas;  and  he  knew  not  what  had  happened  after  his  departure. 

He  entered  the  house,  and  went  in  to  his  mother  to  salute  her ;  but  he  saw  that 
her  body  was  emaciated,  and  her  bones  were  wasted,  by  reason  of  exceeding  lamen- 
tation and  sleeplessness,  and  weeping  and  groaning,  so  that  she  had  become  like  a 
toothpick,  and  she  was  unable  to  reply.  He  dismissed  the  she-camels,  and  advanced 
to  her;  and  when  he  beheld  her  in  this  state,  he  went  about  the  house  searching  for 
his  wife  and  children  ;  and  found  not  any  trace  of  them.  Then  he  looked  into  the 
closet,  and  he  found  it  open,  and  the  chest  also  open,  and  he  found  not  in  it  the 
dress.  So  upon  this  he  knew  that  she  had  got  possession  of  the  dress  of  feathers, 
and  taken  it,  and  flown  away,  taking  her  children  with  her.  He  therefore  returned 
to  his  mother,  and,  seeing  that  she  had  recovered  from  her  fit,  he  asked  her  respect- 
ing his  wife  and  his  children;  and  she  wept,  and  said,  0  my  son,  may  God  compen- 
sate thee  greatly  for  the  loss  of  them !  These  are  their  three  tombs. — And  when  ho 
heard  the  words  of  his  mother,  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  fit,  and 
thus  he  remained  from  the  commencement  of  the  day  until  noon.  The  grief  of 
his  mother  therefore  increased,  and  she  despaired  of  his  life.  And  when  he  re- 
covered, he  wept,  and  slapped  his  face,  and  rent  his  clothes,  and  went  about  the 
house  confounded.  He  then  took  his  sword  and  drew  it,  and,  coming  to  his  mother, 
he  said  to  her.  If  thou  acquaint  me  not  with  the  truth  of  the  case,  I  will  strike  ofi" 
thy  head,  and  slay  myself.  So  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  do  not  that,  and  I  will 
inform  thee.  Then  she  said  to  him.  Sheathe  thy  sword,  and  sit,  that  I  may  tell  thee 
what  happened.  And  when  he  had  sheathed  his  sword  and  seated  himself  by  her 
side,  she  repeated  to  him  the  story  from  beginning  to  end,  and  said  to  him,  0  my 
son.  If  I  had  not  seen  her  weep  to  go  the  bath,  and  feared  thee,  that  thou  wouldst 
come  and  that  she  would  complain  to  thee,  and  thou  wouldst  be  incensed  against 
me,  I  had  not  gone  with  her  thither.  And  if  the  lady  Zobeide  had  not  been  in- 
censed against  me,  and  taken  from  me  the  key  by  force,  I  had  not  taken  forth  the 
dress,  though  I  should  have  died  ;  and,  0  my  son,  thou  knowest  that  no  one  can 
contend  for  superiority  in  power  with  the  Caliph.  Then,  when  they  brought  the 
dress  to  her,  she  took  it  and  turned  it  over,  imagining  that  some  part  of  it  might  be 
lost;  but  she  found  that  no  injury  had  happened  to  it.  She  therefore  rejoiced,  and, 
having  taken  her  children  she  bound  them  to  her  waist,  and  put  on  the  dress  of 
feathers,  aftpr  the  lady  Zobeide,  had  pulled  ofi"  and  given  to  her  all  that  was  upon  her, 
in  honour  of  her,  and  for  her  loveliness.  And  when  she  had  put  on  the  dress  of 
feathers,  she  shook  and  became  a  bird;  and  she  walked  about  the  palace,  while  they 
looked  at  her  and  wondered  at  her  beauty  and  loveliness.  She  then  flew  up,  and 
perched  upon  the  palace ;  and  after  that,  she  looked  at  me  and  said  to  me.  When  thy 
son  hath  come,  and  the  nights  of  separation  have  become  tedious  to  him,  and  he  de- 
sireth  to  approach  and  meet  me,  and  the  winds  of  love  and  longing  desire  agitate 
him,  he  must  leave  his  home,  and  repair  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak.  Thus  did  she 
during  thine  absence. 

Now,  when  Hassan  heard  the  words  of  his  mother,  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  and 
fell  down  in  a  fit.  He  ceased  not  to  lie  in  this  state,  until  the  close  of  the  day; 
and  when  he  recovered,  he  slapped  his  face,  and  rolled  about  on  the  floor  like  a 
serpent.  His  mother  sat  weeping  at  his  head  until  midnight;  and  after  he  had  re- 
covered from  his  fit,  he  arose,  and  continued  going  about  the  house,  moaning  and 
weeping  and  wailing,  for  a  period  of  five  days,  during  which  he  tasted  not  food  nor 
drink.  So  his  mother  went  to  him  and  conjured  him  with  oaths  to  abstain  from 
weeping;  but  he  yielded  not  to  her  words,  and  ceased  not  to  weep  and  wail.  His 
mother  still  attempted  to  console  him  ;  but  he  would  not  attend  to  aught  that  she 
said.  He  continued  in  this  state,  weeping  until  the  next  morning.  Then  his  eyes 
slumbered,  and  he  saw  his  wife  mourning  and  weeping;  whereupon  he  arose  from 
bis  sleep,  crying  out.     And  in  the  morning  his  wailing  and  weeping  increased 


654  THE   STORY    OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

He  remained  with  weeping  eye  and  mourning  heart,  sleepless  during  the  night,  and 
eating  little  ;  and  he  continued  in  this  state  for  the  space  of  a  whole  month. 

But  when  that  month  had  passed,  it  occurred  to  his  mind  that  he  should  journey 
to  his  sisters,  in  order  that  they  might  assist  him  to  attain  his  desire  of  regaining 
his  wife.  So  he  summoned  the  excellent  she-camela,  loaded  fifty  with  rarities  of 
Irak,  and  mounted  one  of  them.  He  then  charged  his  mother  with  the  care  of  the 
house,  and  committed  all"  his  goods  [to  the  custody  of  persons  of  his  acquaintance], 
except  a  few  things  that  he  left  in  the  house  ;  after  which  he  set  forth  on  his  journey 
to  his  sisters,  hoping  that  he  might  obtain  their  aid  to  effect  his  reunion  with  his 
wife.  He  ceased  not  to  pursue  his  way  until  he  arrived  at  the  palace  of  the  dam- 
sels by  the  Mountain  of  Clouds;  and  when  he  went  in  to  them,  he  presented  to  them 
the  gifts,  with  which  they  were  delighted  ;  and  they  congratulated  him  on  his  safety, 
and  said  to  him,  0  our  brother,  what  is  the  reason  of  thy  coming  so  quickly,  when 
thou  hast  not  been  absent  more  than  two  months?  And  upon  this  he  wept,  and  ut- 
tered a  great  cry,  and  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  and  the  damsels  seated  themselves  around 
him,  weeping  for  him,  until  he  recovered  from  his  fit.  He  continued  for  some  time 
weeping  and  fainting,  and  the  damsels  had  retired  ;  but  when  his  sister  heard  him, 
she  came  forth  to  him,  and  saw  him  lying  in  a  fit ;  upon  which  she  cried  out, 
and  slapped  her  face ;  and  her  sisters,  hearing  her,  came  forth  to  her,  and  beheld 
Hassan  lying  in  a  fit.  They  surrounded  him,  and  wept  for  him;  and  when  they  saw 
him  in  this  state,  the  ecstacy  and  distraction  of  love,  and  longing  desire,  that  affected 
him,  no  longer  remained  concealed  from  them. 

They  then  asked  him  respecting  his  condition,  and  he  wept,  and  acquainted  them 
with  tliat  which  ha'd  befallen  him  during  his  absence  from  home,  telling  them  that 
his  wife  had  flown  away,  and  taken  her  children  with  her.  So  they  mourned  for 
him,  and  asked  him  what  she  said  when  she  departed  ;  and  he  answered,  0  my 
sisters,  she  said  to  my  mother,  Tell  thy  son,  when  he  hath  come,  and  the  nights  of 
separation  have  become  tedious  to  him,  and  he  desireth  to  approach  and  meet  me, 
and  the  winds  of  love  and  longing  desire  agitate  him,  he  must  come  to  me  in  the 
Islands  of  Wak-Wak. — And  when  they  heard  his  words,  they  winked  to  each  other, 
and  reflected;  and  each  of  them  looked  at  her  sister,  while  Hassan  looked  at  them. 
—  Then  they  hung  down  their  heads  towards  the  ground  a  while  ;  and  after  that, 
they  raised  their  heads,  and  said.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the 
High,  the  Great!  And  they  said  to  him.  Stretch  forth  thy  hand  to  heaven,  and  if 
thou  canst  reach  to  heaven,  thou  mayest  reach  to  thy  wife  and  thy  cliildren.  And 
thereupon  his  tears  ran  down  upon  his  cheeks  like  rain,  so  that  they  wetted  his 
clothes ;  and  the  damsels  wept  at  his  weeping ;  compassion  and  zeal  for  him  affect- 
ing them. 

They  betook  themselves  to  soothing  him,  and  exhorting  him  to  have  patience, 
a^nd  praying  for  his  reunion  to  his  wife  ;  and  his  sister  accosted  him  and  said  to  him, 
0  my  brother,  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye,  and  be  patient:  then  wilt  thou 
attain  thy  desire  ;  for  he  who  is  patient,  and  waiteth,  obtaineth  what  he  wisheth  ; 
and  patience  is  the  key  of  relief.  She  then  said  to  him.  Strengthen  thy  heart,  and 
confirm  thy  resolution  ;  for  he  whose  life  is  to  be  ten  years  will  not  die  when  he  is 
but  nine  ;  and  weeping  and  grief  and  mourning  occasion  disease  and  sickness.  Re- 
main with  us  until  thou  shalt  have  taken  rest,  and  I  will  contrive  means  of  thy  gain- 
ing access  to  thy  wife  and  thy  children,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  ex- 
alted ! — But  he  wept  violently.  Then  he  sat  by  the  side  of  his  sister,  who  proceeded 
to  converse  with  him  and  to  console  him,  and  asked  him  what  was  the  cause  of  his 
wife's  departure.  So  he  informed  her  of  the  cause  of  that  event;  and  she  said  to 
him.  By  Allah,  0  my  brother,  I  desired  to  say  to  thee.  Burn  the  dress  of  feathers ; — 
but  the  Devil  made  me  forget  that.  And  she  continued  to  converse  witli  him  and  to 
soothe  him.  But  the  case  became  tedious  to  him,  and  his  disquietude  increased. 
So  when  his  sister  saw  how  he  suffered  from  ecstasy  and  distraction  of  love,  and  tho 
afflictions  of  passion  and  desire,  she  went  to  her  sisters,  with  weeping  eve  and  mourn- 


THE    STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  655 

ing  heart,  and  she  wept  Vjetbre  them,  threw  herself  upon  them,  kissed  their  feet,  and 
begged  them  to  aid  her  brother  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  affair,  and  in  effecting 
his  meeting  with  his  children  and  his  wife.  She  conjured  them  to  contrive  means' 
of  procuring  him  access  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and  ceased  not  to  weep  before 
her  sisters  until  she  made  them  also  weep,  and  they  said  to  her.  Comfort  thy  heart; 
for  we  will  strive  to  accomplish  his  meeting  with  his  family,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God, 
whose  name  be  exalted  !  He  then  remained  with  them  a  whole  year:  but  his  eye 
abstained  not  from  shedding  tears. 

Now  the  sisters  of  the  youngest  damsel  had  a  paternal  uncle,  the  brother  of  their 
father  by  the  same  father  and  mother,  and  his  name  was  Abdelcad-us.  He  loved  the 
eldest  damsel  with  a  great  affection,  and  every  year  he  used  to  visit  her  once,  and 
perform  her  affairs.  The  damsels  also  had  related  to  him  the  story  of  Hassan,  and 
the  events  that  befell  him  with  the  Magian,  and  how  he  was  enabled  to  slay  him  ; 
whereat  their  uncle  rejoiced  ;  and  he  gave  to  the  eldest  damsel  a  purse  containing 
some  incense,  and  said  to  her,  0  daughter  of  my  brother,  if  anything  render  thee 
anxious,  and  anything  disagreeable  happen  to  thee,  or  any  want  occur  to  thee,  throw 
this  incense  into  the  fire,  and  mention  me:  and  I  will  come  to  thee  quickly,  and  will 
perform  thy  want.  This  he  said  on  the  first  day  of  the  year.  And  that  damsel 
said  to  one  of  her  sisters.  Verily  the  year  hath  entirely  passed,  and  my  uncle  hath 
not  come.  Arise,  strike  the  steel  upon  the  flint,  and  bring  me  the  box  of  incense. — 
So  the  damsel  arose  joyful,  and  brought  the  box  of  incense:  and  she  opened  it,  and, 
having  taken  from  it  a  small  quantity,  handed  it  to  her  sister,  who  took  it  and  threw 
it  into  the  fire,  mentioning  her  uncle  ;  and  the  fumes  of  the  incense  had  not  ceased 
before  a  dust  appeared  advancing  from  the  further  extremity  of  the  valley.  Then, 
after  a  while,  the  dust  dispersed,  and  there  appeared  beneath  it  a  sheikh  riding  upon 
an  elephant,  which  was  crying  out  beneath  him.  And  when  the  damsels  beheld 
him,  he  began  to  make  signs  to  them  with  his  hands  and  his  feet.  Soon  after,  he 
came  to  them,  and  alighted  from  the  elephant,  and  came  in  to  them  ;  whereupon 
they  embraced  him,  and  kissed  his  hands,  and  saluted  him.  He  then  sat,  and  the 
damsels  proceeded  to  converse  with  him,  and  to  ask  him  the  cause  of  his  absence. 
And  he  said,  I  was  just  now  sitting  with  the  wife  of  your  uncle,  and  I  smelt  the  in- 
cense :  so  I  came  to  you  upon  this  elephant.  What  then  dost  thou  desire,  0  daughter 
of  my  brother?  —  She  answered,  0  my  uncle,  we  were  longing  to  see  thee,  the  year 
having  passed,  and  it  is  not  thy  custom  to  remain  absent  from  us  more  than  a  year. 
And  he  replied,  I  was  occupied,  and  I  had  determined  to  come  to  you  to-morrow. 
They  therefore  thanked  him  and  prayed  for  him. 

After  that  they  sat  conversing  with  him,  and  the  eldest  damsel  said  to  him,  0  my 
uncle,  we  related  to  thee  the  story  of  Hassan  of  Balsora,  whom  Bahram  the  Magian 
brought,  and  how  he  slew  him,  and  we  informed  thee  of  the  damsel,  the  daughter  of 
the  supreme  King,  whom  he  took,  and  of  the  diflBculties  and  horrors  he  endured,  and 
how  he  caught  the  King's  daughter  and  married  her,  and  how  he  journeyed  with  her 
to  his  country.  He  replied.  Yes.  And  what,  he  Jisked,  happened  to  him  after  this? 
— She  answered  him,  She  acted  perfidiously  to  him,  after  he  had  been  blessed  with 
two  sons  by  her;  she  took  them  and  departed  with  them  to  her  country,  while  he 
was  absent;  and  she  said  to  his  mother.  When  thy  son  hath  come,  and  the  nights 
of  separation  have  become  tedious  to  him,  and  he  desireth  to  approach  and  meet  me, 
and  the  winds  of  love  and  longing  desire  agitate  him,  he  must  come  to  me  in  the 
Islands  of  Wak-Wak. — And  upon  this  he  shook  his  head  and  bit  his  finger.  Then 
he  hung  down  his  head  towards  the  ground,  and  began  to  make  marks  upon  the 
ground  with  the  end  of  his  finger ;  after  which  he  looked  to  the  right  and  left,  and 
shook  his  head  again,  while  Hassan  looked  at  him,  but  was  concealed  from  him. 
So  the  damsels  said  to  their  uncle.  Reply  to  us ;  for  our  livers  are  broken  in  pieces. 
And  he  shook  his  head  at  them  and  said  to  them,  O  my  daughters,  this  man  hath 
wearied  himself,  and  cast  himself  into  a  most  terrible  predicament  and  great  peril ; 
for  he  cannot  gain  access  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak.    Upon  this  the  damsels  called 


656  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN    OF    BALSORA. 

Hassan,  and  he  came  forth  to  them,  and,  advancing  to  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus,  he 
kissed  his  hand  and  saluted  him  ;  and  the  sheikh  was  pleased  with  him,  and  seated 
him  by  his  side.  The  damsels  then  said  to  their  uncle,  0  uncle,  show  our  brother 
the  truth  of  that  which  thou  hast  said.  lie  therefore  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  relin- 
quish this  most  vexatious  affair ;  for  thou  couldst  not  gain  access  to  the  Islands  of 
Wak-Wak  even  if  the  Flying  Genii  and  the  wandering  stars  assisted  thee,  since 
between  thee  and  those  Islands  are  seven  valleys  and  seven  seas  and  seven  moun- 
tains of  vast  magnitude.  How  then  canst  thou  gain  access  to  this  place,  and  who 
will  convey  thee  to  it?  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  return  soon,  and  weary 
not  thy  heart.  —  And  when  Hassan  heard  the  words  of  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus,  he 
wept  until  he  fainted,  and  the  damsels  sat  around  him  weeping  for  his  weeping.  But 
as  to  the  youngest  damsel,  she  rent  her  clothes  and  slapped  her  face  until  she  also 
fainted. 

So  M'hen  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  saw  them  in  this  state  of  anxiety,  and  ecstasy  of 
grief,  and  mourning,  he  pitied  them,  and  was  affected  with  commiseration  for  them, 
and  he  said.  Be  ye  silent.  Then  he  said  to  Hassan,  Comfort  thy  heart,  and  rejoice 
at  the  prospect  of  the  accomplishment  of  thine  affair,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose 
name  be  exalted !  And  after  that  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  arise,  and  brace  up  thy 
nerves,  and  follow  me.  So  Hassan  stood  up,  after  he  had  bidden  the  damsels  fare- 
well ;  and  he  followed  him,  rejoicing  in  expectation  of  the  accomplishment  of  his 
affair.  The  sheikh  Abdelcadus  then  called  the  elephant,  and  he  came,  and  he 
mounted  him,  putting  Hassan  behind  him,  and  proceeded  with  him  for  the  space  of 
three  days  with  their  nights,  like  the  blinding  lightning,  until  he  came  to  a  vast 
blue  mountain,  all  the  stones  of  which  were  blue  :  and  in  that  mountain  was  a 
cavern,  which  had  a  door  of  iron  of  China.  Upon  this  the  sheikh  took  the  hand  of 
Hassan,  and  put  him  down  ;  after  which  the  sheikh  himself  alighted,  and  dismissed 
the  elephant.  lie  then  advanced  to  the  door  of  the  cavern,  and  knocked  it;  where- 
upon the  door  opened,  and  there  came  forth  to  him  a  black  slave,  beardless,  resem- 
bling an  Afrite,  and  having  in  his  right  hand  a  sword,  and  in  the  other  a  shield  of 
steel.  But  when  he  saw  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus,  he  threw  down  the  sword  and  shield 
from  his  hands,  and  advanced  to  the  sheikh,  and  kissed  his  hand.  Then  the  sheikh 
took  the  hand  of  Hassan,  and  entered  with  him,  and  the  slave  shut  the  door  behind 
them.  Hassan  saw  that  the  cavern  was  very  large  and  wide,  and  that  it  had  a 
passage  vaulted  over;  and  they  ceased  not  to  go  on  for  the  space  of  a  mile,  after 
which  their  course  brought  them  at  last  to  a  vast  desert.  They  repaired  to  an  angle 
in  which  were  two  great  doors  of  cast  brass,  and  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  opened  one 
of  them,  and  entered,  and  closed  it,  having  said  to  Hassan,  Sit  at  this  door,  and 
beware  of  opening  it  and  entering  until  I  shall  have  entered  and  returned  to  thee 
quickly.  And  when  the  sheikh  had  entered,  he  remained  absent  for  the  space  of  an 
astronomical  hour. 

He  then  came  forth,  having  with  him  a  horse  saddled  and  bridled,  which,  when 
he  went  along,  flew  ;  and  when  he  flew,  the  dust  overtook  him  not.  The  sheikh  led 
him  forward  to  Hassan,  and  said.  Mount.  And  the  sheikh  opened  the  other  door, 
whereupon  there  appeared  within  it  an  extensive  desert.  So  Hassan  mounted  the 
horse,  and  the  two  passed  through  the  door,  and  were  in  that  desert.  And  the 
sheikh  said  to  Hassan,  0  my  son,  take  this  letter,  and  proceed  upon  this  horse  to  the 
place  to  which  he  will  convey  thee;  and  when  thou  seest  him  stop  at  the  door  of  a 
cavern  like  this,  descend  from  his  back,  and  put  his  rein  upon  the  pommel,  and 
dismiss  him,  and  he  will  enter  the  cavern  ;  but  enter  not  thou  with  him.  Stay  at 
the  door  of  the  cavern  for  the  space  of  five  days,  and  be  not  weary ;  for  on  the  sixth 
day  there  will  come  forth  to  thee  a  black  sheikh,  clad  in  black  apparel,  and  with  a 
beard  white  and  long,  descending  to  his  waist;  and  when  thou  seest  him,  kiss  his 
hands,  and  lay  hold  of  his  skirt,  and  put  it  on  thy  head,  and  weep  before  him,  that 
he  may  have  pity  on  thee.  He  will  thereupon  ask  thee  respecting  thine  affair; 
and  when  he  saith  to  thee,  What  is  thine  affair?  —  give  him  this  letter,  and  he  will 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  657 

take  it  of  thee  and  will  not  speak  to  thee,  but  will  enter  and  leave  thee.  Stay  in  thy 
place  five  days  more,  and  be  not  weary,  and  on  the  sixth  day  expect  him  ;  for 
[perhaps]  he  will  come  forth  to  thee  ;  and  if  he  himself  come  forth  to  thee,  know 
that  thine  affair  will  be  accomplished  ;  but  if  one  of  his  young  men  come  forth  to 
thee,  know  that  he  who  hath  come  forth  to  thee  desireth  to  slay  thee.  And  peace 
be  on  thee!  But  know,  0  my  son,  that  every  one  who  exposeth  himself  to  peril 
destroyeth  himself;  therefore  if  thou  fear  for  thy  soul,  cast  it  not  into  destruction: 
if  however  thou  fear  not,  do  as  thou  desirest.  I  have  shown  thee  the  circumstances 
of  the  case;  and  if  thou  desire  to  return  to  thy  companions,  this  elephant  is  ready, 
and  he  will  convey  thee  to  the  daughters  of  my  brother,  who  will  send  thee  to  thy 
country,  and  restore  thee  to  thy  home,  and  God  will  bless  thee  with  one.  better  than 
this  damsel  to  whom  thou  art  attached. 

But  Hassan  said  to  the  sheikh.  How  can  life  be  pleasant  to  me  without  my  attain- 
ing my  desire?  By  Allah,  I  will  never  return  until  I  find  my  beloved,  or  my  death 
overtake  me !  And  when  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  heard  his  words,  he  knew  that  he 
would  not  relinquish  the  object  of  his  desire,  and  that  words  would  make  no  im- 
pression upon  him,  and  he  was  convinced  that  he  must  expose  himself  to  peril, 
though  his  life  should  be  sacrificed.  So  he  said.  Know,  0  my  son,  that  the  Islands 
of  Wak-Wak  are  seven  islands,  in  which  is  a  great  army,  entirely  composed  of  dam- 
sels and  virgins  ;  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Interior  Islands  are  Devils  and  Marids, 
and  enchanters  and  various  tribes.  Whosoever  entereth  their  country  returneth  not, 
and  no  one  ever  went  to  them  and  returned.  I  conjure  thee  therefore  by  Allah  that 
thou  return  to  thy  family  soon.  Know  moreover  that  the  damsel  whom  thou  seekest 
is  the  daughter  of  the  King  of  all  these  islands  ;  and  how  canst  thou  gain  access  to 
her?  Hear  then  my  words,  0  my  son  ;  and  perhaps  God  will  give  thee  in  her  stead 
one  better  than  she. — But  Hassan  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  master,  were  I  cut  piece- 
meal for  my  love  of  her,  I  should  only  increase  in  fondness  and  desire.  I  must  see 
my  wife  and  my  children,  and  enter  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak ;  and  if  it  be  the  will 
of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  I  will  not  return  save  with  her  and  with  my  chil- 
dren. So  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  said  to  him,  Then  thou  must  perform  the  journey. 
He  replied,  Yes ;  and  I  only  desire  of  thee  thy  prayers  for  help  and  aid.  Perhaps 
God  will  reunite  me  to  my  wife  and  my  children  soon.  Then  he  wept,  by  reason  of 
the  greatness  of  his  desire,  so  violently  that  he  fainted ;  and  on  his  recovery,  the 
sheikh  Abdelcadus  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  thou  hast  a  mother:  then  make  her  not 
to  taste  the  pain  of  thy  loss.  But  Hassan  replied.  By  Allah,  0  my  master,  I  will 
not  return  save  with  my  wife,  or  my  death  shall  overtake  me.  Then  he  wept  and 
moaned,  and  recited  some  verses ;  and  when  he  had  ended  them,  the  sheikh 
knew  that  he  would  not  draw  back  from  his  present  purpose,  though  his  life  should 
be  sacrificed  ;  wherefore  he  handed  to  him  the  letter,  prayed  for  him,  and  directed 
him  how  he  should  act,  and  said  to  him,  I  have  given  a  strict  charge  for  thee,  in  the 
letter,  to  Aboulruish  the  son  of  Balkis  the  daughter  of  the  accursed  Eblis,  for  he  is 
my  sheikh  and  my  preceptor,  and  all  mankind  and  the  Genii  humble  themselves  to 
him,  and  fear  him.  He  then  said  to  him,  Go,  in  reliance  upon  the  blessing  of 
God. 

He  therefore  departed,  giving  the  rein  to  the  horse,  which  fled  with  him  more 
rapidly  than  lightning.  Hassan  ceased  not  to  speed  along  on  the  horse  for  a  period 
of  ten  days,  until  he  beheld  before  him  a  huge  indistinct  object,  blacker  than  night, 
obstructing  the  space  between  the  east  and  the  west ;  and  when  he  drew  near  to  it, 
the  horse  neighed  beneath  him  ;  whereupon  there  came  together  horses  numerous 
as  the  drops  of  rain,  the  number  of  which  could  not  be  calculated,  nor  was  any 
help  for  them  known,  and  they  began  to  rub  against  Hassan's  horse.  So  Hassan 
feared  them  and  was  terrified ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  proceed,  with  the  horses  around 
him,  until  he  arrived  at  the  cavern  which  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  had  described  to 
him,  when  the  horse  stopped  at  its  entrance,  and  Hassan  alighted  from  him,  and 
put  his  rein  upon  his  saddle.  The  horse  then  entered  the  cavern,  and  Hassan 
42 


658  THE    STORY   OF   HASSAN    OF   BALSORA. 

stopped  at  the  entrance,  as  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  had  ordered  him.  He  meditated 
upon  the  result  of  his  case,  how  it  would  be,  perplexed,  distracted,  not  knowing 
what  would  happen  to  him.  He  continued  at  the  entrance  of  the  cavern  five  days 
with  their  nights,  sleepless,  mournful,  perplexed,  meditating  upon  his  having  parted 
from  his  family  and  home  and  companions  and  friends,  with  weeping  eye  and  mourn- 
ing heart.  Then  he  remembered  his  mother,  and  thought  upon  what  miglit  happen 
to  him,  and  upon  the  separation  of  his  wife  and  his  children,  and  the  troubles  he 
had  suffered,  and  recited  some  verses,  which  he  had  not  ended  when  the  sheikh 
Aboulruish  came  forth  to  him.  He  was  black,  and  clad  in  black  apparel ;  and  when 
Hassan  beheld  him,  he  knew  him  by  the  descriptions  which  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus 
had  given  of  him.  So  he  threw  himself  upon  him,  and  rubbed  his  cheeks  upon  his 
feet,  and,  taking  his  foot,  he  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  wept  before  him.  The  sheikh 
Aboulruish  therefore  said  to  him.  What  is  thine  affair,  0  my  son  ?  And  Hassan 
stretched  forth  his  hand  with  the  letter,  and  handed  it  to  the  sheikh,  who  received 
it  from  him,  and  entered  the  cavern,  without  returning  him  a  reply  ;  and  Hassan  re- 
mained in  his  place  at  the  entrance,  as  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  had  desired  him, 
weeping.  He  ceased  not  to  stay  in  his  place  for  the  space  of  five  days  more.  His 
disquietude  was  excessive,  and  his  fear  was  violent,  and  his  sleeplessness  was  con- 
stant. He  wept,  and  was  oppressed  in  mind  by  the  pain  of  estrangement  and  ex- 
cessive wakefulness,  and  recited  some  plaintive  verses. 

He  ceased  not  to  weep  until  the  dawn  appeared,  when  lo,  the  sheikh  Aboulruish 
came  forth  to  him,  clad  in  white  apparel,  and  made  a  sign  to  him  with  his  hand  that 
he  should  enter.  So  Hassan  entered,  and  the  sheikh,  taking  him  by  the  hand,  led 
him  into  the  cavern  ;  and  he  rejoiced,  and  felt  sure  that  his  affair  would  be  accom- 
plished. The  sheikh  continued  to  proceed,  and  Hassan  with  him,  for  the  space  of 
half  a  day;  after  which  they  arrived  at  an  arched  doorway  with  a  door  of  steel, 
which  the  sheikh  opened,  and  he  and  Hassan  entered  a  passage  vaulted  over  with 
variegated  stones  decorated  with  gold.  They  ceased  not  to  go  on  till  they  came  to  a 
great  saloon  constructed  with  marble,  and  spacious,  in  the  midst  of  which  was  a 
garden  containing  all  kinds  of  trees  and  flowers  and  fruits,  and  birds  upon  the  trees 
warbling,  and  proclaiming  the  perfection  of  God,  the  Omnipotent  King.  In  the 
saloon  were  four  leewans,  f\icing  one  another,  each  leewan  having  a  sitting-place 
with  a  fountain,  and  at  each  of  the  corners  of  each  fountain  was  the  figure  of  a  lion 
of  gold.  —  In  each  sitting-place  also  was  a  chair,  upon  which  was  sitting  a  person 
with  a  great  number  of  books  before  him,  and  before  them  were  perfuming-vessels 
of  gold,  containing  fire  and  incense.  Every  one  of  these  sheikhs  likewise  had  before 
him  students,  reading  to  him  the  books.  And  when  the  two  went  in  to  them,  they 
rose  to  them  and  treated  them  with  honour ;  and  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  accosted 
them,  and  made  a  sign  to  those  four  sheikhs  that  they  should  dismiss  the  other 
persons  who  were  present.  So  they  dismissed  them,  and  the  four  sheikhs  arose  and 
seated  themselves  before  the  sheikh  Aboulruish,  and  asked  him  respecti«g  the  case 
of  Hassan  ;  whereupon  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  made  a  sign  to  Hassan,  and  said  to 
him.  Tell  the  company  thy  story,  and  all  that  hath  happened  to  thee  from  the  first 
of  the  case  to  the  last.  And  Hassan  wept  violently,  and  related  to  them  his  story  ; 
and  when  he  had  finished  it  all  the  sheikhs  cried  out  and  said.  Is  this  he  whom  the 
Magian  caused  to  ascend  to  the  top  of  the  Mountain  of  the  Clouds  by  means  of  the 
birds,  he  being  in  the  skin  of  the  camel?  So  Hassan  answered  them,  Yes.  And 
they  accosted  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  and  said  to  him,  0  our  sheikh,  Bahram  prac- 
tised a  stratagem  to  effect  his  ascent  to  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and  how  did  he 
descend,  and  what  wonders  did  he  see  upon  the  mountain?  The  sheikh  Aboulruish 
therefore  said,  0  Hassan,  tell  them  how  thou  descendest,  and  acquaint  them  with  the 
wonders  that  thou  sawest.  Accordingly  he  repeated  to  them  the  account  of  the 
events  that  had  happened  to  him  from  beginning  to  end,  and  told  them  how  he  got 
the  Magian  into  his  power  and  slew  him,  and  how  his  wife  had  acted  perfidiously  to 
him  and  taken  his  children  and  flown  away,  and  all  the  horrors  and  diflSculties  that 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  659 

he  had  suffered.  And  the  persons  present  wondered  at  the  things  that  had  happened 
to  him. 

They  then  accosted  the  sheikh  Ahonlruish,  and  said  to  him,  O  sheikh  of  the 
sheikhs,  by  Allah,  this  young  man  is  a  pitiable  person  ;  and  perhaps  thou  wilt  assist 
him  to  deliver  his  Vife  and  his  children.  The  sheikh  Aboulruish  replied,  0  my 
brothers,  verily  this  is  a  great  and  perilous  affair,  and  I  have  not  seen  any  one  hate 
life  except  this  young  man.  Ye  know  that  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak  are  difficult  of 
access :  no  one  ever  arrived  at  them  without  exposing  himself  to  peril ;  and  ye  know 
the  strength  of  their  inhabitants,  and  their  guards.  I  have  sworn  that  I  will  not 
tread  their  country,  nor  oppose  myself  to  them  in  aught;  and  how  can  this  person 
gain  access  to  the  daughter  of  the  supreme  King,  and  who  can  convey  him  to  her,  or 
assist  him  to  attain  this  object  ? — Upon  this  they  said,  0  sheikh  of  the  sheikhs,  verily 
desire  hath  almost  consumed  this  man,  and  he  hath  exposed  himself  to  peril,  and 
brought  to  thee  the  letter  of  thy  brother,  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus:  therefore  it  is 
incumbent  on  thee  to  assist  him.  Then  Hassan  arose  and  kissed  the  foot  of  Aboul- 
ruish, and,  lifting  up  his  skirt,  put  it  on  his  head,  and  wept,  and  said  to  him,  I  con- 
jure thee  by  Allah  that  thou  unite  me  with  my  children  and  my  wife,  though  the 
doing  so  occasion  the  loss  of  my  life  and  soul !  And  the  persons  present  wept  at  his 
weeping,  and  said  to  the  sheikh  Aboulruish,  Acquire  the  recompense  that  will  be 
granted  for  this  poor  man  ;  and  act  kindly  with  him  for  the  sake  of  thy  brother  the 
sheikh  Abdelcadus.  So  he  replied,  A^'erily  this  young  man  is  a  pitiable  person,  and 
he  knoweth  not  what  he  is  undertaking ;  but  we  will  assist  him  as  far  as  possible. 
Hassan  therefore  rejoiced  when  he  heard  his  words,  and  kissed  his  hands.  He 
kissed  also  the  hands  of  the  other  persons  who  were  present,  one  after  another,  and 
begged  their  aid.  And  thereupon  Aboulruish  took  a  paper  and  an  ink-case,  and 
wrote  a  letter,  and  sealed  it,  and  gave  it  to  Hassan.  He  likewise  gave  him  a  small 
bag  of  leather,  containing  incense  and  instruments  for  striking  fire,  con"sisting  of  a 
steel  and  other  things  ;  and  said  to  him.  Take  care  of  this  bag ;  and  when  thou  fallest 
into  a  difficulty,  burn  a  little  of  the  incense  that  it  containeth,  and  mention  me ;  and 
I  will  be  present  with  thee,  and  deliver  thee  from  the  difficulty.  Then  he  ordered 
one  of  those  who  were  present  to  summon  to  him  an  Afrite  of  the  Flying  Genii  imme- 
diately ;  and  he  came ;  and  the  sheikh  said  to  him,  What  is  thy  name  ?  He 
answered.  Thy  slave  is  Dahnash  the  son  of  Faktash.  And  Aboulruish  said  to  him, 
Draw  near  to  me.  So  he  drew  near  to  him  ;  and  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  put  his 
mouth  to  the  ear  of  the  Afrite,  and  said  to  him  some  words  ;  whereat  the  Afrite 
shook  his  head.  The  sheikh  then  said  to  Hassan,  0  my  son,  arise,  mount  upon 
the  shoulders  of  this  Afrite,  Dahnash  the  Flyer  ;  but  when  he  hath  taken  thee  up  to 
heaven,  and  thou  hearest  the  praises  of  the  Angels  in  the  sky,  utter  not  thou  any 
words  of  praise;  for  if  thou  do,  thou  wilt  perish,  and  so  will  he.  And  Hassan 
replied,  I  will  never  speak.  Then  the  sheikh  said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  when  he 
hath  gone  with  thee,  he  will  put  the  down  on  the  next  day,  a  little  before  daybreak, 
upon  a  white,  clean  land,  like  camphor ;  and  when  hath  put  thee  there,  walk  on  ten 
days  by  thyself,  until  thou  arrivest  at  the  gate  of  the  city.  On  thine  arrival  at  it, 
enter,  and  ask  for  its  King;  and  when  thou  hast  an  interview  with  him,  salute 
him  and  kiss  his  hand,  and  give  him  this  letter ;  and  whatsoever  he  directeth  thee 
also  to  do,  understand  it.  —  So  Hassan  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  arose  with  the 
Afrite,  and  the  sheikhs  arose  and  prayed  for  him,  and  gave  the  Afrite  a  charge 
respecting  him. 

Now  when  the  Afrite  had  taken  him  upon  his  shoulders,  he  rose  with  him  to  the 
clouds  of  heaven,  and  proceeded  with  him  a  day  and  a  night,  until  he  heard  the 
praises  of  the  Angels  in  heaven  ;  and  when  the  dawn  came,  he  put  him  down  upon 
a  land  white  like  camphor,  and  left  him  and  departed.  So  when  Hassan  saw  that 
he  was  upon  the  earth,  and  that  no  one  was  with  him,  he  went  on  night  and  day  for 
the  space  often  days,  until  he  arrived  at  the  gate  of  the  city  ;  whereupon  he  entered 
it,  and  inquired  for  the  King.     They  therefore  guided  him  to  him,  and  said  that  his 


660  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN    OF   BALSORA. 

name  was  the  King  Hasoun,  King  of  the  Land  of  Camphor,  and  that  he  had,  of 
soldiers  and  troops,  what  would  fill  the  earth  in  its  length  and  breadth.  He  asked 
permission  to  go  in  to  him,  and  permission  was  given  him  ;  and  when  he  went  in  to 
him,  he  found  him  to  be  a  magnificent  King;  and  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him. 
So  the  King  said  to  him,  What  is  thine  afi"air?  And  Hassan  kissed  the  letter,  and 
handed  it  to  him;  and  he  took  it  and  read  it.  Then  he  shook  his  head  awhile; 
after  which  he  said  to  one  of  his  chief  officers,  Take  this  young  man,  and  lodge  him 
in  the  mansion  of  entertainment.  Accordingly  he  took  him  and  proceeded  with  him 
until  he  had  lodged  him  there,  and  he  remained  in  it  for  a  period  of  three  days, 
eating  and  drinking,  having  no  one  with  him  but  the  eunuch  who  attended  him  ; 
and  that  eunuch  conversed  with  him  and  cheered  him,  and  asked  him  respecting  his 
story,  and  how  he  had  come  to  this  country  ;  wherefore  he  acquainted  him  with  all 
that  had  happened  to  him,  and  all  his  state.  After  that,  on  the  fourth  day,  the 
young  man  took  him  and  brought  him  before  the  King;  and  he  said  to  him,  0 
Hassan,  thou  hast  come  unto  me,  desiring  to  enter  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  as  the 
sheikh  of  the  sheikhs  hath  mentioned  to  us.  0  my  son,  I  will  send  thee  during 
these  days  ;  but  in  thy  way  are  many  dangerous  places,  and  thirsty  deserts  abound- 
ing with  fearful  spots.  Be  patient,  however,  and  nought  but  good  will  happen.  I 
must  employ  a  stratagem,  and  cause  thee  to  attain  thy  wish,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God, 
whose  name  be  exalted  !  Know,  0  my  son,  that  here  are  soldiers  of  Dilem  desiring 
to  enter  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  fitted  out  with  arms  and  horses  and  accoutre- 
ments, and  they  have  not  been  able  to  enter.  But,  0  my  son,  for  the  sake  of  the 
sheikh  of  the  sheikhs,  Aboulruish  the  son  of  the  daughter  of  the  accursed  Eblis,  I 
cannot  send  thee  back  to  him  without  thy  having  accomplished  thine  afi'air.  Soon 
there  will  come  to  us  ships  from  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak  :  there  remaineth  not 
before  their  arrival  more  than  a  short  time  ;  and  when  one  of  them  hath  come,  I  will 
embark  thee  in  it,  and  will  charge  the  sailors  respecting  thee,  that  they  may  take 
care  of  thee  and  convey  thee  to  the  Islands  of  AVak-Wak.  AVhosoever  asketh  thee 
respecting  thy  condition  and  thy  story,  answer  him,  I  am  a  relation  of  the  King 
Hasoun,  lord  of  the  Land  of  Camphor.  And  when  the  vessel  mooreth  at  the  Islands 
of  Wak-Wak,  and  the  master  saith  to  thee,  Land  —  do  thou  land.  Thou  wilt  see 
many  settees  in  all  the  quarters  of  the  shore  ;  and  do  thou  choose  for  thyself  one  of 
them,  and  sit  beneath  it,  and  move  not.  And  when  the  night  becometh  dark,  and 
thou  seest  that  the  army  of  women  hath  surrounded  the  merchandise,  stretch  forth 
thy  hand  and  lay  hold  upon  the  owner  of  this  settee  beneath  which  thou  hast  placed 
thyself,  and  beg  her  protection  ;  and  know,  0  my  son,  that  if  she  protect  thee,  thou 
•wilt  accomplish  thine  affair,  and  wilt  gain  access  to  thy  wife  and  thy  children.  But 
if  she  protect  thee  not,  mourn  for  thyself,  and  despair  of  Iffe,  and  be  sure  of  thy 
destruction.  Know,  0  my  son,  that  thou  art  exposing  thyself  to  peril ;  and  I  cannot 
do  for  thee  aught  but  this.  And  peace  be  on  thee  ?  Know  also,  that  if  aid  had 
not  been  granted  thee  by  the  Lord  of  Heaven,  thou  hadst  not  gained  access  hither. 
When  Hassan  heard  these  words  of  the  King  Hasoun,  he  wept  until  he  fainted  ; 
and  on  his  recovering,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  the  King,  and  said  to  him,  0  great 
King,  how  many  days  remain  to  the  time  when  the  ships  will  come?  He  answered, 
The  period  of  a  month ;  and  they  will  remain  here  for  the  sale  of  their  cargoes  a 
period  of  two  months:  then  they  will  return  to  their  country:  so  hope  not  to  make 
thy  voyage  in  the  ship  save  after  three  whole  months.  The  King  then  commanded 
Hassan  to  return  to  the  mansion  of  entertainment,  and  gave  orders  to  carry  to  him 
all  that  he  required,  of  food  and  drink  and  apparel,  such  as  was  fit  for  Kings.  He 
remained  in  the  mansion  of  entertainment  a  month  ;  and  after  the  month,  the  ships 
came.  The  King  and  the  merchants  therefore  went  forth,  and  he  took  Hassan  with 
him  to  the  ships.  And  he  saw  a  ship  in  which  were  many  people,  like  the  pebbles; 
none  knew  their  number  but  He  who  created  them.  That  ship  was  in  the  midst  of 
the  sea,  and  had  small  boats  transporting  the  goods  that  it  contained  to  the  shore. 
Hassan  stayed  with  them  until  the  crew  had  removed  the  goods  from  it  to  the  shore, 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  661 

and  sold  and  bought,  and  there  remained  not  to  the  time  of  departure  more  than 
three  days;  whereupon  the  King  summoned  Hassan  before  him,  prepared  for  him 
what  he  required,  and  conferred  upon  him  great  favours.  Then,  after  that,  he  called 
for  the  master  of  that  ship,  and  said  to  him.  Take  this  young  man  with  thee  in  the 
Bhip,  and  acquaint  no  one  with  him ;  convey  him  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and 
leave  him  there,  and  bring  him  not  back.  And  the  master  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 
The  King  then  charged  Hassan,  and  said  to  him.  Acquaint  not  any  one  of  the  persons 
with  thee  in  the  ship  with  aught  of  thy  case,  nor  let  any  one  know  thy  story ;  for  if 
thou  do,  thou  wilt  perish.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  bade  him 
farewell,  after  he  had  offered  up  prayers  in  his  favour  for  length  of  life,  and  victory 
over  all  the  enviers  and  enemies ;  and  the  King  thanked  him  for  that,  and  prayed 
for  his  safety  and  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  affair.  He  then  committed  him  to 
the  master,  who  took  him  and  put  him  into  a  chest,  and  embarked  him  in  a  boat ; 
and  he  took  him  not  forth  in  the  ship  but  when  the  people  were  occupied  in  remov- 
ing the  goods. 

After  that,  the  ships  departed,  and  they  ceased  not  to  pursue  their  course  for  the 
space  of  ten  days ;  and  on  the  eleventh  day  they  reached  the  shore.  The  master 
thereupon  landed  him  from  the  ship  ;  and  when  he  went  up  on  the  shore,  he  saw 
there  settees,  the  number  of  which  none  knew  but  God.  So  he  walked  on  until  he 
came  to  a  settee  of  which  there  was  not  the  like,  and  he  hid  himself  beneath  it.  And 
when  the  night  approached,  there  came  a  numerous  crowd  of  women,  like  scattered 
locusts,  advancing  on  foot,  with  their  swords  drawn  in  their  hands ;  but  they  were 
enveloped  in  coats  of  mail ;  and  on  their  seeing  the  goods,  they  busied  themselves 
with  them.  Then,  after  that,  they  sat  to  take  rest,  and  one  of  them  seated  herself 
upon  the  settee  beneath  which  was  Hassan.  He  therefore  laid  hold  of  the  edge  of 
her  skirt,  put  it  upon  his  head,  and,  throwing  himself  upon  her,  began  to  kiss  her 
hands  and  feet,  weeping.  So  she  said  to  him,  0  thou,  arise  and  stand  up  before  any 
one  see  thee  and  slay  thee.  And  thereupon  he  came  forth  from  beneath  the  settee, 
[where  he  had  hidden  himself  again,]  and  rose  upon  his  feet,  kissed  her  hands,  and 
said  to  her,  O  my  mistress,  I  throw  myself  upon  thy  protection  !  Then  he  wept 
again,  and  said  to  her.  Have  mercy  upon  him  who  is  parted  from  his  family  and  his 
wife  and  his  children,  and  hath  hastened  to  effect  his  reunion  with  them,  and  exposed 
his  life  and  soul  to  peril!  Have  mercy  upon  me,  and  be  sure  that  thou  wilt  be 
recompensed  for  that  with  Paradise.  Or,  if  thou  wilt  not  receive  me,  I  conjure  thee 
by  Allah,  the  Great,  the  Excellent  Protector,  that  thou  conceal  my  case !  —  And  the 
merchants  fixed  their  eyes  upon  him,  while  he  spoke  to  her;  and  when  she  heard 
his  words,  and  saw  his  humiliation,  she  had  compassion  upon  him,  her  heart  was 
moved  with  pity  for  him,  and  she  knew  that  he  had  not  exposed  himself  to  peril 
and  come  to  this  place  save  for  a  great  affair.  So  thereupon  she  said  to  Hassan,  0 
my  son,  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye,  comfort  thy  heart  and  thy  soul,  and 
return  to  thy  place,  and  hide  thyself  beneath  the  settee  as  thou  wast  at  first  until 
the  next  night,  and  God  will  do  what  He  desireth.  Then  she  bade  him  farewell,  and 
Hassan  entered  beneath  the  settee  as  before.  The  army  passed  the  night,  having 
lighted  candles  composed  with  an  admixture  of  aloes-wood  and  crude  ambergris, 
until  the  morning.  And  when  daylight  came,  the  ships  returned  to  the  shore,  and 
the  merchants  occupied  themselves  with  conveying  the  goods  and  effects  till  night 
approached,  while  Hassan  remained  hidden  beneath  the  settee,  with  weeping  eye 
and  mourning  heart,  not  knowing  what  was  secretly  decreed  to  happen  unto  him. 

Now  while  he  was  in  this  state,  lo,  the  female  merchant  whose  protection  he  had 
bogged  approached  him,  and  handed  to  him  a  coat  of  mail  and  a  sword  and  a  gilt 
girdle  and  a  lance  ;  after  which  she  departed  from  him,  fearing  the  troops.  So  when 
he  saw  that,  he  knew  that  the  female  merchant  had  not  brought  him  these  accoutre- 
ments save  in  order  that  he  should  put  them  on  ;  wherefore  he  arose  and  put  on  the 
coat  of  mail,  put  the  girdle  round  his  waist,  hung  on  the  sword  beneath  his  arm- 
pit, took  the  lance  in  his  hand,  and  seated  himself  upon  that  settee.     His  tongue 


662  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

neglected  not  to  repeat  the  praises  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  and  he  begged 
his  protection:  and  wliile  he  sat,  lo,  the  cressets  and  the  lanterns  and  the  candles 
approached,  and  the  army  of  women.  Hassan  therefore  arose  and  mixed  among 
the  troops,  having  become  like  one  of  them  ;  and  at  the  approach  of  daybreak,  the 
troops  proceeded,  and  Hassan  with  them,  until  they  came  to  their  tents,  when  each 
of  them  entered  her  tent.  Hassan  also  entered  the  tent  of  one  of  them,  and  lo,  it 
was  the  tent  of  his  companion,  whose  protection  he  had  begged.  And  when  she 
entered  her  tent,  she  threw  down  her  arms,  and  pulled  off  the  coat  of  mail  and  the 
veil;  and  Hassan,  having  thrown  down  his  arms,  looked  at  his  companion,  and 
found  her  to  be  blue-eyed,  with  a  large  nose:  she  was  a  calamity  among  calamities, 
of  the  most  hideous  form,  with  a  face  marked  with  small-pox,  and  hairless  eyebrows, 
and  broken  teeth,  and  puffed  cheeks,  and  gray  hair,  and  a  mouth  running  with 
saliva:  her  hair  was  falling  off,  and  she  was  like  the  speckled,  black  and  white  ser- 
pent. Now  when  she  looked  at  Hassan,  she  wondered,  and  said,  H^w  could  this 
person  gain  access  to  this  country,  and  in  which  of  the  ships  came  he,  and  how  did 
he  arrive  safely  ?  And  she  proceeded  to  ask  him  respecting  his  case,  and  wondered 
at  his  arrival;  and  upon  this  Hassan  fell  upon  her  feet,  rubbing  his  face  upon  them, 
and  wept  until  he  fainted;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  took  the  skirt  of  the  old 
woman,  and  put  it  upon  his  head,  and  proceeded  to  weep  and  to  beg  her  protection. 
So  when  the  old  woman  saw  his  ardour  and  affliction  and  pain  and  distress,  her 
heart  was  moved  with  sympathy  for  him,  and  she  granted  him  protection,  and  said 
to  him.  Fear  not  at  all.  Then  she  asked  him  respecting  his  case,  and  he  related  to 
her  all  that  had  happened  to  him  from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  the  old  woman  won- 
dered at  his  tale,  and  said  to  him.  Comfort  thy  heart  and  comfort  thy  soul.  There 
remaineth  nothing  for  thee  to  fear.  Thou  hast  attained  thy  desire  and  the  accom- 
plishment of  thine  affair,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  —  There- 
fore Hassan  rejoiced  at  that  exceedingly. 

The  old  woman  then  sent  to  the  leaders  of  the  army,  commanding  them  to  come 
before  her.  This  was  on  the  last  day  of  the  month.  And  when  they  presented 
themselves  before  her,  she  said  to  them.  Go  forth,  and  proclaim  among  all  the  troops 
that  they  shall  go  forth  to-morrow,  in  the  morning,  and  that  none  of  them  shall  re- 
main behind  ;  and  if  any  one  remain  behind,  that  person's  life  shall  be  taken.  And 
they  replied.  We  hear  and  obey.  They  went  forth,  and  proclaimed  among  all  the 
troops  that  they  should  march  on  the  morrow,  in  the  morning;  after  which  they  re- 
turned, and  acquainted  her  therewith.  So  Haijsan  knew  that  she  was  the  chief  of 
the  troops,  and  the  person  of  authority  among  them,  and  their  leader.  Then  Hassan 
took  not  off  the  arms  from  his  body  that  day.  The  name  of  that  old  woman  with 
whom  he  had  placed  himself  was  Shawahi,  and  she  was  surnamed  the  mother  of 
sorrows.  And  the  old  woman  had  not  made  an  end  of  her  commanding  and  forbid- 
ding until  the  daybreak  came,  when  all  the  troops  went  forth  from  their  places  ;  but 
the  old  woman  went  not  forth  with  them.  And  when  the  army  had  gone,  and  the 
places  were  devoid  of  their  presence,  Shawahi  said  to  Hassan,  Draw  near  to  me,  0 
my  son.  So  he  drew  near  to  her,  and  stood  before  her ;  and  she  accosted  him,  and 
said  to  him,  What  is  the  cause  of  thine  exposure  of  thyself  to  peril,  and  thine  enter- 
ing this  country,  and  how  was  it  that  thy  soul  consented  to  its  own  destruction  ? 
Acquaint  me  with  the  truth  of  thy  whole  affair,  and  conceal  not  from  me  aught  of 
it,  nor  fear  thou  ;  for  thou  hast  become  one  to  whom  I  have  plighted  my  faith,  and 
I  have  granted  thee  protection,  and  had  compassion  upon  thee,  and  pitied  thy  state. 
If  thou  inform  me  truly,  I  will  aid  thee  to  accomplish  thine  affiiir,  even  if  the  conse- 
quence be  the  loss  of  lives,  and  the  destruction  of  the  sheikhs.  Now  that  thou  hast 
come  unto  me,  no  harm  shall  befall  thee,  nor  will  I  suffer  any  one,  of  all  who  are  in 
the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  to  do  thee  any  injury.  —  He  therefore  repeated  to  hor  hia 
story  from  first  to  last,  telling  her  of  the  affair  of  his  wife,  and  the  birds,  and  how 
he  caught  her  from  among  the  ten,  and  how  he  married  her,  and  then  resided  with 
her  until  he  was  blessed  with  two  sons  by  her,  and  how  she  took  her  children  and 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  663 

flew  away  when  she  knew  the  means  of  obtaining  the  dress  of  feathers-,  and  he  con- 
cealed not  aught  of  his  story,  from  the  commencement  to  that  day. 

So  when  the  old  woman  heard  his  words,  she  shook  her  head,  and  said  to  him, 
Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God  who  preserved  thee  and  brought  thee  hither  and 
caused  thee  to  light  on  me  !  Hadst  thou  lighted  on  any  except  me,  thy  life  had 
been  lost,  and  thine  affair  had  not  been  accomplished.  But  the  honesty  of  thine  in- 
tention, and  thy  love  and  the  excess  of  thy  desire  for  thy  wife  and  thy  children, 
were  the  means  of  enabling  thee  to  attain  the  object  of  thy  search.  Were  it  not 
that  thou  lovest  her,  and  art  distracted  by  thy  passion  for  her,  thou  hadst  not  thus 
exposed  thyself  to  peril ;  and  praise  be  to  God  for  thy  safety !  It  is  therefore  in- 
cumbent on  us  to  accomplish  for  thee  thine  affair,  and  to  aid  thee  to  attain  the  object 
of  thy  desire,  that  thou  mayest  obtain  what  thou  seekest  soon,  if  it  be  the  will  of 
God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  But  know,  0  my  son,  that  thy  wife  is  in  the  seventh 
island  of  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and  the  distance  between  us  and  it  is  seven 
montlis'  journey,  night  and  day.  For  we  proceed  hence  until  we  arrive  at  a  land 
called  the  Land  of  the  Birds ;  and  by  reason  of  the  vehemence  of  the  cries  of  the 
birds,  and  the  flapping  of  their  wings,  one  of  them  heareth  not  what  another  uttereth. 
Then  we  proceed  over  that  land  for  a  period  of  eleven  days,  night  and  day ;  after 
which  we  pass  forth  from  it  to  a  land  called  the  Land  of  the  Wild  Beasts ;  and  by 
reason  of  the  vehemence  of  the  cries  of  the  beasts  of  prey  and  the  hyenas  and  other 
wild  beasts,  and  the  howling  of  the  wolves  and  the  roaring  of  the  lions,  we  shall 
hear  nothing  else.  We  journey  over  that  land  for  the  space  of  twenty  days,  and 
then  pass  forth  from  it  to  a  land  called  the  Land  of  the  Genii,  where,  by  reason  of 
the  vehemence  of  the  cries  of  the  Genii,  and  the  rising  of  the  flames  and  the  flying 
about  of  the  sparks  and  the  smoke  from  their  mouths,  and  the  harsh  sounds  from 
their  throats,  and  their  insolence,  they  will  obstruct  the  way  before  us,  and  our  ears 
will  be  deafened,  and  our  eyes  will  be  covered  with  darkness,  so  that  we  shall  neither 
hear  nor  see,  nor  will  any  one  of  us  be  able  to  look  behind  him  ;  for  by  doing  so  he 
would  perish.  In  that  place,  the  horseman  will  put  his  head  upon  the  pommel  of 
his  saddle,  and  not  raise  it  for  a  period  of  three  days.  After  that,  there  will  be 
before  us  a  vast  mountain  and  a  running  river,  which  extend  to  the  Islands  of  Wak- 
Wak.  Know  also,  0  my  son,  that  all  this  army  consisteth  of  damsels,  virgins  ;  and 
the  sovereign  who  ruleth  over  us  is  a  woman  of  the  Seven  Islands  of  Wak-Wak. 
The  extent  of  those  seven  islands  is  a  whole  year's  journey  to  the  rider  who  travel- 
leth  with  diligence.  On  the  bank  of  this  river  [that  I  have  mentioned]  is  another 
mountain,  called  the  Mountain  of  Wak-Wak  ;  and  this  name  is  the  proper  appellation 
of  a  tree  whose  branches  resemble  the  heads  of  the  sons  of  Adam  ;  and  when  the 
sun  riseth  upon  it,  those  heads  all  cry  out,  saying  in  their  cry,  Wak !  Wak !  Ex- 
tolled be  the  perfection  of  the  King,  the  Excellent  Creator! — So  when  we  hear  their 
cry,  we  know  that  the  sun  hath  risen.  In  like  manner  also  when  the  sun  setteth, 
those  heads  cry  out  and  say  in  their  cry  the  same  words,  and  we  know  thereupon 
that  the  sun  hath  set.  No  man  can  reside  with  us,  nor  gain  access  to  us,  nor  tread 
our  land  ;  and  between  us  and  the  residence  of  the  Queen  who  ruleth  over  this  land 
is  a  journey  of  a  month  from  this  shore.  Also,  all  the  subjects  upon  that  shore  are 
under  the  authority  of  that  Queen  ;  and  under  her  authority  likewise  are  the  tribes 
of  the  Genii,  Marids  and  Devils,  and  under  her  authority  are  enchanters,  the  number 
of  whom  none  knoweth  but  He  who  created  them.  Now  if  thou  fear,  I  will  send 
with  thee  one  who  will  convey  thee  to  the  coast,  and  I  will  bring  one  who  will  tran- 
sport thee  with  him  in  a  vessel  and  convey  thee  to  thy  country.  But  if  it  be  agree- 
able to  thy  heart  to  remain  with  us,  I  will  not  prevent  thee;  thou  shalt  be  with  me 
as  though  thou  wert  in  mine  eye,  until  thou  shalt  accomplish  thine  affair,  if  it  be 
the  will  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  ! 

Upon  this  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  will  not  quit  thee  until  I  meet  with  my 
wife,  or  my  life  shall  be  lost.  And  she  replied.  This  will  be  an  easy  affair:  so  com- 
fort thy  heart,  and  thou  shalt  attain  thy  desire  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  whose  name 


664  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF  BALSORA. 

be  exalted !  I  must  acquaint  the  Queen  with  thee,  that  she  may  aid  thee  to  attain 
thy  wish.  —  Hassan  therefore  prayed  for  her,  and  kissed  her  hands  and  her  head, 
and  thanked  her  for  that  which  she  had  done,  and  for  her  exceeding  kindness.  He 
proceeded  with  her,  meditating  upon  what  might  be  the  result  of  his  case,  and  upon 
the  horrors  of  his  estrangement:  and  he  began  to  weep  and  wail.  The  old  woman 
then  gave  orders  to  beat  the  drum  for  departure,  and  the  army  proceeded,  Hassan 
proceeding  also,  in  company  with  the  old  woman.  Being  drowned  in  the  sea  of 
solicitudes,  he  was  oppressed  in  mind,  and  recited  verses,  while  the  old  woman  ex- 
horted him  to  be  patient,  and  consoled  him ;  but  he  recovered  not,  nor  attended  to 
that  which  she  proposed  to  him.  They  ceased  not  to  journey  on  until  they  arrived 
at  the  first  of  the  seven  islands,  which  was  the  Island  of  the  Birds  ;  and  when  they 
entered  it  Hassan  imagined  that  the  world  was  overturned,  in  consequence  of  the 
vehemence  of  the  cries.  His  head  ached  and  his  mind  was  bewildered,  his  eyea 
ware  blinded  and  his  ears  were  stopped,  and  he  feared  violently,  and  made  sure  of 
death,  saying  within  himself.  If  this  is  the  Land  of  the  Birds,  how  will  be  the  Land 
of  the  Wild  Beasts?  So  when  the  old  woman  named  Shawahi  saw  him  in  this 
state,  she  laughed  at  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  if  this  is  thy  state  in  the  first 
island,  how  will  it  be  with  thee  when  thou  comest  to  the  remaining  islands?  He 
therefore  supplicated  God,  and  humbled  himself  to  Him,  and  begged  of  Him  that 
He  would  aid  him  to  bear  up  against  the  alHiction  with  which  He  had  visited  him, 
and  that  He  would  cause  him  to  attain  his  desires.  They  continued  their  journey 
until  they  had  traversed  the  Land  of  the  Birds,  and  passed  forth  from  it,  and  entered 
the  Land  of  the  Genii ;  and  when  Hassan  beheld  it,  he  feared,  and  repented  of  his 
having  entered  it  with  them.  Then  he  begged  aid  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !), 
and  proceeded  with  them.  And  they  escaped  from  the  land  of  the  Genii,  and  arrived 
at  the  river,  and,  alighting  beneath  a  vast,  lofty  mountain,  they  pitched  their  tents 
upon  the  bank  of  the  river.  The  old  woman  placed  for  Hassan  a  couch  of  alabaster, 
set  with  fine  pearls  and  with  jewels  and  bars  of  red  gold,  by  the  side  of  the  river. 
So  he  seated  himself  upon  it ;  and  the  troops  advanced,  and  she  displayed  them  to 
him.  After  that,  they  pitched  their  tents  around  him,  and  rested  a  while.  Then 
they  ate  and  drank  and  slept  in  security ;  for  they  had  arrived  at  their  country. 

Now  Hassan  had  put  over  his  fiice  a  veil,  so  that  naught  of  him  appeared  save 
his  eyes.  And  lo,  a  company  of  the  damsels  walked  near  to  the  tent  of  Hassan, 
and,  having  pulled  off  their  outer  garments,  descended  into  the  river.  So  Hassan 
kept  looking  at  them  while  they  washed,  and  they  proceeded  to  play  and  to  divert 
themselves,  not  knowing  that  he  was  looking  at  them  ;  for  they  imagined  that  he 
was  of  the  daughters  of  the  Kings.  Thus  the  whole  army  assembled  before  Hassan  ; 
for  the  old  woman  gave  orders  to  proclaim  among  all  the  troops  that  they  should 
assemble  before  his  tent  and  display  themselves  and  descend  into  the  river,  thinking 
that  perhaps  his  wife  might  be  among  them,  and  he  would  know  her.  She  pro- 
ceeded to  ask  him  respecting  them,  company  after  company ;  and  he  replied.  She  is 
not  among  these,  0  my  mistress.  So  the  old  woman  said.  Describe  her  to  me,  and 
acquaint  me  with  all  her  characteristics,  that  she  may  be  in  my  mind;  for  I  know 
every  damsel  in  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  as  I  am  the  leader  of  the  army  of  damsels 
and  their  commander;  and  if  thou  describe  her  to  me,  I  shall  know  her,  and  will 
contrive  means  for  thy  taking  her.  Accordingly  he  described  her  to  her.  And 
thereupon  the  old  woman  hung  down  her  head  towards  the  ground  for  some  time; 
after  which  she  raised  her  head  towards  Hassan,  and  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfec- 
tion of  God,  the  Great  in  dignity  !  Verily  I  am  afflicted  in  thee,  0  Hassan  ;  and 
would  that  I  had  not  known  thee!  For  the  woman  whom  thou  hast  described  to  me, 
she  is  thy  wife  indeed:  I  have  known  her  by  her  characteristics,  and  she  is  the 
daughter  of  the  supreme  King,  his  eldest  daughter,  who  ruleth  over  all  the  Islands 
of  Wak-Wak.  Therefore  open  thine  eyes,  and  consider  thine  affair;  and  if  thou  be 
asleep,  awake  ;  for  it  is  impossible  for  thee  ever  to  gain  aCcess  to  her;  and  if  thou 
gainedst  access  to  her,  thou  couldst  not  get  possession  of  her;  since  between  theo 


THE    STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  665 

and  her  is  like  as  is  between  heaven  and  earth.  Return  therefore,  0  my  son,  soon, 
and  cast  not  thyself  into  destruction,  and  me  with  thee ;  for  I  imagine  that  thou 
hast  no  lot  in  her.  Return  to  the  place  whence  thou  hast  come,  lest  our  lives  be 
lost. — And  she  feared  for  herself  and  for  him. 

When  Hassan,  therefore,  heard  the  words  of  the  old  woman,  he  wept  violently,  so 
that  he  fainted ;  and  the  old  woman  ceased  not  to  sprinkle  water  upon  his  face  until 
he  recovered  from  his  fit.  He  continued  to  weep  so  that  he  wetted  his  clothes  with 
his  tears  by  reason  of  the  excessive  anxiety  and  grief  that  had  come  upon  him  in 
consequence  of  the  words  of  the  old  woman,  and  he  despaired  of  life.  Then  he  said 
to  the  old  woman,  0  my  mistress,  and  how  can  I  return  after  I  have  got  hither?  I 
did  not  imagine  in  my  mind  that  thou  wast  unable  to  accomplish  my  desire, 
especially  because  thou  art  the  leader  of  the  army  of  damsels,  and  their  commander. 
— To  this  she  replied,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  0  my  son,  that  thou  choose  for  thyself 
a  damsel  from  among  these  damsels,  and  I  will  give  her  to  thee  instead  of  thy  wife, 
lest  thou  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Kings,  and  I  shall  have  no  means  of  releasing 
thee.  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  hear  my  words,  and  choose  for  thyself  one 
of  these  damsels  instead  of  that  damsel,  and  return  to  thy  country  soon  in  safety, 
and  make  me  not  to  drink  thine  anguish  [by  witnessingthy  death].  By  Allah,  thou 
hast  cast  thyself  into  a  severe  calamity  and  great  peril,  from  which  no  one  can  deliver 
thee. — So  thereupon  Hassan  hung  down  his  head  and  wept  violently,  until  he  fainted, 
and  the  old  woman  ceased  not  to  sprinkle  water  upon  his  face  till  he  recovered  from 
his  fit;  when  she  addressed  him  and  said,  0  my  master,  return  to  thy  country:  for 
if  I  go  with  thee  to  the  city,  thy  life  and  mine  will  be  lost;  as  the  Queen,  when  she 
knoweth  thereof,  will  blame  me  for  coming  with  thee  into  her  country  and  her 
islands,  to  which  no  one  of  the  sons  of  Adam  cometh,  and  she  will  slay  me  because 
of  my  having  brought  thee  with  me,  and  given  thee  a  sight  of  these  virgins  whom 
thou  hast  seen  in  the  river,  although  no  male  hath  touched  them,  nor  a  husband 
approached  them.  So  Hassan  swore  that  he  had  never  looked  at  them  with  an  evil 
glance.  But  she  rejoined,  0  my  son,  return  to  thy  country,  and  I  will  give  thee 
wealth  and  treasures  and  rarities  on  account  of  which  thou  shalt  become  indifferent 
to  all  women.  Hear  then  my  words,  and  return  soon,  and  expose  not  thyself  to 
peril ;  for  I  have  given  thee  good  advice.  When  Hassan,  however,  heard  her  words, 
he  wept,  and  rubbed  his  cheeks  upon  her  feet,  and  said,  0  my  mistress  and  my  lady, 
and  delight  of  my  eye,  how  can  I  return  after  I  have  come  to  this  place  without  see- 
ing her  whom  I  desire,  and  have  approached  the  abode  of  the  beloved,  and  hoped  to 
meet  her  soon,  and  when  perhaps  I  may  have  the  good  fortune  to  be  reunited  with 
her?  Then  he  recited  some  verses;  and  when  he  had  ended  them,  the  old  woman 
pitied  him  and  had  compassion  on  him,  and,  addressing  him  kindly,  she  comforted 
his  heart,  and  said  to  him.  Let  thy  soul  be  happy  and  thine  eye  be  cheerful,  and  let 
thy  mind  be  free  from  anxiety.  By  Allah,  I  will  expose  my  soul  to  peril  with  thee 
until  thou  shalt  attain  thy  desire,  or  my  death  shall  overtake  me ! 

So  the  heart  of  Hassan  was  comforted,  his  bosom  became  dilated,  and  he  sat  con- 
versing with  the  old  woman  until  the  close  of  the  day  ;  and  when  the  night  ap- 
proached, all  the  damsels  became  dispersed:  some  of  them  entered  their  palaces  in 
the  city,  and  some  passed  the  night  in  the  tents.  The  old  woman  then  took  Hassan 
with  her,  and  conducted  him  into  the  city,  and  she  appropriated  to  him  a  place  for 
himself  alone,  lest  any  one  should. become  acquainted  with  him  and  inform  the  Queen 
of  him,  and  she  should  slay  him  and  the  bringer  of  him.  She  served  him  herself, 
and  inspired  him  with  fear  of  the  authority  of  the  supreme  King,  the  father  of  his 
wife ;  and  he  wept  before  her,  and  said,  0  my  mistress,  I  choose  death  for  myself, 
and  hate  the  world,  if  I  be  not  reunited  with  my  wife  and  my  children :  so  I  will 
expose  my  life  to  peril,  and  either  I  shall  attain  my  desire,  or  else  I  shall  die.  And 
the  old  woman  proceeded  to  meditate  upon  the  mode  of  effecting  his  union  and  inter- 
view with  his  wife,  and  what  stratagem  should  be  employed  in  the  case  of  this  poor 
man,  who  had  cast  his  soul  into  destruction,  and  would  not  be  restrained  from  pur- 


666  THE   STOKY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

suing  the  object  of  his  desire  by  fear  nor  by  anything  else.  He  had  become  indif- 
ferent to  himself;  and  the  author  of  the  proverb  saith,  The  enamoured  heareth  not 
the  words  of  one  who  is  free  from  love.  The  damsel  above  mentioned  was  Queen  of 
the  island  in  which  they  then  were,  and  her  name  was  Nour  Elhada,  This  Queen 
had  six  sisters,  virgins,  residing  with  their  father,  the  supreme  King,  who  was  ruler 
of  the  islands  and  the  districts  of  Wak-Wak,  and  the  seat  of  government  of  that 
King  was  in  the  greatest  of  the  cities  of  that  country.  His  eldest  daughter,  Nour 
Elhada,  was  ruler  over  that  city  in  which  Hassan  was,  and  over  all  its  disti-icts. 

Now  the  old  woman,  when  she  saw  Hassan  burning  with  desire  to  meet  with  his 
wife  and  his  children,  arose  and  repaired  to  the  palace  of  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada, 
and  went  in  to  her,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  her.  The  old  woman  had  a  claim 
upon  her  for  fovour,  because  she  had  reared  all  the  daughters  of  the  King,  and  she 
had  authority  over  them  all,  and  was  held  in  honour  by  them,  and  was  dear  unto 
the  King.  So  when  she  went  in  to  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada,  the  Queen  rose  to  her 
and  embraced  her,  seated  her  by  her  side,  and  asked  her  respecting  her  journey. 
She  therefore  answered  her.  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  it  was  a  blessed  journey,  and 
I  have  brought  for  thee  with  me  a  present  which  I  will  place  before  thee.  Then  she 
said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  0  Queen  of  the  age  and  time,  I  have  brought  with  me  a 
wonderful  thing,  and  I  desire  to  show  it  to  thee,  in  order  that  thou  mayest  aid  me  to 
accomplish  what  it  requireth. — And  what  is  it?  said  the  Queen.  So  she  acquainted 
her  with  the  story  of  Hassan  from  its  beginning  to  its  end.  She  trembled  like  the 
reed  in  the  day  of  the  stormy  wind,  until  she  fell  down  before  the  daughter  of  the 
King,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  a  person  implored  my  protection  upon  the 
coast,  and  he  was  hidden  beneath  the  settee,  and  I  granted  him  protection,  and 
brought  him  with  me  among  the  army  of  damsels,  he  being  armed,  that  no  one 
might  know  him,  and  I  conducted  him  into  the  city.  Then  she  said  to  her.  And  I 
inspired  him  with  fear  of  thy  authority,  and  acquainted  him  with  thy  valour  and 
thy  power;  but  as  often  as  I  threatened  him,  he  wept,  and  recited  verses,  and  he 
said  to  me,  I  must  regain  my  wife  and  my  children,  or  I  will  die,  and  I  will  not 
return  to  my  country  without  them.  He  hath  exposed  himself  to  peril,  and  come  to 
the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak  ;  and  I  have  not  seen  in  my  life  a  human  being  more  strong 
of  heart  than  he,  nor  any  of  greater  valour:  but  love  hath  gained  the  utmost 
ascendency  over  him. — When  the  Queen,  however,  heard  her  words,  and  understood 
the  case  of  Hassan,  she  was  violently  enraged,  and  hung  down  her  head  for  a  while 
towards  the  ground.  Then  she  raised  her  head,  and,  looking  at  the  old  woman,  said 
to  her,  0  ill-omened  old  woman,  hath  thy  wickedness  occasioned  thee  to  convey 
males,  and  conduct  them  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and  bring  them  in  unto  me 
without  fearing  my  authority?  By  the  head  of  the  King,  were  it  not  for  the  claim 
thou  hast  upon  me  on  account  of  thy  having  reared  me,  I  would  slay  thee  and  him 
this  instant  in  the  most  abominable  manner,  that  the  travellers  might  be  admonished 
by  thine  example,  0  accursed  woman,  lest  any  one  else  should  do  the  like  of  this 
egregious  deed  which  thou  hast  done,  and  which  none  was  able  to  do  before  I  But 
go  forth  and  bring  him  this  instant,  that  I  may  see  him. 

The  old  woman  therefore  went  forth  from  before  her,  confounded,  not  knowing 
whither  to  go,  and  saying.  All  this  calamity  hath  God  sent  upon  me  from  this  Queen 
by  means  of  Hassan !  She  proceeded  until  she  went  in  to  Hassan,  when  she  said  to 
him.  Arise:  answer  the  summons  of  the  Queen,  0  thou  whose  last  day  hath  drawn 
near.  So  he  arose  with  her,  his  tongue  ceasing  not  to  utter  the  name  of  God  (extolled 
be  it!),  saying,  0  Allah,  act  graciously  with  me  in  thine  appointment,  and  deliver 
me  from  the  calamity  which  Thou  hast  sent  upon  me  !— She  went  on  with  him  until 
she  stationed  him  before  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada,  and  the  old  woman  directed  hin:\ 
on  the  way  as  to  what  he  should  say  to  her.  And  when  he  presented  himself 
before  Nour  Elhada,  he  saw  her  with  a  veil  over  her  face ;  and  he  kissed  the  ground 
before  her,  and  saluted  her.  Then  the  Queen  commanded  the  old  woman  to  talk 
with  him  before  her,  that  she  might  hear  his  answers.     The  old  woman  therefore 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  667 

Baid,  The  Queen  returneth  thy  salutation,  and  saith  to  thee,  What  is  thy  name,  and 
from  what  country  art  thou,  and  what  are  the  names  of  thy  wife  and  thy  children  on 
account  of  whom  thou  hast  come,  and  what  is  the  name  of  thy  country?  So  he 
answered  her  (and  he  had  fortified  his  heart,  and  destiny  aided  him),  O  Queen  of  the 
age  and  period,  and  peerless  one  of  the  time,  as  to  me,  my  name  is  Hassan,  the  very 
mournful,  and  my  city  is  Balsora ;  but  as  to  my  wife,  I  know  not  her  name:  as  to 
my  children,  however,  one  is  named  Nasir,  and  the  other  is  named  Mansour.  And 
when  the  Queen  heard  his  words,  she  said,  And  whence  took  she  her  children?  He 
answered  her,  0  Queen,  from  the  city  of  Bao;dad,  from  the  palace  of  the  Caliph. 
She  then  said  to  him.  And  did  she  say  to  you  aught  at  the  time  of  her  flying  away  ? 
He  answered.  She  said  to  my  mother.  When  thy  son  cometh,  and  the  days  of  separa- 
tion have  become  tedious  to  him,  and  he  desireth  nearness  and  meeting,  and  the 
winds  of  longing  desire  agitate  him,  let  him  come  to  me  in  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak. 
— And  thereupon  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  shook  her  head.  Then  she  said  to  him,  If 
she  desired  thee  not,  she  had  not  said  to  thy  mother  these  words ;  and  if  she  did  not 
desire  thee  and  long  for  thine  approach,  she  had  not  acquainted  thee  with  the  place 
of  her  abode,  nor  summoned  thee  to  her  country.  And  Hassan  said,  0  mistress  of 
Kings,  and  ruler  over  every  King  and  pauper,  I  have  acquainted  thee  with  what 
hath  happened,  and  I  have  not  concealed  of  it  aught.  I  implore  protection  of  God 
and  of  thee,  begging  thee  not  to  oppress  me.  Have  compassion  upon  me,  and  gain 
the  recompense  and  reward  that  will  be  given  for  me,  and  aid  me  to  accomplish  my 
reunion  with  my  wife  and  my  children  :  dispel  my  sorrow  and  cheer  mine  eye  by  the 
restoration  of  my  children,  and  help  me  with  a  sight  of  them.  —  Then  he  wept  and 
yearned  and  lamented,  and  recited  some  verses. 

Upon  this,  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  hung  down  her  head  towards  the  ground  and 
shook  it  for  a  long  time ;  after  which,  she  raised  it,  and  said  to  him,  I  have  com- 
passionated thee  and  pitied  thee,  and  I  have  determined  that  I  will  display  to  thee 
every  damsel  in  the  city  and  in  the  districts  of  my  island;  and  if  thou  know  thy 
wife  I  will  deliver  her  to  thee ;  but  if  thou  know  her  not,  I  will  slay  thee,  and 
crucify  thee  upon  the  door  of  the  house  of  the  old  woman.  And  Hassan  replied,  I 
accept  this  proposal  from  thee,  O  Queen  of  the  age.  I  consent  to  the  conditi(m  which 
thou  hast  imposed,  and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the 
Great ! — The  Queen  Nour  Elhada  then  gave  orders  that  no  damsel  in  the  city  should 
remain  without  coming  up  to  the  palace  and  passing  before  him,  and  she  ordered 
the  old  woman  Shawahi  herself  to  go  down  into  the  city  and  to  bring  every  damsel 
therein  to  the  Queen  in  her  palace.  The  Queen  proceeded  to  introduce  the  damsels 
to  Hassan,  a  hundred  after  a  hundred,  until  there  remained  not  in  the  city  a  damsel 
whom  she  did  not  display  to  him.  But  he  saw  not  his  wife  among  them.  The 
Queen  asked  him  and  said  to  him,  Hast  thou  seen  her  among  these?  And  he 
answered  her.  By  thy  life,  0  Queen,  she  is  not  among  them.  And  thereupon  the 
rage  of  the  Queen  became  violent  against  him,  and  she  said  to  the  old  woman.  Enter, 
and  bring  out  every  one  who  is  in  the  palace  and  display  them  to  him.  But  when 
she  displayed  to  him  every  one  in  the  palace,  he  saw  not  his  wife  among  them  ;  and 
he  said  to  the  Queen,  By  thy  head,  0  Queen,  she  is  not  among  them.  So  she  was 
enraged,  and  she  cried  out  to  those  around  her,  saying.  Take  him  and  drag  him 
upon  his  face  on  the  ground,  and  smite  off  his  head,  lest  any  one  after  him  expose 
himself  to  peril  and  become  acquainted  with  our  condition,  and  come  unto  us  in  our 
country,  and  tread  our  land  and  our  islands. 

Accordingly  they  dragged  him  along  upon  his  face,  threw  his  skirt  over  him, 
bound  his  eyes,  and  stood  with  the  swords  over  his  head,  waiting  for  permission. 
And  upon  this,  Shawahi  advanced  to  the  Queen,  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and, 
taking  hold  of  her  skirt,  raised  it  over  her  head,  and  said  to  her,  0  Queen,  by  the 
claim  that  I  have  upon  thee  for  rearing  thee,  hasten  not  to  punish  him,  especially 
since  thou  knowest  that  this  poor  man  is  a  stranger,  who  hath  exposed  himself  to 
peril,  and  endured  events  that  none  hath  endured  before  him,  and  God  (to  whom  be 


668  THE   STORY   OF  HASSAN   OF  BALSORA. 

ascribed  mij^htand  glory!)  hath  saved  him  from  death  on  account  of  the  predestined 
length  of  his  life.  He  had  heard  of  thy  justice,  and  entered  thy  country  and  thine 
asylum:  therefore,  if  thou  slay  him,  the  news  will  be  spread  abroad  by  the  travellers, 
respecting  thee,  that  thou  hatest  the  strangers,  and  slayest  them.  He  is  at  all  events 
in  thy  power,  and  the  victim  of  thy  sword  if  his  wife  appear  not  in  thy  country;  and 
at  whatever  time  thou  shalt  desire  his  presence  I  shall  be  able  to  bring  him  back 
unto  thee.  Moreover,  I  granted  him  not  protection  save  with  the  desire  of  thy 
generosity,  on  account  of  the  claim  that  I  have  upon  thee  for  having  reared  thee:  so 
I  pledged  myself  to  him  that  thou  wouldst  enable  him  to  attain  the  object  of  his 
search,  because  I  knew  thy  justice  and  thy  clemency.  Had  I  not  known  this  of  thee, 
I  had  not  brought  him  into  thy  country,  and  said  within  myself.  The  Queen  will 
divert  herself  by  seeing  him,  and  by  hearing  the  verses  and  the  charming  and  elo- 
quent words  which  he  will  utter,  and  which  will  be  like  strung  pearls.  This  man 
hath  entered  our  country  and  eaten  our  food :  so  it  is  expedient  that  we  give  him  his 
due,  especially  since  I  promised  him  an  interview  with  thee  ;  and  thou  knowest  that 
separation  is  hard  to  endure,  and  knowest  that  separation  is  slaughter,  especially 
separation  from  one's  children.  Now  there  remaineth  not  any  one  of  the  women  for 
us  to  display  excepting  thee:  therefore  show  him  thy  face. 

At  this  the  Queen  smiled,  and  she  said.  How  can  he  be  my  husband,  and  have 
had  children  by  me,  that  I  should  show  him  my  face?  Then  she  gave  orders  to 
bring  him,  wherefore  they  brought  him  in  to  her,  and  stationed  him  before  her,  and 
she  uncovered  her  face ;  and  when  Hassan  beheld  it,  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  fell 
down  in  a  fit.  So  the  old  woman  ceased  not  to  soothe  him  until  he  recovered  ;  and 
•when  he  recovered  from  his  fit,  he  arose  and  looked  at  the  Queen,  and  again  uttered 
a  great  cry,  whereat  the  palace  almost  fell  upon  those  who  were  in  it.  Then  a 
second  time  he  fell  down  in  a  fit,  and  the  old  woman,  as  before,  ceased  not  to  soothe 
him  until  he  recovered,  when  she  asked  him  respecting  his  state,  and  he  replied, 
Verily  this  Queen  is  either  my  wife,  or  she  is  most  like,  of  all  persons,  to  my  wife. 
So  the  Queen  said  to  the  old  woman.  Wo  to  thee,  0  nurse !  Verily  this  stranger  is 
mad,  or  disordered  in  mind  ;  for  he  looketh  in  my  face  and  stareth. — The  old  woman 
replied,  0  Queen,  this  man  is  excusable ;  therefore  blame  him  not,  since  it  is  said  in 
the  proverb,  For  the  sick  of  love  there  is  no  remedy,  and  he  and  the  mad  are  alike. 
■ — Then  Hassan  wept  violently,  and  said  to  the  Queen,  By  Allah,  thou  art  not  my 
wife  ;  but,  of  all  persons,  thou  art  the  most  like  to  her.  And  the  Queen  Nour  El- 
hada  laughed  until  she  fell  backwards  and  turned  upon  her  side.  She  then  said,  0 
my  friend,  act  leisurely,  and  observe  me  distinctly,  and  answer  me  respecting  that 
of  which  I  shall  ask  thee,  and  dismiss  from  thy  mind  insanity  and  perplexity  and 
confusion  ;  for  relief  hath  approached  thee.  So  Hassan  replied,  0  mistress  of  Kings, 
and  refuge  of  every  rich  person  and  pauper,  when  I  beheld  thee,  I  became  mad,  seeing 
thee  to  be  either  my  wife,  or,  of  all  persons,  the  most  like  to  my  wife ;  and  now  ask 
me  concerning  what  thou  wilt.  And  she  said.  What  is  there  in  thy  wife  that  re- 
sembleth  me?  He  answered,  0  my  mistress,  all  that  thou  hast  of  beauty  and  love- 
liness, and  elegance  and  amorous  manner  (as  the  justness  of  thy  shape,  and  the 
sweetness  of  thy  speech,  and  the  redness  of  thy  cheeks,  and  other  things)  resembleth 
her.  Then  the  Queen  looked  towards  Shawahi  the  mother  of  sorrows,  and  said  to 
her,  0  my  mother,  take  him  back  to  his  place  where  he  was  with  thee,  and  do  thou 
thyself  serve  him  until  I  investig.ate  his  case  ;  and  if  this  man  be  a  person  of  gene- 
rosity, so  that  he  retain  the  feelings  of  companionship  and  friendship  and  affection, 
it  will  be  incumbent  on  us  to  aid  him  in  the  accomplishment  of  his  affair,  especially 
since  he  hath  sojourned  in  our  country  and  eaten  our  food,  and  endured  the  difli- 
culties  of  travel,  and  undergone  horrors  and  perils.  But  when  thou  hast  conveyed 
him  to  thy  house,  give  a  charge  respecting  him  to  thy  servants,  and  return  to  me 
speedily;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  nought  but  good 
shall  happen. 

So  thereupon  the  old  woman  went  forth,  and  took  Hassan,  and  having  gone  with 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA.  669 

him  to  her  house,  she  ordered  her  female  shives  and  her  servants  and  other  depend 
ants  to  serve  him,  commanding  them  to  bring  to  him  all  that  he  required,  and  not 
to  fail  in  doing  what  vFas  proper  for  him.  She  then  returned  to  the  Queen  with 
speed,  and  the  Queen  ordered  her  to  arm  herself,  and  to  take  with  her  a  thousand 
brave  horsemen.  And  the  old  woman  Shawahi  obeyed  her  command.  She  put  on 
her  coats  of  mail,  and  summoned  the  thousand  horsemen;  and  when  she  stood  before 
the  Queen,  and  informed  her  that  the  thousand  horsemen  were  ready,  the  Queen 
commanded  her  to  go  to  the  city  of  the  supreme  King,  her  father,  and  to  alight  at 
the  abode  of  his  daughter  Menar  Elsena,  her  sister,  and  to  say  to  her,  Clothe  thy 
two  sons  with  the  two  coats  of  mail  which  I  have  made  for  them,  and  send  them  to 
their  aunt;  for  she  is  desirous  of  seeing  them.  And  she  said  to  her  also,  I  charge 
thee,  0  my  mother,  to  conceal  the  affair  of  Hassan  ;  and  when  thou  hast  received 
the  two  children  from  her,  say  to  her,  Thy  sister  inviteth  thee  to  visit  her.  Then, 
when  she  hath  given  thee  her  two  children  and  come  forth  with  them  to  visit  me, 
bring  thou  the  two  children  speedily,  and  let  her  come  at  her  leisure.  Come  thou 
by  a  way  different  from  that  by  which  she  shall  come,  and  let  thy  journey  be  con- 
tinued night  and  day,  and  beware  that  no  one  become  acquainted  with  this  affair. 
Then  I  will  swear  by  all  oaths,  that  if  my  sister  prove  to  be  his  wife,  and  it  appear 
that  her  children  are  his  children,  I  will  not  prevent  his  taking  her,  nor  her  journey- 
ing with  him  and  with  her  children  to  his  country. — And  the  old  woman  confided  in 
her  words,  not  knowing  what  she  purposed  in  her  mind  ;  for  the  wicked  woman  had 
purposed  in  her  mind,  that  if  she  were  not  his  wife,  and  if  her  children  did  not  re- 
semble him,  she  would  slay  him.  The  Queen  then  said  to  the  old  woman,  0  my 
mother,  if  my  imagination  tell  truth,  my  sister  Menar  Elsena  is  his  wife  (but  God  is 
all  knowing) ;  for  these  characteristics  are  hers,  and  all  the  qualities  that  he  hath 
mentioned,  her  surpassing  loveliness  and  exceeding  beauty,  are  not  found  in  any 
one  except  my  sisters  ;  and  especially  are  they  found  in  the  youngest. — Then  the  old 
woman  kissed  her  hand,  and  returned  to  Hassan,  and  acquainted  him  with  that 
which  the  Queen  had  said  ;  on  his  hearing  which,  his  reason  fled  in  consequence  of 
his  joy,  and  he  arose  and  advanced  to  the  old  woman  and  kissed  her  head.  But  she 
said  to  him,  0  my  son,  kiss  not  my  head:  kiss  me  on  my  mouth,  and  let  this  kiss 
be  a  gratuity  for  thy  safety.  Be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye,  and  let  not  thy 
bosom  be  otherwise  than  dilated ;  and  dislike  not  kissing  me  on  ray  mouth,  for  I 
have  been  the  cause  of  thine  interview  with  her.  Comfort  thy  heart  and  thy  mind, 
and  be  not  otherwise  than  with  dilated  bosom,  cheerful  eye,  and  tranquil  soul. — She 
then  bade  him  farewell,  and  departed. 

The  old  woman  equipped  herself  with  her  arms,  and,  taking  with  her  a  thousand 
armed  horsemen,  repaired  to  that  island  in  which  was  the  sister  of  the  Queen,  and 
she  proceeded  until  she  came  to  the  Queen's  sister.  Between  the  city  of  Nour  El- 
hada  and  that  of  her  sister  was  a  space  of  three  days'  journey.  And  when  Shawahi 
arrived  at  the  city,  and  went  up  to  the  Queen's  sister,  Menar  Elsena,  she  saluted 
her,  and  gave  her  the  salutation  of  her  sister  Nour  Elhada,  acquainted  her  with  her 
sister's  desire  to  see  her  and  her  children,  and  informed  her  that  the  Queen  Nour 
Elhada  reproved  her  for  not  visiting  her.  So  the  Queen  Menar  Elsena  replied, 
Verily  I  am  indebted  to  my  sister,  and  I  have  been  deficient  in  the  duty  I  owe  her, 
in  my  not  visiting  her;  but  I  will  visit  her  now.  She  then  gave  orders  to  take  forth 
her  tents  to  the  outside  of  the  city,  and  took  with  her  for  her  sister  a  present  and 
rarities  suitable  to  her.  And  her  father  the  King,  looking  from  the  windows  of  the 
palace,  saw  the  tents  pitched.  He  therefore  asked  respecting  them;  and  they 
answered  him,  the  Queen  Menar  Elsena  hath  pitched  her  tents  in  that  route  ;  for 
she  desireth  to  visit  her  sister  Nour  Elhada.  And  when  the  King  heard  thereof, 
he  prepared  for  her  some  troops  to  conduct  her  to  her  sister,  and  took  forth  from  his 
treasuries,  of  riches,  and  of  food  and  drink,  and  of  rarities  and  jewels,  what  words 
•would  fail  to  describe.  The  seven  daughters  of  the  King  were  of  one  father  and 
one   mother,   except   the   youngest :    the   eldest  was    named    Nour  Elhada ;    the 


670  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

second,  Nejm  Elsabah ;  the  third,  Shems  Eldoha;  the  fourth,  Shejcret  Eldurr; 
the  fifth,  Kout  Elkuloub ;  the  sixth,  Sharaf  Elbenat ;  and  the  seventh,  Menar 
Elsena ;  and  she  was  the  youngest  of  them,  and  was  the  wife  of  Hassan,  and  she 
was  their  sister  by  the  father's  side  only.  Then  the  old  woman  came  and 
kissed  the  ground  before  Menar  Elsena.  So  Menar  Elsena  said  to  her,  Hast 
thou  any  want,  0  my  mother?  And  she  answered  her.  The  Queen  Nour  Elhada, 
thy  sister,  desireth  thee  to  change  the  apparel  of  thy  two  sons  and  to  clothe 
them  with  the  two  coats  of  mail  which  she  hath  made  for  them,  and  to  send  them 
with  me  unto  her,  and  I  will  take  them  and  go  on  before  with  them,  and  will  be  the 
announcer  of  the  glad  tidings  of  thy  coming  to  her.  But  when  Menar  Elsena  heard 
the  words  of  the  old  woman,  she  hung  down  her  head  towards  the  ground,  and  her 
complexion  had  changed  ;  and  she  ceased  not  to  hang  down  her  head  for  a  long 
time.  Then  she  shook  her  head,  and,  raising  it  towards  the  old  woman,  said  to  her, 
0  my  mother,  my  mind  was  violently  agitated,  and  my  heart  throbbed,  when  thou 
mentionedst  my  children  ;  for  from  the  time  of  their  birth  none  of  the  Genii  nor 
any  of  mankind  hath  seen  their  faces,  neither  female  nor  male,  and  I  am  jealous 
for  them,  of  the  zephyr  when  it  bloweth  in  the  night.  So  the  old  woman  said  to 
her.  What  are  these  words,  0  my  mistress?  Dost  thou  fear,  on  their  account,  thy 
sister?  Allah  preserve  thy  reason  !  If  thou  wouldst  disobey  the  Queen  in  this  thing, 
thou  couldst  not  disobey;  for  she  would  reprove  thee.  However,  0  my  mistress, 
thy  children  are  young,  and  thou  art  excusable  in  fearing  for  them,  and  the  loving 
is  addicted  to  evil  imagination.  But,  0  my  daughter,  thou  knowest  my  kindness 
and  my  love  for  thee  and  for  thy  children,  and  I  reared  you  before  them.  I  will  re- 
ceive them  and  take  them,  and  spread  for  them  my  cheek  as  a  carpet,  and  open  my 
heart  and  put  them  within  it,  and  I  require  no  charge  respecting  them  in  such  a 
case  as  this.  Therefore  be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye,  and  send  them  to  her, 
and  at  most  I  shall  be  before  thee  one  day  or  two. — She  ceased  not  to  urge  her  until 
her  temper  was  softened,  and  she  feared  the  anger  of  her  sister,  and  knew  not  what 
was  concealed  from  her  in  the  secret  purpose  of  God.  So  she  consented  to  send  them 
with  the  old  woman,  and,  having  called  for  them,  she  bathed  them  and  made  them 
ready,  changed  their  apparel,  clad  them  with  the  two  coats  of  mail,  and  delivered 
them  to  the  old  woman. 

She  therefore  took  them  and  proceeded  with  them  like  a  bird,  by"  a  different  way 
from  that  by  which  their  mother  was  going,  as  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  had  charged 
her.  She  ceased  not  to  prosecute  her  journey  with  diligence,  fearing  for  them,  until 
she  arrived  with  them  in  the  city  of  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada.  She  crossed  the  river 
with  them,  entered  the  city,  and  went  with  them  to  the  Queen  their  aunt;  and  when 
the  Queen  saw  them,  she  rejoiced  at  their  arrival,  embraced  them  and  pressed  them 
to  her  bosom,  and  seated  one  upon  her  right  thigh,  and  the  other  upon  her  left  thigh. 
Then  she  looked  towards  the  old  woman,  and  said  to  her.  Bring  now  Hassan  ;  for  I 
have  given  him  my  protection,  and  granted  him  deliverance  from  my  sword,  and  he 
hath  sought  defence  in  my  mansion,  and  alighted  in  my  abode,  after  having  endured 
horrors  and  diflBculties,  and  escaped  the  causes  of  death  that  were  attended  by  in- 
creasing anxiety,  yet  to  the  present  time  hath  not  become  secure  from  drinking  the 
cup  of  death,  and  from  the  stopping  of  his  breath.  The  old  woman  therefore  said 
to  her.  If  I  bring  him  before  thee,  wilt  thou  reunite  him  and  them  ;  and  if  it  appear 
not  that  they  are  his  children,  wilt  thou  pardon  him,  and  send  him  back  to  his 
country?  But  when  the  Queen  heard  her  words  she  was  violently  enraged,  and  said, 
Wo  to  thee,  0  ill-omened  old  woman  !  How  long  shall  continue  this  guile  in  the 
affair  of  this  stranger,  who  hath  emboldened  himself  against  us,  and  removed  our 
veil,  and  become  acquainted  with  our  circumstances?  Doth  he  imagine  that  he  can 
come  to  our  country,  and  see  our  faces,  and  soil  our  reputations,  and  return  to  his 
country  in  safety,  and  disgrace  us  in  his  country  and  among  his  people,  and  that 
our  story  shall  reach  all  the  Kings  in  the  regions  of  the  earth,  and  the  merchants 
travel  about  relating  our  story  in  every  quarter,  and  saying,  A  human  being  hath 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  671 

entered  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and  crossed  the  countries  of  the  enchanters  and 
sorcerers,  and  trud  the  Land  of  the  Genii  and  the  Lands  of  the  Wild  Beasts  and  the 
Birds,  and  returned  in  safety?  This  shall  never  be.  I  swear  by  the  Creator  of 
Heaven,  and  its  Architect,  and  the  Expander  of  the  Earth,  and  its  Spreader,  and 
the  Creator  of  the  Creatures,  and  their  Numberer,  if  they  be  not  his  children,  I  will 
surely  slay  him,  and  I  will  be  the  smiter  off  of  his  head  with  mine  own  hand ! — 
She  then  cried  out  at  the  old  woman,  who  thereupon  fell  down  through  fear ;  and 
she  set  upon  her  the  chamberlain  and  twenty  mamlouks,  and  said  to  them,  Go  with 
this  old  woman,  and  bring  me  the  young  man  who  is  in  her  house  with  speed. 

So  the  old  woman  went  forth,  dragged  along,  with  the  chamberlain  and  the  mam- 
louks ;  and  her  complexion  had  turned  sallow,  and  the  muscles  of  her  side  quivered. 
She  proceeded  to  her  abode,  and  went  in  to  Hassan  ;  and  when  she  went  in  to  him, 
he  rose  to  her  and  kissed  her  hands  and  saluted  her.  She,  however,  saluted  not 
him  ;  but  said  to  him.  Arise,  and  answer  the  summons  of  the  Queen.  Did  I  not  say 
to  thee.  Return  to  thy  country — and  did  I  not  forbid  thy  doing  all  this?  But  thou 
heardest  not  my  words.  And  did  I  not  say  to  thee,  I  will  give  thee  what  none  is 
able  to  procure,  and  return  thou  to  thy  country  soon  ?  But  thou  obeyedst  me  not, 
nor  heardest  my  words,  but  actedst  contrary  to  my  advice,  and  chosest  destruction 
for  me  and  for  thyself.  Take  then  what  thou  hast  chosen  ;  for  death  is  near.  Arise  ; 
answer  the  summons  of  this  wicked,  sinful,  oppressive,  tyrannical  woman.  —  So 
Hassan  arose,  broken-spirited,  with  mourning  heart,  fearing,  and  saying,  0  God  of 
peace,  preserve  me!  0  Allah,  act  graciously  with  me  in  the  trial  which  Thou  hast 
decreed  to  fall  upon  me,  and  protect  me,  0  most  merciful  of  those  who  show  mercy ! 
— And  he  had  despaired  of  life.  He  repaired  with  the  twenty  mamlouks  and  the 
chamberlain  and  the  old  woman,  and  they  went  in  to  the  Queen  with  Hassan,  who 
found  his  two  sons  Nasir  and  Mansour  sitting  in  her  lap,  and  she  was  playing  with 
them,  and  cheering  them  by  conversation.  When  his  eye  fell  upon  them,  he  knew 
them,  and,  uttering  a  great  cry,  fell  upon  the  floor  in  a  fit  by  reason  of  the  violence 
of  his  joy  at  seeing  his  two  children  ;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  knew  his  children, 
and  they  knew  him,  and  natural  affection  moved  them  so  that  they  extricated  them- 
selves from  the  lap  of  the  Queen,  and  stood  by  Hassan  ;  and  God  (to  whom  be 
ascribed  might  and  glory!)  caused  them  to  utter  the  exclamation,  0  our  father! 
Upon  this,  the  old  woman  and  the  rest  who  were  present  wept  in  compassion  and 
pity  for  them,  and  said.  Praise  be  to  God,  who  hath  reunited  you  to  your  father ! 
And  when  Hassan  recovered  from  his  fit,  he  embraced  his  children. 

But  when  the  Queen  had  certified  herself  that  the  little  ones  were  the  children  of 
Hassan,  and  that  her  sister,  the  lady  Menar  Elsena,  was  his  wife,  in  search  of  whom 
he  had  come,  she  was  enraged  against  her  with  a  violent  rage,  not  to  be  exceeded  ; 
and  she  cried  out  in  the  face  of  Hassan,  who  fainted  thereupon  ;  and  when  he  re- 
covered from  his  fit,  he  saw  that  they  had  taken  him  forth,  dragged  along  upon  his 
face.  So  he  arose  and  walked,  stumbling  upon  his  skirts,  and  not  believing  in  his 
escape  from  that  which  he  had  suffered  from  her;  and  this  was  grievous  to  the  old 
woman  Shawahi ;  but  she  could  not  address  the  Queen  on  the  subject  of  his  case  by 
reason  of  the  violence  of  her  anger.  Now  when  Hassan  went  forth  from  the  palace, 
he  became  perplexed,  not  knowing  whither  to  go,  nor  to  what  place  to  come,  nor 
whither  to  repair.  The  world,  with  its  amplitude,  became  strait  unto  him,  and  he 
found  not  any  one  to  converse  with  him  and  cheer  him  by  his  company,  nor  any 
one  to  comfort  him,  nor  any  one  of  whom  to  ask  advice,  nor  any  one  to  whom  to 
resort  and  to  whom  to  apply  for  refuge.  He  therefore  made  sure  of  destruction  ; 
for  he  was  unable  to  travel,  and  knew  not  any  one  with  whom  to  travel,  nor  knew 
he  the  way,  nor  was  he  able  to  traverse  the  Valley  of  the  Genii,  and  the  Land  of  the 
Wild  Beasts,  and  the  Islands  of  the  Birds:  therefore  he  despaired  of  life.  Then  he 
wept  for  himself  until  he  fainted  ;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  thought  upon  his  chil- 
dren and  his  wife,  and  her  coming  to  her  sister,  and  thought  upon  what  might 
happen  to  her  with  the  Queen,  her  sister.     He  repented  of  his  having  come  to  this 


672  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN    OP   BALSORA. 

country,  and  of  hi3  not  h-^-ving  attended  to  the  words  of  any  one  ;  and  he  recited 
some  mournful  verses  ;  after  which  he  ceased  not  to  walk  on  until  he  went  forth  to 
the  outside  of  the  city,  when  he  found  the  river,  and  he  proceeded  along  its  bank, 
not  knowing  whither  to  repair. 

But  as  to  his  wife,  Menar  Eisena,  she  desired  to  set  forth  on  her  journey  on  the 
second  day  after  that  on  which  the  old  woman  set  forth. — While,  however,  she  was 
meditating  to  depart,  lo,  the  chamberlain  of  the  King  her  fiither  came  in  to  her,  and 
kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  said  to  her,  0  Queen,  thy  father  the  supreme  King 
3aluteth  thee  and  calleth  thee  to  him.  So  she  arose  and  repaired  with  the  chamber- 
lain to  her  father  to  see  what  he  wanted.  And  when  her  father  saw  her,  he  seated 
her  by  his  side  upon  the  couch,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  know  that  I  have 
seen  this  last  night  a  vision,  and  I  fear  for  thee  in  consequence  thereof,  and  fear 
that  there  will  occur  to  thee,  from  this  thy  journey,  long-continued  anxiety.  She 
therefore  said  to  him,  Wherefore,  0  my  father;  and  what  didst  thou  see  in  thy 
sleep?  And  he  answered,  I  beheld  as  though  I  entered  a  repository  of  treasure, 
and  saw  in  it  great  riohes,  and  jewels  and  jacinths  in  abundance,  and  as  though 
there  pleased  me  not  in  all  that  treasure,  nor  among  all  those  jewels,  aught  save 
seven  beads,  which  were  the  most  Vjeautiful  of  the  things  there.  And  I  chose,  of 
the  seven  jewels,  one,  which  was  the  smallest  of  them,  and  the  most  beautiful  of 
them,  and  the  most  excellent  of  them  in  brilliancy  ;  and  it  seemed  as  though  I  took 
it  in  my  hand,  when  its  beauty  pleased  me,  and  went  forth  with  it  from  the  reposi- 
tory of  treasure.  But  when  I  went  forth  from  its  door,  I  opened  my  hand,  being 
joyful,  and  turned  over  the  jewel ;  and  lo,  a  strange  bird  had  approached  from  a 
distant  country — it  was  not  of  the  birds  of  our  country — and  it  pounced  down  upon 
me  from  the  sky,  seized  the  jewel  from  my  hand,  and  returned  with  it  to  the  place 
whence  it  had  come.  So  anxiety  and  sorrow  and  vexation  came  upon  me,  and  I 
was  affected  with  exceeding  terror,  which  roused  me  from  my  sleep,  and  I  awoke 
mournful,  lamenting  the  loss  of  that  jewel.  Therefore  when  I  awoke,  I  summoned 
the  interpreters  and  expounders,  and  related  to  them  my  dream  ;  and  they  said  to 
me.  Thou  hast  seven  daughters,  the  youngest  of  whom  thou  wilt  lose,  and  she  will 
be  taken  from  thee  forcibly,  without  thy  consent.  Now  thou,  0  my  daughter,  art 
the  youngest  of  my  daughters,  and  the  dearest  of  them  in  my  estimation,  and  the 
most  generous  of  them  to  me  ;  and  now  thou  art  about  to  journey  to  thy  sister,  and 
I  know  not  what  will  befall  thee  from  her ;  therefore  go  not ;  but  return  to  thy 
palace.  —  And  when  Menar  Eisena  heard  the  words  of  her  father,  her  heart  throb- 
bed, and  she  feared  for  her  children,  and  hung  down  her  head  for  a  while  towards 
the  ground.  Then  she  raised  her  head  towards  her  father,  and  said  to  him,  0  King^ 
verily  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  hath  prepared  for  me  an  entertainment,  and  she  is 
expecting  my  coming  to  her  hour  after  hour.  For  four  years  she  hath  not  seen  me, 
and  if  I  delay  visiting  her,  she  will  be  incensed  against  me;  and  the  utmost  period 
of  my  stay  with  her  will  be  a  month,  after  which  I  shall  be  with  thee  again.  Be- 
sides, who  is  this  person  who  can  invade  our  country,  and  gain  access  to  the  Islands 
of  Wak-Wak?  And  who  can  gain  access  to  the  White  Land,  and  the  Black  Moun- 
tain, and  come  to  the  Island  of  Camphor,  and  the  Castle  of  Crystal ;  and  how  can 
he  traverse  the  Valley  of  the  Birds ;  then  the  Valley  of  the  Wild  Beasts  ;  then  the 
Valley  of  the  Genii ;  and  then  enter  our  Islands  ?  If  any  stranger  came  in  to  them, 
he  would  be  drowned  in  the  seas  of  destruction.  Therefore  let  thy  soul  be  happy 
and  thine  eye  be  cheerful  with  regard  to  my  journey,  for  no  one  hath  power  to  tread 
our  land. — And  she  ceased  not  to  persuade  him  until  he  granted  her  permission  to 
go.  He  then  ordered  a  thousand  horsemen  to  journey  with  her,  to  conduct  her  to 
the  river,  and  there  to  remain  until  she  should  arrive  at  the  city  of  her  sister,  and 
enter  her  sister's  palace.  He  also  ordered  them  to  remain  with  her  till  they  should 
take  her  and  bring  her  back  to  her  father;  and  her  father  charged  her  that  she 
should  remain  with  her  sister  two  days  only,  and  then  return  speedily.  So  she  said, 
I  hear  and  obey. 


THE   STORY   OF  HASSAN   OF  BALSORA. 


673 


She  then  arose  and  went  forth,  and  her  father  went  forth  with  her,  and  bade  her 
farewell.  The  words  of  her  father  had  made  an  impression  upon  her  heart,  and  she 
feared  for  her  children  ;  but  fortifying  oneself  by  caution  against  the  assault  of 
destiny  is  of  no  avail.  She  prosecuted  her  journey  with  diligence  for  three  days  with 
their  nights,  until  she  arrived  at  the  river,  and  pitched  her  tents  on  its  bank.  Then 
she  crossed  the  river,  having  with  her  some  of  her  pages  and  other  followers,  and 
her  Viziers  ;  and  when  she  arrived  at  the  city  of  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada,  she 
ascended  to  the  palace,  and  went  in  to  her ;  and  she  saw  her  children  weeping  by 
lier,  and  crying  out,  0  our  father !  So  the  tears  flowed  from  her  eyes,  and  she  wept, 
and,  pressing  her  children  to  her  bosom,  she  said  to  them.  Have  ye  seen  your  father? 
Would  that  the  hour  had  never  been  when  I  parted  from  him  !  And  if  I  knew  that 
he  were  in  the  abode  of  the  world,  I  would  convey  you  to  him.  —  She  then  lamented 
for  herself  and  for  her  husband  and  for  the  weeping  of  her  children.  But  when  her 
sister  saw  that  she  pressed  her  children  to  her  bosom,  and  said,  I  have  occasioned 
this  to  befall  myself  and  my  children,  and  have  made  my  house  desolate — she  saluted 
her  not:  on  the  contrary,  she  said  to  her,  0  wicked  woman,  how  hadst  thou  these 
children  ?  Hast  thou  married  without  the  knowledge  of  thy  father,  or  hast  thou 
formed  an  unlawful  connection  ?  If  thou  have  done  this,  thou  must  be  severely 
punished ;  and  if  thou  have  married  without  our  knowledge,  wherefore  didst  thou 
quit  thy  husband  and  take  thy  children,  separating  them  from  their  father,  and 
come  to  our  country  ?  Moreover  thou  hast  concealed  thy  children  from  us.  Dost 
thou  imagine  that  we  knew  not  that?  By  Allah  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  who 
knoweth  all  secrets,  thy  case  hath  been  made  manifest  to  us,  and  thy  state  hath  been 


llllllllli 


^^^ 


Menar  Elsena  in  prison. 


revealed,  and  thy  shameful  secrets  have  been  exposed. — Then,  after  that,  she  ordered 
her  guards  to  lay  hold  upon  her.     So  they  seized  her,  and  she  bound  her  hands 
behind  her,  shackled  her  with  shackles  of  iron,  and  inflicted  upon  her  a  painful  beab- 
43 


674  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OP  BALSORA. 

ing,  so  that  she  lacerated  her  skin  ;  and  she  suspended  her  by  her  hair,  put  her  into 
a  prison,  and  wrote  a  letter  to  the  supreme  King,  her  father,  informing  him  of  her 
story,  and  saying  to  him:  — 

There  hath  appeared  in  our  country  a  man  of  the  human  race,  and  my  sister, 
Menar  Elsena,  asserteth  that  she  hath  married  him  lawfully  and  had  by  him  two 
sons,  whom  she  hath  concealed  from  us  and  from  thee ;  but  she  revealed  not  aught 
respecting  herself  until  that  man,  who  is  of  the  human  race,  came  to  us.  His  name 
is  Hassan,  and  he  hath  informed  us  that  he  married  her,  and  that  she  resided  with 
him  a  long  time ;  after  which  she  took  her  children  and  departed  without  his  know- 
ledge, having  told  his  mother,  at  her  departure,  and  said  to  her,  Say  to  thy  son,  when 
he  hath  a  longing  to  see  me,  that  he  must  come  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak.  So  we 
seized  the  man  in  our  abode,  and  I  sent  to  her  the  old  woman  Shawahi  to  bring  her 
to  me,  together  with  her  children  ;  wherefore  she  fitted  herself  out  and  came.  And 
I  had  ordered  the  old  woman  to  bring  to  me  her  children  first,  and  to  come  on  in 
advance  to  me  with  them,  before  the  arrival  of  their  mother.  Accordingly  the  old 
woman  came  with  the  children  before  her  arrival.  Then  I  sent  to  the  man  who 
asserted  her  to  be  his  wife ;  and  when  he  came  in  to  me,  and  saw  the  children,  he 
knew  them.  •  So  I  was  certified  that  they  were  his  children  and  that  she  was  his 
wife,  and  I  knew  that  the  saying  of  the  man  was  true,  that  there  was  no  disgraceful- 
ness  in  him,  and  I  saw  that  the  turpitude  and  disgracefulness  were  in  my  sister.  I 
therefore  feared  that  we  should  be  dishonoured  in  the  opinion  of  the  people  of  our 
islands  ;  and  when  this  wicked  deceitful  woman  came  in  to  me,  I  waa  incensed 
against  her,  and  inflicted  upon  her  a  painful  beating,  and  suspended  her  by  her  hair. 
Now  I  have  acquainted  thee  with  her  story ;  and  it  is  thine  to  command  ;  whatever 
thou  shalt  order  us  to  do,  we  will  do  it.  Thou  knowest  that  this  thing  is  attended 
with  dishonour  to  us,  and  with  disgrace  to  us  and  to  thee ;  for  probably  the  people 
of  the  islands  will  hear  thereof,  and  we  shall  become  among  them  an  example  ; 
wherefore  it  is  expedient  that  thou  return  us  a  reply  speedily. 

She  gave  the  letter  to  the  messenger,  who  went  with  it  to  the  King ;  and  when  the 
supreme  King  read  it,  he  was  violently  enraged  against  his  daughter  Menar  Elsena, 
and  wrote  to  his  daughter  Nour  Elhada,  a  letter,  in  which  he  said  to  her,  I  have 
committed  her  case  unto  thee,  and  given  thee  power  over  her  life;  and  if  the  thing 
be  as  thou  hast  said,  slay  her,  and  consult  me  not  respecting  her  case.  So  when 
the  letter  of  her  father  came  to  her,  and  she  read  it,  she  sent  to  Menar  Elsena,  and 
caused  her  to  be  brought  before  her.  She  was  drowned  in  her  blood,  having  her 
hands  bound  behind  her  with  her  hair,  shackled  with  heavy  shackles  of  iron,  and 
upon  her  was  apparel  of  hair-cloth.  They  stationed  her  before  the  Queen,  and  she 
stood  abject  and  abased  ;  and  when  she  beheld  herself  in  this  state  of  great  abase- 
ment, and  excessive  contempt,  she  reflected  upon  her  former  glory,  and  wept  violently, 
until  she  fell  down  in  a  fit;  and  when  she  recovered,  she  recited  some  other  verses. 

Her  sister  then  caused  a  ladder  of  wood  to  be  brought  to  her,  and  extended  her 
upon  it,  and  ordered  the  servants  to  bind  her  upon  her  back  on  the  ladder,  stretched 
forth  her  arms  and  tied  them  with  cords,  uncovered  her  head,  and  wound  her  hair 
upon  the  ladder ;  and  pity  for  her  had  been  eradicated  from  her  heart.  So  when 
Menar  Elsena  beheld  herself  in  this  state  of  abasement  and  contempt,  she  cried  out 
and  wept;  but  no  one  aided  her.  She  said  to  the  Queen,  0  my  sister,  how  is  it  that 
thy  heart  is  hardened  against  me,  and  thou  hast  no  mercy  on  me,  nor  hast  mercy 
on  these  little  infants?  But  when  she  heard  these  words,  her  hardness  of  heart  in- 
creased, and  she  reviled  her,  and  said  to  her,  0  wanton  !  0  wicked  woman  !  May 
God  show  no  mercy  to  the  person  who  showeth  mercy  to  thee !  How  can  I  have 
pity  on  thee,  0  deceitful  woman? — So  Menar  Elsena,  lying  stretched  (as  above 
described),  said  to  her,  I  appeal  against  thee  to  the  Lord  of  Heaven  with  regard  to 
that  wherewith  thou  reproachest  me,  and  I  am  innocent  of  it.  By  Allah,  I  have 
not  formed  an  unlawful  connection  ;  but  I  married  him  legally ;  and  my  Lord 
knoweth  whether  my  words  be  true  or  not.     My  heart  is  incensed  against  thee  on 


THE  STORY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA.  675 

account  of  the  excessive  hardness  of  thy  heart  towards  me.  How  is  it  that  thou 
accusest  me  of  dishonesty  without  knowledge  thereof?  But  my  Lord  will  deliver 
me  from  thee  ;  and  if  the  accusation  of  dishonesty  that  thou  hast  brought  against 
me  be  true,  God  will  punish  me  for  it. — And  her  sister  meditated  in  her  mind  when 
she  heard  her  words,  and  said  to  her.  How  is  it  that  thou  addressest  me  with  these 
words?  Then  she  arose  and  advanced  to  her,  and  beat  her  until  she  fainted;  and 
they  sprinkled  water  upon  her  face  till  she  recovered.  Her  charms  had  become 
changed  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  the  beating,  and  the  tightness  of  the  bonds, 
and  the  excessive  insult  that  she  had  experienced;  and  she  recited  verses :  —  But 
•when  Nour  Elhada  heard  her  verses,  she  was  violently  incensed,  and  said  to  her, 
Dost  thou  speak,  0  wicked  woman,  befoi-e  me  in  verse,  and  seek  to  excuse  thyself 
for  the  heinous  sins  that  thou  hast  committed?  It  was  my  desire  that  thou  shouldst 
return  to  thy  husband,  in  order  that  I  might  witness  thy  wickedness  and  thy  turpi- 
tude ;  for  thou  gloriest  in  the  wickedness  and  shameful  conduct  and  heinous  sins 
that  have  proceeded  from  thee.  —  She  then  ordered  the  pages  to  bring  her  the  palm- 
stick:  so  they  brought  it;  and  she  arose  and  tucked  up  the  sleeves  from  her  arms, 
and  fell  to  beating  her  from  her  head  to  her  feet;  after  which  she  called  for  a  plaited 
whip,  such  that  if  an  elephant  were  beaten  with  it  he  would  trot  with  speed  ;  and 
she  fell  to  beating  her  with  that  whip  upon  her  back  and  her  stomach  and  all  her 
limbs  until  she  f\iinted. — Now  when  the  old  woman  Shawahi  saw  this  that  the  Queen 
did,  she  went  forth  fleeing  from  before  her,  and  weeping  and  cursing  her.  But  the 
Queen  cried  out  to  the  servants,  and  said  to  them,  Bring  her  to  me !  So  they  ran 
together  after  her,  and  laid  hold  upon  her,  and  brought  her  before  the  Queen,  who 
gave  orders  to  throw  her  upon  the  ground,  and  said  to  the  female  slaves.  Drag  her 
along  on  her  face,  and  turn  her  out.  Accordingly  they  dragged  her  and  turned  her 
out  from  before  the  Queen. 

As  to  Hassan,  however,  he  arose  with  firmness,  and  walked  along  the  bank  of  the 
river,  and  turned  his  face  towards  the  desert.  He  was  perplexed,  anxious,  despair- 
ing of  life,  and  he  had  become  confounded,  not  knowing  night  from  day,  by  reason 
of  the  violence  of  the  afflictions  that  had  befallen  him.  He  ceased  not  to  walk  on 
until  he  came  to  a  tree,  and  he  found  upon  it  a  paper  suspended.  So  he  took  it  with 
his  hand,  and  looked  at  it ;  and  lo,  on  it  were  written  consoling  verses.  And  when 
he  had  finished  reading  the  paper,  he  felt  sure  of  escape  from  trouble,  and  of  effect- 
ing his  reunion.  Then  he  went  on  two  steps,  and  found  himself  alone  in  a  desert, 
perilous  place,  without  any  one  by  whose  society  to  cheer  himself;  wherefore  his 
reason  fled  in  consequence  of  his  solitude  and  fear,  the  muscles  of  his  side  quivered 
on  account  of  this  fearful  place,  and  he  recited  some  verses. 

After  that  he  proceeded  along  the  bank  of  the  river  two  steps  further,  and  he 
found  two  young  boys,  of  the  sons  of  the  enchanters  and  sorcerers.  Before  them 
was  a  rod  of  brass,  engraved  with  talismans,  and  by  the  side  of  the  rod  was  a  cap 
of  leather,  the  crown  of  which  was  composed  of  three  triangular  pieces,  whereon 
were  worked,  in  steel,  names,  and  characters  of  seals.  The  rod  and  the  cap  were 
thrown  upon  the  ground,  and  the  two  boys  were  disputing  and  beating  each  other 
on  account  of  them,  so  that  blood  flowed  from  them,  while  this  said.  None  shall 
take  the  rod  but  I — and  the  other  said,  None  shall  take  the  rod  but  I.  So  Hassan 
interposed  between  them,  and  disengaged  them,  one  from  the  other,  and  said  to 
them.  What  is  the  cause  of  this  contention?  And  they  answered  him,  0  uncle, 
judge  between  us;  for  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  hath  sent  thee  to  us  in  order 
that  thou  shouldst  decide  between  us  justly.  He  therefore  said,  Relate  to  me  your 
story,  and  I  will  judge  between  you.  And  one  of  them  said  to  him.  We  are  two 
brothers  by  the  same  father  and  mother,  and  our  father  was  one  of  the  great  en- 
chanters. He  resided  in  a  cavern  in  this  mountain,  and  he  died,  leaving  to  us  this 
cap  and  this  rod  ;  and  my  brother  saith,  None  shall  take  the  rod  but  I — and  I  say. 
None  shall  take  it  but  I.  So  judge  between  us,  and  deliver  us,  one  from  another. — 
Therefore  when  Hassan  heard  their  words,  he  said  to  them.  What  is  the  difference 


676  THE  STOKY  OF  HASSAN  OF  BALSORA. 

between  the  rod  and  the  cap,  and  what  is  their  value?  For  the  rod,  in  appearance, 
is  worth  six  farthings,  and  the' cap  is  worth  three  farthings. —  They  replied.  Thou 
knowest  not  their  virtues.  And  he  said  to  them,  What  are  their  virtues  ?  They 
answered  hiin,  In  each  of  them  is  a  wonderful  secret  property  ;  for  the  rod  is  worth 
the  revenue  of  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  with  their  districts,  and  the  cap  in  like 
manner.  So  Hassan  said  to  one  of  them,  0  my  son.  By  Allah,  discover  to  me  their 
secret  properties.  And  he  replied,  0  uncle,  verily  their  secret  properties  are  extra- 
ordinary ;  for  our  father  lived  a  hundred  and  thirty-five  years  applying  himself  to 
the  contrivance  of  them  until  he  finished  them  in  the  most  perfect  manner,  ingrafted 
in  them  the  secret  virtues,  made  use  of  them  for  extraordinary  services,  designed 
upon  them  the  similitude  of  the  revolving  firmament,  and  dissolved,  by  their  means, 
all  talismanic  charms ;  and  when  he  had  finished  the  contrivance  of  them,  death, 
which  every  one  must  experience,  overtook  him.  Now  as  to  the  cap,  its  secret  pro- 
perty is  this :  that  whosoever  putteth  it  on  his  head,  he  is  concealed  from  the  eyes 
of  all  people,  and  no  one  seeth  him  as  long  as  it  remaineth  on  his  head.  And  as  to 
the  rod,  this  is  its  secret  property:  that  whosoever  possesseth  it,  he  hath  authority 
over  seven  tribes  of  the  Genii,  and  all  of  them  will  serve  that  rod:  all  of  them  will 
be  under  his  command  and  authority  ;  and  every  one  who  possesseth  it,  and  in 
whose  hand  it  is,  when  he  smiteth  with  it  the  ground,  its  Kings  will  humble  them- 
selves to  hiin,  and  all  the  Genii  will  be  at  his  service. 

When  Hassan  heard  these  words,  he  hung  down  his  head  for  a  while  towards  the 
ground.  Then  he  said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  I  shall  surely  be  rendered  triumph- 
ant by  means  of  this  rod  and  this  cap,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted  !)  and  I  am  more  worthy  of  them  than  they.  So  I  will  immediately  employ 
a  stratagem  to  take  them  from  them,  that  I  may  have  recourse  to  their  aid  for  my 
deliverance  and  the  deliverance  of  my  wife  and  my  children  from  this  tyrannical 
Queen,  and  we  will  journey  from  this  dismal  place,  from  which  there  is  [otherwise] 
no  deliverance  nor  flight  for  any  one  of  mankind.  Probably  God  sent  me  not  to 
these  two  youths  save  for  the  purpose  of  my  getting  from  them  the  rod  and  the  cap. 
— He  then  raised  his  head  towards  the  two  youths,  and  said  to  them.  If  ye  desire  the 
decision  of  the  case,  I  will  make  a  trial  of  you,  and  he  who  overcometh  his  companion 
shall  take  the  rod,  and  he  who  faileth  shall  take  the  cap ;  for  if  I  make  trial  of  you 
and  discern  between  you,  I  shall  know  what  each  of  you  deserveth.  And  they 
replied,  0  uncle,  we  depute  thee  to  make  trial  of  us,  and  to  judge  between  us  as 
thou  choosest.  Hassan  said  to  them,  AVill  ye  attend  to  my  words,  and  have  regard 
to  what  I  shall  say?  They  answered  him,  Yes.  And  Hassan  said  to  them,  I  will 
take  a  stone  and  throw  it,  and  the  one  of  you  who  getteth  first  to  it,  and  taketh  it 
before  his  companion,  shall  take  the  rod  ;  and  he  who  is  last,  and  reacheth  it  not, 
shall  take  the  cap.  And  they  replied.  We  accept  from  thee  this  proposal,  and  we 
are  content  with  it.  Then  Hassan  took  a  stone,  and  threw  it  with  all  his  force,  and 
it  went  out  of  sight.  The  two  youths  therefore  hastened  together  after  it;  and  when 
they  were  at  a  distance,  Hassan  took  the  cap  and  put  ii  on,  and  he  took  the  rod  in 
his  hand,  and  removed  from  his  place  to  see  the  truth  of  that  which  they  had  said 
with  respect  to  the  secret  of  their  father.  And  the  younger  boy  got  first  to  the 
stone  and  took  it,  and  he  returned  with  it  to  t^ie  place  in  which  was  Hassan,  and 
saw  no  trace  of  him.  So  he  called  out  to  his  brother,  and  said  to  him.  Where  is  the 
man  who  judgeth  between  us?  And  he  answered,  I  see  him  not,  nor  know  I 
whether  he  hath  ascended  to  the  highest  heaven,  or  descended  to  the  lowest  earth. 
They  searched  for  him,  and  saw  him  not;  and  Hassan  was  standing  in  his  place. 
Therefore  they  reviled  one  another,  and  said.  The  rod  and  the  cap  are  gone ;  they 
are  neither  mine  nor  thine ;  and  our  father  said  to  us  these  very  words ;  but  wo 
forgot  what  he  told  us. 

They  then  retraced  their  steps,  and  Hassan  entered  the  city  weai-ing  the  cap,  and 
having  in  his  hand  the  rod,  and  none  of  the  people  saw  him.  He  entered  the  palace. 
ascended  to  the  place  in  which  was  Shawahi,  the  mother  of  sorrows,  and  went  in  to 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  677 

her,  still  wearing  the  cap,  and  she  saw  him  not.  Then  he  walked  on  until  he  drew 
near  to  a  shelf  which  was  over  her  head,  and  on  which  were  vessels  of  glass  and 
China-ware;  and  he  shook  it  with  his  hand  so  that  the  things  that  were  upon  it  fell 


<1 


illl'll 


The  Vessels  of  Glass  and  China-ware  falling  upon  the  Old  Woman. 

on  the  floor.  So  Shawahi  cried  out,  and  slapped  her  face ;  and  she  arose  and 
restored  what  had  fallen  to  their  places,  saying  within  herself.  By  Allah,  I  imagine 
not  aught  but  that  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  hath  sent  to  me  a  devil,  and  that  he  hath 
done  to  me  this  deed.  I  therefore  beg  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  to  deliver  me 
from  her,  and  to  preserve  me  from  her  anger.  0  my  Lord,  if  this  is  her  abominable 
conduct  to  her  sister,  beating  and  suspending  her,  when  she  is  dear  in  the  estimation 
of  her  father,  how  will  she  act  with  the  stranger  like  myself,  when  she  is  incensed 
against  her?  —  Then  she  said,  I  conjure  thee,  0  devil,  by  the  most  Compassionate, 
the  Beneficent,  the  Great  in  dignity,  the  Mighty  in  dominion,  the  Creator  of  mankind 
and  the  Genii,  and  by  the  characters  upon  the  seal  of  Solomon  the  son  of  David  (on 
both  of  whom  be  peace!),  that  thou  speak  to  me  and  reply  to  me!  So  Hassan 
replied  to  her,  and  said  to  her,  I  am  not  a  devil :  I  am  Hassan  the  distracted,  the 
confounded,  the  perplexed.  He  then  pulled  off  the  cap  from  his  head  ;  whereupon 
he  appeared  to  the  old  woman,  and  she  knew  him,  and,  having  taken  him  into  a 
private  place,  she  said  to  him,  What  hath  happened  to  thy  reason,  that  thou  hast 
come  hither?  Go;  hide  thyself;  for  this  iniquitous  woman  hath  inflicted  tortures 
upon  thy  wife,  though  she  is  her  sister:  how  then  will  she  act  if  she  light  upon 
thee?  —  And  she  related  to  him  all  that  had  befallen  his  wife,  describing  to  him  her 
present  state  of  distress  and  punishment  and  torture;  and  in  like  manner  she 
described  to  him  the  torture  that  had  befallen  herself:  after  which  she  said  to  him. 
Verily  the  Queen  repented  of  her  having  liberated  thee,  and  hath  sent  to  thee  one  to 
bring  thee  to  her,  promising  that  she  wiU  give  him  a  hundred-weight  of  gold,  and 
place  him  in  my  post  in  her  service.  She  hath  also  sworn  that  if  they  bring  thee 
back,  she  will  slay  thee,  and  slay  thy  wife  and  thy  children.  —  Then  the  old  woman 
wept,  and  discovered  to  Hassan  what  the  Queen  had  done  to  her;  whereupon  Hassan 


678  THE   STORY  OF   HASSAN   OF  BALSORA. 

also  ■wept,  and  he  said,  0  my  mistress,  how  is  it  possible  to  escape  from  this  country 
and  from  this  tyrannical  Queen  ;  and  what  is  the  stratagem  that  will  enable  me  to 
deliver  my  wife  and  my  children,  and  to  return  with  them  to  my  country?  The  old 
woman  replied.  Wo  to  thee!  Save  thyself!  —  But  he  said,  I  must  deliver  her,  and 
deliver  my  children  from  the  Queen  by  force.  —  How,  said  the  old  woman,  wilt  thou 
deliver  them  from  her  by  force  ?  Go  and  hide  thyself,  0  my  son,  until  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted  !)  shall  permit. 

Hassan  therefore  showed  her  the  rod  of  brass  and  the  cap  ;  and  when  the  old 
woman  saw  them,  she  rejoiced  in  them  exceedingly,  and  said  to  him.  Extolled  be  the 
perfection  of  Him  who  reanimateth  the  bones  when  they  are  rotten!  By  Allah,  O 
my  son,  thou  and  thy  wife  were  nought  but  of  the  number  of  the  perishing,  and  now, 

0  my  son,  thou  and  thy  wife  and  thy  children  are  saved;  for  I  know  the  rod,  and  know 
who  was  its  owner;  he  having  been  my  skeikh,  who  taught  me  enchantment.  He  was 
an  egregious  enchanter:  he  persevered  a  hundred  and  thirty-five  years  until  he  skil- 
fully made  this  rod  and  this  cap:  and  when  the  making  of  them  in  this  manner  was 
finished,  death,  which  is  inevitable,  overtook  iiim.  And  I  heard  him  say  to  his  two 
sons,  0  my  two  sons,  these  two  things  are  not  of  your  lot;  for  a  person,  a  stranger  to 
the  country,  will  come  and  take  them  from  you  by  force,  and  ye  will  not  know  how 
he  will  take  them.  So  they  said,  0  our  father,  inform  us  how  he  will  be  able  to  take 
them.  But  he  replied,  I  know  not  that.  How  then  wast  thou  able,  0  my  son,  to 
take  them  ?  He  therefore  told  her  how  he  took  them  from  the  two  boys  ;  and  when 
he  told  her,  she  rejoiced  thereat,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  as  thou  hast  enabled 
thyself  to  gain  possession  of  thy  wife  and  thy  children,  hear  what  I  will  say  to  thee. 

1  can  no  longer  reside  in  the  abode  of  this  wicked  woman,  since  she  hath  assaulted 
me  and  tormented  me.  I  am  about  to  depart  from  her  to  the  cavern  of  the  enchant- 
ers, to  reside  with  them  and  to  live  with  them  until  I  die.  Now  do  thou,  0  my  son, 
put  on  the  cap,  and  take  the  rod  in  thy  hand  ;  then  go  in  to  thy  wife  and  thy  children, 
in  the  place  in  which  they  are,  and  strike  the  ground  with  the  rod,  and  say,  0  ser- 
vants of  these  names!  Thereupon  their  servants  will  come  up  to  thee;  and  if  one 
of  the  chiefs  of  the  tribes  come  to  thee,  command  him  to  do  as  thou  shalt  desire  and 
choose. 

He  then  bade  her  farewell,  and  departed,  and,  having  put  on  the  cap,  and  taken 
the  rod  with  him,  he  entered  the  place  in  which  was  his  wife.  He  saw  her  in  a  state 
approaching  to  annihilation,  extended  upon  the  ladder,  with  her  hair  bound  to  it, 
and  with  weeping  eye  and  mourning  heart,  in  the  most  evil  condition,  not 
knowing  any  way  to  effect  her  deliverance.  Her  children  were  beneath  the 
ladder  playing,  and  she  was  looking  at  them,  and  weeping  for  them  and  for  her- 
self, on  account  of  the  things  that  had  happened  to  her  and  bef\illen  her,  and  the 
torment  and  painful  beating  and  most  violent  punishment  that  she  suffered.  AVhen 
Hassan  saw  the  torment  and  abasement  and  contempt  that  she  was  suffering,  he 
wept  until  he  fainted,  and  on  his  recovering,  and  seeing  his  children  playing,  and 
their  mother  in  a  fit  of  insensibility,  by  reason  of  the  excess  of  her  pain,  he  removed 
the  cap  from  his  head  ;  whereupon  they  cried  out,  0  our  father !  Then  he  covered 
his  head  again,  and  their  mother  recovered  from  her  fit  on  hearing  their  cry,  and 
saw  not  her  husband,  but  only  saw  her  children  weeping,  and  crying  out,  0  our 
father!  So  she  wept  when  she  heard  them  mention  their  father  and  weep:  her  heart 
broke,  and  her  bowels  were  cut  in  pieces,  and  she  called  out,  with  a  liver  that  was 
burst,  and  a  painful  heart.  Where  are  ye,  and  where  is  your  father?  Then  she  re- 
flected upon  the  times  of  her  union  with  him,  and  reflected  upon  the  events  that  had 
befallen  her  since  his  separation,  and  wept  violently,  so  that  her  tears  ulcerated  her 
cheeks,  and  wetted  the  ground.  Her  cheeks  became  drowned  in  her  tears,  by  the 
excess  of  her  weeping,  and  she  had  not  a  hand  at  liberty  that  she  might  wipe  away 
her  tears  with  it  from  her  cheeks.  The  flies  were  satiated  with  feeding  upon  her 
skin,  and  she  found  for  herself  no  aider  save  weeping,  and  consoling  herself  by  re- 
citing verses.     And  when  Hassan  heard  her  verses,  he  wept  until  he  fainted ;  his 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF  BALSORA.  679 

tears  ran  down  his  cheeks  like  rain,  and,  drawing  near  to  the  children,  ne  removed 
the  cap;  and  when  they  saw  him,  they  knew  him,  and  cried  out,  saying,  0  our 
father !  So  their  mother  wept  again  on  hearing  them  mention  their  father,  and  said, 
There  is  no  means  of  avoiding  what  God  hath  decreed.  And  she  said  within  her- 
self, 0  wonderful!  What  is  the  cause  of  their  mention  of  their  father  at  this  time, 
and  their  calling  to  him  ? 

So  Hassan  could  no  longer  abstain  from  removing  the  cap  from  his  head,  and  his 
wife  saw  him  ;  and  when  she  knew  him,  she  uttered  a  cry  that  alarmed  all  who  were 
in  the  palace.  She  then  said  to  him.  How  earnest  thou  hither?  Hast  thou  descended 
from  the  sky,  or  risen  from  the  earth? — And  her  eyes  filled  with  tears:  therefore 
Hassan  also  wept ;  and  she  said  to  him,  0  man,  this  is  not  a  time  for  weeping,  nor 
is  it  a  time  for  reproach.  Fate  hath  had  its  course,  and  the  sight  was  blinded,  and 
the  pen  hath  written  what  God  decreed  from  eternity.  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to 
tell  me  whence  thou  hast  come.  Go  and  hide  thyself,  lest  any  one  see  thee  and  in- 
form my  sister  thereof,  and  she  slaughter  me  and  slaughter  thee  also. — Hassan  re- 
plied, 0  my  mistress,  and  mistress  of  every  Queen,  I  have  exposed  my  life  to  peril 
and  come  hither,  and  either  I  will  die,  or  I  will  deliver  thee  from  the  predicament 
in  which  thou  art,  and  I  and  thou  and  my  children  will  journey  to  my  country,  in 
spite  of  this  wicked  woman,  thy  sister.  But  when  she  heard  his  words,  she  smiled 
and  laughed,  and  shook  her  head  for  a  long  time,  and  said  to  him.  Far,  0  my  soul, 
far  is  it  from  me  that  any  one  should  deliver  me  from  the  predicament  in  which  I 
am,  excepting  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  So  save  thyself,  and  depart,  and  cast 
not  thyself  into  destruction  ;  for  she  hath  numerous  and  heavily-equipped  troops 
whom  no  one  can  confront.  And  suppose  thou  tookest  me  and  wentest  forth,  how 
canst  thou  make  thy  way  to  thy  country,  and  how  can  we  escape  from  these  islands 
and  the  difficulties  of  these  places?  Thou  hast  seen,  in  thy  way,  wonders  and 
strange  things,  and  horrors  and  troubles  such  as  scarcely  can  one  of  the  refractory 
Genii  escape.  Go  therefore  soon,  and  increase  not  my  anxiety  nor  my  sorrow;  and 
pretend  not  that  thou  wilt  deliver  me  from  this  state ;  for  who  will  convey  me  to  thy 
country  across  these  valleys  and  thirsty  lands  and  fatal  places? — Hassan  thereupon 
said  to  her,  By  thy  life,  0  light  of  mine  eye,  I  will  not  go  forth  hence,  nor  will  I 
journey  forth,  save  with  thee.  She  rejoined,  0  man,  how  canst  thou  do  this  thing? 
What  is  thy  nature?  For  thou  knowest  not  what  thou  sayest.  If  thou  hast  do- 
minion over  Genii  and  Afrites,  and  enchanters  and  tribes  and  spirits,  thou  couldst 
not ;  for  no  one  is  able  to  escape  from  these  places.  Therefore  save  thyself,  and 
leave  me.  Perhaps  God  will  bring  to  pass  other  events  after  these.  So  Hassan  said 
to  her,  0  mistress  of  beauties,  I  came  not  save  to  deliver  thee  by  means  of  this  rod 
and  by  means  of  this  cap.  And  he  related  to  her  what  had  happened  to  him  with 
the  two  boys. 

But  while  he  was  speaking,  lo,  the  Queen  came  in  to  them,  and  heard  their  con- 
versation. So  when  he  saw  the  Queen,  he  put  on  the  cap ;  and  she  said  to  her  sister, 
0  wicked  woman,  who  is  he  with  whom  thou  wast  conversing?  She  replied.  And 
who  is  with  me  to  speak  to  me  excepting  these  infants?  And  the  Queen  took  the 
whip,  and  proceeded  to  beat  her  with  it,  while  Hassan  stood  looking  on.  She 
ceased  not  to  beat  her  until  she  fainted,  when  she  gave  orders  to  remove  her  from 
that  place  to  another;  wherefore  they  loosed  her  and  went  forth  with  her  to  another 
place,  and  Hassan  went  forth  with  them  to  the  place  to  which  they  conveyed  her. 
Then  they  threw  her  down  senseless,  and  stood  looking  at  her ;  and  when  she 
recovered  from  her  fit,  the  female  slaves  went  forth  from  her. 

So  thereupon  Hassan  pulled  off  the  cap;  and  his  wife  said  to  him.  See,  0  man: 
all  this  hath  not  befallen  me  save  on  account  of  my  having  disobeyed  thee,  and  acted 
in  opposition  to  thy  command,  and  gone  forth  without  thy  permission.  But  I  con- 
jure thee  by  Allah,  O  man,  blame  me  not  for  my  misconduct.  Know  that  a  woman 
is  not  sensible  of  the  value  of  a  man  until  she  is  separated  from  ftim.  I  have  done 
wrong  and  sinned ;  but  I  beg  God,  the  Great,  to  pardon  the  actions  committed  by 


680  THE   STORY  OF  HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

me ;  and  if  God  reunite  us,  I  will  never  disobey  thy  command  after  that.  —  Hassan 
replied  (and  his  heart  pained  him  for  her),  Thou  sinnedst  not,  and  none  sinned  but 
I :  for  I  went  away  on  a  journey  and  left  thee  with  one  who  knoweth  not  thy  dignity 
nor  knoweth  thy  value  nor  thy  rank.  And  know  thou,  O  beloved  of  my  heart,  and 
delight  of  my  soul,  and  light  of  mine  eye,  that  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled!) 
hath  empowered  me  to  deliver  thee.  Desirest  thou,  then,  that  I  convey  thee  to  the 
abode  of  thy  father,  and  that  thou  shouldst  experience,  with  him,  the  accomplish- 
ment of  all  that  God  hath  appointed  for  thee,  or  wilt  thou  journey  to  our  country 
soon,  seeing  that  relief  hath  come  to  thee  ?  But  she  said  to  him,  And  who  is  able  to 
deliver  me,  except  the  Lord  of  Heaven?  Go  thou  therefore  to  thy  country,  and 
dismiss  from  thy  mind  desire;  for  thou  knowest  not  the  dangers  of  this  country; 
and  if  thou  comply  not  with  my  advice,  thou  wilt  see.  Then  she  recited  some  verses, 
and  wept  with  her  children,  and  the  female  slaves  heard  their  weeping ;  so  they 
came  in  to  them,  and  found  the  Queen  Menar  Elsena  and  her  children  weeping ;  but 
they  saw  not  Hassan  with  them  ;  and  the  female  slaves  wept  in  compassion  for  them, 
and  cursed  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada. 

Then  Hassan  waited  until  night  approached  and  the  guards  who  were  deputed  to 
watch  her  went  to  their  sleeping-places ;  after  which  he  arose  and  girded  his  waist, 
and,  coming  to  his  wife,  loosed  her,  and  kissed  her  head,  pressed  her  to  his  bosom, 
kissed  her  between  her  eyes,  and  said  to  her.  How  great  is  our  desire  for  our  country 
and  for  our  reunion  there?  Is  this  our  meeting  in  sleep  or  in  a  time  when  we  are 
awake  ?  He  then  took  up  his  elder  child,  and  she  took  up  the  younger  child,  and  they 
went  forth  from  the  palace.  God  had  let  down  the  veil  of  his  protection  over  them, 
and  they  proceeded  ;  and  on  their  arrival  at  the  outside  of  the  palace,  they  stopped  at 
the  door  that  was  locked  to  close  the  entrance  to  the  palace  of  the  Queen  ;  but  when 
they  were  there,  they  saw  it  locked.  So  Hassan  said.  There  is  no  strength  nor 
power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  Verily  to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto 
Him  we  return  !  Upon  this  they  despaired  of  escape,  and  Hassan  said,  0  Dispeller 
of  griefs  ! — and  struck  hand  upon  hand,  and  said,  I  had  calculated  upon  everything, 
and  considered  its  result,  excepting  this  ;  and  now,  when  the  day  cometh  upon  us, 
they  will  take  us;  and  how  shall  we  contrive  in  this  case?  Then  he  wept,  and  his 
wife  wept  at  his  weeping,  and  on  account  of  the  contempt  and  misfortunes  that 
she  suffered.  And  his  wife  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  there  is  no  relief  for  us,  unless 
we  kill  ourselves,  and  so  he  at  rest  from  this  excessive  trouble.  Otherwise,  in  the 
morning  we  shall  suffer  painful  torture. 

Now  while  they  were  talking,  a  speaker  said,  outside  the  door.  By  Allah,  I  will 
not  open  to  thee,  0  my  mistress  Menar  Elsena,  and  to  thy  husband  Hassan,  unless 
ye  will  obey  me  in  that  which  I  shall  say  to  you.  And  when  they  heard  these  words 
from  that  person,  they  were  silent,  and  desired  to  return  to  the  place  in  which  they 
had  been.  But  a  speaker  said,  Wherefore  have  ye  kept  silence,  and  not  returned 
me  a  reply  ?  And  thereupon  they  knew  the  person  who  spoke,  who  was  the  old 
woman  Shawahi  the  mother  of  sorrows.  So  they  said  to  her,  Whatsoever  thou  shalt 
command  us  to  do,  we  will  do  it.  But  open  to  us  the  door  first;  for  this  time  is  not 
a  time  for  talk.  —  She  however  replied,  By  Allah  I  will  not  open  to  you  until  ye 
swear  to  me  that  ye  will  take  me  with  you,  and  not  leave  me  with  this  profligate 
woman  ;  and  whatsoever  shall  befall  you  shall  befall  me :  if  ye  be  preserved,  I  shall 
be  preserved  ;  and  if  ye  perish,  I  shall  perish  ;  for  this  wicked,  vicious  woman 
despiseth  me,  and  constantly  tortureth  me  on  your  account ;  and  thou,  0  my  daughter, 
knowest  my  worth.  Therefore  when  they  knew  her,  they  confided  in  her,  and  swore 
to  her  by  oaths  which  she  trusted  in  ;  after  wliich,  she  opened  to  them  the  door,  and 
they  went  forth  :  and  they  found  her  riding  upon  a  red  earthen  jar  of  Greek  manu- 
fsicture,  upon  the  neck  of  which  was  a  rope  of  the  fibres  of  the  palm-tree,  and  it  was 
turning  about  beneath  her,  and  moving  with  a  speed  greater  than  that  of  the  Nejdee 
colt.  She  then  came  before  them  and  said  to  them.  Follow  me,  and  be  not  terrified 
at  aught ;  for  I  know  forty  modes  of  enchantment,  by  the  least  of  which  I  could 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  681 

make  this  city  a  roaring  sea  agitated  with  waves,  and  enchant  every  damsel  in  it  so 
that  she  would  Vjecome  a  fish.  All  that  could  I  do  before  the  morning;  but  I  was 
unable  to  do  aught  of  that  mischief  by  reason  of  my  fear  of  the  King,  the  father  of 
Nour  Elhada,  and  from  regard  to  her  sisters  ;  for  they  derive  might  from  the  great 
number  of  their  guards  and  tribes  and  servants.  However,  I  will  show  you  the 
wonders  of  my  enchantment.  Then  proceed  with  us  relying  upon  the  blessing  of 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  and  his  aid.  So  thereupon  Hassan  and  his  wife 
rejoiced,  and  felt  sure  of  escape. 

They  went  forth  to  the  exterior  of  the  city,  and  Hassan,  taking  the  rod  in  his 
hand,  struck  with  it  the  ground,  and  fortified  his  heart,  and  said,  O  servants  of  these 
names,  present  yourselves  to  me,  and  acquaint  me  with  your  brethren !  And  lo,  the 
earth  clove  asunder,  and  there  came  forth  from  it  seven  Afrites,  each  of  them  having 
his  feet  in  the  lowest  limits  of  the  earth,  and  his  head  in  the  clouds.  They  kissed 
the  ground  before  Hassan  three  times,  and  all  of  them  said,  with  one  voice.  At  thy 
service,  0  our  master,  and  ruler  over  us !  What  dost  thou  command  us  to  do  ?  For 
we  will  hear  and  obey  thy  command.  If  thou  desire,  we  will  dry  up  for  thee  the 
seas,  and  remove  for  thee  the  mountains  from  their  places. — So  Hassan  was  rejoiced 
at  their  words,  and  at  the  quickness  of  their  reply :  and  he  encouraged  his  heart, 
and  fortified  his  mind  and  resolution,  and  said  to  them.  Who  are  ye,  and  what  are 
ye  called,  and  from  what  tribes  are  ye  derived,  and  of  what  race  are  ye,  and  of  what 
tribe,  and  of  what  company?  Upon  this,  they  kissed  the  ground  a  second  time,  and 
answered  with  one  voice.  We  are  seven  Kings  ;  each  King  of  us  ruleth  over  seven 
tribes  of  the  Genii  and  the  Devils  and  the  Marids:  so  we  seven  Kings  rule  over  nine 
and  forty  tribes  of  all  the  races  of  the  Genii  and  the  Devils  and  the  Marids  and  the 
companies  and  the  spirits,  the  Flyers  and  the  Divers,  and  the  dwellers  in  the  moun- 
tains and  the  deserts  and  the  wastes,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  seas.  Order  us  to 
do  what  thou  wilt ;  for  we  are  thy  servants  and  slaves ;  and  whoever  possesseth  this 
rod,  he  hath  authority  over  the  necks  of  us  all,  and  we  become  obedient  unto  him. — 
When  Hassan,  therefore,  heard  their  words,  he  rejoiced  greatly,  as  did  also  his  wife 
and  the  old  woman  ;  and  thereupon  Hassan  said  to  the  Genii,  I  desire  of  you  that 
ye  show  me  your  company  and  your  troops  and  your  guards.  But  they  replied,  0 
our  master,  if  we  showed  thee  our  company,  we  should  fear  for  thee  and  for  those 
who  are  with  thee;  for  it  consists  of  numerous  troops,  of  various  forms  and  make 
and  kinds  and  faces  and  bodies.  Among  us  are  heads  without  bodies,  and  among 
us  are  bodies  without  heads,  and  among  us  are  some  like  the  wild  beasts,  and  among 
us  are  some  like  animals  of  prey.  However,  if  thou  desire  that,  we  must  exhibit  to 
thee  first  those  who  are  like  the  wild  beasts.  But,  0  our  master,  what  dost  thou 
desire  of  us  at  this  present  time?  —  So  Hassan  said  to  them,  I  desire  of  you  that  ye 
carry  me  and  my  wife  and  this  virtuous  woman  immediately  to  the  city  of  Bagdad. 
But  when  they  heard  his  words,  they  hung  down  their  heads.  Therefore  Hassan 
said  to  them.  Why  do  ye  not  reply  ?  And  they  said  with  one  voice,  0  master  and 
ruler  over  us,  we  have  existed  from  the  time  of  the  lord  Solomon  the  son  of  David 
(on  both  of  whom  be  peace  !),  and  he  made  us  swear  that  we  would  not  carry  any 
one  of  the  sons  of  Adam  upon  our  backs  ;  so  from  that  time  we  have  not  carried  any 
one  of  the  sons  of  Adam  upon  our  shoulders  nor  upon  our  backs  ;  but  we  will  imme- 
diately saddle  for  thee,  of  the  horses  of  the  Genii,  such  as  will  convey  thee  to  thy 
country,  thee  and  those  that  are  with  thee. 

Upon  this,  Hassan  said  to  them,  And  what  distance  is  between  us  and  Bagdad  ? 
They  answered  him,  A  distance  of  seven  years' journey  to  the  horseman  who  travel- 
leth  with  diligence.  And  Hassan  wondered  thereat,  and  said  to  them.  How  came  I 
hither  in  less  than  a  year?  They  answered  him,  God  moved  the  hearts  of  his  virtu- 
ous servants  with  compassion  for  thee;  and  had  it  not  been  for  that,  thou  hadst  not 
gained  access  to  this  country  and  region,  nor  ever  beheld  it  with  thine  eye.  For  the 
sheikh  Abdelcadus,  who  mounted  thee  on  the  elephant,  mounted  thee  also  on  the 
fortunate  courser   which  traversed  with   thee,  in   ten  days,  a  space  of  three  years' 


682  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF  BALSORA. 

journey  to  the  horseman  who  proceedeth  with  diligence  ;  and  as  to  the  sheikh  Aboul- 
Tuish,  who  committed  thee  to  Dahnash,  that  Afrite  traversed  with  thee,  during  the 
day  and  the  night,  a  space  of  three  years'  journey.  This  was  effected  through  the 
blessing  of  God,  the  Great :  for  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  is  of  the  posterity  of  Asaph 
the  son  of  Barkia,  and  he  knoweth  the  Most  Great  name  of  God.  And  from  Bagdad 
to  the  palace  of  the  damsels  is  a  year's  journey.  So  these  make  up  the  seven  years. 
— And  when  Hassan  heard  their  words,  he  wondered  greatly,  and  said.  Extolled  be 
the  perfection  of  God,  who  maketh  easy  what  is  difficult,  and  repaireth  the  broken 
heart,  and  bringeth  near  what  is  distant,  and  abaseth  every  obstinate  tyrant,  who 
hath  rendered  everything  easy  to  us,  and  conveyed  me  to  this  country,  and  made 
subservient  to  me  these  people,  and  reunited  me  to  my  wife  and  my  children!  I 
know  not  whether  I  be  sleeping  or  awake,  or  whether  I  be  in  my  senses  or  intoxi- 
cated.— He  then  looked  towards  them  and  said  to  them.  When  ye  have  mounted  me 
upon  your  horses,  in  how  many  days  will  they  arrive  with  us  at  Bagdad  ?  They 
answered.  They  will  arrive  with  thee  in  less  than  a  year,  after  thou  shalt  have 
endured  difficulties  and  troubles  and  horrors,  and  traversed  thirsty  valleys  and 
dismal  wastes,  and  deserts  and  dangerous  places  great  in  number  ;  and  we  shall  not 
be  sure  of  thy  safety,  0  our  master,  from  the  people  of  these  islands,  nor  from  the 
malice  of  the  supreme  King,  nor  from  these  enchanters  and  sorcerers.  Perhaps 
they  will  overcome  us,  and  take  you  from  us,  and  we  shall  be  afflicted  by  them  ;  and 
every  one  whom  the  news  reaches  after  that  will  say  to  us,  Ye  are  the  unjust.  How 
did  ye  go  against  the  supreme  King,  and  convey  the  human  being  from  his  country, 
and  convey  also  his  daughter  with  you  ?  Wert  thou  alone  with  us,  the  affair  were 
easy  to  us  ;  but  he  who  caused  thee  to  gain  access  to  these  islands  is  able  to  cause 
thee  to  arrive  at  thy  country,  and  to  reunite  thee  to  thy  mother  soon,  at  no  distant 
period.  Therefore  be  resolute,  and  depend  upon  God,  and  fear  not ;  for  we  are  at 
thy  service  until  we  cause  thee  to  reach  thy  country. — So  Hassan  thanked  them  for 
that,  and  said  to  them,  May  God  recompense  you  well !  Then  he  said  to  them, 
Hasten  with  the  horses.     And  they  replied,  We  hear  and  obey. 

They  then  struck  the  ground  with  their  feet ;  whereupon  it  clove  asunder,  and 
they  were  absent  within  it  a  while ;  after  which  they  presented  themselves,  and  lo, 
they  had  come  up  bringing  with  them  three  horses,  saddled  and  bridled,  and  on  the 
fore  part  of  each  saddle  was  a  pair  of  saddlebags,  in  one  side  of  which  was  a 
leathern  bottle  full  of  water,  and  the  other  side  was  full  of  food.  They  brought 
forward  the  horses,  and  Hassan  mounted  a  courser,  taking  a  child  before  him  ;  and 
his  wife  mounted  the  second  courser,  and  took  a  child  before  her.  Then  the  old 
woman  alighted  from  the  jar,  and  mounted  the  third  courser.  And  they  departed, 
and  ceased  not  to  proceed  all  the  night,  until  the  morning  came,  when  they  turned 
aside  from  the  way,  and  went  towards  the  mountain  ;  their  tongues  ceasing  not  from 
the  mention  of  God.  They  proceeded  all  the  day  beneath  the  mountain  ;  and  while 
they  were  journeying  on,  Hassan  beheld  a  phantom-like  form,  resembling  a  pillar, 
and  it  was  lofty,  like  smoke  ascending  to  the  sky.  So  he  recited  somewhat  of  the 
Koran,  and  begged  for  refuge  with  God  from  Satan  the  accursed.  Then  that  black 
object  appeared  more  plainly  the  nearer  they  approached  to  it;  and  when  they  came 
near  to  it,  they  found  it  to  be  an  Afrite,  whose  head  was  like  a  huge  dome,  and  his 
dog-teeth  were  like  hooks,  and  his  nostrils  like  ewers,  and  his  ears  like  shields,  and 
his  mouth  was  like  a  cavern,  and  his  teeth  were  like  pillars  of  stone,  and  his  hands 
like  winnowing-forks,  and  his  legs  like  masts:  his  head  was  amid  the  clouds,  and 
his  feet  were  in  the  lowest  limits  of  the  earth,  beneath  the  dust.  And  when  Hassan 
looked  at  the  Afrite,  the  Afrite  bowed  himself  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him, 
and  said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  fear  me  not.  I  am  chief  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  laud, 
and  this  is  the  first  island  of  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak.  I  am  a  Mahometan,  a  pro- 
fessor of  the  unity  of  God  ;  and  I  heard  of  you,  and  knew  of  your  coming  ;  and 
when  I  became  acquainted  with  your  state,  I  desired  to  journey  from  the  country  of 
the  enchanters  to  another  land,  devoid  of  inhabitants,  remote  from  human  beings 


THE   STORY   OF    HASSAN   OF   BALSORA.  683 

and  the  Genii,  that  I  might  live  therein  solitary,  by  myself,  and  worship  God  until 
my  appointed  term  overtake  me.  I  therefore  desired  to  accompany  you,  and  to  be 
your  guide,  until  ye  go  forth  from  these  islands,  and  I  will  not  appear  save  by  night. 
So  comfort  your  hearts  with  regard  to  me ;  for  I  am  a  Mahometan  like  as  ye  are 
Mahometans. — And  when  Hassan  heard  the  words  of  the  Afrite,  he  rejoiced  exceed- 
ingly, and  felt  sure  of  escape.  Then  looking  towards  him,  he  said  to  him.  May  God 
recompense  thee  well!  Proceed  with  us,  relying  upon  the  blessing  of  God.  —  Ac- 
cordingly the  Afrite  went  before  them,  and  they  betook  themselves  to  conversing 
and  sporting.  Their  hearts  had  become  happy,  and  their  bosoms  were  dilated  ;  and 
Hassan  proceeded  to  relate  to  his  wife  all  that  had  happened  to  him,  and  what  he 
had  endured.  They  ceased  not  to  prosecute  their  journey  all  the  next  night,  until 
the  morning,  the  horses  bearing  them  along  like  the  blinding  lightning;  and  when 
daylight  rose,  they  put  their  hands  to  their  several  saddle-bags,  and  each  took  forth 
something  thence,  and  ate  it  and  took  forth  water,  and  drank  it.  Then  they  pursued 
their  way  with  diligence,  and  continued  to  proceed,  with  the  Afrite  before  them  ; 
but  he  had  turned  aside  with  them  from  the  way  to  another  way,  which  was  not  a 
beaten  route,  along  the  shore  of  the  sea. 

They  ceased  not  to  traverse  the  valleys  and  the  wastes  for  the  space  of  a  whole 
month  ;  and  on  the  thirty-first  day  there  arose  against  them  a  dust  that  obstructed 
the  view  of  the  surrounding  tracts,  and  the  day  was  darkened  by  it.  So  when 
Hassan  beheld  it,  paleness  came  upon  him  ;  and  they  heard  alarming  noises,  and  the 
old  woman,  looking  towards  Hassan,  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  these  are  the  troops  of 
the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak :  they  have  overtaken  us,  and  immediately  wilt  they  take 
us  in  their  grasp.  Hassan  therefore  said  to  her,  What  shall  I  do,  0  my  mother? 
And  she  answered  him.  Strike  the  earth  with  the  rod.  Wherefore  he  did  so ;  and 
the  seven  Kings  came  up  to  him  and  saluted  him,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground 
before  him,  said  to  him.  Fear  not,  nor  grieve.  So  Hassan  rejoiced  at  their  words, 
and  said,  Ye  have  done  well,  0  lords  of  the  Genii  and  Afrites.  This  is  your  time. 
— And  they  said  to  him,  Ascend,  with  thy  wife  and  thy  children,  and  her  who  is 
with  thee,  upon  the  mountain,  and  leave  us  with  them  :  for  we  know  that  ye  are  in 
the  right,  and  they  are  in  the  wrong,  and  God  will  defend  us  against  them.  There- 
fore Hassan  and  his  wife  and  his  children  and  the  old  woman  alighted  from  the 
backs  of  the  horses,  and,  having  dismissed  the  horses,  ascended  upon  the  side  of  the 
mountain.  Then  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  approached,  with  troops  disposed  on  the 
right  and  the  left,  and  the  chiefs  went  around  them,  and  ranged  them  company  by 
company.  The  two  armies  met,  and  the  two  hosts  dashed  against  each  other,  and 
the  fires  raged,  and  the  heroes  advanced  boldly,  and  the  cowards  fled,  and  the  Genii 
cast  forth  from  their  mouths  burning  sparks,  until  the  thickly  dark  night  approached. 
Thereupon  the  two  hosts  separated,  and  the  two  parties  retired  from  each  other;  and 
when  they  alighted  from  their  horses,  and  rested  upon  the  ground,  they  lighted  the 
fires,  and  the  seven  Kings  went  up  to  Hassan,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  him.  So 
he  advanced  to  them  and  thanked  them,  and  prayed  for  them  that  they  might  be 
rendered  victorious  ;  and  he  asked  them  respecting  their  state  with  regard  to  the 
army  of  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada;  upon  which  they  said  to  him.  They  will  not  with- 
stand us  more  than  three  days;  for  we  were  to-day  about  to  overcome  them.  We 
have  seized  of  them  as  many  as  two  thousand,  and  slain  of  them  a  great  multitude, 
the  number  of  which  cannot  be  calculated.  Therefore  let  thy  soul  be  happy  and 
thy  bosom  be  dilated. — Then  they  bade  him  farewell,  and  descended  to  their  army, 
to  guard  it.  They  ceased  not  to  light  the  fires  until  the  morning  rose  and  diffused 
its  light  and  shone,  when  the  horsemen  mounted  the  five-year-old  horses,  and  smote 
one  an6ther  with  the  thin-edged  sworda,  and  thrust  one  another  with  the  brown 
spears,  and  they  passed  the  night  upon  the  backs  of  the  horses,  dashing  together 
like  seas,  and  the  fire  of  war  raged  among  them.  They  ceased  not  to  fight  and  con- 
tend until  the  troops  of  Wak-Wak  were  defeated,  and  their  power  was  broken,  and 
their  resolution  fell,  and  their  feet  slipped  ;  and  whithersoever  they  fled,  defeat  waa 


684  THE   STORY   OF    HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

before  them.  They  turned  their  backs  and  placed  their  reliance  upon  flight.  The 
greater  number  of  them  were  slain,  and  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  was  taken  captive, 
together  with  the  grandees  of  her  kingdom,  and  her  chief  officers. 

And  when  the  morning  came,  the  seven  Kings  presented  themselves  before 
Hassan,  and  set  for  him  a  couch  of  alabaster  ornamented  with  fine  pearls  and  with 
jewels;  and  he  seated  himself  upon  it.  They  also  set  by  it  another  couch,  for  the 
lady  Menar  Elsena,  his  wife,  and  that  couch  was  of  ivory  overlaid  with  brilliant 
gold.  And  by  the  side  of  it  they  set  another  couch,  for  the  old  woman  Shawahi  the 
mother  of  sorrows.  Then  they  brought  forward  the'  prisoners  before  Hassan,  and 
among  them  the  Queen  Nour  Eldada,  who  had  her  hands  bound  behind  her,  and  her 
feet  shackled.  And  when  the  old  woman  saw  her,  she  said  to  her.  Thy  recompense, 
0  wicked,  0  tyrannical  women,  shall  be  none  other  than  this:  that  one  shall  make 
two  bitches  hungry,  and  tie  them  with  thee  to  the  tails  of  horses,  and  drive  them  to 
the  sea,  that  thy  skin  may  be  lacerated ;  and  after  that,  some  of  thy  llcsh  shall  be 
cut  off  and  given  thee  to  eat.  How  didst  thou  do  to  thy  sister  these  deeds,  0  wicked 
woman,  seeing  that  she  married  lawfully,  according  to  the  ordinance  of  God  and 
his  Apostle?  For  there  is  no  monkery  in  the  True  Faith,  and  marriage  is 
one  of  the  ordinances  of  the  Apostles  (on  whom  be  peace!);  and  women  were 
not  created  save  for  men. — And  thereupon  Hassan  gave  orders  to  slay  all  the 
captives;  and  the  old  woman  cried  out  and  said,  Slay  ye  them,  and  let  not  one  of 
them  remain  !  But  when  the  Queen  Menar  Elsena  saw  her  sister  in  this  state, 
shackled,  and  in  captivity,  she  wept  for  her,  and  said  to  her,  0  my  sister,  and  who 
is  this  who  hath  made  us  captives  in  our  country,  and  overcome  us?  She  answered 
her.  This  is  a  momentous  case.  Verily  this  man  whose  name  is  Hassan  hath  gained 
possession  of  us,  and  God  hath  given  him  power  over  us  and  over  all  our  kingdom, 
and  he  hath  subjugated  us  and  the  Kings  of  the  Genii. — And  her  sister  replied,  God 
aided  him  not  against  you,  nor  did  he  subdue  you,  nor  did  he  make  you  prisoners, 
save  by  means  of  this  cap  and  this  rod.  So  her  sister  was  convinced  of  that,  and 
knew  that  he  had  delivered  her  by  these  means  :  and  she  humbled  herself  to  her 
sister  until  her  heart  was  affected  with  sympathy  for  her,  and  she  said  to  her  hus- 
band Hassan,  What  dost  thou  desire  to  do  with  my  sister?  For  here  she  is  before 
thee,  and  she  hath  not  committed  an  abominable  deed  that  thou  shouldst  punish 
her  for  it. — He  replied,  Her  torture  of  thee  was  sufficiently  abominable.  But  she 
said  to  him.  For  every  abominable  deed  that  she  did  to  me  she  was  excusable.  And 
as  to  thee,  thou  hast  tortured  my  father's  heart  by  reason  of  the  loss  of  me-,  and  how 
will  be  his  state  after  the  death  of  my  sister? — So  Hassan  said  to  her.  It  is  thine  to 
determine.  Whatever  thou  desirest,  do  it. — And  thereupon  the  Queen  Menar  Elsena 
gave  orders  to  loose  all  the  prisoners ;  and  they  loosed  them  for  the  sake  of  her 
sister,  and  loosed  her  sister  also  ;  after  which,  Menar  Elsena  advanced  to  her  sister 
and  embraced  her.  She  began  to  weep  with  her,  and  they  ceased  not  to  do  so  for 
some  time.  Then  the  Queen  Nour  Elhada  said  to  her  sister,  0  my  sister,  blame 
me  not  for  that  which  I  have  done  to  thee.  And  the  lady  Menar  Elsena  replied,  0 
my  sister,  this  was  decreed  to  befall  me. 

She  and  her  sister  sat  upon  the  couch,  conversing  together;  and  afterwards,  Menar 
Elsena  made  a  reconciliation  between  the  old  woman  and  her  sister  in  the  most  perfect 
manner,  and  their  hearts  became  comforted.  Hassan  then  dismissed  the  troops  who 
were  in  the  service  of  the  rod,  and  thanked  them  for  that  which  they  had  done  in  aid- 
ing him  against  his  enemies  ;  after  which  the  lady  Menar  Elsena  related  to  her  sister 
all  that  had  happened  to  her  with  her  husband  Hassan,  and  what  he  had  endured  for 
her  sake.  And  she  said  to  her,  0  my  sister,  it  is  incumbent  upon  one  not  to  neglect 
what  is  due  to  a  person  who  hath  done  these  deeds,  and  who  hath  this  power,  and 
whom  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  hath  aided  by  such  exceeding  fortitude  that  he  hath 
entered  our  country,  and  taken  thee  and  made  thee  a  prisoner,  and  defeated  thine 
army,  and  subdued  thy  father  the  supreme  King,  who  ruleth  over  the  Kings  of  the 
Genii.     Her  sister  replied,  By  Allah,  0  my  sister,  thou  hast  spoken  truth  in  that 


THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   liALSORA.  685 

which  thou  hast  told  me,  respecting  the  wonderful  events  that  this  man  hath  endured. 
And  was  all  this  for  thy  sake,  0  my  sister?— She  answered.  Yes.  Then  they  passed 
the  night  conversing  together  till  the  morning ;  and  when  the  sun  rose,  they  desired 
to  depart.  So  they  bade  one  another  farewell,  and  Menar  Elsena  bade  farewell  to 
the  old  woman,  having  made  a  reconciliation  between  her  and  her  sister  Nour 
Elhada. 

Thereupon  Hassan  struck  the  earth  with  the  rod,  and  its  servants  came  up  to  him, 
and  saluted  him,  and  said  to  him,  Praise  be  to  God  for  the  quiet  of  thy  soul !  Com- 
mand us  to  do  what  thou  desirest,  that  we  may  do  it  for  thee  in  less  time  than  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye. — He  therefore  thanked  them  for  their  words,  and  said  to  them. 
May  God  recompense  you  well!  He  then  said  to  them.  Saddle  for  us  two  coursers, 
of  the  best  of  horses.  And  they  did  as  he  commanded  them  immediately,  and 
brought  forward  to  him  two  saddled  coursers.  So  Hassan  mounted  one  of  them, 
taking  his  elder  son  before  him;  and  his  wife  mounted  the  other,  taking  her  younger 
son  before  her.  The  Queen  Nour  Elhada  also  mounted,  with  the  old  woman  ;  and 
all  went  to  their  countries.  Hassan  with  his  wife  journeyed  to  the  right,  and  the 
Queen  Nour  Elhada  with  the  old  woman  journeyed  to  the  left;  and  Hassan  ceased 
not  to  proceed  with  his  wife  and  his  children  for  the  space  of  a  whole  month  ;  after 
which  they  found  fruits  and  rivers;  and  when  they  arrived  at  the  trees,  they  alighted 
from  the  backs  of  the  horses,  desiring  to  rest.  Then  they  sat  conversing  together; 
and  lo,  many  horsemen  advanced  to  them.  So  when  Hassan  saw  them,  he  rose  upon 
his  feet,  and  met  them  ;  and  behold,  they  were  the  King  Hasoun,  the  lord  of  the 
Land  of  Camphor  and  the  Castle  of  Crystal,  with  his  attendants.  Thereupon 
Hassan  advanced  to  the  King,  and  kissed  his  hands  and  saluted  him  ;  and  when 
the  King  saw  him,  he  alighted  from  the  back  of  his  courser,  and  seated  himself  with 
Hassan  upon  furniture  spread  beneath  the  trees,  after  he  had  saluted  him  and  con- 
gratulated him  on  his  safety;  and  he  was  rejoiced  exceedingly  at  his  return,  and 
said  to  him,  0  Hassan,  acquaint  me  with  the  events  that  have  happened  to  thee 
from  beginning  to  end.  So  Hassan  acquainted  him  with  all  those  events:  and  the 
King  Hasoun  wondered  at  them,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  no  one  ever  obtained 
access  to  the  Islands  df  Wak-Wak,  and  returned  from  them,  excepting  thee,  and  thy 
case  is  wonderful.  But  praise  be  to  God  for  thy  safety! — Then,  after  that,  the  King 
arose  and  mounted,  ordering  Hassan  to  mount  and  accompany  him  ;  wherefore  he 
did  so,  and  they  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  they  came  to  the  city,  and  they  entered 
the  King's  palace.  The  King  JIasoun  alighted,  and  Hassan  and  his  wife  and  his 
children  alighted  at  the  mansion  of  entertainment ;  and  when  they  had  alighted, 
they  remained  with  the  King  three  days,  eating  and  drinking,  and  enjoying  sport 
and  mirth. 

Hassan  then  begged  permission  of  the  King  Hasoun  that  he  might  journey  to  his 
country,  and  he  gave  him  permission.  So  he  mounted  with  his  wife  and  his  chil- 
dren, and  the  King  mounted  with  them,  and  they  proceeded  ten  days;  and  when  the 
King  desired  to  return,  he  bade  Hassan  f\irewell,  and  Hassan  continued  his  journey 
with  his  wife  and  his  children.  They  ceased  not  to  journey  on  for  the  space  of 
another  whole  month,  after  which  they  came  in  sight  of  a  great  cavern,  the  ground 
of  which  was  of  brass;  whereupon  Hassan  said  to  his  wife,  See  this  cavern.  Dost 
thou  know  it  ? — She  answered.  Yes.  And  he  said,  In  it  is  a  sheikh  named  Aboul- 
ruish,  to  whom  I  am  greatly  indebted  ;  for  he  was  the  cause  of  the  acquaintance  be- 
tween me  and  the  King  Hasoun.  And  he  proceeded  to  relate  to  his  wife  the  story 
of  Aboulruish,  and  lo,  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  came  forth  from  the  entrance  of  the 
cavern.  So  when  Hassan  saw  him,  he  alighted  from  his  courser  and  kissed  his 
hands,  and  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  saluted  him,  and  congratulated  him  on  his  safety. 
He  rejoiced  at  his  arrival,  and  took  him  and  conducted  him  into  the  cavern,  and  sat 
with  him  ;  and  Hassan  proceeded  to  tell  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  what  had  happened 
to  him  in  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak;  whereat  the  sheikh  wondered  extremely:  and 
he  said,  0  Hassan,  how  didst  thou  deliver  thy  wife  and  thy  children  ?    Hassan  there- 


686  THE   STORY   OF   HASSAN   OF   BALSORA. 

fore  related  to  him  the  story  of  the  rod  and  the  cap ;  and  when  the  sheikh  Aboul- 
ruisb  heard  that  story  he  wondered,  and  said,  0  my  son,  had  it  not  been  for  this  rod 
and  this  cap,  thou  couldst  not  have  delivered  thy  wife  and  thy  children.  And 
Hassan  replied,  Even  so,  0  my  master. 

Now,  while  they  were  speaking,  a  person  knocked  at  the  door  of  the  cavern :  so 
the  sheikh  Aboulruish  went  forth  and  opened  the  door,  and  he  found  that  the  sheikh 
Abdelcadus  had  come,  riding  upon  the  elephant.  The  sheikh  Aboulruish  therefore 
advanced  and  saluted  and  embraced  him,  rejoicing  greatly  at  his  arrival,  and  con- 
gratulated him  on  his  safety ;  after  which  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  said  to  Hassan, 
Relate  to  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus,  all  that  hath  happened  to  thee,  0  Hassan.  So 
Hassan  proceeded  to  relate  to  the  sheikh  all  that  had  happened  to  him  from  first  to 
last,  until  he  came  to  the  story  of  the  rod  and  the  cap  ;  whereupon  the  sheikh  Abdel- 
cadus said  to  him,  0  my  son,  as  to  thee,  thou  hast  delivered  thy  wife  and  thy  chil- 
dren, and  thou  hast  no  longer  any  need  of  the  rod  and  the  cap;  but  as  to  us,  we 
were  the  cause  of  thy  gaining  access  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and  I  have  acted 
kindly  to  thee  for  the  sake  of  the  daughters  of  my  brother,  and  I  beg  thee,  of  thy 
bounty  and  beneficence,  to  give  me  the  rod,  and  to  give  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  the 
•jap.  And  when  Hassan  heard  the  words  of  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus,  he  hung  down 
his  head  towards  the  ground,  and  was  ashamed  to  say,  I  will  not  give  them  to  you. 
Then  he  said  within  himself.  Verily  these  two  sheikhs  have  done  a  great  kindness  to 
me,  and  they  were  the  cause  of  my  gaining  access  to  the  Islands  of  Wak-Wak,  and 
but  for  them  I  had  not  arrived  at  these  places,  nor  had  I  delivered  my  wife  and  my 
children,  nor  had  I  got  this  rod  and  this  cap.  And  he  raised  his  head,  and  said, 
Yes ;  I  will  give  them  to  you.  But,  0  my  masters,  verily  I  fear  the  supreme  King, 
the  father  of  my  wife,  lest  he  come  to  me  with  troops  into  our  country,  and  they  fight 
against  me,  and  I  shall  not  be  able  to  repel  them  save  by  means  of  the  rod  and  the 
cap. — The  cheikh  Abdelcadus,  however,  replied,  0  my  son,  fear  not;  for  we  will  be 
to  thee  a  spy  and  a  helper  in  this  place,  and  whosoever  shall  come  to  thee  from  the 
father  of  thy  wife,  we  will  repel  him  from  thee.  Fear  not  anything  whatever;  but 
be  of  good  heart  and  cheerful  eye  and  dilated  bosom.  No  harm  shall  befiill  thee. — 
So  when  Hassan  heard  the  words  of  the  sheikh,  bashfulness  afi'ected  him,  and  he 
gave  the  cap  to  the  sheikh  Aboulruish,  and  said  to  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus,  Accom- 
pany me  to  my  country,  and  I  will  give  thee  the  rod.  And  the  two  sheikhs  rejoiced 
thereat  exceedingly,  and  prepared  for  Hassan  riches  and  treasures  that  cannot  be 
described. 

He  remained  with  them  three  days ;  and  after  that,  he  desired  to  continue  hie 
journey  ;  wherefore  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  prepared  himself  to  journey  with  him. 
And  when  Hassan  had  mounted  a  beast,  and  mounted  his  wife  upon  another,  the 
sheikh  Abdelcadus  whistled,  and  lo,  a  huge  elephant  advanced  trotting  from  the 
further  part  of  the  desert,  and  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  took  him  and  mounted  upon 
him,  and  proceeded  with  Hassan  and  his  wife  and  his  children.  But  as  to  the  sheikh 
Aboulruish  he  entered  the  cavern.  Hassan  and  his  wife  and  his  children,  and  the 
sheikh  Abdelcadus,  ceased  not  to  pursue  their  journey,  traversing  the  land  in  its 
length  and  breadth,  the  sheikh  guiding  them  by  an  easy  way  and  near  roads,  until 
they  drew  near  to  the  country  that  they  sought;  and  Hassan  rejoiced  at  his  approach 
towards  the  country  of  his  mother,  and  at  the  return  of  his  wife  and  his  children  to 
him.  On  his  arrival  at  the  country  [of  his  sisters],  after  these  arduous,  horrible 
events,  he  praised  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  for  this,  and  thanked  Ilim  for  his 
grace  and  bounty,  and  recited  verses :— And  when  he  had  ended  his  verses,  he  looked, 
and  lo,  the  green  cupola  appeared  to  them,  and  the  pool,  and  the  green  palace  and 
Mountain  of  the  Clouds  appeared  to  them  in  the  distance.  So  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus 
said,  0  Hassan,  rejoice  at  the  prospect  of  good  fortune;  for  thou  wilt  this  night  be 
a  guest  with  the  daughters  of  my  brother.  Therefore  Hassan  rejoiced  thereat  ex- 
ceedingly, and  so  did  his  wife.     Then  they  alighted  at  the  cupola,  and  rested  and 


THE   STORY   OF  HASSAN   OF  BALSORA.  687 

ate  and  drank :  after  which  they  mounted  again,  and  proceeded  until  they  drew  near 
to  the  palace. 

Upon  this,  the  daughters  of  the  brother  of  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  came  forth  to 
them  and  met  them,  and  saluted  them  and  their  uncle,  and  their  uncle  saluted  them, 
and  said  to  them,  0  daughters  of  my  brother,  see  I  have  accomplished  the  affair  of 
your  brother  Hassan,  and  aided  him  to  deliver  his  wife  and  his  children.  So  the 
damsels  advanced  to  him  and  embraced  him,  rejoicing  at  his  return,  and  congrat- 
ulated him  on  his  safety  and  health,  and  his  reunion  to  his  wife  and  his  children  ; 
and  it  was  to  them  a  festival-day.  Then  the  sister  of  Hassan,  the  youngest  damsel, 
advanced  and  embraced  him,  and  wept  violently.  Hassan  also  wept  with  her,  on 
account  of  the  length  of  his  desolate  state;  and  she  complained  to  him  of  the  pain 
of  separation  that  she  had  experienced  and  the  trouble  of  her  heart,  and  what  she 
had  endured  in  consequence  of  his  absence,  and  recited  two  verses : — And  when  she 
had  finished  her  verses,  she  rejoiced  exceedingly ;  and  Hassan  said  to  her,  0  my 
sister,  I  thank  none  for  this  affair  but  thee,  above  the  rest  of  my  sisters ;  and  may 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  be  thine  aider  and  assister !  He  then  related  to  her 
all  that  had  befallen  him  in  his  travel  from  first  to  last,  and  what  he  had  endured, 
and  what  had  happened  to  him  with  the  sister  of  his  wife,  and  how  he  had  delivered 
his  wife  and  his  children.  He  told  her  also  of  the  wonders,  and  the  arduous  and 
horrible  events,  that  he  had  witnessed,  that  the  sister  of  his  wife  had  desired  to 
slaughter  him,  and  to  slaughter  her  and  her  children,  and  that  none  had  preserved 
them  from  her  save  God,  whose  name  be  exalted!  After  that  he  related  to  her  the 
story  of  the  rod  and  the  cap,  telling  her  that  the  sheikh  Aboulruish  and  the  sheikh 
Abdelcadus  had  demanded  those  two  things  of  him,  and  that  he  had  not  given  them 
to  them  but  for  her  sake.  She  therefore  thanked  him  for  that,  and  prayed  for  long 
life  for  him  ;  and  he  said.  By  Allah,  I  shall  not  forget  all  the  good  offices  that  thou 
hast  done  me  from  the  beginning  of  the  affair  to  its  endl  Then  his  sister  looked 
towards  his  wife  Menar  Elsena,  and  embraced  her,  and  pressed  her  children  to  her 
bosom ;  after  which  she  said  to  her,  0  daughter  of  the  supreme  King,  was  there  no 
mercy  in  thy  heart,  that  thou  separatedst  him  and  his  children,  and  torturedst  his 
heart  for  them?  Didst  thou  desire  by  doing  thus  that  he  should  die?  —  And  she 
laughed,  and  replied,  Thus  ordained  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose 
name  be  exalted  !)  ;  and  he  who  deceiveth  men,  him  doth  God  deceive.  Then  they 
brought  some  food  and  drink,  and  they  all  ate  and  drank  and  were  happy.  Hassan 
remained  with  them  ten  days,  eating  and  drinking,  and  in  joy  and  happiness ;  and 
after  the  ten  days  he  prepared  himself  for  his  journey.  His  sister  thereupon  arose, 
and  prepared  for  him  wealth  and  rarities  that  cannot  be  described,  and  after  that, 
she  pressed  him  to  her  bosom,  to  bid  him  farewell,  and  embraced  him.  Then  Hassan 
gave  the  sheikh  Abdelcadus  the  rod,  and  he  rejoiced  in  it  exceedingly,  and  thanked 
Hassan  for  it :  and  after  he  had  received  it  from  him,  he  mounted,  and  returned  to 
his  abode. 

Hassan  then  mounted,  with  his  wife  and  his  children,  and  departed  from  the 
palace  of  the  damsels ;  and  they  went  forth  with  him,  and  bade  him  farewell,  after 
which  they  returned.  Hassan  repaired  to  his  country,  proceeding  over  the  desert 
tract  for  the  space  of  two  months  and  ten  days,  until  he  arrived  at  the  city  of  Bag- 
dad, the  Abode  of  Peace  ;  and  he  came  to  his  house  by  the  way  of  the  private  door 
which  opened  towards  the  plain  and  the  desert,  and  knocked  at  the  door.  His 
mother,  on  account  of  the  length  of  his  absence,  had  relinquished  sleep,  and  given 
herself  continually  to  mourning  and  weeping  and  wailing,  until  she  fell  sick,  and 
ate  not  food,  nor  delighted  in  sleep,  but  wept  night  and  day,  and  ceased  not  to 
mention  her  son.  She  had  despaired  of  his  return  to  her;  and  when  he  stood  at 
the  door,  he  heard  her  weeping,  And,  lo,  she  heard  her  son  Hassan  calling  out  at  the 
door,  0  my  mother,  verily  fortune  hath  granted  reunion  !  And  on  her  hearing  his 
words,  she  knew  him.  She  came  to  the  door  in  a  state  between  that  of  believing 
and  that  of  disbelieving;  and  when  she  opened  the  door,  she  saw  her  son  standing 


G88  THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

there  with  his  wife  and  his  children,  and  she  cried  out  by  reason  of  the  violence  of 
her  joy,  and  fell  upon  the  ground  in  a  fit.  Hassan  therefore  ceased  not  to  soothe 
her  until  she  recovered,  when  she  embraced  him,  and  then  she  wept;  after  which 
she  called  his  pages  and  slaves,  and  ordered  them  to  bring  all  that  was  with  him 
into  the  house.  Accordingly  they  brought  the  loads  into  the  house.  Then  his  wife 
and  his  children  entered,  and  his  mother  went  to  her  and  embraced  her,  and  kissed 
her  head  and  kissed  her  feet,  and  said  to  her,  0  daughter  of  the  supreme  King,  if  I 
have  erred  in  not  doing  what  was  due  to  thee,  lo,  I  beg  forgiveness  of  God,  the 
Great.  And  looking  towards  her  son,  she  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  was  the 
cause  of  this  long  absence?  So  when  she  asked  him  respecting  that,  he  acquainted 
her  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  from  beginning  to  end:  and  on  her  hearing 
his  words,  she  uttered  a  great  cry,  and  again  fell  upon  the  ground  in  a  fit,  on  ac- 
count of  the  mention  of  the  events  that  had  happened  to  her  son.  He  ceased  not 
to  soothe  her  until  she  recovered,  and  thereupon  she  said  to  him,  O  my  son,  by  Allah, 
thou  hast  acted  negligently  with  respect  to  the  rod  and  the  cap;  for  if  thou  hadst 
taken  care  of  them  and  preserved  them,  thou  hadst  possessed  the  earth  in  its  length 
and  breadth  ;  but  praise  be  to  God,  0  my  son,  for  thy  safety,  and  for  that  of  thy 
wife  and  thy  children ! 

They  passed  a  most  agreeable  and  most  pleasant  night  ;  and  when  the  morning 
came,  Hassan  changed  his  clothes,  and  put  on  a  suit  of  the  most  beautiful  material. 
He  then  went  forth  to  the  market,  and  bought  male  black  slaves  and  female  slaves, 
and  stuffs  and  precious  things,  consisting  of  ornaments  and  apparel,  and  furniture 
and  costly  vessels,  of  which  the  like  existed  not  in  the  possession  of  the  Kings. 
He  bought  also  houses  and  gardens,  immovable  estates,  and  other  things;  and  he 
resided  with  his  children  and  Jiis  wife  and  his  mother,  eating  and  drinking  and 
delighting.  They  ceased  not  to  pass  the  most  comfortable  life,  and  the  most  agree- 
able, until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  com- 
panions.—  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  who  possesseth  the  dominion  that  is 
apparent  and  the  dominion  that  is  hidden,  and  who  is  the  Living,  the  Everlasting, 
who  dieth  not  I 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Eight  Hundred  and  Thirty-first  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the 
Eight  Hundred  and  Forty-fifth. 


THE  STORY  OF  CALIFA  THE  FISHERMAN. 

There  was,  in  ancient  times,  in  the  city  of  Bagdad,  a  fisherman  named  Califa, 
who  was  a  man  in  needy  circumstances,  a  pauper;  and  he  had  never  in  his  life 
married.  And  it  happened  one  day  that  he  took  his  net,  and  went  with  it  to  the 
river,  as  it  was  his  custom  to  do,  that  he  might  catch  some  fish  before  the  other 
fishermen.  When  he  arrived  at  the  river,  he  girded  himself,  and  tucked  up  his 
sleeves:  then  advancing  to  the  river,  he  spread  his  net,  and  cast  it  the  first  time  and 
the  second  time  ;  but  there  came  not  up  in  it  aught.  He  ceased  not  to  cast  it  until 
he  had  done  so  ten  times ;  but  nothing  whatever  came  up  in  it.  So  his  bosom  was 
contracted,  and  his  mind  was  perplexed  respecting  his  case,  and  he  said,  I  beg  for- 


THE    STORY    OF    CALIFA    THE    FISHERMAN.  689 

gT^eness  of  God,  the  Great,  beside  whom  there  is  no  deity,  the  Living,  the  Everlast- 
ing; and  I  turn  unto  Ilim  repentant!  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God, 
the  High,  the  Great!  What  God  willeth  coraeth  to  pass,  and  what  He  willeth  not 
Cometh  not  to  pass !  Subsistence  is  to  be  bestowed  by  God  (to  whom  be  ascribed 
might  and  glory!)  ;  and  when  God  bestoweth  upon  a  servant,  no  one  preventeth 
him  ;  and  when  He  preventeth  a  servant,  no  one  bestoweth  upon  him. — He  then  sat 
a  while,  meditating  upon  his  case,  and  hanging  down  his  head  towards  the  ground  ; 
after  which  he  recited  some  verses,  and  said  within  himself,  I  will  cast  the  net  this 
time  also,  and  rely  upon  God :  perhaps  He  will  not  disappoint  my  hope. 

Accordingly  he  advanced  and  cast  the  net  as  far  as  he  could  into  the  river,  and  he 
folded  its  cord,  and  waited  over  it  a  while.  Then  after  that  he  drew  it,  and  found 
it  heavy:  therefore  when  he  knew  that  it  was  heavy,  he  managed  it  gently,  and 
drew  it  until  it  came  up  on  the  bank  :  and  lo,  in  it  was  a  one-eyed,  lame  ape.  So 
Califa,  on  beholding  him,  said,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God  !  Verily 
to  God  we  belong,  and  verily  unto  Him  we  return  !  What  is  this  deficient  fortune, 
and  evil  luck !  What  hath  happened  to  me  on  this  blessed  day  !  But  all  this  is  by 
the  predetermination  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted! — He  then  took  the  ape,  bound 
him  with  a  rope,  and,  advancing  to  a  tree  growing  upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  he 
tied  him  to  it.  And  he  had  with  him  a  whip,  and  he  took  it  in  his  hand,  and  raised 
it  in  the  air,  desiring  to  beat  with  it  the  ape.  But  God  caused  this  ape  to  speak 
with  an  eloquent  tongue,  and  he  said  to  him,  0  Califa,  restrain  thy  hand,  and  beat 
me  not,  but  leave  me  tied  to  this  tree,  and  go  to  the  river,  and  cast  thy  net,  relying 
upon  God  :  for  he  will  give  thee  thy  means  of  subsistence.  So  when  Califa  heard 
the  words  of  the  ape,  he  took  the  net,  and  advanced  to  the  river,  and  cast  it,  and 
slackened  its  cord.  Then  he  drew  it,  and  found  it  heavier  than  it  was  the  first  time  ; 
and  he  ceased  not  to  labour  at  it  until  it  came  up  to  the  bank,  when  lo,  there  was  in 
it  another  ape,  whose  front  teeth  were  far  apart,  his  eyes  adorned  with  kohl,  and  his 
hands  stained  with  henna;  and  he  was  laughing,  and  had  around  his  waist  a  piece 
of  ragged  stuff.  Upon  this,  Califo  said.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  substituted,  for 
the  fish  of  the  river,  apes !  He  then  came  to  the  ape  that  was  tied  to  the  tree,  and 
said  to  him.  See,  0  unlucky,  how  abominable  was  that  which  thou  advisedst  me  to 
do  !  For  none  caused  me  to  fall  in  with  the  second  ape  but  thou  ;  because,  when 
thou  presentedst  thyself  to  me  in  the  morning,  lame  and  one-eyed,  I  became  em- 
barrassed, weary,  not  possessing  a  piece  of  silver,  nor  a  piece  of  gold.  —  And  he 
took  in  his  hand  a  stick  for  driving  cattle,  and  whirled  it  round  in  the  air  three 
times,  and  was  about  to  strike  with  it  the  ape,  when  he  prayed  for  aid  against  him, 
and  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  pardon  me  for  the  sake  of  this  my  com- 
panion, and  seek  thou  of  him  what  thou  wantest ;  for  he  will  guide  thee  to  that 
which  thou  desirest.  Califa  therefore  threw  down  the  stick  and  pardoned  him.  He 
then  came  to  the  second  ape,  and  stood  by  him  ;  and  the  ape  said  to  him,  0  Califa, 
these  words  will  not  profit  thee  at  all,  unless  thou  hear  what  I  shall  say  to  thee  ;  but 
if  thou  hear  my  words  and  comply  with  my  advice,  and  oppose  me  not,  I  shall  be 
the  means  of  thy  becoming  rich.  So  Califa  said  to  him,  What  wilt  thou  say  to  me, 
that  I  may  obey  thee  respecting  it?  And  he  answered  him,  Leave  me  tied  here  in 
my  place,  and  go  to  the  river  and  cast  thy  net,  and  I  will  tell  thee  what  thou  shalt 
do  after  this.  Califa  accordingly  took  the  net  and  went  to  the  river,  and  cast  it  and 
waited  over  it  a  while.  Then  he  drew  it,  and  found  it  heavy  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to 
labour  at  it  until  he  brought  it  up  to  the  bank  ;  and  lo,  in  it  was  another  ape;  but 
this  ape  was  red:  around  his  waist  were  blue  garments,  and  his  hands  and  feet 
were  stained  with  henna,  and  his  eyes  adorned  with  kohl. 

On  seeing  him,  Califa  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God,  the  Great !  Ex- 
tolled be  the  perfection  of  the  Possessor  of  dominion  !  Verily  this  day  is  blessed 
from  its  beginning  to  its  end  ;  for  its  luck  hath  been  shown  to  be  fortunate  by  the 
countenance  of  the  first  ap6,  and  the  page  is  shown  by  its  superscription  !  Thia 
day  is  a  day  of  apes;  there  remaineth  not  in  the  river  a  single  fish,  and  we  came 
44 


690  THE    STORY    OF    CALIFA    THE    FISHERMAN. 

not  forth  to-day  save  to  catch  apes !  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  substituted,  for  the 
fish,  apes  ! — He  then  looked  towards  the  third  ape,  and  said  to  him,  What  art  thou 
also,  0  unlucky?  The  ape  said  to  him,  Dost  thou  not  know  me,  0  Califa?  Califik 
answered.  No.  And  he  replied,  I  am  the  ape  of  Aboulsadat,  the  Jew,  the  money- 
changer.—  And  what  dost  thou  for  him?  said  Califa.  He  answered  him,  I  present 
myse-lf  to  him  in  the  morning,  at  the  beginning  of  the  day,  and  he  gaineth  five 
pieces  of  gold;  and  I  present  myself  to  him  in  the  evening,  at  the  close  of  the  day, 
and  he  gaineth  five  pieces  of  gold  again.  And  Califa  thereupon  looked  towards  the 
first  ape,  and  said  to  him.  See,  0  unlucky,  how  excellent  are  the  apes  of  other 
people ;  but  as  to  thee,  thou  presentest  thyself  to  me  in  the  morning  lame  and  one- 
eyed,  and  with  thine  unlucky  countenance,  and  I  become  a  pauper,  a  bankrupt, 
hungry.  He  then  took  the  stick,  and  whirled  it  round  in  the  air  three  times,  and 
was  about  to  strike  him  with  it.  But  the  ape  of  Aboulsadat  said  to  him.  Leave 
him,  0  Califa,  and  withdraw  thy  hand,  and  come  to  me,  that  I  may  tell  thee  what 
thou  shalt  do.  So  Califa  threw  down  the  stick  from  his  hand,  and,  advancing  to 
him,  said  to  him.  Of  what  wilt  thou  tell  me,  0  master  of  all  apes?  And  he  an- 
swered him.  Take  the  net,  and  cast  it  in  the  river,  and  leave  me  and  these  apes  re- 
maining by  thee:  and  whatever  cometh  up  to  thee  in  the  net,  bring  it  to  me,  and  I 
will  acquaint  thee  with  that  which  will  rejoice  thee.  Califa  replied,  I  hear  and 
obey. 

And  he  advanced  to  the  river,  and  cast  in  it  the  net,  and  waited  over  it  a  while ; 
after  which  he  drew  it,  and  lo,  in  it  was  a  large  fish,  with  a  great  head,  and  its  tail 
was  like  a  ladle,  and  its  eyes  were  like  two  pieces  of  gold.  So  when  Califa  saw  it, 
he  was  rejoiced  at  it;  for  he  had  not  caught  the  like  of  it  before  in  his  life.  He 
took  it,  wondering  at  it,  and  brought  it  to  the  ape  of  Aboulsadat  the  Jew;  and  he 
was  as  though  he  had  gained  possession  of  the  whole  world.  And  the  ape  said  to 
him,  What  dost  thou  desire  to  do  with  this,  0  Califa,  and  what  wilt  thou  do  to  thine 
ape?  Califa  answered  him,  I  will  inform  thee,  0  master  of  all  apes,  what  I  will  do. 
Know  that  I  will,  before  everything  else,  contrive  means  of  destroying  this  accursed 
one,  my  ape,  and  I  will  take  thee  in  his  stead,  and  feed  thee  every  day  with  what 
thou  shalt  desire. — And  the  ape  said  to  him,  Since  thou  hast  informed  me,  I  will 
tell  thee  how  thou  shalt  do;  and  by  thy  so  doing,  thy  state  shall  be  amended,  if  it 
be  the  will  of  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted  !).  Understand  then  what  I  say  to  thee; 
and  it  is  this  :  that  thou  prepare  for  me  also  a  rope,  and  tie  me  with  it  to  a  tree: 
then  thou  shalt  leave  me,  and  go  to  the  middle  of  the  quay,  and  cast  thy  net  into 
the  river  Tigris ;  and  when  thou  hast  cast  it,  wait  over  it  a  little,  and  draw  it,  and 
thou  wilt  find  in  it  a  fish  than  which  thou  hast  not  seen  any  more  beautiful  in  thy 
whole  life.  Bring  it  to  me,  and  I  will  tell  thee  how  thou  shalt  do  after  that. — So 
thereupon  Califa  arose  immediately,  and  cast  the  net  in  the  river  Tigris,  and  drew 
it,  and  he  saw  in  it  a  fish  of  the  kind  called  bayad,*  of  the  size  of  a  lamb.  He  had 
not  seen  the  like  of  it  in  his  whole  life;  and  it  was  larger  than  the  first  fish. 

He  took  it  and  went  with  it  to  the  ape ;  and  the  ape  said  to  him,  Bring  for  thyself 
some  green  grass,  and  put  half  of  it  into  a  basket,  and  put  the  fish  upon  it,  and 
cover  it  with  the  other  half,  and  leave  us  tied.  Then  carry  the  basket  upon  thy 
shoulder,  and  go  with  it  into  the  city  of  Bagdad  ;  and  whoever  speaketh  to  thee,  or 
asketh  thee  a  question,  return  him  not  a  reply,  until  thou  enterest  the  market  of  the 
money-changers.  Thou  wilt  find,  at  the  upper  end  of  the  market,  the  shop  of  the 
learned  Aboulsadat  the  Jew,  the  sheikh  of  the  money-changers,  and  thou  wilt  see 
him  sitting  upon  a  mattrass,  with  a  pillow  behind  him,  and  before  him  two  chests, 
one  for  the  gold  and  the  other  for  the  silver,  and  with  him  mamlouks  and  black 
slaves  and  pages.  Advance  to  him,  and  put  the  basket  before  him,  and  say  to  him, 
0  Aboulsadat,  I  have  gone  forth  to-day  to  fish,  and  cast  the  net  in  thy  name,  and 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)   sent  this  fish.     Thereupon  he  will  say.  Hast  thou 

'A  fish  common  in  the  river  Nile. 


Fish  for  Sale.     (Page  690.) 


THE   STORY    OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 


693 


ehown  it  to  any  one  beside  me  ?  And  do  thou  answer  him,  No,  by  Allah.  And  he 
will  take  it  from  thee,  and  give  thee  a  piece  of  gold.  But  do  thou  return  it  to  him. 
And  he  will  give  thee  two  pieces  of  gold.  But  return  them  to  him.  And  whenever  he 
giveth  thee  aught,  return  it  to  him  :  if  he  give  thee  its  weight  in  gold,  receive  not 
from  him  aught.  So  he  will  say  to  thee.  Tell  me  what  thou  desirest.  And  say 
thou  to  him,  By  Allah,  I  will  not  sell  it  save  for  two  sayings.  And  when  he  saith 
to  thee,  And  what  are  those  two  sayings? — answer  him,  Rise  upon  thy  feet  and  say. 
Bear  witness  O  ye  who  are  present  in  the  market,  that  I  have  exchanged,  for  the 
ape  of  Califa  the  fisherman,  my  ape  ;  and  have  exchanged,  for  his  lot,  my  lot ;  and  for 
his  good  fortune,  my  good  fortune.  This  is  the  price  of  the  fish,  and  I  have  no  need 
of  the  gold. — And  when  he  hath  done  with  thee  thus,  I  will  every  day  present  myself 
to  thee  in  the  morning  and  the  evening,  and  henceforth  thou  wilt  gain  every  day  ten 
pieces  of  gold  ;  while  this  his  one-eyed  lame  ape  will  present  himself  in  the  morning  to 
Aboulsadat  the  Jew,  and  God  will  aflBict  him  every  day  with  an  exaction  which  he 
will  be  obliged  to  pay,  and  he  will  not  cease  to  be  thus  afilicted  until  he  becometh 
reduced  to  poverty,  and  is  possessed  of  nothing  whatever.  Hear  then  what  I  say  to 
thee:  so  wilt  thou  become  prosperous  and  be  directed  aright. — And  when  Califa  the 
fisherman  heard  the  words  of  the  ape,  he  replied,  I  accept  the  advice  which  thou 
hast  given  me,  0  King  of  all  the  apes!  But  as  to  this  unlucky  one,  may  God  not 
bless  him  !  I  know  not  what  to  do  with  him. — The  third  ape,  however,  said  to  him, 
Let  him  go  into  the  water,  and  let  me  go  also.  And  Califa  replied,  I  hear  and  obey: 
— and  he  advanced  to  the  apes  and  loosed  them  and  left  them  ;  whereupon  they  de- 
scended into  the  river. 

He  then  approached  the  fish,  and  took  it  and  washed  it,  'and  he  put  beneath  it 
some  green  grass  in  the  basket,  covered  it  also  with  grass,  and,  carrying  it  upon  his 
shoulder,  proceeded  until  he  entered  the  city  of  Bagdad  ;  and  when  he  entered  it, 
the  people,  knowing  him,  wished  him  good  morning,  and  said,  What  hast  thou  with 


694  THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

thee,  0  Califa?  But  he  paid  no  regard  to  any  one  among  them  until  he  came  to  the 
market  of  the  money-changers,  and  passed  the  shops,  as  the  ape  directed  him.  Then 
he  looked  at  the  Jew,  and  saw  him  sitting  in  the  shop,  with  the  pages  in  attendance 
upon  him,  and  he  was  like  one  of  the  Kings  of  Khorasan.  When  Califa  saw  him, 
he  knew  him,  and  walked  on  until  he  stood  before  him  ;  whereupon  the  Jew  raised 
his  head  towards  him,  and  knew  him,  and  said  to  him,  Welcome  to  thee,  0  Califa! 
What  is  thine  affair,  and  what  is  it  that  thou  desirest?  For  if  any  one  have  spoken 
to  thee  or  contended  with  thee,  tell  me,  that  I  may  go  with  thee  to  the  Judge,  and 
he  will  exact  for  thee  thy  due  from  him. —  So  he  replied,  No,  by  thy  head,  0  chief 
of  the  Jews  !  No  one  hath  spoken  to  me.  But  I  went  forth  to-day  from  my  house 
for  thy  luck,  and  repaired  to  the  river,  and  cast  my  net  in  the  Tigris,  and  there  came 
up  this  fish. — lie  then  opened  the  basket,  and  threw  down  the  fish  before  the  Jew  ; 
and  when  the  Jew  saw  it,  he  admired  it,  and  said,  By  the  Pentateuch  and  the  Ten 
Commandments,  I  was  sleeping  yesterday,  and  I  saw  in  my  sleep  as  though  I  were 
before  a  person  who  said  to  me.  Know,  0  Aboulsadat,  that  I  have  sent  to  thee  a 
beautiful  present.  So  probably  the  present  is  this  fish :  without  doubt  it  is. — Then 
he  looked  towards  Califa  and  said  to  him,  By  thy  religion,  hath  any  one  seen  it 
beside  me  ?  Califa  answered.  No,  By  Allah  !  By  Abou  Beker  the  Very  Veracious, 
0  chief  of  the  Jews,  no  one  beside  thyself  hath  seen  it. — And  upon  this  the  Jew 
looked  towards  one  of  his  pages,  and  said  to  him,  Come  hither:  take  this  fish,  and 
go  with  it  to  the  house,  and  let  Sadah  prepare  it,  and  fry  and  broil,  against  the  time 
when  I  shall  accomplish  my  business  and  come.  Califa  also  said  to  him.  Go,  0 
page :  let  the  wife  of  the  learned  man  fry  some  of  it  and  broil  some  of  it.  And 
the  page  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0  my  master.  And  he  took  the  fish,  and  went 
with  it  to  the  house.  But  as  to  the  Jew,  he  stretched  forth  his  hand  with  a  piece  of 
gold,  and  offered  it  to  Califa  the  fisherman,  saying  to  him,  Take  this  for  thyself,  0 
Califa,  and  expend  it  upon  thy  family. 

When  Califa  saw  it  in  his  hand,  he  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Possessor 
of  dominion  !  and  seemed  as  though  he  had  not  seen  anything  of  gold  in  his  life. 
He  took  the  piece  of  gold,  and  walked  away  a  little.  Then  he  remembered  the 
charge  of  the  ape:  so  he  returned,  and  threw  back  the  piece  of  gold  to  the  Jew,  say- 
ing to  him.  Take  thy  gold,  and  give  me  people's  fish.  Are  people  to  thee  objects  of 
ridicule  ? — And  when  the  Jew  heard  his  words,  he  imagined  that  he  was  jesting 
with  him  ;  wherefore  he  handed  to  him  two  pieces  of  gold  in  addition  to  the  first 
piece.  But  Califa  said  to  him.  Give  me  the  fish  without  jesting.  Dost  thou  know 
that  I  will  sell  the  fish  for  this  price? — And  the  Jew  put  forth  his  hand  to  two  othar 
pieces,  and  said  to  him,  Take  these  five  pieces  of  gold  as  the  value  of  the  fish,  and 
relinquish  covetousuess.  And  Califa  took  them  in  his  hand  and  went  away  with 
them,  joyful.  He  proceeded  to  look  at  the  gold  and  to  wonder  at  it,  and  say.  Extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  God !  There  is  not  in  the  possession  of  the  Caliph  of  Bagdad 
the  like  of  what  is  in  my  possession  this  day !  And  he  ceased  not  to  walk  on  until 
he  came  to  the  end  of  the  market.  Then  he  remembered  the  words  of  the  ape,  and 
the  charge  that  he  had  given  him.  So  he  returned  to  the  Jew,  and  threw  back  to 
him  the  gold.  The  Jew  therefore  said  to  him.  What  aileth  thee,  0  Califa?  What 
dost  thou  desire?  Wilt  thou  take  pieces  of  silver  in  change  of  thy  gold  ? — And  he 
answered  him,  I  desire  not  pieces  of  silver  or  pieces  of  gold.  I  only  desire  that  thou 
give  me  people's  fish. — And  upon  this  the  Jew  was  enraged,  and  cried  out  at  him, 
and  said  to  him,  0  fisherman,  dost  thou  come  to  me  with  a  fish  that  is  not  worth  a 
piece  of  gold,  and  do  I  give  thee  for  it  five  pieces  of  gold,  and  dost  thou  not  consent? 
Art  thou  mad?  Tell  me  for  how  much  thou  wilt  sell  it. —  Califa  answered  him,  I 
will  not  sell  it  for  silver  nor  for  gold,  and  I  will  not  sell  it  save  for  two  sayings  that 
thou  shalt  utter  to  me.  And  when  the  Jew  heard  his  mention  of  two  sayings,'  his 
eyes  became  fixed  in  his  head,  and  his  breathing  became  difficult,  and  he  locked  his 


'  The  profes.sion  of  the  Mahometan  faith  is  often  named  the  "  two  sayings." 


THE    STORY    OF    CALIFA    THE    FISHERMAN.  695 

teeth  together,  and  said  to  him,  0  recreant  of  the  Mahometans,  dost  thou  desire  that 
I  should  abandon  my  religion  for  the  sake  of  thy  fish,  and  wouldst  thou  alienate  from 
me  my  faith,  and  my  belief  which  I  found  my  fathers  to  have  held  before  me  ?  And 
he  cried  out  to  his  pages,  who  came  before  him,  and  he  said  to  them,  Wo  to  you ! 
Take  this  unlucky  fellow;  mangle  with  blows  the  back  of  his  neck,  and  torture  him 
with  abundant  beating. — They  therefore  fell  to  beating  him,  and  ceased  not  to  do  so 
until  he  fell  down  beneath  the  shop,  when  the  Jew  said  to  them.  Leave  him,  that  he 
may  rise.     And  Califa  rose  up  as  though  nought  ailed  him. 

The  Jew  then  said  to  him.  Tell  me  what  thou  desirest  as  the  price  of  this  fish,  and 
I  will  give  it  thee,  for  thou  hast  not  obtained  good  from  us  on  this  occasion.  But 
Califa  replied,  Fear  not  for  me,  0  Teacher,  on  account  of  the  beating;  for  I  can 
bear  as  much  beating  as  ten  asses.  And  the  Jew  laughed  at  his  words,  and  said  to 
him,  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee,  tell  me  what  thou  desirest,  and  I  by  my  religion  will 
give  thee  it.  So  he  replied.  Nought  from  thee  will  content  me  as  the  price  of  this 
fish  save  two  sayings.  The  Jew  therefore  said  to  him,  I  imagine  thou  desirest  of 
me  that  I  should  become  a  Mahometan.  Califa  replied,  By  Allah,  0  Jew,  if  thou 
become  a  Mahometan,  thy  becoming  so  will  not  profit  the  Mahometans  nor  vrill  it 
injure  the  Jews ;  and  if  thou  remain  in  thine  infidelity,  thine  infidelity  will  not 
injure  the  Mahometans  nor  will  it  profit  the  Jews.  But  what  I  desire  of  thee  is 
this:  that  thou  rise  upon  thy  feet,  and  say,  Bear  witness  against  me,  0  people  of  the 
market,  that  I  have  given  in  exchange  my  ape  for  the  ape  of  Califa  the  fisherman, 
and  my  good  luck  in  the  world  for  his  good  luck,  and  my  good  fortune  for  his  good 
fortune. — And  the  Jew  said.  If  this  thing  be  thy  desire,  it  is  to  me  easy.  Then  the 
Jew  arose  immediately,  and  stood  upon  his  feet,  and  said  as  Califa  the  fisherman  had 
told  him  ;  after  which  he  looked  towards  him,  and  said  to  him.  Hast  thou  aught 
more  to  demand  of  me?  The  fisherman  answered.  No.  And  the  Jew  said  to  him. 
Go  in  peace.  So  Califa  arose  immediately,  and,  having  taken  his  basket  and  his  net, 
went  to  the  river  Tigris,  and  cast  the  net.  Then  he  drew  it,  and  found  it  heavy,  and 
pulled  it  not  forth  save  after  laborious  exertion  ;  and  when  he  pulled  it  forth,  he  saw 
it  full  of  fishes  of  all  kinds.  And  there  came  to  him  a  woman,  having  with  her  a 
plate,  and  she  gave  him  a  piece  of  gold,  for  which  he  gave  her  fish  ;  and  there  came 
to  him  a  eunuch  also,  who  bought  of  him  for  a  piece  of  gold.  Thus  it  happened 
until  he  sold  fish  for  ten  pieces  of  gold  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  sell  every  day  for  ten 
pieces  of  gold  till  the  end  of  ten  days,  so  that  he  amassed  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold. 

Now  this  fisherman  had  a  chamber  within  a  place  through  which  the  merchants 
passed.  And  while  he  was  sleeping  in  his  chamber  one  night,  he  said  to  himself,  O 
Califa,  verily  all  the  people  know  that  thou  art  a  poor  man,  a  fisherman,  and  there 
have  come  into  thy  possession  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold :  so,  inevitably,  the  Prince 
of  the  Faithful,  Haroun  Alrashid,  will  hear  of  thy  story  from  some  one  of  the 
people;  and  probably  he  will  be  in  need  of  wealth,  and  will  send  to  thee  and  say  to 
thee,  I  am  in  want  of  a  certain  number  of  pieces  of  gold,  and  it  hath  been  told  me 
that  thou  hast  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  ;  therefore  lend  them  to  me.  Then  I  will 
say,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  he  who  informed  thee  that  I 
had  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  lied  against  me:  they  are  not  in  my  possession,  nor 
have  I  aught  thereof.  And  he  will  deliver  me  to  the  Judge,  and  will  say  to  him. 
Strip  him  of  his  clothing,  and  torture  him  with  beating,  that  he  may  confess,  and 
may  bring  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  that  are  in  his  possession.  Therefore  the 
right  opinion,  that  will  be  the  means  of  saving  me  from  this  embarrassing  predica- 
ment, is  this:  that  I  arise  immediately,  and  torture  myself  with  the  whip,  that  I 
may  be  accustomed  to  beating. — And  his  intoxication  said  to  him.  Arise  ;  strip  thy- 
self of  thy  clothes.  So  he  arose  forthwith,  and  stripped  himself  of  his  clothes,  and 
took  in  his  hand  a  whip  that  he  had  by  him.  He  had  also  a  pillow  of  leather;  and 
he  proceeded  to  strike  one  blow  upon  that  pillow,  and  one  blow  upon  his  skin,  say- 
ing, Ah  !  Ah  !  By  Allah,  this  is  a  false  assertion,  0  my  lord,  and  they  utter  a  lie 
against  me:  I  am  a  poor  man,  a  fisherman,  and  have  not  in  my  possession  aught  of 


696  THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

worldly  goods.  —  And  the  people  heard  Califa  the  fisherman  torturing  himself,  and 
beating  upon  the  pillow  with  the  whip,  the  falling  of  the  blows  upon  his  body  and 
upon  the  pillow  making  a  noise  in  the  night;  and  among  those  who  heard  him  were 
the  merchants.  They  therefore  said.  What  can  be  the  matter  with  this  poor  man, 
that  he  crieth,  and  that  we  hear  the  falling  of  the  blows  upon  him  ?  It  seemeth 
that  the  robbers  have  come  down  upon  him,  and  they  are  the  persons  who  are  tortur- 
ing him.  —  So  thereupon  they  ail  arose,  on  hearing  the  sounds  of  the  beating  and 
crying,  and  came  forth  from  their  lodgings  to  the  house  of  Califa,  and,  seeing  its 
door  locked,  they  said,  one  to  another,  Probably  the  robbers  have  descended  upon 
him  from  behind  the  saloon  :  therefore  it  is  expedient  that  we  ascend  by  way  of  the 
roofs.  Accordingly  they  ascended  to  the  roofs,  and  descended  through  the  skylight; 
and  they  saw  him  with  bare  back,  and  torturing  himself.  They  therefore  said  to 
him.  What  aileth  thee,  0  Califa?  What  is  thy  story? — And  he  answered.  Know,  0 
people,  that  I  have  acquired  some  pieces  of  gold,  and  I  fear  that  my  case  will  be 
reported  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Ilaroun  Alrashid,  and  he  will  summon  me 
before  him,  and  demand  of  me  those  pieces  of  gold.  Then  I  will  deny ;  and  when 
I  deny,  I  fear  that  he  will  torture  me  ;  wherefore  I  am  torturing  myself,  and  making 
the  torture  iiabitual  to  me,  to  prepare  for  what  may  come.  —  And  the  merchants 
laughed  at  him,  and  said  to  him,  Leave  oif  these  actions.  May  God  not  bless  thee, 
nor  the  pieces  of  gold  that  have  come  to  thee !  For  thou  hast  disquieted  us  this 
night,  and  alarmed  our  hearts. 

So  Califii  discontinued  the  beating  of  himself,  and  slept  until  the  morning;  and 
when  he  arose  from  sleep,  and  desired  to  depart  to  his  occupation,  he  reflected  upon 
the  matter  of  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  that  had  come  into  his  possession,  and  said 
within  himself,  If  I  leave  them  in  the  house,  the  robbers  will  steal  them  ;  and  if  I 
put  them  into  a  belt  around  my  waist,  probably  some  one  will  see  them,  and  lay 
wait  for  mo  until  I  am  alone,  in  a  place  devoid  of  other  persons,  and  he  will  slay 
me,  and  take  them  from  me.  But  I  will  practise  a  stratagem,  one  that  will  be  good, 
and  very  advantageous.  He  then  arose  immediately,  and  sewed  for  himself  a  pocket 
within  the  upper  border  of  his  vest,  and,  having  tied  up  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold 
in  a  purse,  put  them  into  that  pocket  which  he  had  made;  after  which  he  arose  and 
took  his  net  and  his  basket  and  his  staff,  and  proceeded  until  he  came  to  the  river 
Tigris,  and  cast  his  net  in  it.  Then  he  drew  it;  but  there  came  not  up  for  him  any- 
thing. He  therefore  removed  from  that  place  to  another  place,  and  there  he  cast 
his  net;  but  nothing  came  up  for  him.  And  he  ceased  not  to  remove  from  place  to 
place  until  he  was  as  far  from  the  city  as  the  space  of  half  a  day's  journey,  casting 
the  net  on  the  way  ;  but  still  there  came  not  up  for  him  aught.  And  he  said  within 
himself.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  cast  my  net  again  into  the  water  save  this  time,  what- 
ever be  the  result!  So  he  cast  the  net  with  all  his  force,  by  reason  of  the  violence 
of  his  rage,  and  the  purse  in  w^hich  were  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  flew  from  his 
bosom,  fell  into  the  midst  of  the  river,  and  was  carried  away  with  the  force  of  the 
current.  Upon  this  he  threw  down  the- net  from  his  hand,  and  stripped  himself  of 
his  clothes,  and,  leaving  them  upon  the  bank,  descended  into  the  river,  and  dived 
after  the  purse.  He  ceased  not  to  dive  and  come  up  about  a  hundred  times,  until 
his  strength  became  impaired  ;  but  he  found  not  that  purse ;  and  when  he  despaired 
of  it  he  came  up  on  the  bank,  and  found  not  aught  save  the  staff  and  the  net  and 
the  basket.  He  sought  his  clothes  ;  but  discovered  no  trace  of  them.  So  he  un- 
folded the  net,  and  wrapped  himself  in  it,  and.  taking  the  staff  in  his  hand,  and 
the  basket  upon  his  shoulder,  he  went  trotting  along  like  the  stray-camel,  running 
to  the  right  and  left,  and  backwards  and  forwards,  with  dishevelled  hair,  and  dust- 
coloured,  like  the  refractory  Afrite  when  let  loose  from  Solomon's  prison. —  Such 
was  the  case  of  Califa  the  fisherman. 

Now  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  had  a  companion,  a  jeweller,  named  Benkernas  , 
and  all  the  people  and  the  merchants  and  the  brokers  and  the  bargain-makers  knew 
that  Benkernas  was  the  merchant  of  the  Caliph.     Nought  that  w-as  sold  in  the  city 


THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 


697 


Califa  wrapped  in  liis  Net. 


of  Bagdad,  of  rarities  and  other  costly  things,  was  sold  until  it  was.  shown  to  hinij 
and  among  these  things  were  the  mamlouks  and  the  female  slaves.  And  while  that 
merchant,  Benkernas,  was  sitting  in  his  shop  one  day,  lo,  the  sheikh  of  the  brokers 
came  to  him,  having  with  him  a  female  slave,  the  like  of  whom  eyes  had  not  beheld. 
She  was  endowed  with  the  utmost  beauty  and  loveliness,  and  fine  stature,  and  just- 
ness of  form  ;  and  among  the  number  of  her  excellences  were  these:  that  she  knew 
all  sciences  and  arts,  and  composed  verses,  and  played  upon  all  kinds  of  musical 
instruments.  So  Benkernas  the  jeweller  purchased  her  for  five  thousand  pieces  of 
gold,  and  he  clad  her  at  the  cost  of  one  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  brought  her  to 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  who  tried  her  in  every  science  and  in  every  art,  and  found 
her  to  be  acquainted  with  all  sciences  and  arts.  She  was  unequalled  in  her  age  ; 
and  her  name  was  Koutelkuloub.  And  on  the  following  morning,  the  Caliph  Haroun 
Alrashid  sent  to  Benkernas  the  jeweller ;  and  when  he  came,  he  gave  orders  to  pay 
him  ten  thousand  pieces  of  gold  as  the  price  of  that  slave-girl.  Then  the  heart  of 
the  Caliph  became  engrossed  by  that  slave-girl  named  Koutelkuloub,  and  he  aban- 
doned the  lady  Zobeide  the  daughter  of  Kasim,  though  she  was  the  daughter  of  his 
paternal  uncle.  He  abandoned  also  all  the  concubines,  and  remained  a  whole  month 
without  going  forth  from  that  slave-girl,  save  to  the  Friday-prayers,  after  which  he 
returned  to  her  in  haste.  So  this  conduct  was  grievous  to  the  lords  of  the  empire ; 
wherefore  they  complained  thereof  to  the  Vizier  Giafar  the.  Barmecide;  and  the 
Vizier  waited  for  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  until  the  next  Friday,  when  he 
entered  the  mosque,  and  met  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  related  to  him  all  that 


698  THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

he  had  heard  ofi  stories  concerning  extraordinary  love,  in  order  that  he  might  draw 
forth  the  statement  of  his  feelings.  And  upon  this  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  0  Giafar, 
by  Allah,  that  thing  was  nut  of  my  choice ;  but  my  heart  is  entangled  in  the  snare 
of  love,  and  I  know  not  what  is  to  be  done.  The  Vizier  Giafar  therefore  replied, 
Know,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  that  this  concubine  Koutelkuloub  hath  become 
under  thine  autiiority,  and  of  the  number  of  thy  servants ;  and  what  the  hand  pos- 
sesseth  the  soul  doth  not  covet.  I  will  also  acquaint  thee  with  another  thing,  which 
is  this  :  that  the  best  of  what  the  Kings  and  the  sons  of  the  Kings  glory  in  are  hunt- 
ing, and  enjoying  sport  and  conveniences ;  and  if  thou  do  thus,  probably  thou  wilt 
thereby  be  diverted  from  her,  and  probably  thou  wilt  forget  her.  —  And  the  Caliph 
said  to  him.  Excellent  is  that  which  thou  hast  said,  0  Giafar.  Repair  then  with  us 
hastily,  immediately  to  hunt. 

Accordingly  when  the  Friday-prayers  were  ended,  they  both  went  forth  from  the 
mosque,  and  mounted  immediately,  and  went  to  hunt.  They  proceeded  until  they 
came  to  the  desert,  and  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  and  the  Vizier  Giafar  were  riding 
upon  two  mules ;  and  as  they  occupied  each  other  by  conversation,  the  troops  out- 
went them.  The  heat  had  become  oppressive  to  them  :  so  Alrashid  said,  0  Giafar, 
violent  thirst  hath  affected  me.  Then  Alrashid  cast  his  eyes,  and  saw  a  distant 
object  faintly  appearing  upon  a  high  mound  ;  and  he  said  to  the  Vizier,  Dost  thou 
see  what  I  see?  The  Vizier  answered  him.  Yes,  0  Prince  of  tlie  Faithful:  I  see  a 
distant  object  faintly  appearing  upon  a  high  mound,  and  it  is  either  the  keeper  of 
a  garden  or  the  keeper  of  a  ground  for  melons  and  cucumbers;  and  in  either  case, 
his  tract  id  not  without  water.  The  Vizier  then  said,  I  will  go  to  him,  and  bring 
thee  some  water  from  him.  But  Alrashiil  replied.  My  mule  is  more  swift  than  thine  ; 
therefore  stay  thou  here,  on  account  of  the  troops,  and  I  will  myself  go  and  get 
drink  from  the  station  of  this  person,  and  return.  And  he  urged  his  mule,  which 
thereupon  went  forth  like  the  wind  in  its  pace,  or  as  water  poureth  into  a  pool,  and 
ceased  not  to  bear  him  away  until  he  arrived  at  that  faint  object  in  the  twinkling  of 
an  eye,  when  he  found  not  that  object  to  be  any  one  but  Califa  the  fisherman. 
Alrashid  saw  him  with  his  naked  body  wrapped  in  the  net,  and  his  eyes,  by  reason 
of  their  excessive  redness,  were  like  burning  cressets.  His  form  was  horrible,  and 
his  figure  bending,  and,  with  dishevelled  hair,  and  dust-coloured,  he  resembled  an 
Afrite,  or  a  lion. 

Alrashid  saluted  him,  and  he  returned  his  salutation  in  a  state  of  rage,  and  his 
brpath  would  have  kindled  fires  ;  and  Alrashid  said  to  him,  0  man,  hast  thou  by  thee 
any  water?  Califa  replied,  0  thou,  art  thou  blind  or  mad  ?  Go  to  the  river  Tigris ; 
for  it  is  behind  this  mound.  So  Alrashid  went  round  behind  the  mound,  and 
descended  to  the  river  Tigris,  and  drank,  and  watered  his  mule.  Then  he  went  up 
immediately,  and,  returning  to  Califa  the  fisherman,  said  to  him.  Wherefore,  0  man, 
art  thou  standing  here,  and  what  is  thine  occupation  ?  Califa  replied.  Verily  this 
question  is  more  wonderful  and  more  extraordinary  .than  thy  question  respecting  the 
water.  Dost  thou  not  see  the  apparatus  of  my  occupation  upon  my  shoulder? — 
Alrashid  therefore  said  to  him,  It  seemeth  that  thou  art  a  fisherman.  He  replied. 
Yes. — Where  then,  said  Alrashid,  is  thy  tunic,  and  where  is  thy  cloak,  and  where  is 
thy  coat,  and  where  are  thy  clothes?  —  Now  the  things  that  had  gone  from  Califa 
were  like  those  which  he  mentioned  to  him,  article  agreeing  with  article;  so  when 
Califa  heard  those  words  of  the  Caliph,  he  imagined  in  his  mind  that  ho  was  the 
person  who  had  taken  his  clothes  from  the  bank  of  the  river.  He  therefore  descended 
immediately  from  the  top  of  the  mound,  more  swiftly  than  the  blinding  lightning, 
and,  seizing  the  bridle  of  the  mule  of  the  Caliph,  said  to  him,  0  man,  give  me  my 
things,  and  desist  from  sport  and  jesting.  So  the  Caliph  replied,  I,  by  Allah,  have 
not  seen  thy  clothes,  nor  do  I  know  them.  And  Alrashid  had  large  cheeks,  and  a 
small  mouth  :  wherefore  Califa  said  to  him.  Probably  thine  occupation  is  that  of  a 
singer  or  a  piper?  But  give  me  my  clothes,  by  the  means  that  are  best,  or  else  I 
will  beat  thee  with  this  staff  so  that  thou  shalt  find  thyself  in  an  evil  plight. — And 


THE    STORY    OF    CALIFA    THE    FISHERMAN.  699 

when  the  Caliph  saw  the  staff  in  Califa's  hand,  he  said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  I 
cannot  endure  from  this  pauper  half  a  blow  with  this  staff.  And  there  was  upon 
Alrashid  a  long  vest  of  satin  ;  so  he  pulled  it  off,  and  said  to  Califa,  O  man,  take  this 
vest  instead  of  thy  clothes.  Califa  therefore  took  it,  and  turned  it  over,  and  said. 
Verily  my  clothes  are  worth  ten  such  things  as  this  variegated  cloak.  Alrashid 
however  replied,  Wear  it  till  I  bring  thee  thine  own  clothes.  And  Califa  took  it  and 
put  it  on ;  but  he  saw  it  to  be  too  long  for  him  ;  and,  having  with  him  a  knife  tied 
to  the  handle  of  the  basket,  he  took  it  and  cut  off  with  it  from  the  lower  part  of  the 
vest  as  much  as  one  third  of  it,  so  that  it  reached  but  just  below  his  knees. 

He  then  looked  towards  Alrashid,  and  said  to  him,  By  Allah  I  conjure  thee,  0 
piper,  that  thou  inform  me  what  is  the  amount  of  thy  wages  that  thou  receivest 
every  month  from  thy  master,  for  the  art  of  piping.  The  Caliph  replied.  My  wages 
every  month  are  ten  pieces  of  gold.  And  upon  this,  Califa  said  to  him,  By  Allah,  0 
poor  man,  thou  hast  made  me  to  partake  of  thine  anxiety !  By  Allah,  the  sum  of 
ten  pieces  of  gold  I  gain  every  day  !  Dost  thou  desire,  then,  to  be  with  me  as  my 
servant?  If  so,  I  will  teach  thee  the  art  of  fishing,  and  be  partner  with  thee  in  tho 
gain.  Thus  thou  wilt  work  every  day  at  the  rate  of  five  pieces  of  gold,  and  be  my 
young  man,  and  I  will  protect  thee  from  thy  master  with  this  staff.  —  And  Alrashid 
answered  him,  I  consent  to  that.  So  Califa  said  to  him.  Alight  now  from  the  back 
of  the  ass,  and  tie  it,  that  it  may  be  of  use  to  us  hereafter  in  carrying  the  fish  ;  and 
come,  that  I  may  teach  thee  the  art  of  fishing  immediately.  And  thereupon  Alrashid 
alighted  from  the  back  of  his  mule,  and  tied  it,  and  tucked  up  his  skirts  within  the 
circle  of  his  girdle.  Califa  then  said  to  him,  O  piper,  hold  this  net  so,  and  put  it 
upon  thine  arm  so,  and  cast  it  into  the  river  Tigris  so.  And  Alrashid  fortified  his 
heart,  and  did  as  Califa  showed  him.  He  cast  the  net  in  the  river,  and  pulled  it; 
but  could  not  draw  it  up.  Califa  therefore  came  to  him,  and  pulled  it  with  him  ; 
but  they  could  not  draw  it  up  together.  So  Califa  said  to  him,  0  ill-omened  piper, 
if  I  took  thy  cloak  instead  of  my  clothes  the  first  time,  this  time  I  will  take  thine  ass 
for  my  net,  if  I  see  it  mangled,  and  I  will  beat  thee  until  thou  shalt  be  in  an  abomi- 
nable condition.  Alrashid  replied,  Let  me  and  thee  pull  together.  And  the  two 
together  pulled  the  net,  and  they  could  not  draw  up  that  net  save  with  diflBculty; 
and  when  they  had  drawn  it  up,  they  looked  at  it,  and  lo,  it  was  full  of  all  kinds  of 
fish.  Upon  this,  Califa  said  to  Alrashid,  By  Allah,  0  piper,  verily  thou  art  an  ugly 
fellow ;  but  when  thou  shalt  have  laboured  at  fishing,  thou  wilt  be  an  excellent 
fisherman.  And  now,  the  right  opinion  is  this:  that  thou  mount  thine  ass,  and  go 
to  the  market,  and  bring  two  great  baskets,  and  I  will  take  care  of  these  fish  until 
thou  come  again,  when  I  and  thou  will  put  them  upon  the  back  of  thine  ass  ;  and  I 
have  the  pair  of  scales  and  the  pound-weights  and  everything  that  we  require.  We 
will  take  all  with  us,  and  thou  wilt  have  nothing  to  do  but  to  hold  the  pair  of  scales 
and  to  receive  the  prices ;  for  we  have  with  us  fish  worth  twenty  pieces  of  gold. 
Hasten  then  to  bring  the  two  great  baskets,  and  delay  not. — And  the  Caliph  replied, 
I  hear  and  obey. 

He  left  him,  and  left  the  fish,  and  urged  on  his  mule,  being  in  a  state  of  the  ut- 
most joy.  He  ceased  not  to  laugh  at  what  had  happened  to  him  with  the  fisherman 
until  he  came  to  Giafar;  and  when  Giafar  saw  him,  he  said  to  him,  0  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  probably  when  thou  wentest  to  drink,  thou  foundest  a  pleasant  garden, 
and  enteredst  it  and  divertedst  thyself  in  it  alone.  And  Alrashid,  on  his  hearing 
the  words  of  Giafar,  laughed.  Then  all  the  Barmecides  kissed  the  ground  before 
him,  and  said  to  him,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  may  God  perpetuate  thy  joys,  and 
dispel  from  thee  troubles!  What  was  the  cause  of  thy  delay  when  thou  wentest  to 
drink,  and  what  happened  to  thee? — And  the  Caliph  answered  them,  An  extra- 
ordinary event,  and  a  mirth-exciting,  wonderful  thing  hath  happened  to  me.  Then 
he  repeated  to  them  the  story  of  Califa  the  fisherman,  and  what  had  happened  to 
him  with  him  ;  his  saying,  Thou  hast  stolen  my  clothes, — and  his  having  given  him 
his  vest,  and  the  fisherman's  having  cut  off  a  part  of  the  vest  on  his  seeing  it  to  be 


700  THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

too  long  for  him.  And  Giafar  said,  By  Allah,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  it  was  my 
wish  to  have  requested  of  thee  the  vest ;  but  I  will  go  immediately  to  the  fisherman 
and  purchase  it  of  him.  So  the  Caliph  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  he  hath  cut  off  a 
third  of  it,  from  its  lower  part,  and  hath  entirely  spoiled  it;  but,  0  Giafar,  I  am 
fatigued  by  my  fishing  in  the  river  ;  for  I  have  caught  a  great  quantity  of  fish,  and 
they  are  upon  the  bank  of  the  river,  with  my  teacher  Califa.  He  is  standing  there 
waiting  for  me  to  return  to  him,  and  to  take  to  him  two  great  baskets.  Then  I  and 
he  are  to  go  to  the  market,  and  we  are  to  sell  the  fish,  and  divide  their  price. — Giafar 
replied,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  I  will  bring  to  you  one  who  will  purchase  of  you. 
And  the  Caliph  said  to  him,  0  Giafar,  by  ray  pure  forefathers,  to  every  one  who 
bringeth  me  a  fish  from  among  those  which  are  before  Califa,  who  taught  me  the  art 
of  fishing,  I  will  give  for  it  a  piece  of  gold!  The  crier  therefore  proclaimed  among 
the  troops.  Go  ye  forth  and  purchase  fish  for  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful. 

Accordingly  the  mamlouks  went  forth,  repairing  to  the  bank  of  the  river  ;  and 
while  Califa  was  waiting  for  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  to  bring  to  him  two  great 
baskets,  lo,  the  mamlouks  pounced  upon  him  like  eagles,  and  took  the  fish,  and  put 
them  in  gold-embroidered  handkerchiefs,  and  proceeded  to  beat  each  other  to  get  at 
him.  So  Califa  said.  No  doubt  these  fish  are  of  the  fish  of  Paradise!  Then,  taking 
two  fish  in  his  right  hand,  and  two  in  his  left  hand,  he  descended  into  the  water  to 
his  throat,  and  began  to  say,  0  Allah,  by  these  fish,  let  thy  servant  the  piper,  my 
partner,  come  immediately!  And  lo,  a  black  slave  advanced  to  him,  and  that  slave 
was  the  chief  over  all  the  black  slaves  that  were  in  the  palace  of  the  Caliph.  The 
cause  of  his  having  come  later  than  the  mamlouks  was  an  impediment  that  occurred 
to  him  on  the  way.  So  when  he  came  to  Califa,  he  found  that  there  remained  not 
of  the  fish  little  nor  much  ;  but  looking  to  the  right  and  left,  he  saw  Califa  the  fisher- 
man standing  in  the  water  with  the  fish  in  his  hands:  and  thereupon  he  said  to  him, 
0  fisherman,  come  hither!  The  fisherman  replied.  Go,  without  impertinence.  The 
eunuch,  however,  advanced  to  him,  and  said  to  him.  Give  me  these  fish,  and  I  will 
give  thee  the  price.  Califa  the  fisherman  rejoined,  Art  thou  of  little  sense?  I  will 
not  sell  them.  But  the  eunuch  drew  forth  against  him  the  mace  ;  so  thereupon 
Califa  said  to  him.  Strike  not,  0  wretch :  for  the  conferring  of  a  favour  is  better  than 
the  mace!  Then  he  threw  to  him  the  fish,  and  the  eunuch  took  them,  and  placed 
them  in  his  handkerchief,  and  put  his  hand  into  his  pocket;  but  found  not  a  single 
piece  of  silver.  He  therefore  said,  0  fisherman,  verily  thy  fortune  is  unlucky!  I, 
by  Allah,  have  not  with  me  any  money.  But  to-morrow  come  thou  to  the  palace 
of  the  Caliph,  and  say.  Direct  me  to  the  eunuch  Sandal.  Thereupon  the  eunuchs 
will  direct  thee  to  me  ;  and  when  thou  bast  come  to  me  there,  thou  wilt  obtain  what 
is  decreed  for  thee,  and  thou  shalt  receive  it,  and  go  thy  way. 

So  upon  this,  Califa  said.  Verily  this  day  is  blessed,  and  its  blessing  was  apparent 
from  its  commencement!  Then  he  took  his  net  upon  his  shoulder,  and  walked  on 
until  he  entered  Bagdad,  and  he  walked  along  the  streets.  The  people  therefore  saw 
the  garment  of  the  Caliph  upon  him,  and  they  continued  looking  at  him  until  he  en- 
tered the  quarter  [where  he  lived].  And  the  shop  of  the  tailor  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful  was  by  the  gate  of  the  quarter:  so  the  tailor  saw  Califa  the  fisherman 
having  upon  him  a  garment  worth  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  of  the  apparel  of  the 
Caliph  ;  and  he  said,  0  Califa,  whence  obtainedst  thou  this  garment?  Califa  replied, 
And  what  reason  hast  thou  to  be  impertinent?  I  received  it  from  him  whom  I  have 
taught  the  art  of  fishing,  and  who  hath  become  my  young  man,  and  I  have  remitted 
to  him  the  amputation  of  his  hand  ;  for  he  stole  my  clothes,  and  gave  me  this  cloak 
instead  of  them. — The  tailor  therefore  knew  that  the  Caliph  had  passed  by  him, 
while  he  was  fishing,  and  had  jested  with  him,  and  given  him  the  garment.  Then 
the  fisherman  went  to  his  abode. 

Now  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid  had  not  gone  forth  to  the  chase  save  in  order 
that  he  might  be  diverted  from  thinking  of  the  slave-girl  Koutelkuloub.  And  when 
Zobeide  heard  of  the  slave-girl,  and  of  the  Caliph's  devotion  to  her,  that  jealousy 


THE   STORY   OF    CALIFA   THE    FISHERMAN.  701 

which  seizes  women  so  seized  her  that  she  abstained  from  food  and  drink,  and  re- 
linquished the  delight  of  sleep  ;  and  she  waited  for  the  absence  of  the  Caliph,  and 
his  going  forth  on  a  journey,  that  she  might  set  for  Koutelkuloub  the  snare  of  strata- 
gems. Therefore  when  she  knew  that  the  Caliph  had  gone  forth  to  hunt,  she  ordered 
the  female  slaves  to  spread  the  furniture  in  the  palace,  and  she  made  a  profuse  dis- 
play of  decoration  and  magnificence,  caused  the  viands  and  the  sweetmeats  to  be 
placed,  and  prepared  among  these,  a  China  dish  containing  sweetmeat  of  the  most 
dainty  kind,  in  which  she  put  some  bhang,  infusing  it  therewith.  She  then  ordered 
one  of  the  eunuchs  to  go  to  the  slave-girl  Koutelkuloub,  to  invite  her  to  partake  of 
the  food  of  the  lady  Zobeide  the  daughter  of  Kasim,  the  wife  of  the  Prince  of  the 
Faithful,  and  to  say  to  her,  The  wife  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  hath  drunk  to-day 
some  medicine,  and  she  hath  beard  of  the  sweetness  of  thy  melody,  wherefore  she 
desireth  to  divert  herself  by  hearing  somewhat  of  thy  performance. — And  she  re- 
plied, I  hear  and  obey  God  and  the  lady  Zobeide.  She  arose  immediately,  not  know- 
ing what  was  secretly  decreed  to  befall  her,  and,  taking  with  her  what  instruments 
she  required,  she  accompanied  the  eunuch,  and  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  she  went 
in  to  the  lady  Zobeide,  when  she  kissed  the  ground  before  her  many  times  ;  after 
which  she  arose  upon  her  feet  and  said,  Peace  be  on  the  lady  of  the  highly-honoured 
curtain  and  the  unapproachable  majesty,  the  descendant  of  Abbas  and  the  member 
of  the  fiimily  of  the  Prophet !  May  God  cause  thee  to  obtain  prosperity  and  peace 
during  the  course  of  days  and  years! — Then  she  stood  among  the  female  slaves  and 
the  eunuchs;  and  thereupon  the  lady  Zobeide  raised  her  head  towards  her,  and  con- 
templated her  beauty  and  loveliness  ;  and  she  saw  a  damsel  with  smooth  cheeks, 
with  a  bosom  presenting  the  similitude  of  two  pomegranates,  and  a  brilliant  counte- 
nance and  shining  forehead  and  large  black  eyes.  Her  eyelids  were  languishing, 
and  her  face  was  beauteously  bright.  The  splendour  of  her  countenance  was  like 
that  of  the  rising  sun  ;  and  the  hair  over  her  forehead,  like  the  darkness  of  night; 
and  her  odour,  like  the  fragrance  diffused  by  musk ;  and  her  beauty,  like  charming 
flowers  ;  and  her  forehead,  like  the  moon  ;  and  her  figure,  like  the  waving  branch. 
She  was  like  the  full  moon  shining  in  the  dark  night,  and  her  eyes  were  a,morous, 
and  her  eyebrows  were  arched,  and  her  lips  were  as  though  they  were  formed  of 
coral.  She  amazed  by  her  beauty  every  one  who  beheld  her,  and  enchanted  with 
her  eye  every  one  who  saw  her.  Glory  be  to  Him  who  created  her  and  perfected  her 
and  completed  her. 

The  lady  Zobeide  said  to  her,  A  friendly  and  free  and  ample  welcome  to  thee,  0 
Koutelkuloub!  Sit,  that  thou  mayest  amuse  us  with  thy  performances  and  the  ex- 
cellence of  thine  art. — So  she  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  she  sat,  and,  putting 
forth  her  hand,  she  took  the  tambourine;  and  after  that,  the  flageolet ;  and  next, 
the  lute ;  and  she  played  fourteen  times,  and  sang  to  it  an  entire  piece  in  such  a 
manner  that  she  amazed  the  beholders,  and  moved  with  delight  the  hearers.  And 
after  that,  she  exhibited  her  skill  in  juggling  and  sleights,  and  every  pleasing  art, 
so  that  the  lady  Zobeide  almost  became  enamoured  of  her,  and  said  within  herself, 
The  son  of  my  uncle,  Alrashid,  is  not  to  be  blamed  for  his  passion  for  her.  Then 
the  damsel  kissed  the  ground  before  Zobeide,  and  sat  down  :  and  they  presented  to 
her  the  viands;  and  afterwards,  the  sweetmeat;  and  they  presented  the  dish  in 
which  was  the  bhang.  So  she  ate  of  it;  and  the  sweetmeat  had  not  settled  in  her 
stomach  before  her  head  turned  over  and  she  fell  down  on  the  floor  asleep;  whereupon 
the  lady  Zobeide  said  to  the  female  slaves.  Take  her  up  to  one  of  the  private  cham- 
bers, and  there  leave  her  until  I  require  her  to  be  brought.  And  they  replied.  We 
hear  and  obey.  She  then  said  to  one  of  the  eunuchs,  Make  for  us  a  chest,  and  bring 
it  to  me.  And  she  gave  orders  to  make  the  semblance  of  a  tomb,  and  to  spread  a 
report  that  the  damsel  had  been  choked  and  had  died.  She  also  warned  her  chief 
attendants,  that  whoever  should  say  that  she  was  living,  that  person's  head  should 
be  struck  off. — And  lo,  the  Caliph  then  came  back  from  the  chase,  and  his  first  in- 
quiry was  respecting  the  damsel.     So  one  of  his  eunuchs  advanced  to  him  ;  and  the 


(02 


THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 


lady  Zobeide  had  charged  him,  that  if  the  Caliph  should  ask  him  respecting  her,  he 
should  say  she  had  died :  wherefore  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  said  to 
him,  O  my  lord,  may  thy  head  long  survive !  Know  for  certain  that  Koutelkuloub 
hath  been  choked  with  food,  and  hath  died. — Upon  this,  the  Caliph  said.  May  God 
not  rejoice  thee  with  good  tidings,  0  wicked  slave  1  lie  then  arose  and  entered  the 
palace,  and  heard  of  her  death  from  every  one  in  it ;  and  he  said.  Where  is  her 
tomb.  They  therefore  conducted  him  thither,  and  showed  him  the  tomb  that  had 
been  made  for  deception,  saying  to  him.  This  is  her  tomb.  And  when  he  saw  it,  he 
cried  out,  and  embraced  the  tomb,  and  wept,  and  recited  some  verses.  He  wept  for 
her  violently,  and  remained  there  for  some  time;  after  which  he  arose  and  quitted 
the  tomb,  in  a  state  of  the  utmost  grief.  So  the  lady  Zobeide  knew  that  her  strata- 
gem had  been  accomplished,  and  she  said  to  the  eunuch.  Bring  the  chest.  He  there- 
fore brought  it  before  her ;  and  she  caused  the  damsel  to  be  brought,  and  put  her  in 
it,  and  said  to  the  eunuch.  Endeavour  to  sell  the  chest,  and  make  it  a  condition  with 
the  purchaser  that  he  shall  purchase  it  locked:  then  give  its  price  in  alms.  And 
the  eunuch  took  it  and  went  forth  from  her,  and  complied  with  her  command. 

But  as  to  Califa  the  fisherman,  when  the  morning  came  and  diffused  its  light  and 
shone,  he  said,  I  have  no  occupation  to  follow  this  day  better  than  my  going  to  the 
eunuch  who  bought  of  me  the  fish  ;  for  he  made  an  appointment  with  me  that  I 
should  go  to  him  in  the  palace  of  the  Caliph.  He  then  went  forth  from  his  abode 
to  repair  to  the  palace  of  the  Caliph  ;  and  when  he  arrived  at  it,  he  found  the  mam- 
louks  and  the  black  slaves  and  the  eunuchs  sitting  and  standing.  So  he  looked  at- 
tentively at  them,  and  lo,  the  eunuch  who  took  from  him  the  fish  was  sitting  there, 
with  the  mamlouks  in  attendance  upon  him.  And  one  of  the  mamlouks  called  out 
to  him  ;  whereupon  the  eunuch  looked  towards  him,  to  see  who  he  was  ;  and  behold 
he  saw  the  fisherman.  Therefore  when  the  fisherman  knew  that  he  saw  him,  and 
recognised  his  person  with  certainty,  he  said  to  him.  Thou  hast  not  failed  in  thy 
duty,  0  Red-face  !  Thus  are  persons  of  fidelity!  And  the  eunuch,  on  hearing  his 
words,  laughed  at  him,  and  replied.  By  Allah,  thou  hast  spoken  truth,  0  fisherman! 
Then  the  eunuch  Sandal  desired  to  give  him  something,  and  put  his  hand  to  his 
pocket.  But  just  then  a  great  clamour  arose  :  so  the  eunuch  raised  his  head,  to  see 
what  had  happened ;  and  lo,  the  Vizier  Giafar  the  Barmecide  was  coming  forth  from 
the  Caliph.  Therefore  when  the  eunuch  saw  him,  he  rose  to  him,  and  walked  before 
him,  and  they  both  proceeded  to  converse  together  as  they  walked  until  the  time  be- 


Califa  with  Giafar  and  the  Eunuch. 


came  tedious.     Califa  the  fisherman  waited  a  considerable  while,  during  which  the 
eunuch  looked  not  towards  him  ;  and  when  his  standing  was  tedious  to  him,  the 


THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN.  703 

fisherman  placed  himself  opposite  to  him,  but  at  a  distance  from  him,  and,  making 
a  sign  to  him  with  his  hand,  said,  O  my  master  Red-face,  let  me  go !  And  the 
eunuch  heard  him,  but  was  ashamed  to  return  him  a  reply,  on  account  of  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Vizier  Giafar.  He  continued  to  converse  with  the  Vizier,  and  80  to 
divert  himself  from  attending  to  the  fisherman.  So  Califa  said,  0  delayer  of  the 
payment  of  thy  debt,  may  God  disgrace  every  sulky  person,  and  every  one  who 
taketh  the  goods  of  others  and  acteth  sulkily  to  them.  I  place  myself  under  thy 
protection,  0  my  master  Fat-paunch,  begging  thee  to  give  me  what  is  my  due,  that  1 
may  go ! 

The  eunuch  heard  him;  but  he  was  abashed  at  Giafar;  and  Giafar  also  saw  him 
as  he  made  signs  with  his  hands  and  talked  to  the  eunuch,  though  he  knew  not 
what  he  said  to  him  ;  and  he  said  to  the  eunuch,  disapproving  of  his  conduct,  0 
eunuch,  what  doth  this  poor  beggar  demand  of  thee?  Sandal  the  eunuch  therefore 
said  to  him,  Dost  thou  not  knov;  this  man,  0  our  lord  the  Vizier?  The  Vizier 
Giafar  answered.  By  Allah,  I  do  not  know  him  !  And  how  (he  added)  should  1 
know  this  man,  when  I  have  not  .seen  him  before  the  present  time? — So  the  eunuch 
replied,  0  our  lord,  this  is  the  fisherman  whose  fish  we  seized  from  the  bank  of  the 
Tigris.  I  got  not  any,  and  was  ashamed  to  return  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful 
without  aught,  all  the  mamlouks  having  taken.  But  when  I  came  to  him,  I  found 
him  standing  in  the  midst  of  the  river,  supplicating  God,  and  having  with  him  four 
fish.  I  therefore  said  to  him.  Give  me  what  thou  hast  with  thee,  and  receive  their 
price.  And  when  he  gave  me  the  fish,  I  put  my  hand  into  my  pocket,  desiring  to 
give  him  something;  but  found  not  in  it  aught:  wherefore  I  said  to  him.  Come  to 
me  in  the  palace,  and  I  will  give  thee  something  by  means  of  which  thou  mayest 
seek  aid  against  thy  poverty.  Accordingly  he  came  to  me  this  day,  and  I  put  forth 
my  hand  with  the  desire  of  giving  him  something,  and  thou  camest:  so  I  arose  to 
wait  upon  thee,  and  was  diverted  by  thee  from  attending  to  him,  and  the  case  be- 
came tedious  to  him.  This  is  his  story,  and  this  is  the  reason  of  his  standing  here. 
— And  when  the  Vizier  heard  the  words  of  the  eunuch,  he  smiled  at  them,  and  said, 
0  eunuch,  how  is  it  that  this  fisherman  hath  come  in  the  time  of  his  need,  and  thou 
hast  not  accomplished  his  afi'air?  Dost  thou  not  know  him,  0  chief  of  the  eunuchs? 
He  answered.  No.  And  Giafar  said.  This  is  the  teacher  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faith- 
ful, and  his  partner;  and  our  lord  the  Caliph  hath  arisen  this  day  with  contracted 
bosom,  mourning  heart,  and  troubled  mind,  and  there  is  nothing  that  will  dilate  his 
bosom  except  this  fisherman.  So  let  him  not  go  until  I  consult  the  Caliph  respect- 
ing him,  and  bring  him  before  him.  Perhaps  God  will  dispel  his  grief,  and  console 
him  for  the  loss  of  Koutelkuloub,  by  means  of  his  presence,  and  he  will  give  him 
something  wherewith  to  seek  for  himself  aid  ;  and  thou  wilt  be  the  cause  of  that. 
— The  eunuch  therefore  replied,  0  my  lord,  do  what  thou  desirest;  and  may  God 
(whose  name  be  exalted  !)  preserve  thee  as  a  pillar  of  the  dynasty  of  the  Prince  of 
the  Faithful !     May  God  perpetuate  its  shadow,  and  keep  its  branch  and  its  root! 

The  Vizier  Giafar  then  went  to  the  Caliph,  and  the  eunuch  commanded  the  mam- 
louks that  they  should  not  quit  the  fisherman.  So  thereupon  Califa  the  fisherman 
said,  How  excellent  is  thy  beneficence,  0  Red-face !  The  demander  hath  become 
demanded  ;  for  I  came  to  demand  my  money,  and  they  have  imprisoned  me  for  the 
arrears! — And  when  Giafar  went  in  to  the  Caliph,  he  saw  him  sitting,  hanging  down 
his  head  towards  the  ground,  with  contracted  bosom,  full  of  solicitude,  singing  some 
plaintive  verses;  and  Giafar  standing  before  him,  said.  Peace  be  on  thee,  0  Prince 
of  the  Faithful,  and  defender  of  the  dignity  of  the  religion,  and  descendant  of  the 
uncle  of  the  Chief  of  Apostles — may  God  favour  and  preserve  him  and  all  his  family! 
— The  Caliph  therefore  raised  his  head,  and  replied,  And  on  thee  be  peace,  and  the 
mercy  of  God,  and  his  blessings !  And  Giafar  said.  With  the  permission  of  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  may  his  servant  speak,  and  not  be  restrained?  The  Caliph 
replied.  And  when  was  restraint  as  to  speech  put  upon  thee?  Thou,  being  the  chief 
of  the  Viziers,  shalt  speak  what  thou  wilt. — So  the  Vizier  Giafar  said  to  him,  I  went 


704  THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

forth,  0  our  lord,  from  before  thee,  desiring  to  repair  to  my  house,  and  I  saw  thy 
master  and  thy  teacher  and  thy  partner,  Califa  the  fisherman,  standing  at  the  gate, 
and  he  was  displeased  with  thee,  and  was  complaining  of  thee,  and  saying.  Extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  God  !  I  have  taught  him  the  art  of  fishing,  and  he  went  to  bring 
me  two  great  baskets,  and  returned  not  to  me  ;  and  this  is  not  consistent  with  the 
condition  of  partnership,  nor  the  condition  of  teachers. — Therefore  if  thon  desire  to 
be  a  partner,  no  harm  :  but  if  not,  inform  him,  that  he  may  take  some  other  than 
thyself  as  partner.  —  And  when  the  Caliph  heard  his  words,  he  smiled,  and  the  con- 
traction of  the  bosom  that  be  sufiered  ceased  ;  and  he  said  to  Giafar,  By  my  life  I 
conjure  thee  to  tell  me,  is  it  true  that  thou  sayest,  that  the  fisherman  is  standing  at 
the  gate?  Giafar  answered,  By  thy  life,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  he  is  standing  at 
the  gate.  And  thereupon  the  Caliph  said,  0  Giafar,  by  Allah,  I  will  assuredly 
endeavour  to  accomplish  that  which  is  his  due  ;  and  if  God  send  him,  by  my  means, 
misery,  he  obtaineth  it;  and  if  He  send  him,  by  my  means,  prosperity,  he  obtaineth 
it.  Then  the  Caliph  took  a  piece  of  paper,  and  cut  it  in  pieces,  and  said,  0  Giafar, 
write  with  thine  own  hand  twenty  sums  of  money,  from  a  piece  of  gold  to  a  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  ;  and  the  posts  of  Judge  and  Emirs,  from  the  least  office  to  that  of 
Vizier  ;  and  twenty  kinds  of  punishment,  from  the  slightest  chastisement  to  slaughter. 
And  Giafar  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful.  He  wrote  the  papers 
with  his  own  hand,  as  the  Caliph  commanded  him  ;  and  after  that,  the  Caliph  said, 
0  Giafar,  I  swear  by  my  pure  forefathers  and  my  connexion  by  lineage  with  Ham- 
zah  and  Akeil,  that  I  desire  to  cause  Califa  the  fisherman  to  be  brought,  and  I  will 
order  him  to  take  one  of  these  papers,  the  inscription  of  which  none  shall  know 
excepting  me  and  thee  ;  and  whatever  is  written  upon  it,  I  will  give  him  possession 
thereof:  even  if  upon  it  be  written  the  office  of  Vizier,  I  will  make  him  possessor  of 
it:  and  if  upon  it  be  written  hanging,  or  amputation,  or  slaughter,  I  will  do  unto 
him  accordingly.     So  go,  and  bring  him  unto  me. 

When  Giafar,  therefore,  heard  these  words,  he  said  within  himself,  There  is  no 
strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  Perhaps  there  will  prove  to 
be  the  lot  of  this  poor  man  something  that  will  occasion  his  destruction,  and  I  shall 
be  the  cause.  But  the  Caliph  hath  sworn:  so  it  only  remaineth  for  him  to  enter; 
and  nought  will  happen  but  what  God  desireth, — He  then  went  to  Califa  the  fisher- 
man, and  laid  hold  of  his  hand,  desiring  to  enter  with  him  :  and  upon  this,  the 
reason  of  Califa  fled  from  his  head  and  he  said  within  himself,  How  have  I  trifled, 
that  I  have  come  to  this  ill-omened  slave  Red-face,  and  he  hath  brought  me  into  the 
company  of  Fat-paunch  !  Giafar  ceased  not  to  proceed  with  him,  the  mamlouks 
being  behind  him  and  before  him,  and  Califa  saying,  Is  not  imprisonment  enough, 
that  these  are  behind  me  and  before  me.  preventing  my  fleeing?  —  Giafar  still  went 
on  with  him  until  he  had  passed  through  seven  antechambers,  when  he  said  to  Califa, 
Wo  to  thee,  0  fisherman  !  Thou  wilt  stand  before  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and 
the  defender  of  the  dignity  of  the  religion.  —  Then  he  raised  the  grand  curtain,  and 
the  eye  of  Califa  the  fisherman  fell  upon  the  Caliph,  who  was  sitting  upon  his  couch, 
with  the  lords  of  the  empire  standing  in  attendance  upon  him  ;  and  when  he  knew 
him,  he  advanced  to  him  and  said,  A  friendly  and  free  welcome  to  thee,  0  piper! 
Is  it  not  right  in  thee  to  become  a  fisherman,  and  leave  me  sitting  to  keep  watch 
over  the  fish,  and  go,  and  not  return,  so  that  I  was  not  aware  when  the  mamlouks 
advanced,  upon  beasts  of  various  colours,  and  snatched  the  fish  from  me,  while  I 
stood  alone.  All  this  was  occasioned  by  thee;  for  if  thou  hadst  come  with  the  great 
baskets,  quickly,  we  should  have  sold  of  them  for  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold.  But  I 
came  to  demand  my  due,  and  they  imprisoned  me.  And  who  imprisoned  thee  also 
in  this  place?  —  And  the  Caliph  smiled,  and,  lifting  up  the  edge  of  the  curtain,  put 
forth  his  head  from  beneath  it,  and  said  to  him.  Advance,  and  take  for  thee  one  of 
these  papers.  So  Califa  the  fisherman  said  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  Thou  wast 
a  fisherman,  and  I  see  thee  to-day  to  have  become  an  astrologer.  But  when  a  man's 
trades  become  many,  his  poverty  becometh  great.  —  Upon  this  Giafar  said,  Take  the 


THE   STORY  OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN.  705 

paper  speedily,  without  talking,  and  do  as  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  hath  com- 
manded thee.  Accordingly  Califa  the  fisherman  advanced,  and  put  forth  his  hand, 
and  said,  Far  be  it  from  me  that  this  piper  should  be  again  my  young  man,  and  fish 
with  me  !  He  then  took  the  paper,  and  handed  it  to  the  Caliph,  and  said,  0  piper, 
what  hath  proved  to  be  written  upon  it  as  my  lot?  Conceal  not  of  it  aught.  —  The 
Caliph  therefore  took  it  and  handed  it  to  the  Vizier  Giafar,  saying  to  him.  Read  what 
is  upon  it.  And  Giafar  looked  at  it,  and  said,  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but 
in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  So  the  Caliph  said.  Good  news,  0  Giafar!  What 
hast  thou  seen  upon  it  ? — He  answered,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  there  hath  proved 
to  be  written  upon  the  paper.  The  fisherman  shall  receive  a  hundred  blows  with  a 
staff.  And  thereupon  the  Caliph  commanded  that  he  should  have  a  hundred  blows 
with  a  staff  inflicted  upon  him  ;  and  they  complied  with  his  command  ;  and  when 
they  had  done  so,  Califa  arose,  saying,  Accursed  be  this  game,  0  Fat-paunch.  Are 
imprisonment  and  beating  among  the  conditions  of  the  game? 

Upon  this,  Giafar  said,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  this  poor  man  hath  come  to  the 
great  river,  and  how  shall  he  return  thirsty?  We  hope  that  by  the  beneficence  of 
the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  he  may  be  allowed  to  take  for  himself  another  paper, 
and  perhaps  there  may  prove  to  be  written  upon  it  as  his  lot  something  good,  so 
that  he  may  return  with  it,  to  have  recourse  to  it  for  aid  against  his  poverty.  —  The 
Caliph  replied.  By  Allah,  0  Giafar,  if  he  take  a  paper,  and  slaughter  prove  to  be 
the  lot  written  for  him  upon  it,  I  will  assuredly  slay  him,  and  thou  wilt  be  the 
'iause.  Giafar  rejoined.  If  he  die  he  will  be  at  rest.  And  upon  this,  Califa  the 
fisherman  said  to  him,  May  God  not  rejoice  thee  with  good  tidings !  Have  I  made 
Bagdad  strait  unto  you  that  ye  seek  my  slaughter?  —  But  Giafar  replied.  Take  for 
thyself  a  paper,  and  beg  success  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted  !  And  he  put  forth 
his  hand,  and  took  a  paper,  and  gave  it  to  Giafar,  who  took  it  from  him,  and  read 
it,  and  was  silent.  The  Caliph  therefore  said  to  him.  Why  art  thou  silent,  0  son  of 
Yahya?  He  answered,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  there  hath  proved  to  be  written 
upon  the  paper.  The  fisherman  shall  not  be  given  anything.  And  the  Caliph  said, 
There  is  no  good  fortune  for  him  to  obtain  from  us.  Tell  him  to  depart  from  before 
my  face. — But  Giafar  said.  By  thy  pure  forefathers,  let  him  take  the  third  !  Perhaps 
good  fortune  may  betide  him  by  it. — And  the  Caliph  replied.  Let  him  take  for  him- 
self one  paper  more,  and  nought  beside  it.  So  he  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and 
took  the  third  paper ;  and  lo,  on  it  was  written.  The  fisherman  shall  be  given  a  piece 
of  gold.  Giafar  therefore  said  to  Califa,  I  sought  for  thee  prosperity  ;  but  God  would 
not  that  aught  should  fall  to  thy  lot  save  this  piece  of  gold.  Califa  replied,  Every 
hundred  blows  with  a  staff  for  a  piece  of  gold  are  abundant  good  fortune.  May  God 
not  make  thy  body  to  be  healthy ! — And  the  Caliph  laughed  at  him. 

Giafar  then  took  the  hand  of  Califa,  and  went  forth  with  him  ;  and  when  he  came 
to  the  gate.  Sandal  the  eunuch  saw  him,  and  said  to  him.  Come  hither,  0  fisherman  ! 
Bestow  upon  us  a  present  from  that  which  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  hath  given 
thee  while  jesting  with  thee. — And  Califa  replied.  By  Allah,  thou  hast  spoken  truth, 
O  Red-face!  And  dost  thou  desire  to  share  with  me,  0  black-skinned,  when  I  have 
had  a  hundred  blows  with  a  staff  and  received  one  piece  of  gold  ?  Thou  art  absolved 
of  responsibility  with  respect  to  it. — Then  he  threw  the  piece  of  gold  to  the  eunuch, 
and  went  forth,  his  tears  running  down  upon  the  surface  of  his  cheek.  So  when 
the  eunuch  saw  him  in  this  state  he  knew  that  he  had  spoken  truth :  he  therefore 
went  towards  him,  and  called  out  to  the  pages.  Bring  him  back !  Accordingly  they 
brought  him  back  ;  and  the  eunuch  put  his  hand  to  his  pocket,  and  took  forth  from 
it  a  red  purse,  which  he  opened  and  shook,  and  lo,  in  it  were  a  hundred  pieces  of 
gold ;  and  he  said,  0  fisherman,  take  this  gold  as  the  price  of  thy  fish,  and  go  thy 
way.     So  thereupon  Califa  the  fisherman  rejoiced. 

He  took  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  the  Caliph's  piece  of  gold,  and  went 
forth;  and  lie  had  forgotten  the  beating.     And  as  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!) 
desired  the  accomplishment  of  an  event  that  He  had  decreed,  Califa  the  fisherman 
45 


706 


THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 


passed  through  the  market  for  female  slaves  :  and  he  saw  a  large  ring  of  persons, 
comprising  many  people  ;  upon  which  he  said  within  himself,  What  are  these  people  ? 
Then  he  advanced  and  made  his  way  among  the  people,  who  consisted  of  merchants 
and  others:  and  the  merchants  said.  Make  room  for  the  Captain  Zuleyt !  So  they 
made  room  for  him  ;  and  Califa  looked,  and  lo,  there  was  a  sheikh  upon  his  feet, 
and  before  him  was  a  chest,  upon  which  was  sitting  a  eunuch  ;  and  the  sheikh  was 
crying  and  saying,  0  merchants,  0  possessors  of  riches,  who  will  hazard  and  hasten 
to  give  his  money  for  this  chest  of  which  the  contents  are  unknown,  from  the  palace 
of  the  lady  Zobeide  the  daughter  of  Kasim,  the  wife  of  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
Alrashid?  At  what  sum  shall  it  be  announced  for  you  ?  May  God  bless  you!  — 
Upon  this,  one  of  the  merchants  said,  By  Allah,  this  is  a  hazarding;  but  I  will  say 
something  for  which  I  shall  not  be  blameable.  Be  it  mine  for  twenty  pieces  of  gold. 
— Another  said.  For  fifty  pieces  of  gold.  And  the  merchants  increased  their  bid- 
dings for  it  until  the  sum  offered  amounted  to  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold:  when  the 
crier  said,  Have  ye  any  addition  to  make,  O  merchants?  And  Califa  the  fisherman 
said,  Be  it  mine  for  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  one.  So  when  the  merchants 
heard  the  words  of  Califa,  they  imagined  that  he  was  jesting  ;  and  they  laughed  at 
him,  and  said,  0  eunuch,  sell  it  to  Califa  for  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  one. 
And  the  eunuch  replied.  By  Allah,  I  will  not  sell  it  save  to  him !  Take  it,  0  fisher- 
man. May  God  bless  thee  in  it!  And  give  me  the  gold. — -Califa  therefore  took 
forth  the  gold,  and  delivered  it  to  the  eunuch,  and  the  contract  was  concluded.  The 
eunuch  then  gave  away  the  gold  in  alms  in  the  place  where  he  stood,  and  returned 
to  the  palace,  and  acquainted  the  lady  Zobeide  with  that  which  he  had  done  ;  whereat 
she  rejoiced.  Califa  the  fisherman  took  the  chest  upon  his  shoulder ;  but  he  could 
not  carry  it  so,  on  account  of  the  greatness  of  its  weight ;  wherefore  he  carried  it 
upon  his  head,  and  came  with  it  to  the  quarter  in  which  he  dwelt,  and  put  it  down 
from  his  head.  He  had  become  fatigued ;  and  he  sat  meditating  upon  the  events 
that  had  happened  to  him,  and  began  to  say  within  himself,  Would  that  I  knew 
what  is  in  this  chest!  Then  he  opened  the  door  of  his  abode,  and  laboured  to  re- 
move the  chest  until  he  had  brought  it  into  his  abode  ;  after  which  he  laboured  to 
open  it;  but  was  not  able.  So  he  said  within  himself.  What  hath  happened  to  my 
reason,  that  I  have  bought  this  chest?  I  must  break  it,  and  see  what  is  in  it. — 
And  he  applied  himself  to  open  the  lock  ;  but  could  not;  and  he  said  within  him- 
Belf,  I  will  leave  it  till  the  morrow. 


Ca.ifa  on  the  Chest 


THE    STORY    OF   CALIFA    THE    FISHERMAN.  707 

He  then  desired  to  sleep  ;  but  found  not  a  place  in  which  to  sleep,  for  the  chest 
was  just  the  size  of  the  chamber  in  length  and  breadth.  He  therefore  got  upon  it, 
and  slept  on  it;  and  after  he  had  remained  awhile,  something  moved;  whereupon 
Califa  was  frightened,  and  sleep  fled  from  him,  and  his  reason  also  took  flight.  He 
arose  and  said.  It  seemeth  that  there  are  Genii  in  it.  Praise  be  to  God  who  caused 
me  not  to  open  it  1  For  if  I  had  opened  it,  they  would  have  come  upon  nie  in  the 
dark  and  destroyed  me,  and  no  good  would  have  betided  me  from  them.  —  Then  he 
returned  and  lay  down  again  ;  and  lo,  the  chest  moved  a  second  time  more  than  the 
first  time.  Califa  therefore  arose  and  stood  up,  and  said.  This  is  another  time ;  but 
it  is  alarming!  And  he  hastened  to  get  a  lamp;  but  found  it  not,  and  he  had  not 
aught  wherewith  to  buy  a  lamp.  So  he  went  forth  from  the  house,  and  called  out, 
0  people  of  the  quarter!  And  most  of  the  people  of  the  quarter  were  sleeping  ;  and 
they  awoke  at  his  cry,  and  said,  What  aileth  thee,  0  Califa?  He  answered,  Come 
to  me  with  a  lamp  ;  for  the  Genii  have  come  forth  upon  me  !  They  therefore  laughed 
at  him,  and  gave  him  a  lamp,  and  he  took  it  and  went  with  it  into  his  abode.  He 
then  beat  the  lock  of  the  chest  with  a  stone,  and  broke  it,  and  opened  the  chest:  and 
lo,  he  beheld  a  damsel  like  the  houri,  lying  in  the  chest.  She  had  been  stupified 
with  bhang,  and  having  then  vomited  the  bhang,  and  recovered  her  senses,  she  opened 
her  eyes  and  became  sensible  of  her  confinement,  and  moved.  So  when  Califa  saw 
her,  he  rose  to  her,  and  said,  By  Allah,  0  my  mistress,  whence  art  thou  ?  And  she 
opened  her  eyes,  and  said,  Bring  me  Jasmin  and  Narcissa.  Califa  replied,  There  is 
nothing  here  but  henna.  And  upon  this  she  recovered  her  consciousness,  and,  see- 
ing Calif\i,  she  said  to  him,  What  art  thou?  Then  she  said,  And  where  am  I?  Ho 
answered  her.  Thou  art  in  my  house.  She  said.  Am  I  not  in  the  palace  of  the  Caliph 
Haroun  Alrashid?  He  replied.  What  is  Alrashid,  0  mad  woman?  Thou  art  nought 
but  my  slave-girl,  and  this  day  I  bought  thee  for  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  one, 
and  brought  thee  to  my  house,  and  thou  wast  in  this  chest,  asleep. — And  when  the 
damsel  heard  his  words,  she  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  name?  He  answered,  My  name 
is  Califa.  And  how  is  it  (he  added)  that  my  star  hath  become  fortunate,  when  1 
know  that  my  star  was  not  so  ?  And  she  laughed  and  said,  Cease  to  trouble  me  with 
these  words.  Hast  thou  anything  to  be  eaten? — He  answered,  By  Allah,  I  have  not 
even  anything  to  be  drunk  ;  and  I,  by  Allah,  have  passed  two  days  without  eating 
aught,  and  I  am  now  in  want  of  a  morsel.  So  she  said  to  him.  Hast  thou  not  any 
money?  He  replied,  Allah  preserve  this  chest  which  hath  reduced  me  to  poverty! 
For  I  have  given  what  I  had  for  it,  and  become  a  bankrupt. — And  the  damsel  laughed 
at  him,  and  said.  Arise,  seek  of  thy  neighbours  something  that  I  may  eat ;  for  I  am 
hungry. 

Califa  therefore  arose  and  went  forth  from  the  chamber,  and  cried  out,  O  people 
of  the  quarter!  And  they  were  sleeping;  so  they  awoke  and  said.  What  aileth  thee, 
0  Califa?  He  answered,  0  my  neighbours,  I  am  hungry,  and  I  have  not  anything 
for  me  to  eat.  And  upon  this,  one  came  down  to  him  with  a  cake  of  bread,  and 
another  with  a  fragment  of  bread,  and  another  with  a  bit  of  cheese,  and  another 
with  a  cucumber.  Thus  his  lap  was  filled,  and  he  entered  the  chamber,  and  put  the 
whole  before  her,  saying  to  her.  Eat.  But  she  laughed  at  him,  and  said  to  him, 
How  shall  I  eat  of  this,  when  I  have  not  a  mug  of  water  whereof  to  drink,  so  that  I 
fear  I  may  be  choked  with  a  morsel,  and  die?  Califa  therefore  said,  I  will  fill  for 
thee  this  jar.  And  he  took  the  jar,  and  went  forth  into  the  midst  of  the  quarter,  and 
called  out,  0  people  of  the  quarter!  So  they  said  to  him,  What  is  thy  misfortune 
this  night,  0  Califa  ?  And  he  answered  them.  Ye  gave  me,  and  I  have  eaten  ;  but  I 
am  thirsty ;  therefore  give  me  to  drink.  And  this  one  came  down  to  him  with  a  mug, 
and  this  with  a  ewer,  and  this  with  a  water-bottle;  and  he  filled  the  jar,  went  with 
it  into  the  chamber,  and  said  to  the  damsel,  0  my  mistress,  there  remaineth  to  thee 
no  want.  She  replied.  True:  there  remaineth  to  me  no  want  at  present.  He  then 
eaid  to  her.  Speak  to  me,  and  tell  me  thy  story.  And  she  replied,  Wo  to  thee !  If 
thou  know  me  not,  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  myself.     I  am  Koutelkuloub,  the  slave- 


708  THE    STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

girl  of  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alraahid.  The  Lady  Zobeide  hath  become  jealous  of  me, 
and  stupified  me  with  bhang,  and  put  me  into  this  chest. — Then  she  said,  Praise 
be  to  God  that  this  easy  event  happened,  and  that  another  event  happened  not. 
But  this  happened  not  to  me  save  fur  the  sake  of  thy  good  fortune  ;  for  thuu  wilt 
undoubtedly  receive  from  the  Caliph  Alrashid  a  large  sum  of  money,  that  will  be 
the  cause  of  thy  becoming  rich. — Upon  this,  Califa  said  to  her.  Is  not  he  Alrashid 
in  whose  palace  I  was  imprisoned?  She  answered,  Yes.  And  he  said,  By  Allah, 
I  have  not  beheld  any  one  more  avaricious  than  he,  that  piper  of  little  goodness 
and  intellect!  For  he  caused  me  to  receive  yesterday  a  hundred  blows  with  a  staff, 
and  gave  me  one  piece  of  gold,  although  I  had  taught  him  the  art  of  fishing,  and 
made  him  my  partner;  and  he  acted  perfidiously  to  me.  —  So  she  said  to  him. 
Abstain  from  this  foul  language,  and  open  thine  eyes,  and  behave  respectfully  when 
thou  seest  him  after  this  ;  for  if  so,  thou  wilt  attain  thy  desire.  And  when  he  heard 
her  words,  he  was  as  though  he  had  been  sleeping,  and  awoke  ;  and  God  removed 
the  veil  from  his  judgment,  for  the  sake  of  his  good  fortune;  wherefore  he  replied. 
On  the  head  and  on  the  eye.     Then  he  said  to  her.  In  the  name  of  Allah,  sleep. 

Accordingly  she  arose,  and  laid  herself  down  and  slept,  and  he  slept  at  a  distance 
from  her  until  the  morning;  and  when  she  arose  in  the  morning,  she  demanded  of 
him  an  ink-case  and  a  piece  of  paper.  So  he  brought  them  to  her ;  and  she  wrote 
to  the  merchant  who  was  the  companion  of  the  Caliph,  acquainting  him  with  her 
case,  and  the  events  that  had  happened  to  her;  that  she  was  in  the  abode  of  Califa 
the  fisherman,  and  that  he  had  purchased  her.  Then  she  gave  to  him  the  paper, 
and  said  to  him,  Take  this  paper,  and  go  with  it  to  the  jewel-market,  and  inquire 
for  the  shop  of  Benkcrnas  the  jeweller,  and  give  him  this  paper  without  speaking. 
Califa  therefore  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  took  the  paper  from  her  hand,  and 
went  with  it  to  the  jewel-market,  and  inquired  for  the  shop  of  Benkernas.  So  they 
directed  him  to  it,  and  he  came  to  him,  and  saluted  him,  and  he  returned  his  saluta- 
tion, but  despised  him,  and  said  to  him.  What  dost  thou  want?  And  he  handed  to 
him  the  paper,  which  he  took;  but  he  read  it  not,  imagining  that  he  was  a  pauper 
who  desired  of  him  an  alms  ;  wherefore  he  said  to  one  of  his  pages,  Give  him  half 
a  piece  of  silver.  So  CaliAi  said  to  him,  I  have  no  need  of  alms  ;  but  read  thou  the 
paper.  He  therefore  took  the  paper  and  read  it,  and  he  understood  its  contents; 
and  when  he  knew  what  it  contained,  he  kissed  it,  and  put  it  on  his  head,  and, 
rising,  he  said  to  Califa,  0  my  brother,  where  is  thy  house?  Califa  said  to  him. 
And  what  desirest  thou  with  regard  to  my  house  ?  Is  it  thy  desire  to  go  to  it  to 
steal  my  slave-girl?  He  answered  him,  No:  but  I  will  buy  for  thee  something  that 
thou  shalt  eat  with  her.  So  thereupon  Califa  replied.  My  abode  is  in  such  a  quarter. 
And  the  jeweller  said  to  him,  Thou  hast  done  well.     May  God  not  give  thee  health, 

0  unfortunate! — Then  he  cried  out  to  two  of  his  black  slaves,  and  said  to  them.  Go 
with  this  man  to  the  shop  of  Mohsin  the  money-changer,  and  say  to  him,  0  Mohsin, 
give  this  person  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold, — and  return  ye  with  him  to  me  speedily. 
— Accordingly  the  two  slaves  went  with  Califa  to  the  shop  of  the  money-changer, 
and  said  to  him,  0  Mohsin,  give  this  man  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  He  therefore 
gave  him  them,  and  Califa  took  them,  and  returned  with  the  two  slaves  to  the  shop 
of  their  master,  whom  they  found  riding  upon  a  light-paced  mule  worth  a  thousand 
pieces  of  gold,  with  the  mamlouks  and  pages  around  him,  and  by  the  side  of  his 
mule  was  a  mule  like  it,  saddled  and  bridled.  The  jeweller  then  said  to  Califa,  In 
the  name  of  Allah,  mount  this  mule.  But  Califa  replied,  I  will  not  mount.  By 
Allah,  I  fear  that  she  would  throw  me.  —  The  merchant  Benkernas,  however,  said 
to  him.  By  Allah,  thou  must  mount.  So  Califa  advanced  to  mount  her,  and  he 
mounted  her  back-foremost,  and  laid  hold  of  her  tail,  and  cried  out,  whereupon  she 
threw  him  on  the  ground,  and  the  people  laughed  at  him  ;  and  he  rose  and  said.  Did 

1  not  say  to  thee,  I  will  not  mount  this  great  ass? 

Then  Benkernas  left  Califa  in  the  market,  and  went  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
and  gave  him  information  of  the  damsel ;  after  which  he  returned  and  removed  her 


THE   STORY   OF   CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN.  709 

to  his  own  house.  And  Califa  went  to  his  house  to  see  the  damsel,  and  beheld  the 
people  of  the  quarter  assembled,  and  saying.  Verily  Califa  is  to-day  altogether  terri- 
fied !  Whence  can  this  damsel  have  come  into  his  possession?  —  And  one  of  them 
said,  This  man  is  a  mad  rascal.  Probably  he  found  her  in  the  way,  intoxicated,  and 
carried  her  and  brought  her  to  his  house,  and  hath  not  absented  himself,  save 
because  he  knew  his  crime.  —  And  while  they  were  talking,  lo,  Califa  approached 
them;  and  they  said  to  him,  IIow  is  thy  condition,  0  poor  man?  Dost  thou  not 
know  what  hath  happened  to  thee?  —  lie  answered.  No,  by  Allah.  And  they  said. 
Just  now  some  mamlouks  came  and  took  thy  slave-girl,  and  they  sought  thee,  bul 
found  thee  not.  So  Califa  said.  How,  did  they  take  my  slave-girl?  And  one  said, 
Had  he  fallen  in  their  way,  they  had  slain  him.  And  Califa  paid  no  regard  to  them  ; 
but  returned  running  to  the  shop  of  Benkernas;  and  he  saw  him  riding,  and 
said  to  him.  By  Allah,  it  is  not  right  in  thee ;  for  thou  divertedst  my  attention,  and 
sentest  thy  mamlouks,  and  they  have  taken  my  slave-girl.  And  he  replied,  0  mad- 
man, come  hither,  and  be  thou  silent!  Then  he  took  him,  and  conducted  him  to  a 
house  of  handsome  construction,  which  he  entered  with  him,  and  he  saw  the  damsel 
sitting  in  it  upon  a  couch  of  gold,  surrounded  by  ten  slave-girls  resembling  moons. 
And  when  Benkernas  saw  her,  he  kissed  the  ground  before  her;  and  she  said  to  him. 
What  hast  thou  done  with  my  new  master,  who  purchased  me  with  all  that  he  pos- 
sessed ?  He  answered  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  given  him  a  thousand  pieces  of 
gold.  And  he  related  to  her  the  story  of  Califa  from  its  beginning  to  its  end  ;  where- 
upon she  laughed,  and  said,  Blame  him  not ;  for  he  is  a  man  of  the  vulgar  class. 
Then  she  said.  And  these  thousand  pieces  of  gold  besides  are  a  present  from  me  to 
him  ;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!),  he  shall  receive  from 
the  Caliph  what  will  enrich  him. 

Now  while  they  were  talking,  lo,  a  eunuch  from  the  palace  of  the  Caliph  advanced 
demanding  Koutelkuloub ;  for  the  Caliph  knew  that  she  was  in  the  house  of  Ben- 
kernas, and  when  he  knew  that,  he  could  not  endure  her  absence,  wherefore  he  gave 
orders  to  bring  her.  And  when,  she  went  to  him,  she  took  Califa  with  her.  She 
went  on  until  she  approached  the  Caliph  ;  and  on  her  coming  to  him,  she  kissed  the 
ground  before  him  ;  and  he  rose  to  her,  and  saluted  her  and  welcomed  her,  and 
asked  her  how  had  been  her  state  with  him  who  had  purchased  her.  So  she  answered 
him.  He  is  a  man  named  Califa  the  fisherman,  and  here  he  is  standing  at  the  gate; 
and  he  hath  mentioned  to  me  that  he  hath  a  reckoning  to  make  with  our  lord  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful,  on  account  of  the  partnership  that  was  between  him  and  the 
Prince  of  the  Faithful  in  the  trade  of  fishing.  Upon  this  the  Caliph  said.  Is  he 
standing  there?  She  answered,  Yes.  And  he  gave  orders  to  bring  him.  Therefore 
he  came  ;  and  he  kissed  the  ground  before  the  Caliph,  and  prayed  for  the  continu- 
ance of  his  glory  and  blessings ;  and  the  Caliph  wondered  at  him,  and  laughed  at 
him,  and  asked  him  how  he  had  conducted  himself  to  Koutelkuloub.  So  he  told 
him  that  he  had  treated  her  respectfully,  and  he  repeated  to  him  the  account  of  all 
that  had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last,  while  the  Caliph  laughed  at  him.  He 
told  him  the  story  of  the  eunuch,  and  what  had  happened  to  him  w^ith  him,  and  how 
he  gave  him  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  in  addition  to  the  piece  of  gold  that  he  had 
received  from  the  Caliph.  He  told  him  also  of  his  entering  the  market,  and  his 
buying  the  chest  for  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  one,  not  knowing  what  was  in 
it;  and  he  related  to  him  the  whole  story,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end.  And  the 
Caliph  laughed  at  him  ;  his  bosom  became  dilated,  and  he  said  to  him.  We  will  do 
as  thou  desirest,  0  thou  who  hast  conveyed  to  the  owner  his  rightful  property ! 
Then  he  was  silent.  And  after  that,  the  Caliph  gave  orders  to  present  him  with  fifty 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  sumptuous  robe  of  honour,  of  the  apparel  of  the  great 
Caliphs,  and  a  mule  ;  and  he  gave  to  him  black  slaves  to  serve  him.  Thus  he  became 
as  though  he  were  one  of  the  kings  of  that  age.  And  the  Caliph  was  rejoiced  at  the 
return  of  his  slave-girl,  and  knew  that  all  this  was  of  the  doings  of  the  lady  Zobeide, 


710  THE   STOKY   OF    CALIFA   THE   FISHERMAN. 

the  daughter  of  his  uncle  ;  •wherefore  his  rage  against  her  was  excessive,  and  he 
forsook  her  for  a  length  of  time,  and  visited  her  not,  nor  inclined  to  her. 

So  -when  she  was  certified  thereof,  she  was  affected  with  great  anxiety  on  account 
of  his  wrath.  Her  complexion  became  sallow  after  redness  ;  and  when  endurance 
wearied  her,  she  sent  a  letter  to  the  son  of  her  uncle,  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful, 
apologizing  to  him,  and  confessing  her  crime.  Therefore  when  the  letter  of  the  lady 
Zobeide  came  to  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful,  and  he  read  it,  he  knew  that  she  had 
acknowledged  her  crime,  and  sent  to  apologize  to  him  for  that  which  she  had  done. 
So  he  said  within  himself.  Verily  God  forgiveth  all  sins  ;  for  He  is  the  very  forgiving, 
the  merciful.  And  he  sent  to  her  a  reply  to  her  letter,  containing  the  expression  of 
his  satisfaction  and  forgiveness,  and  pardon  of  what  was  past:  whereupon  she  ex- 
perienced great  joy. 

The  Caliph  then  assigned  Califa  a  monthly  allowance  of  fifty  pieces  of  gold  ;  and 
he  acquired,  in  the  estimation  of  the  Caliph,  great  dignity  and  high  rank,  and  honour 
and  respect.  Califa  kissed  the  ground  before  the  Prince  of  the  Faithful  on  his  going 
forth,  and  went  forth  walking  with  stately  gait;  and  when  he  came  to  the  entrance, 
the  eunuch  who  had  given  him  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold  saw  him  and  knew  him, 
and  said  to  him,  0  fisherman,  whence  came  to  thee  all  this  ?  So  he  told  him  what 
had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last.  And  the  eunuch  rejoiced  at  that,  seeing  that 
he  had  been  the  cause  of  his  becoming  rich  ;  and  he  said  to  him,  Wilt  thou  not  give 
me  a  present  from  this  wealth  that  hath  become  thine?  And  Califa  put  his  hand  to 
his  pocket,  and  took  forth  from  it  a  purse  containing  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
which  he  handed  to  the  eunnch  ;  but  the  eunuch  said  to  him.  Take  thy  wealth. 
May  God  bless  thee  in  it ! — And  he  wondered  at  his  generosity  and  the  liberality  of 
his  mind,  considering  his  late  poverty.  Califa  then  went  forth  from  the  eunuch, 
riding  upon  the  mule,  and  attended  by  the  servants  with  their  hands  upon  her 
haunches.  Thus  he  proceeded  until  he  came  to  the  khan,  the  people  diverting  them- 
selves with  gazing  at  him,  and  wondering  at  the  glory  that  had  betided  him  ;  and 
they  advanced  to  him  after  he  had  alighted  from  the  mule,  and  asked  him  respecting 
the  cause  of  that  good  fortune.  He  therefore  acquainted  them  with  the  events  that 
had  happened  to  him  from  first  to  last.  Then  he  purchased  a  house  of  handsome 
structure,  and  expended  upon  it  a  large  sum  of  money,  so  that  it  became  perfect  in 
beauty.  He  took  up  his  abode  in  that  house  ;  and  when  he  had  settled  himself  in 
it,  he  demanded  for  himself  in  marriage  one  of  the  daughters  of  the  chief  men  of  the 
city,  of  the  beautiful  damsels,  and  took  her  as  his  wife ;  and  he  experienced  the 
utn\ost  delight,  and  exceeding  pleasure,  and  happiness.  He  became  in  a  state 
of  abundant  affluence  and  complete  prosperity  ;  and  when  he  beheld  himself  in  that 
state  of  enjoyment,  he  thanked  God  (whose  perfection  be  extolled,  and  whose  name 
be  exalted  !)  for  the  abundant  affluence  and  successive  favours  that  He  had  bestowed 
upon  him,  praising  his  Lord  with  the  praise  of  the  grateful.  He  used  frequently  to 
visit  the  Caliph  Haroun  Alrashid,  being  well  received  by  him,  and  Alrashid  used  to 
cover  him  with  his  benefits  and  munificence.  So  Califa  ceased  not  to  live  in  a  state 
of  the  most  perfect  affluence  and  happiness  and  glory  and  hilarity,  enjoying  abun- 
dant wealth  and  rising  elevation,  and  a  pleasant,  agreeable  life,  and  pure,  grateful 
delight,  until  he  was  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  com- 
panions.— Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  to  whom  belong  glory  and  permanence, 
and  who  is  living,  everlasting,  who  will  never  die ! 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIK.  711 


CHAPTER    XXVU. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Nine  Hundred  and  Thirtieth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  thf- 
Nine  Hundred  and  Fortieth. 


THE  STORY  OF  ABOUSIR  AND  ABOUKIR. 

There  were,  in  the  city  of  Alexandria,  two  men,  one  of  whom  was  a  dyer,  and  his 
name  was  Aboukir,  and  the  other  was  a  barber,  and  his  name  was  Abousir  ;  and 
they  were  neighbours,  one  to  the  other,  in  the  market;  the  shop  of  the  barber  being 
by  the  side  of  the  shop  of  the  dyer.  The  dyer  was  a  swindler,  a  liar,  a  person  of 
exceeding  wickedness:  he  was  as  though  the  temple  of  his  head  were  cut  out  of 
rock,  or  made  from  the  threshold  of  the  synagogue  of  the  Jews :  he  was  not  ashamed 
of  any  disgraceful  action  that  he  committed  among  the  people.  It  was  his  custom, 
when  any  one  gave  him  a  piece  of  stuff  to  dye,  to  demand  of  him  the  pay  first,  and 
to  make  hinx  believe  that  he  would  buy  with  it  materials  wherewith  to  dye.  So  the 
man  would  give  him  the  pay  in  advance:  and  when  he  had  received  it  of  him,  he 
would  expend  it  for  food  and  drink.  Then  he  would  sell  the  stuff  that  he  had 
received,  after  its  owner  had  gone,  and  expend  its  price  for  food  and  drink  and  other 
things.  He  ate  nothing  but  what  was  good,  of  the  most  excellent  of  food  ;  nor  did 
he  drink  save  of  the  best  of  drinks  that  dispelled  the  reason.  And  when  the  owner 
of  the  stuff  came  to  him,  he  would  say  to  him,  To-morrow  come  to  me  before  sunrise, 
and  thou  wilt  find  thy  stuff  dyed.  Therefore  the  owner  would  go,  and  say  within 
himself.  One  day  soon  followeth  another.  Then  he  would  come  to  him  the  next  day, 
at  the  time  appointed;  and  the  dyer  would  say  to  him,  Come  to-morrow;  for  yester- 
day I  was  not  at  leisure,  having  with  me  guests  ;  so  I  was  occupied  in  doing  what 
was  expedient  for  them  until  they  went.  To-morrow,  before  sunrise,  come  and 
receive  thy  stuff  dyed. — And  he  would  go,  and  come  to  him  again  on  the  third  day; 
when  the  dyer  would  say  to  him,  Verily  I  was  yesterday  excusable  ;  for  my  wife 
gave  birth  to  a  child  in  the  night,  and  all  the  day  I  was  engaged  in  transacting 
affairs:  but  to-morrow,  without  fail,  come  and  receive  thy  stuff  dyed.  The  man 
would  therefore  come  to  him  again  at  the  time  appointed,  and  the  dyer  would  prac- 
tise with  him  some  other  stratagem,  of  any  kind,  and  swear  to  him.  And  he  would 
not  cease  to  promise  him  and  to  swear  when  he  came  to  him,  until  the  customer 
would  become  impatient,  and  say  to  him,  How  often  wilt  thou  say  to  me.  To-morrow? 
Give  me  my  stuff;  for  I  do  not  desire  it  to  be  dyed. — And  thereupon  the  dyer  would 
say.  By  Allah,  0  my  brother,  I  am  abashed  at  thee ;  but  I  will  tell  thee  the  truth  ; 
and  may  God  harm  every  one  who  harmeth  men  with  respect  to  their  goods !  So  . 
the  man  would  say  to  him.  Tell  me  what  hath  happened.  And  he  would  reply  As 
to  thy  stuff,  I  dyed  it  in  a  manner  unequalled,  and  spread  it  upon  the  rope,  and  it 
was  stolen,  and  I  know  not  who  stole  it.  Therefore  if  the  owner  of  the  stuff  were 
of  the  people  of  kindness,  he  would  say  to  him,  God  will  compensate  me.  And  if  he 
were  of  the  people  of  malevolence,  he  would  persevere  in  disgracing  and  insulting 
him  ;  but  nothing  would  he  get  from  him,  even  if  he  complained  of  him  to  the 
magistrate. 


712  THE   STORY   OF  ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 

He  ceased  not  to  do  these  deeds  until  he  became  notorious  among  the  people,  and 
they  used  to  caution  one  another  against  him,  and  to  make  him  a  subject  of  pro- 
verbs. They  all  abstained  from  employing  him  ;  and  none  used  to  fall  into  his 
snare  save  he  who  was  ignorant  of  his  conduct;  but  notwithstanding  this,  he  was 
sure  to  experience,  every  day,  insult  and  disgrace  from  the  creatures  of  God.  So 
his  trade  became  dull  in  consequence  thereof,  and  he  used  to  come  to  the  shop  of 
his  neighbour  the  barber  Abousir,  and  to  sit  in  it,  facing  the  dyeing-shop,  and  look- 
ing at  its  door ;  and  if  he  saw  any  one  ignorant  of  his  conduct  standing  at  the  door 
of  the  dyeing-shop,  and  having  with  him  something  which  he  desired  to  be  dyed,  he 
would  rise  from  the  shop  of  the  barber,  and  say,  What  dost  thou  want,  0  man? 
He  would  answer  him.  Take  and  dye  for  me  this  thing.  And  he  would  say.  What 
colour  dost  thou  desire?  For  with  all  these  bad  qualities,  he  was  able  to  dye  all 
colours;  but  he  never  acted  honestly  with  any  one,  and  poverty  overcame  him. 
Then  he  would  take  the  thing  of  the  man,  and  say  to  him.  Give  me  the  pay  in  ad- 
vance, and  to-morrow  come  and  take  the  thing.  And  the  man  would  give  him  the 
pay,  and  depart ;  and  after  the  owner  of  the  thing  had  gone  his  way,  he  would  take 
that  thing,  and  repair  to  the  market,  and  sell  it,  and  buy,  with  its  price,  meat  and 
vegetables  and  tobacco  and  fruit,  and  what  else  he  required.  And  when  he  saw 
standing  at  the  shop  any  one  of  those  who  had  given  him  things  to  dye,  he  would 
not  appear  to  him,  nor  show  himself  to  him.  Thus  he  continued  to  do  for  years ; 
but  it  happened  to  him  one  day,  that  he  received  a  thing  of  a  violent  man,  and  sold 
it,  and  expended  its  price  ;  and  its  owner  came  to  him  every  day ;  but  saw  him  not 
in  the  shop ;  for  whenever  the  dyer  saw  any  who  had  aught  to  demand  of  him,  he 
used  to  fly  from  him  into  the  shop  of  the  barber  Abousir.  And  when  that  violent 
man  had  not  found  him  in  his  shop,  and  this  conduct  of  his  wearied  him,  he  re- 
paired to  the  Cadi,  and,  having  brought  one  of  his  sergeants  to  his  shop,  nailed  up 
its  door  in  the  presence  of  a  company  of  the  faithful,  and  sealed  it ;  for  he  saw  not 
in  it  aught,  excepting  some  earthen  basins  broken  in  pieces,  ard  found  not  in  it 
anything  to  compensate  him  for  his  stuff.  Then  the  sergeant  took  the  key,  and  said 
to  the  neighbours.  Tell  him  to  bring  the  property  of  this  man,  and  come  to  receive 
the  key  of  his  shop.     And  the  man  and  the  sergeant  went  their  ways. 

Abousir,  upon  this,  said  to  Aboukir,  What  is  thy  misfortune?  For  every  one 
who  bringeth  to  thee  a  thing  thou  makest  to  lose  it.  Whither  is  gone  the  property 
of  this  violent  man?  0  my  neighbour,  he  answered,  verily  it  was  stolen  from  me. 
— Wonderful !  replied  Abousir.  Whenever  any  one  giveth  thee  a  thing,  doth  a  thief 
steal  it  from  thee?  Art  thou  at  enmity  with  all  the  thieves?  But  I  imagine  that 
thou  liest.  Acquaint  me  then  with  thy  case. — And  he  said,  0  my  neighbour,  no  one 
has  stolen  from  me  aught.  —  Then  what  dost  thou,  asked  Abousir,  with  the  men's 
goods?  He  answered  him.  Whenever  any  one  giveth  me  aught,  I  sell  it,  and  expend 
its  price.  Abousir  said  to  him.  Is  this  allowed  thee  by  God  ?  Aboukir  replied,  I  do 
this  only  in  consequence  of  poverty  ;  for  my  trade  is  unprofitable,  and  I  am  a  poor 
man,  having  nothing  in  my  possession.  And  he  proceeded  to  talk  to  him  of  the  un- 
profitableness of  his  trade,  and  the  littleness  of  his  business ;  and  Abousir  spoke  to 
him  of  the  unprofitableness  of  his  trade  also,  and  said,  I  am  a  craftsmaster  ;  I  have 
no  equal  in  this  city;  but  no  one  is  shaved  at  my  shop  because  I  am  a  poor  man, 
and  I  have  conceived  a  hatred  for  this  art,  0  my  brother.  So  Aboukir  the  dyer  said 
to  him.  And  I  also  have  conceived  a  hatred  for  my  art  on  account  of  its  unprofitable- 
ness. But,  0  my  brother,  what  is  the  inducement  for  our  residing  in  this  town? 
Let  me  and  thee  journey  from  it,  and  divert  ourselves  in  other  countries,  and  our 
arts,  which  we  shall  carry  with  us,  will  be  in  demand  in  all  countries  ;  and  when 
we  travel,  we  shall  enjoy  the  fresh  air,  and  be  relieved  from  this  excessive  anxiety. 
— And  Aboukir  ceased  not  to  commend  travel  to  Abousir  until  the  latter  became 
desirous  of  emigration.  So  they  both  agreed  to  travel,  and  Aboukir  rejoiced  that 
Abousir  was  desirous  of  doing  so.  And  when  they  determined  to  travel  Aboukir 
said  to  Abousir,  0  ray  neighbour,  we  have  become  brothers,  and  there  is  no  difference 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR.  713 

between  us:  so  it  is  requisite  that  we  recite  the  opening  chapter  of  the  Koran  in 
confirmation  of  our  agreement  that  he  of  us  who  is  occupied  shall  make  gain  and 
feed  him  of  us  who  is  unoccupied,  and  whatever  remaineth  we  will  put  into  a  chest; 
and  when  we  return  to  Alexandria,  we  will  divide  it  between  us  truly  and  equally. 
Abousir  replied,  And  it  shall  be  so.  And  they  recited  the  chapter  in  confirmation 
of  their  agreement  that  the  occupied  should  make  gain  and  feed  the  unoccupied. 

Abousir  locked  his  shop,  and  gave  the  keys  to  its  owner;  and  Aboukir  left  the 
key  of  his  shop  with  the  sergeant  of  the  Cadi,  and  left  the  shop  closed,  and  sealed. 
Then  they  took  their  things,  and  in  the  morning  they  set  forth,  embarking  in  a 
galleon  upon  the  sea.  They  departed  that  day,  and  aid  attended  them  ;  and  by  the 
complete  good  fortune  of  the  barber,  it  happened  that  among  all  who  were  in  the 
galleon  there  was  not  a  single  barber;  and  there  were  in  it  a  hundred  and  twenty 
men,  beside  the  captain  and  the  sailors.  And  when  they  loosed  the  sails  of  the 
galleon,  the  barber  arose  and  said  to  the  dyer,  0  my  brother,  this  is  a  sea :  we  stand 
in  need  here  of  food  and  drink,  and  we  have  not  with  us  more  than  a  little  stock  of 
provisions  ;  but  probably  some  one  will  say  to  me.  Come  hither,  0  barber ;  shave 
me :  —  and  I  will  shave  him  for  a  cake  of  bread,  or  for  a  farthing,  or  for  a  drink  of 
water:  so  I  shall  profit  thereby;  I  and  thou.  And  the  dyer  replied.  No  harm. 
Then  he  laid  down  his  head,  and  slept,  while  the  barber  arose  and  took  his  apparatus, 
together  with  the  cup,  and,  having  put  upon  his  shoulder  a  piece  of  rag  to  serve  in- 
stead of  the  towel  (for  he  was  a  poor  man),  passed  amid  the  passengers;  and  one 
said  to  him.  Come  hither,  0  craftsmaster :  shave  me.  So  he  shaved  him  ;  and  when 
he  had  shaved  that  man,  he  gave  him  a  farthing;  whereupon  the  barber  said  to  him, 
0  my  brother,  I  have  no  need  of  this  farthing ;  and  hadst  thou  given  me  a  cake  of 
bread,  it  had  been  a  more  blessed  gift  to  me  on  this  sea ;  for  I  have  a  qompanion, 
and  our  provisions  are  but  little.  And  he  gave  him  a  cake  of  bread  and  a  piece  of 
cheese,  and  filled  for  him  the  cup  with  fresh  water.  He  therefore  took  those  things, 
and  came  to  Aboukir,  and  said  to  him,  Take  this  cake  of  bread,  and  eat  it  with  the 
cheese,  and  drink  what  is  in  the  cup.  And  he  took  them  of  him,  and  ate  and  drank. 
Then  Abousir  the  barber  after  that  took  his  apparatus,  with  the  rag  upon  his  shoulder 
and  the  cup  in  his  hand,  and  went  about  the  galleon,  among  the  passengers ;  and 
he  shaved  one  man  for  two  cakes  of  bread,  and  another  for  a  piece  of  cheese.  De- 
mands were  made  for  his  services ;  and  whenever  any  one  said  to  him,  Shave  me,  0 
craftsmaster,  —  he  bargained  with  him  for  two  cakes  of  bread  and  a  farthing;  and 
there  being  in  the  galleon  no  barber  beside  him,  sunset  came  not  before  he  hr.d  col- 
lected thirty  cakes  of  bread  and  fifteen  farthings ;  beside  which  he  got  cheese  and 
olives  and  caviar.  Whenever  he  demanded  anything,  they  gave  it  him,  so  that  he 
became  in  possession  of  an  abundance  of  things.  He  also  shaved  the  captain,  and 
complained  to  him  of  the  smallness  of  his  stock  of  provisions  for  the  voyage  ;  and 
the  captain  said  to  him.  Welcome  to  thee  !  Bring  thy  companion  every  night,  and 
sup  ye  with  me,  and  suffer  not  anxiety  as  long  as  ye  voyage  with  us. 

He  then  returned  to  the  dyer,  and  saw  that  he  had  not  ceased  to  sleep ;  so  he 
woke  him ;  and  when  Aboukir  awoke,  he  saw  at  his  head  an  abundance  of  bread 
and  cheese  and  olives  and  caviar ;  and  he  said  to  Abousir,  Whence  gottest  thou 
this?  Abousir  ansM-ered,  From  the  bounty  of  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  And 
Aboukir  desired  to  eat;  but  Abousir  said  to  him.  Eat  not,  0  my  brother,  of  this. 
Leave  it  to  be  of  use  to  us  at  another  time.  And  know  that  I  have  shaved  the  cap- 
tain, and  complained  to  him  of  the  littleness  of  our  stock  of  provisions;  whereupon 
he  said  to  me,  Welcome  to  thee !  Bring  thy  companion  every  night,  and  sup  ye 
with  me.  And  the  first  time  of  our  supping  with  the  captain  is  to  be  this  night. — 
Aboukir  however  replied,  I  am  sea  sick,  and  cannot  rise  from  my  place;  therefore 
let  me  make  my  supper  of  these  things,  and  go  thou  alone  to  the  captain.  So  Abou- 
sir said  to  him.  There  will  be  no  harm  in  that.  And  he  sat  diverting  himself  with 
looking  at  him  while  he  ate,  and  saw  him  cut  off  the  mouthful  as  the  quarryman 
cutteth  stone  from  the  mountain,  and  swallow  it  as  the  elephant  that  for  days' hath 


714 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR    AND    ABOUKTR. 


Aboiisir  sliaving  a  Passenger  in  the  Galleon. 


not  eaten,  bolting  one  mouthful  before  he  had  quite  swallowed  the  preceding  one, 
and  staring  at  what  was  before  him  with  the  stare  of  the  ghoul,  and  blowing  as 
bloweth  the  hungry  bull  over  the  straw  and  the  beans.  And  lo,  a  sailor  came  and 
said,  0  craftsmaster,  the  captain  saith  to  thee.  Bring  thy  companion,  and  come  to 
supper.  So  Abousir  said  to  Aboukir,  Wilt  thou  arise  and  go  with  us?  But  he 
answered  him,  I  am  not  able  to  walk.  The  barber  therefore  went  alone,  and  he  saw 
the  captain  sitting  with  a  table  before  him  comprising  twenty  different  kinds  of  food, 
or  more  ;  and  he  and  his  party  were  waiting  for  the  barber  and  his  companion  :  so 
when  the  captain  saw  him,  he  said  to  him,  Where  is  thy  companion?  He  answered 
him,  0  my  master,  he  is  sea-sick.  And  the  captain  replied,  No  harm  will  befall 
him.  His  sickness  will  leave  him.  Come  thou  ;  sup  with  us;  for  I  was  waiting  for 
thee. — Then  the  captain  set  apart  a  dish  of  roast  meat,  and  put  into  it  some  of  every 
kind  of  food,  and  it  became  enough  for  ten;  and  after  the  barber  had  supped,  the 
captain  said  to  him,  Take  this  dish  with  thee  to  thy  companion.  Accordingly 
Abousir  took  it,  and  went  with  it  to  Aboukir,  whom  he  saw  grinding  his  food  with 
his  dog-teeth  like  the  camel,  and  adding  mouthful  to  mouthful  in  haste.  So  Abou- 
sir said  to  him,  Did  I  not  say  to  thee,  Eat  not;  for  the  captain  hath  abundance  of 
good  things?  See  then  what  he  hath  sent  thee,  when  I  informed  him  that  thou 
wast  sick. — Aboukir  replied.  Give  it  me.  And  Abousir  handed  to  him  the  dish: 
and  he  took  it  from  him,  greedy  for  it  and  for  other  food,  like  the  grinning-dog,  or 
the  bone-breaking  lion,  or  the  roc  when  it  pounceth  upon  the  pigeon,  or  like  him 
who  hath  almost  died  of  hunger ;  and  Aboukir,  seeing  some  viands,  proceeded  to 
eat.  Abousir  then  left  him,  and  went  back  to  the  captain,  and  drank  coffee  with 
him  ;  after  which  he  returned  to  Aboukir,  and  he  saw  that  he  had  eaten  all  that 
was  in  the  dish,  and  thrown  it  aside  empty.     So  he  took  it  and  conveyed  it  to  one 


THE    STORY    OF    ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR.  715 

of  the  servants  of  the  captain,  and  went  back  to  Aboukir,  and  slept  until  the  morn- 
ing. And  on  the  following  day,  Abousir  proceeded  again  to  shave  ;  and  whenever 
anything  came  to  him,  he  gave  it  to  Aboukir,  who  ate  and  drank  sitting  still,  not 
rising  save  when  he  was  obliged  to  do  so  ;  and  every  night,  Abousir  brought  him  a 
full  dish  from  the  captain. 

They  continued  in  this  state  twenty  days,  until  the  galleon  moored  in  the  harbour 
of  a  city;  whereupon  they  both  landed  from  the  galleon,  and  entered  the  city,  and 
took  for  them  a  chamber  in  a  khan.  Abousir  furnished  it,  and  bought  all  that  they 
required,  and  brought  some  meat  and  cooked  it,  while  Aboukir  slept  from  tlie  time 
that  he  entered  the  chamber.  He  awoke  not  until  Abousir  roused  him,  and  put  the 
table  before  him  ;  and  when  he  awoke,  he  ate;  and  after  that,  he  said  to  Abousir, 
Blame  me  not;  for  I  am  giddy.  Then  he  slept  again.  And  they  remained  in  this 
state  forty  days.  Every  day  the  barber  took  his  apparatus,  and  went  about  the 
city,  practised  his  art  for  such  remuneration  as  destiny  allotted  him,  and,  returning, 
found  Aboukir  sleeping.  So  he  would  wake  him  ;  and  when  he  awoke,  he  would 
betake  himself  to  eating  with  voracity,  eating  as  he  who  is  not  satiated  nor  con- 
tented ;  after  which  he  would  sleep  again.  He  ceased  not  to  do  thus  for  forty  days 
more  ;  and  every  time  that  Abousir  said  to  him,  Sit  and  rest  thyself,  and  go  forth 
and  take  an  airing  in  the  city,  for  it  is  a  diverting  and  gay  place,  and  there  is  no 
equal  to  it  among  the  cities. — Aboukir  the  dyer  would  reply.  Blame  me  not ;  for  I 
am  giddy.  And  Abousir  the  barber  did  not  like  to  trouble  his  heart,  nor  to  make 
him  hear  a  word  that  would  vex  him.  But  on  the  forty-first  day,  the  barber  fell 
sick,  and  was  unable  to  go  abroad  ;  and  he  engaged  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  to 
serve  him  gratuitously.  He  performed  for  them  their  affairs,  bringing  them  their 
food  and  drink  ;  and  all  the  while  Aboukir  ate  and  slept.  The  barber  ceased  not  to 
employ  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  to  perform  gratuitously  his  affairs  for  the  space 
of  four  days ;  and  after  that  the  disease  of  Abousir  became  so  violent  that  he  was 
unconscious  by  reason  of  its  severity. 

But  as  to  Aboukir,  hunger  tortured  him.  So  he  arose  and  searched  the  clothes  of 
Abousir,  and  saw  in  his  possession  a  sum  of  money;  and  he  took  it,  and  closed  the 
door  of  the  chamber  upon  Abousir,  and  departed,  without  informing  any  one  ;  and 
the  door-keeper  was  in  the  market ;  wherefore  he  saw  him  not  when  he  went  forth. 
Aboukir  then  betook  himself  to  the  market,  and  clad  himself  in  costly  clothes,  and 
proceeded  to  go  about  the  city,  and  to  divert  himself.  He  saw  it  to  be  a  city  of 
which  he  had  not  found  the  like  among  cities ;  but  all  the  apparel  of  its  inhabitants 
was  white  and  blue,  without  any  other  colour.  And  he  came  to  a  dyer,  and  saw  all 
that  was  in  his  shop  to  be  blue ;  and,  producing  to  him  a  handkerchief,  he  said  to 
him,  0  master,  take  this  handkerchief,  and  dye  it,  and  receive  thy  pay.  The  dyer 
replied.  The  pay  for  dyeing  this  will  be  twenty  pieces  of  silver.  So  Aboukir  said 
to  him.  We  should  dye  this  in  our  country  for  two  pieces  of  silver.  The  man  re- 
joined, Go,  dye  it  in  your  country;  but  as  to  me,  I  will  not  dye  it  save  for  twenty 
pieces  of  silver:  the  pay  will  not  fall  short  of  this  sum  in  the  least.  Upon  this, 
Aboukir  said  to  him.  What  colour  dost  thou  desire  to  dye  it?  The  dyer  answered 
him,  I  will  dye  it  blue.  Aboukir  said  to  him,  I  desire  that  thou  shouldst  dye  it  for 
me  red.  The  man  however  replied,  I  know  not  how  to  dye  red.  Aboukir  said, 
Green.  The  dyer  replied,  I  know  not  how  to  dye  green.  Aboukir  said,  Yellow. 
The  dyer  replied,  I  know  not  how  to  dye  yellow.  And  Aboukir  proceeded  to  enume- 
rate to  him  the  colours,  one  after  another ;  but  the  dyer  replied.  We  in  our  country 
are  forty  masters,  not  one  more  nor  one  less ;  and  when  one  of  us  dieth,  we  teach 
his  son  ;  and  if  he  leave  not  a  son,  we  are  deficient  by  one.  When  one  leaveth  two 
sons,  we  teach  one  of  them  ;  and  if  he  die,  we  teach  his  brother.  This  our  trade  is 
strictly  regulated  ;  and  we  know  not  how  to  dye  any  colour  excepting  blue  alone. — 
So  Aboukir  the  dyer  said  to  him,  Know  that  I  am  a  dyer,  and  I  know  how  to  dye 
all  colours.  I  desire  that  thou  wouldst  take  me  into  thy  service  for  pay,  and  I  will 
teach  thee  the  art  of  dyeing  all  colours,  that  thou  mayest  glory  therein  over  all  the 


716  THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 

company  of  dyers. — But  he  replied,  We  allow  not  a  stranger  to  enter  our  trade  ever. 
Aboukir  said  to  him,  And  if  I  open  for  myself  alone  a  dyeing-shop?  The  man 
answered  him.  Thou  canst  not  do  that  ever.  And  thereupon  Aboukir  left  him,  and 
went  to  the  second,  and  he  said  to  him  as  the  first  had  said  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  go 
from  dyer  to  dyer  until  he  had  gone  round  to  the  forty  masters  ;  but  they  would  not 
admit  him  either  as  a  hired  servant  or  as  a  master.  He  went  also  to  the  sheikh  of 
the  dyers  and  informed  him  ;  but  he  replied,  We  do  not  allow  a  stranger  to  enter 
our  trade. 

So  upon  this,  exceeding  rage  affected  Aboukir,  and  he  went  up  to  complain  to  the 
King  of  that  city,  and  said  to  him,  O  King  of  the  age,  I  am  a  stranger,  and  my 
trade  is  that  of  dyeing,  and  there  have  happened  to  me,  with  the  dyers,  such  and 
such  events.  I  dye  red  of  various  hues,  as  rose-colour  and  jujube-colour ;  and  green 
of  various  hues,  as  plant-green,  and  pistachio-green,  and  oil-green,  and  parrot's 
wing;  and  black  of  various  hues,  as  coal-black  and  kohl-black;  and  yellow  of 
various  hues,  as  orange-colour  and  lemon-colour; — and  he  proceeded  to  mention  to 
him  all  the  colours.  Then  he  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  all  the  dyers  who  are  in  thy 
city  are  unable  to  dye  any  of  these  colours,  and  they  know  not  how  to  dye  any 
colour  but  blue ;  yet  they  will  not  admit  me  among  them  as  master,  nor  as  a  hired 
workman.  And  the  King  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth  as  to  that  matter;  but  I 
will  open  for  thee  a  dyeing-shop,  and  give  thee  a  capital,  and  care  not  thou  for  them  ; 
for  whosoever  opposeth  thee,  I  will  hang  him  over  the  door  of  his  shop.  He  then 
commanded  the  builders,  and  said  to  them,  Repair  ye  with  this  master;  go  about 
the  city  with  him,  and  whatsoever  place  pleaseth  him,  turn  out  its  owner,  whether 
it  be  occupied  by  a  shop  or  a  khan  or  other  building,  and  build  for  him  a  dyeing- 
shop  agreeable  with  his  desire.  Whatever  he  commandeth  you  to  do,  do  it,  and 
oppose  him  not  with  respect  to  that  which  he  shall  say. — Then  the  King  clad  him 
in  a  handsome  suit  of  apparel,  gave  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  him. 
Expend  them  upon  thyself  until  the  building  shall  be  completed.  He  also  gave  him 
two  mamlouks  to  serve  him,  and  a  horse  with  embroidered  saddle  and  trappings  ; 
and  Aboukir  put  on  the  dress,  and  mounted  the  horse,  and  became  as  though  he 
were  an  Emir.  The  King,  moreover,  appropriated  to  him  exclusively  a  house,  and 
gave  orders  to  furnish  it:  so  they  furnished  it  for  him,  and  he  took  up  his  abode  in  it. 

Then,  on  the  following  day,  he  mounted,  and  went  about  through  the  city,  with 
the  architects  before  him,  and  he  ceased  not  to  survey  until  a  place  pleased  him; 
whereupon  he  said.  This  place  is  good.  They  therefore  ejected  its  owner  from  it, 
and  brought  him  to  the  King,  who  gave  him,  as  the  price  of  his  place,  more  than 
would  have  contented  him,  and  the  building  proceeded  there,  Aboukir  saying  to  the 
builders,  Build  thus  and  thus,  and  do  thus  and  thus, — until  they  had  built  for  him  a 
dyeing-shop  of  which  the  equal  existed  not.  He  then  presented  himself  to  the 
King,  and  informed  him  that  the  building  of  the  dyeing-shop  was  completed,  and 
that  only  the  price  of  the  materials  for  dyeing  was  requisite  in  order  to  commence 
work  ;  upon  which  the  King  said  to  him,  Take  these  four  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
and  make  them  thy  capital,  and  show  me  the  product  of  thy  dyeing-shop.  So  he 
took  them,  and  repaired  to  the  market,  and  he  saw  the  indigo  to  be  abundant,  and 
[comparatively]  of  no  price.  He  bought  all  the  materials  for  dyeing  that  he  required ; 
after  which,  the  King  sent  to  him  five  hundred  pieces  of  stuff,  and  he  proceeded  to 
dye  them,  and,  having  dyed  them  of  all  colours,  spread  them  [on  ropes]  before  the 
door  of  the  dyeing-shop.  Therefore,  when  the  people  passed  by  the  shop,  they  saw 
a  wonderful  sight,  the  like  of  which  they  had  not  seen  in  their  lives:  and  crowds 
collected  at  the  door  of  the  dyeing-shop,  diverting  themselves,  and  asking  him  and 
saying  to  him,  0  master,  what  are  the  names  of  these  colours?  So  he  answered 
them.  This  is  red,  and  this  is  yellow,  and  this  is  green,  —  mentioning  to  them  the 
names  of  all  the  colours ;  and  they  proceeded  to  bring  to  him  pieces  of  stuff,  and  to 
say  to  him,  Dye  for  us  like  this  and  this,  and  receive  what  thou  shalt  demand.  And 
when  he  had  finished  the  dyeing  of  the  stuffs  of  the  King,  he  took  them  and  went  up 


THE    STORY   OF    ABOUSIR    AND    ABOUKIR.  717 

with  them  to  the  court,  and  on  the  King's  seeing  those  dyed  stuffs,  he  -vras 
delighted  with  them,  and  conferred  upon  him  exceeding  favours.  All  the  troops  also 
brought  to  him  stuffs,  saying  to  him.  Dye  for  us  thus.  And  he  dyed  for  them  ac- 
cording to  their  desires,  and  they  threw  to  him  gold  and  silver.  Then  his  fiime  spread 
abroad,  and  his  dyeing-shop  was  named  the  dyeing-shop  of  the  Sultan.  Prosperity 
came  in  upon  him  by  every  way;  and  of  all  the  dyers,  not  one  could  speak  to  him  ; 
save  only  that  they  used  to  come  to  him  and  kiss  his  hands,  and  apologise  to  him, 
for  their  past  injurious  conduct  to  him,  offering  themselves  to  him,  and  saying  to 
him.  Make  us  servants  to  thee.  But  he  would  not  accept  one  of  them.  lie  had 
male  black  slaves,  and  female  slaves,  and  he  collected  abundant  wealth. 

Now  as  to  Abousir,  when  Aboukir  had  closed  the  door  of  the  chamber  upon  him, 
after  he  had  taken  his  money,  and  gone  and  left  him  sick,  in  a  state  of  unconscious- 
ness, he  lay  in  that  chamber,  with  the  door  closed  upon  him,  and  he  remained  so  three 
days.  The  door-keeper  of  the  khan  then  observed  the  door  of  the  chamber,  and  saw 
it  closed,  and  he  saw  not  either  of  these  two  persons  until  sunset,  nor  knew  he  any 
tidings  of  them.  So  he  said  within  himself,  Perhaps  they  have  travelled  away 
without  paying  the  rent  of  the  chamber,  or  died;  or  what  can  be  their  case? 
And  he  came  to  the  door  of  the  chamber,  and  saw  it  closed,  and  heard  the  groaning 
of  the  barber  within  it,  and  saw  the  key  in  the  wooden  lock.  He  therefore 
opened  the  door  and  entered,  and  saw  the  barber  groaning:  so  he  said  to  him, 
No  harm  shall  befall  thee.  Where  is  thy  companion  ?  —  And  the  barber  replied, 
By  Allah,  I  have  not  recovered  from  the  stupifying  effects  of  my  disease  save 
on  this  day  ;  and  I  called  out  but  no  one  returned  me  a  reply.  I  conjure  thee  by 
Allah,  0  my  brother,  that  thou  look  for  the  purse  beneath  my  head,  and  take  from 
it  five  farthings,  and  buy  for  me  with  them  something  wherewith  I  may  sustain  my- 
self; for  I  am  in  a  state  of  extreme  hunger. — Accordingly,  the  door-keeper  stretched 
forth  his  hand,  and  took  the  purse,  and  he  saw  it  empty  ;  wherefore  he  said  to  the 
barber.  Verily  the  purse  is  empty:  there  is  not  in  it  aught.  So  Abousir  the  barber 
knew  that  Aboukir  had  taken  what  was  in  it,  and  fled  ;  and  he  said  to  the  door- 
keeper. Hast  thou  not  seen  my  companion?  He  answered  him.  For  the  space  of 
three  days  I  have  not  seen  him,  and  I  imagined  not  anything  but  that  thou  hadst 
travelled  away  with  him.  And  the  bqrber  replied.  We  travelled  not ;  but  he  coveted 
my  money,  and  he  took  it  and  fled,  when  he  saw  me  sick.  Then  he  wept  and  wailed. 
But  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  said  to  him,  No  harm  shall  befall  thee;  and  he  will 
receive  the  recompense  of  his  conduct  from  God.  The  door-keeper  then  went  and 
cooked  for  him  some  broth,  and,  having  ladled  out  for  him  a  dishful,  gave  it  to  him ; 
and  he  ceased  not  to  attend  to  him  for  the  space  of  two  months,  maintaining  him 
from  his  own  purse,  until  he  perspired  profusely,  and  God  cured  him  of  the  disease 
that  he  had  been  suffering.  After  this,  he  rose  upon  his  feet,  and  said  to  the  door- 
keeper ot  the  khan.  If  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  enable  me,  I  will  recompense 
thee  for  thy  good  actions  to  me ;  but  none,  save  God  in  his  bounty,  will  recompense. 
The  door-keeper  however  replied.  Praise  be  to  God  for  thy  health  !  I  did  not  unto 
thee  that  service  save  from  a  desire  of  seeing  the  face  of  God,  the  Bountiful. 

The  barber  then  went  forth  from  the  khan,  and  passed  through  the  markets,  and 
destiny  brought  him  to  the  market  in  which  was  the  dyeing-shop  of  Aboukir.  There 
he  saw  the  stuffs  dyed  of  various  colours,  spread  [upon  ropes]  at  the  entrance  of  the 
dyeing-shop,  and  the  people  crowding  together,  diverting  themselves  with  the  sight 
of  them.  So  he  asked  a  man  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city,  and  said  to  him.  What 
is  this  place,  and  wherefore  do  I  see  the  people  crowding  together?  And  the  person 
whom  he  asked  answered  him.  This  is  the  Sultan's  dyeing  shop,  which  he  founded 
for  a  stranger  named  Aboukir;  and  whenever  he  hath  dyed  a  piece  of  stuff,  we 
assemble  around  it,  and  divert  ourselves  with  the  sight  of  his  dyeing  ;  for  there  are 
not  in  our  country  dyers  who  know  how  to  dye  these  colours ;  and  such  and  such 
events  happened  to  him  with  the  dyers  who  are  in  the  city.  lie  told  him  what  had 
occured  between  Aboukir  and  the  dyers,  and  that  he  hrvd  complained  of  them  to  the 


718  THE  STORY  OF  ABOUSIR  AND  ABOUKIR. 

Sultan,  who  thereupon  had  aided  him,  and  Vjuilt  for  him  this  dyeing-shop,  and  given 
him  such  and  such  things:  and  he  acquainted  him  with  all  that  had  happened. 

Upon  this,  Abousir  rejoiced,  and  said  to  himself.  Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  aided 
him  so  that  he  hath  become  a  master-tradesman  !  And  the  man  is  excusable. 
Probably  he  hath  been  diverted  from  thinking  of  thee  by  his  work,  and  forgotten 
thee ;  but  thou  actedst  kindly  to  him  and  treatedst  him  with  generosity,  when  he 
was  unoccupied ;  when  he  seeth  thee,  he  will  rejoice  in  thee,  and  treat  thee  with 
generosity,  like  as  thou  hast  treated  him.  —  He  then  advanced  towards  the  door  of 
the  dyeing-shop,  and  saw  Aboukir  sitting  upon  a  high  mattrass  upon  a  marble-seat 
at  the  door  of  the  dyeing-shop,  with  a  suit  of  the  apparel  of  Kings  upon  him,  and 
before  him  four  black  slaves  and  four  white  mamlouks  wearing  the  most  sumptuous 
apparel.  He  also  saw  the  workmen,  ten  black  slaves,  standing  at  work:  for  when 
Aboukir  bought  them,  he  taught  them  the  art  of  dyeing;  and  he  was  sitting  between 
the  cushions,  as  though  he  were  a  grand  Vizier,  or  a  most  magnificent  King,  nor 
doing  aught  with  his  own  hand,  but  only  saying  to  them.  Do  so  and  so.  Abousir 
Btood  before  him,  imagining  that,  when  he  should  see  him,  he  would  rejoice  in  him, 
and  salute  him,  and  treat  him  with  generosity,  and  behave  courteously  to  him.  But 
when  eye  met  eye,  Aboukir  said  to  him,  0  scoundrel,  how  many  times  have  I  said 
to  thee.  Stand  not  at  the  door  of  this  workshop?  Dost  thou  desire  to  disgrace  me 
with  the  people,  0  thief? — And  he  said.  Seize  ye  him  !  So  the  slaves  ran  after  him, 
and  seized  him,  and  Aboukir,  rising  with  energy,  took  a  staff,  and  said,  Throw  him 
down  !  Accordingly  they  threw  him  down  ;  and  he  gave  him  a  hundred  blows  on  his 
back;  after  which  they  turned  him  round,  and  he  gave  him  a  hundred  blows  on  his 
stomach,  and  said  to  him,  0  villain  !  0  deceiver!  if  I  see  thee  after  this  day  standing 
at  the  door  of  this  dyeing-shop,  I  will  send  thee  to  the  King  immediately,  and  he  will 
deliver  thee  to  the  Judge,  that  he  may  strike  off  thy  head !  Walk  away  !  May  God  not 
bless  thee  ! — So  he  departed  from  him  with  broken  heart  by  reason  of  the  beating  and 
the  contemptuous  treatment  that  had  befallen  him  ;  and  the  persons  present  said  to 
Aboukir  the  dyer.  What  hath  this  man  done?  Whereupon  he  answered  them.  He  is 
a  thief,  who  stealeth  the  stuffs  of  the  people  ;  for  he  hath  often  stolen  stuffs  from  me. 
and  I  said  within  myself,  May  God  pardon  him  !  for  he  is  a  poor  man. — And  I  would 
not  trouble  him ;  but  would  give  the  people  the  prices  of  their  stuffs,  and  forbid  him 
gently ;  yet  he  would  not  abstain.  So  if  he  return  again  after  this  time,  I  will  send 
him  to  the  King,  and  he  will  slay  him,  and  relieve  the  people  from  his  mischief. — 
The  people  therefore  reviled  him  after  his  departure. 

Abousir  returned  to  the  khan,  and  sat  reflecting  upon  that  which  Aboukir  had 
done  to  him  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  sit  until  the  pain  of  the  beating  became-alleviated, 
when  he  went  forth  and  passed  through  the  markets  of  the  city,  and  it  occurred  to 
his  mind  that  he  should  enter  the  bath.  So  he  asked  a  man  of  the  inhabitants  of  the 
city,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  which  is  the  way  to  the  bath?  But  the  man 
said  to  him,  and  what  is  the  bath  ?  He  replied,  A  place  in  which  people  wash  them- 
selves, to  remove  the  impurities  that  are  upon  them,  and  it  is  of  the  best  of  the  good 
things  of  the  world.  Upon  this  the  man  said  to  him.  Betake  thyself  to  the  sea.  He 
replied,  I  desire  the  bath.  But  the  man  said  to  him,  We  know  not  what  kind  of 
thing  the  bath  is:  we  all  of  us  go  to  the  sea:  even  the  King,  when  he  desireth  to 
wash  himself,  goeth  to  the  sea.  So  when  Abousir  knew  that  there  was  not  a  bath  in 
the  city,  and  that  its  inhabitants  knew  not  the  bath,  nor  what  kind  of  thing  it  was, 
he  repaired  to.  the  council  of  the  King,  and  went  in  to  him,  and,  having  kissed  the 
ground  before  him,  and  pr<iyed  for  him,  said  to  him,  I  am  a  man  of  a  strange 
country,  and  my  trade  is  that  of  a  bath-keeper,  and  I  entered  thy  city,  and  desired 
to  repair  to  the  bath,  but  saw  not  in  it  even  one  bath  ;  and  how  is  it  that  the  city 
which  is  of  this  beautiful  description  is  without  a  bath,  which  is  one  of  the  best  of 
the  delights  of  the  world?  So  the  King  said  to  him.  What  is  the  bath?  He  pro- 
ceeded, therefore,  to  describe  it  to  him,  and  said  to  him.  Thy  city  will  not  be  a  perfect 
city  unless  there  be  in  it  a  bath.     And  upon  this  the  King  said  to  him,  Vn  elcome  to 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR.  719 

thee !  And  he  clad  him  in  a  suit  of  apparel  of  which  the  like  existed  not,  gave  niro 
a  horse  and  two  black  slaves,  and  bestowed  upon  him  four  female  slaves,  and  twc 
mamlouks.  He  also  prepared  for  him  a  furnished  house,  and  treated  him  with  more 
honour  than  the  dyer;  and  he  sent  with  him  the  builders,  saying  to  them.  In  the 
place  that  shall  please  him,  build  ye  for  him  a  bath. 

So  he  took  them  and  went  with  them  through  the  midst  of  the  city,  until  a  plact 
pleased  him,  when  he  pointed  it  out  to  them,  and  they  commenced  the  building 
there.  He  proceeded  to  direct  them  as  to  the  manner  of  its  construction  until  they 
had  built  for  him  a  bath  of  which  there  existed  not  the  like ;  whereupon  he  ordered 
thcim  to  paint  it ;  and  they  painted  it  in  an  admirable  manner,  so  that  it  became  a 
delight  to  the  beholders.  He  then  went  up  to  the  King,  and  acquainted  him  with 
the  completion  of  the  building  of  the  bath,  and  its  painting,  and  said  to  him.  There 
is  nothing  wanting  but  the  furniture.  The  King,  therefore,  gave  him  ten  thousand 
pieces  of  gold  ;  and  he  took  them  and  furnished  the  bath,  and  arranged  in  it  the 
napkins  upon  the  ropes  ;  and  every  one  who  passed  by  the  door  of  the  bath  gazed 
at  it  in  astonishment,  and  his  mind  was  confounded  at  the  sight  of  its  painting. 
The  people  crowded  about  that  thing,  of  which  they  had  not  seen  the  like  in  their 
lives,  and  they  proceeded  to  divert  themselves  with  the  sight  of  it,  saying.  What  is 
this?  And  Abousir  answered  them,  This  is  a  bath.  And  they  wondered  at  it. 
Then  he  heated  the  water,  and  set  the  bath  in  action.  He  made  also  a  fountain  in 
the  basin,  such  as  captivated  the  reason  of  every  one  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  city 
who  beheld  it.  And  he  demanded  of  the  King  ten  mamlouks  under  the  age  of 
manhood;  whereupon  the  King  gave  him  ten  mamlouks  like  moons;  and  Abousir 
betook  himself  to  rubbing  them  with  the  bag,  and  said  to  them,  Do  with  the  bathers 
thus.  He  then  gave  vent  to  the  fumes  of  the  incense,  and  sent  a  crier  to  cry  in  the 
city,  and  to  say,  0  creatures  of  God,  repair  to  the  bath,  which  is  named  the  bath  of 
the  Sultan !  So  the  people  came  thither,  and  he  ordered  the  mamlouks  to  wash  the 
bathers.  The  people  descended  into  the  tank,  and  came  up  ;  and  after  they  had 
come  up,  they  sat  upon  the  raised  floor,  while  the  mamlouks  rubbed  them  as  Abousir 
had  taught  them  ;  and  the  people  continued  to  enter  the  bath,  and  to  gratify  their 
desire  thereby  and  go  forth,  without  paying,  for  the  space  of  three  days. 

After  that,  on  the  fourth  day,  Abousir  invited  the  King  to  the  bath.  So  he 
mounted  with  the  great  men  of  his  empire,  and  they  went  thither.  He  pulled  off 
his  clothes,  and  entered  [the  inner  apartment],  and  Abousir  entered,  and  rubbed 
the  King  with  the  bag,  removing  from  his  person  the  impure  particles  like  twists  of 
thread,  and  showing  them  to  him  ;  whereat  the  King  rejoiced.  The  putting  his 
hand  upon  his  body  made  a  sound,  by  reason  of  its  smoothness  and  cleanness.  And 
after  Abousir  had  washed  his  skin,  he  mixed  for  him  some  rose-water  with  the  water 
of  the  tank,  and  the  King  descended  into  the  tank  and  came  forth,  and  his  skin  was 
softened,  and  he  experienced  a  liveliness  which  in  his  life  he  had  never  known  before. 
Then,  after  that,  Abousir  seated  him  upon  the  raised  floor,  and  the  mamlouks  pro- 
ceeded to  perform  upon  him  the  operation  of  gently  rubbing  and  pressing  him,  while 
the  perfuming-vessels  diffused  the  odour  of  aloes-wood.  And  the  King  said,  0  master, 
is  this  the  bath?  Abousir  answered.  Yes.  And  the  King  said  to  him,  By  my  head, 
my  city  hath  not  become  a  city  save  by  this  bath.  He  then  said  to  him.  What  wilt 
thou  take  as  pay  for  each  person?  Abousir  answered.  What  thou  shalt  command 
me  I  will  take.  And  he  ordered  him  to  take  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to 
him.  From  every  one  who  washeth  in  thy  bath  take  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  But 
Abousir  replied.  Pardon,  0  King  of  the  age !  Verily  all  men  are  not  alike ;  for 
among  them  is  the  rich,  and  among  them  is  the  poor;  and  if  I  took  from  every  one 
a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  the  bath  would  become  void,  since  the  poor  man  cannot 
pay  the  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  —  So  the  King  said,  And  how  then  wilt  thou  act 
with  respect  to  the  pay?  Abousir  answered,  I  will  regulate  the  pay  generously  ; 
and  every  one  who  can  afford  a  thing,  his  soul  consenting  to  it,  shall  give  that  thing. 
Thus  we  shall  take  from  every  man  according  to  his  condition  ;  for  if  the  case  be  so, 


720  THE   STORY   OP   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 

the  people  will  come  to  us  ;  and  he  who  is  rich  will  give  according  to  his  rank, 
while  he  who  is  poor  will  give  that  to  which  his  soul  consenteth.  If  the  case  be 
thus,  the  bath  will  be  in  action,  and  it  will  be  in  excellent  condition  ;  but  as  to  the 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  it  is  the  gift  of  the  King,  and  every  one  cannot  afford  it. — 
And  the  great  men  of  the  empire  pronounced  his  words  to  be  true,  and  said.  This 
will  be  the  right  course,  0  King  of  the  age.  Dost  thou  imagine  that  the  people  are 
all  like  thee,  0  glorious  King?  —  The  King  replied,  Verily  your  saying  is  true;  but 
this  is  a  stranger,  a  poor  man,  and  to  treat  him  with  generosity  is  incumbent  on  us ; 
for  he  hath  made  in  our  city  this  bath,  the  like  of  which  we  have  never  in  our  lives 
seen,  and  our  city  hath  not  been  adorned,  and  acquired  importance,  without  it :  so 
if  we  show  him  generosity  by  giving  him  excessive  pay,  it  will  not  be  much.  But 
they  said.  If  thou  treat  him  with  generosity,  do  so  by  bestowing  upon  him  of  thine 
own  wealth,  and  let  the  King's  generosity  be  shown  to  the  poor  by  the  smallness  of 
the  pay  for  bathing,  in  order  that  thy  subjects  may  pray  for  thee  ;  but  as  to  the 
thousand  pieces  of  gold,  we  are  the  great  men  of  thine  empire,  and  yet  our  souls 
consent  not  to  give  it:  how  then  can  the  souls  of  the  poor  consent  thereto?  The 
King  therefore  said,  0  great  men  of  my  empire,  every  one  of  you  shall  give  him 
this  time  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  mamlouk,  and  a  female  slave,  and  a  male 
black  slave.  And  they  replied.  Yes ;  we  will  give  him  those  things  ;  but  after  this 
day,  every  one  who  entereth  shall  only  give  him  what  his  soul  shall  consent  to. 
And  he  said.  There  will  be  no  harm  in  that. 

Accordingly  each  of  the  great  men  gave  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  a 
female  slave,  and  a  mamlouk,  and  a  male  black  slave  ;  and  the  number  of  the  great 
men  who  bathed  with  the  King  on  this  day  was  four  hundred  souls.  So  the  number 
of  the  pieces  of  gold  that  they  gave  him  was  forty  thousand  ;  and  of  the  mamlouks, 
four  hundred  ;  and  of  the  male  black  slaves,  four  hundred  ;  and  of  the  female  slaves, 
four  hundred:  and  enough  was  this  gift!  The  King  also  gave  him  ten  tliousand 
pieces  of  gold,  and  ten  mamlouks,  and  ten  female  slaves,  and  ten  male  black  slaves. 
Abousir  therefore  advanced,  and  kissed  the  ground  before  the  King,  and  said  to 
him,  0  fortunate  King,  endowed  with  right  judgment,  what  place  will  contain  me 
with  these  mamlouks,  and  female  slaves,  and  male  black  slaves?  The  King  replied, 
I  ordered  not  my  grandees  to  do  this  save  in  order  that  we  might  collect  for  thee  a 
great  quantity  of  wealth  ;  for  perhaps  thou  hast  reflected  upon  thy  country  and  thy 
household,  and  longed  to  see  them,  and  desired  to  voyage  to  thy  home,  and  thou 
wilt  have  taken  from  our  country  a  large  quantity  of  wealth  to  which  thou  mayest 
have  recourse  for  thy  subsistence  as  long  as  thou  shalt  live  in  thy  country.  But 
Abousir  rejoined,  0  King  of  the  age  (may  God  strengthen  thee  !),  verily  these 
numerous  mamlouks,  and  female  slaves,  and  male  black  slaves,  are  proper  only  for 
Kings  ;  and  hadst  thou  given  orders  to  present  me  with  ready  money,  it  had  been 
better  for  me  than  this  army  ;  for  they  will  eat,  and  drink,  and  dress,  and  whatever 
•wealth  I  acquire,  it  will  not  suflBce  them  to  expend  for  their  support.  And  upon 
this  the  King  laughed,  and  said.  By  Allah,  thou  hast  spoken  truth  ;  for  they  have 
become  a  heavy  army,  and  thou  hast  not  ability  to  expend  what  will  be  sufficient 
upon  them.  But  wilt  thou  sell  them  to  me,  each  one  for  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold? 
—He  answered,  I  sell  them  to  thee  for  this  price.  So  the  King  sent  to  the  treasurer, 
desiring  him  to  bring  him  the  money  ;  and  he  brought  it,  and  the  King  gave  Abousir 
the  price  of  the  whole,  complete  and  entire  ;  after  which  he  bestowed  them  upon 
their  former  owners,  saying.  Every  one  who  knoweth  his  male  black  slave,  or  his 
female  slave,  or  his  mamlouk,  let  him  take  such  slave  ;  for  they  are  a  gift  from  me 
unto  you.  And  they  complied  with  the  command  of  the  King,  each  of  them  taking 
what  appertained  to  him.  Abousir  then  said  to  the  King,  May  God  relieve  thee,  0 
King  of  the  age,  as  thou  hast  relieved  me  from  these  ghouls,  whom  none  but  God 
can  satiate  !  And  the  King  laughed  at  his  words,  and  said  that  he  had  spoken  truth  ; 
and  he  took  the  great  men  of  his  empire,  and  returned  from  the  bath  to  his  palace. 

Abousir  passed  the  ensuing  night  counting  the  gold  and  putting  it  into  the  bags 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR  AND   ABOUKIR. 


721 


and  sealing  them.  And  he  had  with  him  twenty  male  black  slaves,  and  twenty 
mamlouks,  and  four  female  slaves  to  serve  him.  And  when  the  morning  came, 
he  opened  the  bath,  and  sent  a  crier  to  cry  and  say.  Whosoever  entereth  the 
bath  and  washeth,  he  shall  give  that  to  which  his  soul  shall  consent,  and  what 
his  generosity  shall  require  him  to  give.  lie  seated  himself  by  the  chest,  and 
those  who  desired  to  bathe  rushed  upon  him,  every  one  who  entered  putting 
down  what  was  easy  to  him  to  give ;  and  the  evening  came  not  before  the  chest 
was  filled  with  the  good  gifts  of  God,  (whose  name  be  exalted!).  Then  the  Queen 
desired  to  enter  the  bath:  so  when  this  was  made  known  to  Abousir,  he  divided  the 
day  on  her  account  into  two  portions,  making  from  daybreak  to  noon  the  portion  of 
the  men,  and  from  noon  to  sunset  the  portion  of  the  women.  And  when  the  Queen 
came,  he  stationed  a  female  slave  behind  the  chest.  He  had  taught  four  female 
slaves  the  arts  of  washing  women  and  plaiting  their  hair,  so  that  they  became  skil- 


Damsels  plaiting  the  Queen's  hair. 

ful  performers  of  these  arts ;  and  the  Queen,  on  her  entering,  was  pleased  by  what 
she  saw,  her  bosom  became  dilated,  and  she  put  down  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold. 
His  fame  spread  throughout  the  city,  and  every  one  who  entered  treated  him  with 
honour,  whether  he  were  rich  or  poor,  and  good  fortune  came  in  to  him  by  every 
way.  He  became  acquainted  with  the  King's  guards,  and  gained  companions  and 
friends,  and  the  King  used  to  come  to  him  one  day  in  the  week,  when  he  gave  him 
a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  ;  the  other  days  of  the  week  being  for  the  great  men  and 
the  poor;  and  he  used  to  behave  kindly  to  the  people,  and  to  treat  them  with  the  ut- 
most courtesy.  It  happened  also  that  the  King's  sea-captain  came  in  to  him  in  the 
bath  one  day,  whereupon  Abousir  pulled  off  his  clothes,  and  entered  [the  inner 
apartment]  with  him,  and  proceeded  to  rub  and  press  him,  treating  him  with  ex- 
ceeding courtesy.  And  when  he  came  forth  from  the  bath,  he  made  for  him  sherbet 
and  coffee;  and  on  the  captain's  desiring  to  give  him  something,  he  swore  that  he 
would  not  receive  from  him  aught.  So  the  captain  was  grateful  for  his  kindness,  on 
account  of  the  exceeding  courtesy  that  he  had  experienced  from  him,  and  his  benefi- 
46 


722  THE   STORY   OF  ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 

cence  to  him,  and  he  became  perplexed  respecting  what  he  should  give  to  that  bath 
keeper  in  return  for  his  generous  conduct  to  him. 

Meanwhile,  Aboukir  heard  all  the  people  eagerly  talking  of  the  bath,  every  one 
of  them  saying.  Verily  this  bath  is  the  delight  of  the  world,  without  doubt!  If  it 
be  the  will  of  God,  0  such-a-one,  thou  shall  go  with  us  to-morrow  into  this  delect- 
able bath. — So  Aboukir  said  within  himself,  I  must  go  like  others,  and  see  this  bath 
that  hath  captivated  the  minds  of  men.  Then  he  put  on  the  most  sumptuous  of  the 
apparel  that  he  had,  mounted  a  mule,  took  with  him  four  black  slaves  and  four 
mamlouks,  who  walked  behind  him  and  before  him,  and  repaired  to  the  bath.  He 
alighted  at  the  door  of  the  bath ;  and  when  he  was  at  the  door,  he  smelt  the  odour 
of  aloes-wood,  and  saw  men  entering  and  men  coming  forth,  and  he  saw  the  benches 
fully  occupied  by  great  and  small.  He  then  entered  the  vestibule  and  saw  Abousir, 
who  rose  to  him,  and  rejoiced  at  seeing  him ;  and  Aboukir  said  to  him.  Is  this  ful- 
filling the  covenant  of  the  sons  of  the  ingenuous?  I  have  opened  for  myself  a  dye- 
ing-shop, and  become  the  master-dyer  of  the  city,  and  acquainted  with  the  King, 
and  have  become  in  a  state  of  prosperity  and  authority,  yet  thou  comest  not  to  me, 
nor  inquirest  respecting  me,  nor  sayest.  Where  is  my  companion?  I  have  been 
unable  to  find  thee  while  searching  for  thee,  and  sending  my  black  slaves  and  my 
mamlouks  to  search  for  thee  in  the  khans  and  in  all  other  places ;  for  they  knew  not 
Uow  to  find  thee,  nor  did  any  one  give  them  tidings  of  thee. — So  Abousir  replied, 
Did  I  not  come  to  thee,  and  didst  thou  not  call  me  a  thief,  and  beat  me,  and  disgrace 
me  among  the  people?  And  thereupon  Aboukir  was  grieved,  and  said,  What  are 
these  words!  Art  thou  the  person  whom  I  beat? — Abousir  answered  him,  Yes; 
that  person  was  myself.  And  Aboukir  swore  to  him  a  thousand  oaths  that  he  knew 
him  not,  and  said,  One  resembling  thee  used  to  come  every  day  and  steal  people's 
stuff's,  and  I  imagined  that  thou  wast  that  person.  And  he  proceeded  to  feign  re- 
pentance, and  to  strike  hand  upon  hand,  and  say.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but 
in  God,  the  Great!  We  have  acted  injuriously  to  thee  :  but  would  that  thou  hadst 
acquainted  me  with  thyself,  and  said,  I  am  such-a-one.  The  fault  therefore  is  thine, 
because  thou  didst  not  acquaint  me  with  thyself;  especially  as  I  was  confounded  by 
the  multiplicity  of  my  occupations. — And  upon  this,  Abousir  said  to  him.  May  God 
pardon  thee,  0  my  companion !  This  event  was  secretly  predestined,  and  reparation 
is  God's  afi"air.  Enter;  pull  off  thy  clothes,  and  bathe  and  enjoy  thyself. — Aboukir 
rejoined.  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  pardon  me,  0  my  brother!  And  Abou- 
sir said  to  him.  May  God  acquit  thee  of  responsibility,  and  pardon  thee !  For  it  was 
an  event  predestined  from  eternity  to  befall  me. 

Aboukir  then  said  to  him,  And  whence  obtainedst  thou  this  authority?  He  an- 
swered him.  He  who  aided  thee  aided  me  ;  for  I  went  up  to  the  King,  and  described 
to  him  the  bath,  and  he  ordered  me  to  build  one.  So  Aboukir  replied,  As  thou  art 
an  acquaintance  of  the  King,  I  also  am  his  acquaintance ;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  I  will  cause  him  to  love  thee  and  to  treat  thee  with 
generosity  exceeding  this  generosity,  for  my  sake  ;  for  he  knew  not  that  thou  wast 
my  companion  ;  but  I  will  inform  him  that  thou  art  my  companion,  and  I  will  give 
him  a  charge  respecting  thee.  Abousir,  however,  said  to  him,  I  require  not  any 
charge  to  be  given  him  ;  for  He  who  moveth  hearts  with  affection  existeth  ;  and  the 
King  hath  conceived  a  love  for  me,  he  and  all  his  court,  and  given  me  such  and  such 
things.  lie  told  him  the  story,  and  then  said  to  him,  Pull  off  thy  clothes  behind  the 
chest,  and  enter  the  bath,  and  I  will  enter  with  thee,  that  I  may  rub  thee  with  the 
bag.  So  he  pulled  off  the  clothes  that  were  upon  him,  and  entered  the  bath,  and 
Abousir  entered  with  him,  and  rubbed  him  with  the  bag,  washed  him  with  soap, 
dressed  him,  and  occupied  himself  with  serving  him  until  he  came  forth  [from  the 
inner  apartment]  ;  and  when  he  came  forth,  he  brought  him  dinner  and  sherbet ; 
and  all  the  people  wondered  at  the  great  honour  that  he  showed  him.  After  that, 
Aboukir  was  about  to  give  him  something;  but  he  swore  that  he  would  not  receive 
from  him  aught,  and  said  to  him.  Be  ashamed  of  this  thing,  seeing  that  thou  art  mj 


THE    STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR.  723 

companion,  and  there  is  no  difference  between  us.  Then  Aboukir  said  to  Abousir 
0  my  companion,  by  Allah,  this  bath  is  excellent;  but  thine  art  in  it  is  deficient. 
So  Abousir  said  to  him,  And  what  is  its  deficiency?  Aboukir  answered  him.  The 
remedy  is  a  composition  of  arsenic  and  lime,  which  removeth  the  hair  with 
facility.  Therefore  make  this  remedy;  and  when  the  king  cometh,  present  it  to  him 
and  teach  him  how  the  hair  falleth  off  by  its  means ;  for  thereupon  he  will  love  thee 
exceedingly,  and  will  treat  thee  with  honour. — And  Abousir  replied,  Thou  hast 
spoken  truth.     If  it  be  the  will  of  God,  I  will  make  that. 

Then  Aboukir  went  forth,  and  mounted  his  mule,  repaired  to  the  King,  and  went 
in  to  him,  and  said  to  him,  I  give  thee  a  precaution,  0  King  of  the  age.  So  the 
King  said.  And  what  is  thy  precaution?  And  he  answered  him,  Information  hath 
been  given  me  that  thou  hast  built  a  bath.  The  King  said.  Yes:  a  stranger  hath 
come  to  me,  and  I  have  founded  the  bath  for  him,  like  as  I  have  founded  for  thee 
this  dyeing-shop ;  and  it  is  an  excellent  bath  ;  my  city  hath  become  adorned  by  it 
And  he  proceeded  to  mention  to  him  the  excellences  of  the  bath.  Aboukir  then 
said  to  him.  And  hast  thou  entered  it?  He  answered,  Yes.  And  Aboukir  said, 
Praise  be  to  God  who  hath  saved  thee  from  the  wickedness  of  this  villain,  the  enemy 
of  the  religion  ;  and  he  is  the  bath-keeper.  The  King  therefore  said  to  him.  And 
what  is  his  desire?  And  Aboukir  answered,  Know,  0  King  of  the  age,  that  if  thou 
enter  the  bath  after  this  day,  thou  wilt  perish. — Wherefore  ?  said  the  King.  He  an- 
swered him,  Verily  the  bath-keeper  is  thine  enemy,  and  the  enemy  of  the  religion  ; 
for  he  induced  thee  not  to  found  this  bath  save  because  he  desireth  to  poison  thee 
in  it.  He  hath  made  for  thee  a  thing ;  and  when  thou  enterest  the  bath,  he  will 
bring  it  to  thee,  and  will  say  to  thee,  This  is  a  remedy:  whosever  applieth  it  to  him- 
self, it  will  cause  the  hair  to  fall  off  from  the  part  with  ease.  And  it  is  not  a 
remedy:  on  the  contrary,  it  is  a  cause  of  terrible  disease,  and  a  deadly  poison. 
The  Sultan  of  the  Christians  hath  promised  this  villain  that,  if  he  slay  thee,  he  will 
liberate  his  wife  and  his  children  from^captivity ;  for  his  wife  and  his  children  are 
in  captivity  in  the  land  of  the  Sultan  of  the  Christians.  I  also  was  in  captivity 
with  him  in  their  country ;  but  I  opened  a  dyeing-shop,  and  dyed  for  them  stuffs  of 
various  colours,  in  consequence  of  which  they  inclined  the  heart  of  the  King  to 
favour  me,  and  the  King  said  to  me,  What  dost  thou  desire?  So  I  desired  of  him 
emancipation,  and  he  emancipated  me  ;  and,  having  come  to  this  city,  I  saw  the  man 
in  the  bath.  I  therefore  asked  him  and  said  to  him,  How  was  affected  thine  escape, 
and  the  escape  of  thy  wife  and  thy  children?  And  he  answered,  I  and  my  wife  and 
my  children  ceased  not  to  remain  in  captivity  until  the  King  of  the  Christians  held 
a  court,  and  I  was  present  at  it  among  the  rest,  standing  among  the  people,  and  1 
heard  them  enter  upon  the  mention  of  the  Kings,  and  proceed  until  they  mentioned 
the  King  of  this  city ;  whereupon  the  King  of  the  Christians  cried.  Ah ! — and  said, 
No  one  in  the  world  hath  overcome  me  except  the  King  of  such  a  city  ;  and  whoso- 
ever will  contrive  means  for  me  to  slay  him,  I  will  give  him  everything  that  he  shall 
desire.  So  I  advanced  to  him,  and  said  to  him.  If  I  contrive  means  for  thee  to  slay 
him,  wilt  thou  emancipate  me  and  my  wife  and  my  children  ?  And  he  answered 
me,  Yes  :  I  will  emancipate  thee,  and  I  will  give  thee  all  that  thou  shalt  desire.  I 
then  agreed  with  him  to  do  this,  and  he  sent  me  in  a  galleon  to  this  city.  So  I 
went  up  to  this  King,  and  he  built  for  me  this  bath,  and  there  remaineth  nothing  for 
me  to  do  but  to  kill  him,  and  go  to  the  King  of  the  Christians,  redeem  my  children 
and  my  wife,  and  demand  of  him  what  I  desire. — I  therefore  said,  And  what  is  the 
stratagem  that  thou  bast  contrived  in  order  to  kill  him  ?  And  he  answered  me,  It 
is  an  easy  stratagem,  the  easiest  that  can  be :  for  he  will  come  to  me  in  this  bath, 
and  I  have  made  for  him  something  wherein  is  poison  ;  and  when  he  cometh,  I  will 
Bay  to  him,  Take  this  remedy,  and  apply  it  to  any  part  from  which  thou  wouldst  re- 
move hair  ;  for  the  hair  will  fall  off.  So  he  will  take  it  and  apply  it  to  himself,  and 
the  poison  will  operate  within  him  a  day  and  a  night,  until  it  penetrateth  to  bis 
heart  and  destroyeth  him,  and  theio  will  be  an  end  of  the  affair.     Therefore  on  my 


724  THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 

hearing  from  him  these  words,  I  feared  for  thee  ;  because  thy  goodness  hath  im- 
posed an  obligation  on  me,  and  I  have  informed  thee  of  this. 

So  when  the  King  heard  these  words,  he  was  violently  enraged  ;  and  he  said  to 
the  dyer,  Conceal  this  secret.  He  then  desired  to  go  to  the  bath,  that  he  might  put 
an  end  to  doubt  by  certain  assurance :  and  when  the  King  entered  the  bath,  Abousir 
divested  himself  as  he  was  accustomed  to  do,  devoted  himself  to  the  service  of  the 
King,  and  rubbed  him  with  the  bag:  after  which  he  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  age, 
I  have  made  a  remedy  for  clearing  away  the  hair.  So  he  said.  Bring  it  to  me.  And 
he  brought  it  before  him  ;  and  the  King  perceived  its  smell  to  be  abominable.  It 
appeared  sure  to  him,  therefore,  that  it  was  poison  ;  and  he  was  enraged,  and 
called  out  to  the  guards,  saying.  Seize  him  !  Accordingly,  the  guards  laid  hold 
upon  him,  and  the  King  went  forth,  infused  with  rage,  no  one  knowing  the  cause  of 
his  rage ;  and  by  reason  of  the  violence  of  the  rage  of  the  King,  he  informed  not 
any  one,  nor  did  any  one  dare  to  ask  him.  He  then  put  on  his  clothes,  and  went 
up  to  the  council-chamber,  and,  having  caused  Abousir  to  be  brought  before  him,  with 
his  hands  bound  behind  him,  he  summoned  the  sea-captain.  So  he  came;  and  when 
the  captain  came,  the  King  said  to  him.  Take  this  villain,  and  put  him  into  a  sack, 
and  put  into  the  sack  two  hundredweights  of  unslaked  lime,  and  tie  up  its  mouth 
over  him  and  the  lime:  then  put  it  into  a  boat,  and  come  beneath  my  palace.  Thou 
wilt  see  me  sitting  at  its  window,  and  do  thou  say  to  me,  Shall  I  cast  it  in?  There- 
upon I  will  answer  thee.  Cast  it.  And  when  I  have  said  to  thee  that,  cast  it,  that 
the  lime  may  be  slaked  upon  him,  and  he  may  die  drowned  and  burnt. — So  he  re- 
plied, I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  took  him  from  before  the  King,  to  an  island  oppo- 
site the  King's  palace,  and  said  to  Abousir,  0  thou,  I  came  to  thee  once  in  the  bath, 
and  thou  treatedst  me  with  honour,  and  did  what  was  requisite  for  me,  and  I  de- 
rived great  pleasure  from  thee :  thou  sworest  also  that  thou  wouldst  not  receive  from 
me  pay,  and  I  have  conceived  for  thee  a  violent  love.  Tell  me  then  what  was  thy 
case  with  the  King,  and  what  abominable  action  hast  thou  done  to  him,  that  he  hath 
become  enraged  against  thee,  and  commanded  me  that  thou  shall  die  this  evil  death. 
— So  he  replied.  By  Allah,  I  have  not  done  anything,  and  I  have  no  knowledge  of 
any  crime  that  I  have  committed  against  hira  requiring  this. 

Upon  this,  the  captain  said  to  him.  Verily  thou  enjoyest,  in  the  estimation  of  the 
King,  great  dignity,  such  as  none  attained  before  thee ;  and  every  one  who  is  pos- 
sessed of  good  things  is  envied.  Perhaps  then  some  one  hath  envied  thee  this  good 
fortune,  and  said  some  words  injurious  to  thee  in  the  presence  of  the  King,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  the  King  hath  been  thus  enraged  against  thee.  But  welcome  to 
thee !  No  harm  awaiteth  thee.  For  as  thou  treatedst  me  with  honour  without  there 
existing  any  acquaintance  between  me  and  thee,  I  will  liberate  thee.  But  when  I 
liberate  thee,  thou  shalt  remain  with  me  on  this  island  until  a  galleon  shall  depart 
from  this  city  towards  thy  country,  when  I  will  send  thee  in  it. — Abousir  therefore 
kissed  the  hand  of  the  captain,  and  thanked  him  for  this.  Then  the  captain  brought 
the  lime,  and  put  it  into  a  sack,  and  he  put  into  it  a  great  stone,  as  large  as  a  man, 
and  said,  I  place  my  reliance  upon  God.  After  that,  he  gave  to  Abousir  a  net,  and 
said  to  him,  Cast  this  net  in  the  sea.  Perhaps  thou  wilt  catch  some  fish.  For  the 
fish  for  the  King's  kitchen  are  required  of  me  every  day,  and  I  have  been  diverted 
from  fishing  by  this  calamity  that  hath  befallen  thee,  and  fear  that  the  cook's  young 
men  may  come  to  demand  the  fish  and  not  find  it;  but  if  thou  catch  anything,  they 
will  find  it.  Do  so  while  I  go  and  practise  the  stratagem  that  I  have  devised  be- 
neath the  palace,  and  I  will  pretend  that  I  have  cast  thee  into  the  sea. — And  Abou- 
sir replied,  I  will  fish,  and  go  thou,  and  may  God  aid  thee  !  The  captain  therefore 
put  the  sack  into  the  boat,  and  proceeded  until  he  came  beneath  tiie  palace,  when 
he  saw  the  King  sitting  at  the  window,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  shall  I  cast  him 
in?  And  he  answered.  Cast  him  : — and  he  made  a  sign  with  his  hand  ;  and  lo,  a 
thing  gleamed:  then  dropped  into  the  sea:  and  behold,  what  dropped  into  the  sea 
•was  the  King's  seal-ring.     This  ring  was  enchanted,  so  that,  when  the  King  was 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 


725 


enraged  against  any  one,  and  desired  to  slay  him,  he  would  make  a  sign  to  him 
with  his  right  hand,  upon  which  was  the  seal-ring,  and  there  would  proceed,  from 
the  ring,  lightning  which  would  strike  the  person  to  whom  he  made  the  sign,  and 
his  head  would  fall  from  between  his  shoulders.  And  the  troops  obeyed  him  not, 
nor  did  he  subdue  the  mighty  men,  save  by  means  of  this  seal-ring.  So  when  the 
ring  fell  from  his  finger,  he  concealed  the  matter,  being  unable  to  say.  My  ring  hath 
fallen  into  the  sea, — through  fear  of  the  troops,  lest  they  should  rise  against  him, 
and  slay  him ;  wherefore  he  was  silent. 

But  as  to  Abousir,  after  the  departure  of  the  captain,  he  took  the  net,  and  cast  it 
in  the  sea,  and  drew  it ;  and  it  came  forth  full  of  fish.  Then  he  cast  it  a  second 
time,  and  it  came  up  full  of  fish  again.  He  ceased  not  to  cast  it,  and  it  came  up 
every  time  full  of  fish,  until  there  was  before  him  a  great  heap  of  fish  ;  whereupon 


/^> 


Abousir  emptying  the  Net. 


he  said  within  himself,  By  Allah,  for  a  long  time  I  have  not  eaten  fish.  And  he 
chose  for  himself  a  large,  fat  fish,  and  said,  When  the  captain  cometh,  I  will  tell 
him  to  fry  for  me  this  fish,  that  I  may  make  my  dinner  of  it.  He  then  killed  it  with 
a  knife  that  he  had  with  him,  and  the  knife  stuck  in  its  gill,  and  he  saw  the  King's 
seal-ring  in  it;  for  the  fish  had  swallowed  it  and  destiny  had  driven  it  to  that  island, 
and  it  had  fallen  into  the  net.  So  he  took  the  ring,  and  put  it  on  his  little  finger, 
not  knowing  its  properties ;  and  lo,  two  young  men,  of  the  servants  of  the  cook, 
came  to  demand  the  fish :  and  when  they  were  near  Abousir,  they  said,  O  man, 
whither  is  gone  the  captain?  He  answered,  I  know  not:  —  and  made  a  sign  with 
his  right  hand,  and  behold,  the  heads  of  the  two  young  men  fell  from  between  their 
shoulders  when  he  made  a  sign  to  them  and  said,  I  know  not.  Abousir  therefore 
wondered  at  that,  and  said,  Who  can  have  slain  them  ?  Their  ease  grieved  him,  and 
he  was  reflecting  upon  this  event,  when,  lo,  the  captain  approached,  and  saw  a  great 
heap  offish,  and  saw  the  two  young  men  slain,  and  the  seal-ring  upon  the  finger  of 
Abousir.  So  he  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  move  not  thy  hand  upon  which  is  the 
seal-ring ;  for  if  thou  move  it,  thou  wilt  slay  me.  And  he  wondered  at  his  saying, 
Move  not  thy  hand  upon  which  is  the  seal-ring;  for  if  thou  move  it,  thou  wilt  slay 
me.  And  when  the  captain  came  to  him,  he  said.  Who  slew  these  two  young  men  ? 
Abousir  answered  him,  By  Allah,  O  my  brother,  I  know  not.  And  the  captain  re- 
plied. Thou  hast  spoken  truth  ;  but  inform  me  respecting  this  seal-ring,  whence  it 
came  to  thee.  He  said,  I  saw  it  in  the  gill  of  this  fish.  And  the  captain  rejoined, 
Thou  hast  spoken  truth  ;  for  I  saw  it  descending  gleaming  from  the  palace  of  the 
King  till  it  dropped  into  the  sea,  when  he  made  a  sign  with  respect  to  thee,  and  said 
to  me,  Cast  him.  And  when  he  made  the  sign,  I  cast  in  the  sack,  and  the  ring  had 
dropped  from  his  finger,  and  fallen  into  the  sea.  Thereupon  this  fish  swallowed  it, 
and  God  drove  the  fish  to  thee,  so  that  thou  caughtest  it:  therefore  this  is  thy  lot. 
But  knowest  thou  the  properties  of  this  seal-ring?  —  Abousir  answered,  I  do  not 
know  its  properties.     And  the  captain  said.  Know  that  the  troops  of  our  King  have 


726  THE   STORY   OF  ABOUSIR   AND   ABOUKIR. 

not  obeyed  him  save  from  fear  of  this  seal-ring ;  because  it  is  enchanted ;  and  when 
the  King  was  enraged  against  any  one,  and  desired  his  slaughter,  he  used  to  make 
a  sign  to  him  with  it,  and  his  head  would  fall  from  between  his  shoulders ;  for  a 
lightning  would  proceed  from  this  ring,  and  its  ray  would  reach  the  object  of  rage, 
who  would  die  immediately.  —  So  when  Abousir  heard  these  words,  he  rejoiced  ex- 
ceedingly, and  said  to  the  captain.  Take  me  back  to  the  city.  And  the  captain  re- 
plied, I  will  take  thee  back,  since  I  no  longer  fear  for  thee  with  respect  to  the  King  ; 
for  when  thou  makest  a  sign  with  thy  hand,  and  hast  conceived  the  intention  of 
slaying  him,  his  head  will  fall  down  before  thee ;  and  if  thou  shouldst  desire  the 
slaughter  of  the  King  and  all  the  troops,  thou  wouldst  kill  them  without  impedi- 
ment. 

He  then  embarked  in  the  boat,  and  repaired  with  him  to  the  city  ;  and  when  he 
arrived  there,  he  went  up  to  the  palace  of  the  King,  and  entered  the  council-chamber, 
where  he  saw  the  King  sitting,  with  the  troops  before  him,  and  he  was  in  a  state  of 
excessive  grief  on  account  of  the  seal-ring,  unable  to  inform  any  one  of  the  soldiers 
of  the  loss  of  the  ring.  So  when  the  King  saw  him  he  said  to  him,  Did  we  not  cast 
thee  into  the  sea?  How  hast  thou  contrived  that  thou  hast  come  forth  from  it?  — 
And  he  answered  him,  0  King  of  the  age,  when  thou  gavest  orders  to  cast  me  into 
the  sea,  thy  captain  took  me  and  proceeded  with  me  to  an  island,  and  asked  me 
respecting  the  cause  of  thy  rage  against  me,  saying  to  me.  What  hast  thou  done 
unto  the  King,  that  he  hath  given  orders  for  thy  death  ?  I  answered  him,  By  Allah, 
I  know  not  that  I  have  done  unto  him  any  foul  action.  And  he  said  to  me,  Verily 
thou  cnjoyedst  great  dignity  in  the  estimation  of  the  King,  and  perhaps  some  one 
hath  envied  thee,  and  said  some  words  injurious  to  thee  in  the  presence  of  the  King, 
in  consequence  of  which  he  hath  become  enraged  against  thee.  But  I  came  to  thee 
in  thy  bath,  and  thou  treatedst  me  with  honour;  and  in  requital  of  the  honour  that 
thou  showedst  me  in  thy  bath,  I  will  save  thee  and  will  send  thee  to  thy  country. — 
He  then  put  into  the  boat  a  stone  instead  of  me,  and  cast  it  into  the  sea.  But  when 
thou  madest  a  sign  to  him  with  reference  to  me,  the  seal-ring  fell  from  thy  hand 
into  the  sea,  and  a  fish  swallowed  it;  and  I  was  on  the  island,  fishing,  and  that  fish 
came  up  in  the  net  among  others.  Thereupon  I  took  it,  desiring  to  broil  it:  and 
when  I  opened  its  body,  I  saw  the  seal-ring  in  it.  So  I  took  it  and  put  it  on  my 
finger;  and  there  came  to  me  two  of  the  servants  of  the  kitchen,  demanding  the 
fish  ;  and  I  made  a  sign  to  them,  not  knowing  the  property  of  the  seal-ring,  and 
their  heads  fell  off.  Then  the  captain  came,  and  he  knew  the  ring  which  was  upon 
my  finger,  and  acquainted  me  with  its  magic  influence.  I  have  therefore  brought 
it  to  thee;  for  thou  hast  acted  kindly  to  me,  and  treated  me  with  the  utmost  gene- 
rosity, and  the  good  actions  that  thou  hast  done  me  have  not  been  lost  upon  me. 
This  is  thy  seal-ring:  so  take  it;  and  if  I  have  done  unto  thee  anything  requiring 
my  slaughter,  acquaint  me  with  my  crime,  and  slay  me,  and  thou  shall  be  absolved 
of  sin  in  shedding  my  blood. — He  then  pulled  off  the  seal-ring  from  his  finger,  and 
handed  it  to  the  King. 

Therefore  when  the  King  saw  Abousir's  be,neficent  conduct,  he  deceived  the  ring 
from  him,  and  put  it  on  his  finger.  His  soul  was  restored  to  him,  and,  rising  upon 
his  feet,  he  embraced  Abousir,  and  said,  0  man,  thou  art  of  the  most  excellent  of 
the  sons  of  the  ingenuous!  Blame  me  not;  but  pardon  me  for  my  injurious  con- 
duct to  thee.  Had  any  one  but  thyself  got  possession  of  this  seal-ring,  he  had  not 
given  it  to  me.  —  Abousir  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  if  thou  desire  that  I  should 
pardon  thee,  acquaint  me  with  my  crime  tliat  required  thee  to  be  enraged  against 
me,  so  that  thou  gavest  orders  for  my  slaughter.  The  King  said  to  him,  By  Allah, 
it  hath  become  manifest  to  me  that  thou  art  innocent,  and  thou  art  not  guilty  in 
aught,  since  thou  hast  done  this  kind  action  ;  but  the  dyer  said  to  me  thus  and  thus. 
And  he  acquainted  him  with  that  which  the  dyer  had  said  ;  whereupon  Abousiik 
said,  By  Allah,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  know  not  the  King  of  the  Christians,  nor  in 
my  life  have  I  gone  to  the  country  of  the  Christians,  nor  did  it  enter  my  mind  tc 


THE   STORY   OF   ABOUSIR  AND  ABOUKIR.  727 

kill  thee.  But  this  dyer  was  my  companion  and  my  neighbour  in  the  city  of  Alex- 
andria, and  our  life  there  became  difficult;  so  we  came  forth  from  it,  on  account  of 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  our  livelihood,  and  recited  together  the  opening  chapter 
of  the  Koran  in  confirmation  of  our  agreement  that  the  occupied  should  feed  the  un- 
occupied;  and  such  and  such  events  happened  to  me  with  him.  —  lie  acquainted 
him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  with  Aboukir  the  dyer,  and  how  he  had 
taken  his  money,  and  abandoned  him  sick  in  the  chamber  that  was  in  the  khan,  and 
that  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  used  to  expend  upon  him  while  he  was  sick,  until 
God  restored  him.  Then  he  went  forth  and  walked  about  the  city  with  his  appa- 
ratus, as  he  was  accustomed  to  do ;  and  while  he  was  in  the  way,  he  saw  a  dyeing- 
shop  before  which  the  people  were  crowding,  and,  looking  at  the  door  of  the  dyeing- 
shop,  he  saw  Aboukir  sitting  upon  a  stone  seat  there.  So  he  entered  to  salute  him, 
and  he  experienced  from  him  that  beating  and  injurious  treatment;  Aboukir  assert- 
ing that  he  was  a  thief,  and  inflicting  upon  him  a  painful  beating.  And  he  ac- 
quainted the  King  with  all  that  had  befallen  him  from  first  to  last.  Then  he  said, 
0  King  of  the  age,  he  is  the  person  who  said  to  me,  Make  the  remedy,  and  present 
it  to  the  King:  for  the  bath  is  perfect  in  all  things,  saving  that  this  remedy  is  want- 
ing in  it.  And  know,  0  King  of  the  age,  that  this  remedy  injureth  not:  we  make 
it  in  our  country,  and  it  is  one  of  the  requisites  of  the  bath  ;  but  I  had  forgotten  it ; 
and  when  the  dyer  came  to  me,  and  I  treated  him  with  honour,  he  reminded  me  of 
it,  and  said  to  me.  Make  the  remedy.  Now  send,  0  King  of  the  age,  and  bring  the 
door-keeper  of  such  a  khan,  and  the  workmen  of  the  dyeing-shop,  and  ask  them  all 
respecting  the  things  with  which  I  have  acquainted  thee. 

So  the  King  sent  to  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan,  and  to  the  workmen  of  the 
dyeing-shop ;  and  when  they  all  were  present,  he  asked  them,  and  they  acquainted 
him  with  the  case.  He  therefore  sent  to  the  dyer,  and  said.  Bring  ye  him  barefooted, 
with  his  head  uncovered,  and  with  his  hands  bound  behind  him.  Now  the  dyer  was 
sitting  in  his  house,  happy  at  the  thought  of  the  slaughter  of  Abousir,  and  he  was 
not  aware  when  the  guards  of  the  King  rushed  upon  him,  and  blows  fell  upon  the 
back  of  his  neck.  They  then  bound  his  hands  behind  his  back,  and  came  with  him 
before  the  King;  whereupon  he  saw  Abousir  sitting  by  the  side  of  the  King,  and 
the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  and  the  workmen  of  the  dyeing-shop  standing  before 
him.  So  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  said  to  him,  Is  not  this  thy  companion,  whose 
money  thou  stolest,  and  whom  thou  leftest  with  me  in  the  chamber  sick,  and  to 
whom  thou  didst  such  and  such  things?  And  the  workmen  of  the  dyeing-shop  said 
to  him,  Is  not  this  he  whom  thou  commandedst  us  to  seize,  and  whom  we  beat? 
The  baseness  of  Aboukir  therefore  was  manifest  to  the  King,  and  his  deserving 
more  severe  torture  than  that  which  is  inflicted  by  Munkar  and  Nekir :  so  the  King 
said.  Take  ye  him,  and  parade  hjrji  as  an  example  through  the  city,  and  put  him 
into  a  sack,  and  cast  him  into  th^ea.  Upon  this,  Abousir  said,  0  King  of  the  age, 
accept  my  intercession  for  him  ;  for  I  have  pardoned  him  all  that  he  hath  done  unto 
me.  But  the  King  replied.  If  thou  hast  pardoned  him  for  his  injurious  conduct  to 
thee,  I  cannot  pardon  him  for  his  injurious  conduct  to  me.  He  then  cried  out  and 
said.  Take  ye  him!  They  therefore  took  him  and  paraded  him;  and  after  that, 
they  put  him  into  a  sack,  and  put  with  him  the  lime,  and  cast  him  into  the  sea:  so 
he  died  drowned  and  burnt.  Then  the  King  said,  0  Abousir,  demand  of  me  what 
thou  wilt,  and  it  shall  be  given  thee.  And  he  replied,  I  demand  of  thee  that  thou 
send  me  to  my  country ;  for  I  no  longer  desire  to  reside  here. 

The  King  therefore  gave  him  an  abundance  of  things,  in  addition  to  his  former 
wealth  and  portion  and  gifts,  and  bestowed  upon  him  a  galleon  laden  with  good 
things,  the  sailors  of  which  were  mamlouks,  whom  also  be  gave  to  him,  after  he 
had  proposed  to  him  that  he  should  make  him  Vizier,  and  he  consented  not.  Abou- 
sir then  bade  the  King  farewell,  and  set  forth  on  his  voyage !  all  that  was  in  the 
p;alleon  being  his  property ;  even  the  sailors  being  his  mamlouks ;  and  he  ceased 
not  to  pursue  his  voyage  until  he  arrived  at  the  district  of  Alexandria,  and  moored 


728  ABDALLA   OF  THE  LAND, 

by  the  shore  of  Alexandria.  Thereupon  they  landed ;  and  one  of  his  mamlouks 
saw  a  sack  by  the  shore :  so  he  said,  0  my  master,  by  the  shore  of  the  sea  is  a 
large,  heavy  sack,  the  mouth  of  which  is  tied,  and  I  know  not  what  is  in  it.  Abou- 
sir  therefore  came  and  opened  it,  and  he  saw  in  it  the  body  of  Aboukir;  the  sea 
having  driven  it  towards  Alexandria.  And  he  took  the  body  forth,  and  buried  it 
in  the  neighbourhood  of  Alexandria,  and  made  for  it  a  tomb  for  visitation,  which 
he  endowed  with  unalienable  legacies. 

Then  Abousir  remained  a  while,  after  which  God  took  his  soul,  and  they  buried 
him  near  the  sepulchre  of  his  companion  Aboukir;  and  on  that  account,  this  place 
was  called  Aboukir  and  Abousir ;  but  it  is  commonly  known  now  by  the  name  of 
Aboukir. —  This  is  what  hath  been  related  to  us  of  their  story.  —  Extolled  be  the 
perfection  of  Him  who  endureth  for  ever,  and  by  whose  will  the  nights  and  days  inter- 
change ! 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Nine  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of  the 
Nine  Hundred  and  Forty-sixth. 


THE  STOKY  OF  ABDALLA  OF  THE  LAND  AND  ABDALLA  OF 
THE  SEA. 

There  was  a  fisherman  named  Abdalla,  who  had  a  numerous  family :  he  had  nine 
children  and  their  mother,  and  was  very  poor,  possessing  nothing  but  his  net.  He 
used  to  go  every  day  to  the  sea  to  fish ;  and  when  he  caught  little,  he  sold  it,  and 
expended  its  price  upon  his  children,  according  as  God  supplied  him  ;  but  if  he 
caught  much,  he  would  cook  a  good  dish,  and  buy  fruit,  and  cease  not  to  expend 
until  there  remained  not  aught  in  his  possession;  whereupon  he  would  say  within 
himself,  The  supply  necessary  for  to-morrow  will  come  to-morrow.  Now  when  his 
wife  gave  birth  to  another,  his  children  became  ten  persons  ;  and  the  man  that  day 
possessed  not  anything  whatever:  so  his  wife  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  see  for  me 
something  wherewith  I  may  sustain  myself.  He  answered  her,  Lo,  I  am  going, 
relying  upon  the  blessing  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted !),  to  the  sea  this  day,  for 
the  luck  of  this  new-born  child,  that  we  may  see  its  fortune.  And  she  replied.  Place 
thy  dependence  upon  God.  Accordingly  he  took  the  net,  and  repaired  to  the  sea. 
He  then  cast  the  net  for  the  luck  of  that  little  infant,  and  said,  O  Allah,  make  his 
subsistence  easy,  not  difficult ;  and  abundant,  not  little  !  He  waited  over  it  a  while, 
and  then  drew  it,  and  it  came  forth  full  of  rubbish  and  sand  and  pebbles  and  grass ; 
and  he  saw  not  in  it  any  fish  ;  neither  many  did  he  see,  nor  few.  So  he  cast  it  a 
second  time,  and  waited  over  it,  and  then  drew  it;  but  he  saw  not  in  it  fish.  And 
he  cast  a  third  time,  and  a  fourth,  and  a  fifth  ;  but  there  came  not  up  in  it  any  fish. 
He  therefore  removed  to  another  place,  and  begged  his  subsistence  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted  !),  and  ceased  not  to  do  thus  till  the  close  of  the  day;  but  caught 
not  a  single  minnow.  And  he  wondered  in  his  mind,  and  said,  Hath  God  cn^atcd 
this  new-born  child  without  allotting  it  subsistence  ?  This  can  never  be :  for  He 
who  hath  opened  the  jaws  hath  undertaken  to  provide  for  them  the  necessa-y  snb- 


AND   ABDALLA   OF   THE   SEA. 


729 


AbdaUa  of  the  Land  and  his  Children. 


eistence ;  and  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  is  bountiful,  a  liberal  supplier  of  the 
necessaries  of  life. 

He  then  took  up  the  net,  and  returned  with  broken  spirit,  his  heart  being  occupied 
with  care  for  his  family,  because  he  had  left  them  without  food,  especially  as  his 
wife  had  just  given  birth  to  a  child.  He  ceased  not  to  walk  on,  saying  within  him- 
self. What  is  to  be  done ;  and  what  shall  I  say  to  the  children  this  night  ?  Then  he 
came  before  the  oven  of  a  baker,  and  saw  a  crowd  before  it.  The  time  was  a  time 
of  dearness  ;  and  in  those  days,  there  existed  not  in  the  possession  of  the  people  more 
than  a  scanty  supply  of  provisions,  and  the  people  wei*e  offering  money  to  the  baker, 
but  he  paid  no  attention  to  any  one  of  them,  on  account  of  the  greatness  of  the 
crowd.  The  fisherman,  however,  stood  looking,  and  smelling  the  smell  of  the  hot 
bread,  and  his  soul  desired  it  by  reason  of  his  hunger;  and  thereupon  the  baker  saw 
him,  and  called  out  to  him,  saying.  Come  hither,  0  fisherman  !  So  he  advanced  to 
him;  and  the  baker  said  to  him,  Dost  thou  desire  bread?  And  he  was  silent.  The 
baker  said  to  him.  Speak,  and  be  not  abashed:  for  God  is  bountiful.  If  thou  have 
not  with  thee  money,  I  will  give  thee,  and  will  have  patience  with  thee  until  good 
shall  betide  thee.  —  The  fisherman  therefore  replied,  By  Allah,  0  master,  I  have  not 
money ;  but  give  me  bread  sufficient  for  my  family,  and  I  will  leave  this  net  in  pawn 
with  thee  till  to-morrow.  But  the  baker  said  to  him,  0  poor  man,  verily  this  net  is 
as  it  were  thy  shop,  and  the  door  of  thy  subsistence  ;  and  if  thou  give  it  in  pawn, 
with  what  wilt  thou  fish  ?  Acquaint  me  then  with  the  quantity  that  will  suffice 
thee. — He  replied.  For  ten  farthings.  And  he  gave  him  bread  for  ten  farthings;  and 
said  to  him.  Take  these  ten  farthings,  and  cook  for  thee  by  their  means  a  dish  of 


730  ABDALLA   OF  THE   LAND, 

food  ;  so  thou  wilt  owe  twenty  farthings,  and  to-morrow  bring  me  their  value  in  fish, 
or,  if  nought  betide  thee,  come,  receive  thy  bread  and  ten  farthings,  and  I  will  have 
patience  with  thee  until  good  shall  betide  thee;  and  after  that,  bring  me  fish  to  the 
value  of  that  which  I  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  from  thee. — So  the  fisherman  replied, 
May  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  reward  thee,  and  recompense  thee  for  me  with 
everything  good  !  He  then  took  the  bread  and  the  ten  farthings,  and  went  away 
happy,  and,  having  purchased  for  him  what  he  easily  could,  went  in  to  his  wife  ; 
and  he  saw  her  sitting,  soothing  the  children,  who  were  weeping  by  reason  of  their 
hunger,  and  she  was  saying  to  them.  This  instant  your  father  will  bring  something 
for  you  to  eat.  So  when  he  went  in  to  them,  he  put  down  for  them  the  bread,  and 
they  ate  ;  and  he  acquainted  his  wife  with  that  which  had  happened  to  him  ;  where- 
upon she  said  to  him,  God  is  bountiful. 

And  on  the  following  day,  he  took  up  his  net,  and  went  forth  from  his  house,  say- 
ing, I  beg  thee,  0  Lord,  to  supply  me,  this  day,  with  that  which  shall  whiten  my 
face  in  the  eyes  of  the  baker !  And  when  he  came  to  the  sea,  he  proceeded  to  cast 
the  net  and  draw  it;  but  there  came  not  forth  in  it  any  fish.  He  ceased  not  to  do 
so  until  the  close  of  the  day,  and  got  nothing.  So  he  returned  in  great  grief;  and 
the  way  to  his  house  led  by  the  oven  of  the  baker.  He  therefore  said  within  himself, 
By  what  way  can  I  go  to  my  house?  But  I  will  quicken  my  pace,  that  the  baker 
may  not  see  me. — And  when  he  came  to  the  oven  of  the  baker,  he  saw  a  crowd  ;  and 
he  hastened  in  his  pace,  by  reason  of  his  abashment  at  the  baker,  in  order  that  he 
might  not  see  him:  but  lo,  the  baker  raised  his  eyes  towards  him,  and  cried  out, 
saying,  0  fisherman,  come  hither ;  receive  thy  bread  and  the  money  for  thy  expen- 
diture ;  for  thou  hast  forgotten  !  He  replied,  No,  by  Allah  ;  I  forgot  not;  but  I  was 
abashed  at  thee ;  for  I  have  not  caught  any  fish  this  day.  The  baker  said  to  him, 
Be  not  abashed.  Did  I  not  say  to  thee,  Take  thy  leisure,  until  good  shall  betide  thee? 
— Then  he  gave  him  the  bread  and  the  ten  farthings,  and  he  went  to  his  wife,  and 
informed  her  of  the  news  ;  upon  which  she  said  to  him,  God  is  bountiful.  If  it  be  the 
will  of  God,  good  will  betide  thee,  and  thou  shalt  pay  him  all  that  is  due  to  him. — 
And  he  ceased  not  to  continue  thus  for  the  space  of  for*;y  days,  every  day  going  to 
the  sea,  and  remaining  from  the  rising  of  the  sun  to  its  setting,  and  returning  with- 
out fish,  and  receiving  bread,  and  money  for  his  expenditure,  from  the  baker,  who 
mentioned  not  to  him  the  fish  any  day  of  those  days,  nor  neglected  him  as  men 
generally  would  have  done,  but  gave  him  the  ten  farthings  and  the  bread ;  and  every 
time  that  the  fisherman  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  reckon  with  me, — he  would  reply, 
Go:  this  is  not  the  time  for  reckoning:  wait  until  good  shall  betide  thee,  and  then  I 
will  reckon  with  thee.  So  he  would  pray  for  him,  and  depart  from  him  thanking 
him.  And  on  the  one-and-fortieth  day,  he  said  to  his  wife,  I  desire  to  cut  up  this 
net,  and  be  relieved  of  this  mode  of  life.  —  Wherefore?  said  she.  He  answered  her, 
It  seemeth  that  my  supply  of  subsistence  from  the  sea  is  ended.  And  how  long,  he 
added,  shall  this  state  continue?  By  Allah,  I  am  dissolved  by  abashment  at  the 
baker,  and  I  will  no  more  go  to  the  sea,  that  I  may  not  pass  by  his  oven  ;  for  there 
is  no  way  for  me  save  by  his  oven  ;  and  every  time  that  I  pass  by  it,  he  calleth  me, 
and  giveth  me  the  bread  and  the  ten  farthings.  How  long  then  shall  I  run  in  debt 
to  him?  —  But  she  replied.  Praise  be  to  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  who  hath 
moved  his  heart  to  favour  thee  so  that  he  giveth  thee  the  food !  And  what  dost  thou 
dislike  in  this?  —  He  said,  I  now  owe  him  a  great  sum  of  money,  and  inevitably  he 
will  demand  his  due.  Ilis  wife  said  to  him.  Hath  he  vexed  thee  with  words?  He 
answered.  No  ;  nor  would  he  reckon  with  me  ;  but  would  say  to  me.  Wait  until  good 
shall  betide  thee. — Then,  replied  his  wife,  when  he  demandeth  of  thee,  say  to  him. 
Wait  until  the  good  that  I  and  thou  hope  for  shall  betide.  And  he  said  to  her. 
When  will  the  good  that  we  hope  for  come?  She  answered  him,  God  is  bountiful. 
And  he  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth. 

He  then  took  up  his  net,  and  repaired  to  the  sea,  saying,  0  Lord,  supply  me,  if 
only  with  one  fish,  that  I  may  give  it  to  the  baker !    Then  he  cast  the  net  in  the  sea, 


AND   ABDALLA    OF    THE    SEA.  731 

and  drew  it,  and  found  it  heavy ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  labour  at  it  until  he  was 
violently  fatigued  ;  but  when  he  drew  it  forth,  he  saw  in  it  a  dead  ass,  swollen,  and 
of  abominable  odour:  so  his  soul  was  wearied.  He  extricated  it  from  the  net,  and 
said.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  I  have  been 
tired  of  saying  to  this  woman.  There  remaineth  for  me  no  means  of  subsistence  in 
the  sea:  let  me  abandon  this  occupation  :  —  and  of  her  replying,  God  is  bountiful: 
good  will  betide  thee.  Is  then  this  dead  ass  that  good?  —  Exceeding  grief  affected 
him,  and  he  went  to  another  place,  that  he  might  be  rertfiote  from  the  smell  of  the 
ass,  and  took  the  net,  and  cast  it,  and  waited  over  it  some  time.  Then  he  drew  it, 
and  again  found  it  heavy  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to  labour  at  it  until  blood  issued  from 
the  palms  of  his  hands ;  and  when  he  had  drawn  forth  the  net,  he  saw  in  it  a  human 
being.  So  he  imagined  that  he  was  an  Afrite,  of  those  whom  the  lord  Solomon  used 
to  imprison  in  bottles  of  brass,  and  cast  into  the  sea,  and  that,  the  bottle  having 
broken  by  reason  of  the  length  of  years,  that  Afrite  had  issued  from  it,  and  come  up 
in  the  net.  He  therefore  fled  from  him,  and  began  to  say,  Mercy  !  mercy  !  0  Afrite 
of  Solomon  ! — But  the  human  being  cried  out  to  him  from  within  the  net,  saying, 
Come  hither,  0  fisherman  !  Flee  not  from  me  ;  for  I  am  a  human  being  like  thee. 
Liberate  me  then,  that  thou  mayest  obtain  my  recompense. — So  when  the  fisherman 
heard  his  words,  his  heart  became  tranquillized,  and  he  came  to  him  and  said  to 
him.  Art  thou  not  an  Afrite  of  the  Genii?  He  answered,  No;  but  I  am  a  man,  a 
believer  in  God  and  his  Apostle.  The  fisherman  said  to  him.  And  who  cast  thee 
into  the  sea?  He  replied,  I  am  of  the  children  of  the  sea.  I  was  going  about,  and 
thou  threwest  upon  me  the  net.  We  are  nations  obedient  to  the  ordinances  of  God, 
and  we  are  compassionate  to  the  creatures  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!) ;  and 
were  it  not  that  I  fear  and  dread  being  of  the  disobedient,  I  should  have  rent  thy 
net ;  but  I  willingly  submit  to  that  which  God  hath  decreed  to  befall  me  ;  and  thou, 
if  thou  deliver  me,  wilt  become  my  owner,  and  I  shall  become  thy  captive.  Wilt 
thou  then  emancipate  me  with  the  desire  of  seeing  the  face  of  God  (whose  name  be 
exalted!),  and  make  a  covenant  with  me,  and  become  my  companion?  I  will  come 
to  thee  every  day  in  this  place,  and  thou  shalt  come  to  me,  and  bring  for  me  a  present 
of  the  fruits  of  the  land.  For  with  you  are  grapes  and  figs  and  water-melons  and 
pesfches  and  pomegranates  and  other  fruits,  and  everything  that  thou  wilt  bring  me 
will  be  acceptable  from  thee.  And  with  us  are  coral  and  pearls  and  chrysolites  and 
emeralds  and  jacinths  and  other  jewels.  So  I  will  fill  for  thee  the  basket  in  which 
thou  wilt  bring  me  the  fruits  with  minerals  consisting  of  the  jewels  of  the  sea.  What 
then  sayest  thou,  0  my  brother,  of  this  proposal?  —  The  fisherman  answered  him, 
Let  the  opening  chapter  of  the  Koran  be  recited  in  confirmation  of  the  agreement 
between  me  and  thee  as  to  this  proposal. 

Accordingly  each  of  them  recited  the  chapter,  and  the  fisherman  liberated  him 
from  the  net,  and  said  to  him,  What  is  thy  name?  He  answered,  My  name  is  Ab- 
dalla  of  the  Sea ;  and  if  thou  come  to  this  place,  and  see  me  not,  call  out  and  say, 
Where  art  thou,  0  Abdalla,  0  thou  of  the  Sea?  —  and  I  will  be  with  thee  instantly. 
And  thou  (he  added),  what  is  thy  name?  The  fisherman  answered.  My  name  is 
Abdalla.  So  the  other  replied.  Thou  art  Abdalla  of  the  Land,  and  I  am  Abdalla  of 
the  Sea.  Now  stay  here  while  I  go  and  bring  thee  a  present. — And  he  said,  I  hear 
and  obey.  Then  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  went  into  the  sea:  and  thereupon  Abdalla  of 
the  Land  repented  of  his  having  liberated  him  from  the  net;  and  he  said  within 
nimself.  How  do  I  know  that  he  will  return  to  me?  He  only  laughed  at  me,  so  that 
[  liberated  him  ;  and  had  I  kept  him,  I  might  have  diverted  the  people  in  the  city 
with  the  sight  of  him,  and  received  money  for  showing  him  from  all  the  people,  and 
entered  with  him  the  houses  of  the  great  men. — Therefore  he  repented  of  his  having 
liberated  him,  and  said  to  himself.  Thy  prey  hath  gone  from  thy  hand.  But  while 
he  was  lamenting  his  escape  from  his  hand,  lo,  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  returned  to  him, 
with  his  hands  filled  with  pearls  and  coral  and  emeralds  and  jacinths  and  other 
jewels,  and  said  to  him,  Receive,  0  my  brother,  and  blame  me  not ;  for  I  have  not  a 


732  ABDALLA   OF   THE   LAND, 

basket:  if  I  had,  I  would  have  filled  it  for  thee.  So  thereupon  Abdalla  of  the  Land 
rejoiced,  and  received  from  him  the  jewels  ;  and  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said  to  him, 
Every  day  thou  shalt  come  to  this  place  before  sunrise.  He  then  bade  him  farewell, 
and  departed,  and  entered  the  sea. 

But  as  to  the  fisherman,  he  entered  the  city,  joyful,  and  ceased  not  to  walk  on 
until  he  came  to  the  oven  of  the  baker,  when  he  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  good 
hath  betided  us  ;  therefore  reckon  with  me.  The  baker  replied.  No  reckoning  is 
necessary.  If  thou  have  with  thee  anything,  give  me  ;  and  if  thou  have  not  with 
thee  anything,  receive  thy  bread,  and  the  money  for  thy  expenditure,  and  go,  and 
wait  until  good  shall  betide  thee.  So  he  said  to  him,  0  my  companion,  good  hath 
betided  me  from  the  bounty  of  God,  and  I  owe  thee  a  large  sura  ;  but  receive  this. 
And  he  took  for  him  a  handful  of  pearls  and  corals  and  jacinths  and  other  jewels, 
that  handful  being  half  of  what  he  had  with  him  ;  and  he  gave  it  to  the  baker,  and 
said  to  him.  Give  me  some  money  that  I  may  expend  it  this  day,  until  I  shall  sell 
these  minerals.  He  therefore  gave  him  all  the  money  that  he  had  at  his  command, 
and  all  the  bread  that  was  in  the  basket  which  he  had  with  him  ;  and  the  baker 
was  rejoiced  with  those  minerals,  and  said  to  the  fisherman,  I  am  thy  slave  and  thy 
servant.  He  carried  all  the  bread  that  he  had  with  him  on  his  head,  and  walked 
behind  him  to  the  house,  and  the  fisherman  gave  the  bread  to  his  wife  and  his  chil- 
dren. The  baker  then  went  to  the  market,  and  bought  meat  and  vegetables  and  all 
kinds  of  fruit.  He  abandoned  the  oven,  and  remained  all  that  day  occupying  him- 
self with  the  service  of  Abdalla  of  the  Land,  and  performing  for  him  his  afi^airs. 
So  the  fisherman  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  thou  hast  wearied  thyself.  The  baker 
replied.  This  is  incumbent  on  me;  for  I  have  become  thy  servant,  and  thy  benefi- 
cence hath  inundated  me.  But  the  fisherman  said  to  him.  Thou  wast  my  benefactor 
in  the  time  of  distress  and  dearness.  And  the  baker  passed  the  ensuing  night  with 
him,  enjoying  good  eating;  and  he  became  a  faithful  friend  to  the  fisherman.  The 
fisherman  informed  his  wife  of  his  adventure  with  Abdalla  of  the  Sea,  whereat  she 
rejoiced,  and  she  said,  to  him,  Conceal  thy  secret,  lest  the  magistrates  tyrannize  over 
thee.  But  he  replied.  If  I  conceal  my  secret  from  all  other  people,  I  will  not  con- 
ceal it  from  the  baker. 

He  arose  in  the  morning  of  the  following  day,  having  filled  a  basket  v/ith  fruits 
of  all  kinds  in  the  preceding  evening,  and  he  took  it  up  before  sunrise,  and  repaired 
to  the  sea,  put  it  down  on  the  shore,  and  said.  Where  art  thou,  0  Abdalla,  0  thou 
of  the  Sea?  And  he  answered  him.  At  thy  service  ;  —  and  came  forth  to  him.  He 
therefore  presented  to  him  the  fruit,  and  he  took  it  up,  and  descended  with  it,  diving 
into  the  sea,  and  was  absent  a  while;  after  which  he  came  forth,  having  with  him 
the  basket  full  of  all  kinds  of  minerals  and  jewels.  So  Abdalla  of  the  Land  put  it 
upon  his  head,  and  departed  with  it ;  and  when  he  came  to  the  oven  of  the  baker, 
the  baker  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  I  have  baked  for  thee  forty  cakes,  and  sent 
them  to  thy  house  ;  and  now  I  will  bake  bread  of  the  finest  flour,  and  when  it  is 
done  I  will  convey  it  to  the  house,  and  go  to  bring  thee  the  vegetables  and  the  meat. 
Upon  this,  Abdalla  took  for  him,  from  the  basket,  three  handfuls,  and  gave  them  to 
him,  and  went  to  the  house,  where  he  put  down  the  basket,  and  took,  of  each  kind 
of  jewels,  one  jewel  of  great  value.  Then  he  repaired  to  the  jewel-market,  and, 
stopping  at  the  shop  of  the  sheikh  of  the  market,  said.  Purchase  of  me  these  jewels. 
He  replied,  Show  them  to  me.  So  he  showed  them  to  him  :  and  the  sheikh  said  to 
him,  Ilast  thou  any  beside  these?  He  answered,  I  have  a  basket  full.  The  sheikh 
said  to  him,  Where  is  thy  house?  He  answered  him.  In  such  a  quarter.  And  the 
sheikh  took  from  him  the  jewels,  and  said  to  his  servants,  Lay  hold  of  him:  for  he 
is  the  thief  who  stole  the  things  of  the  Queen,  the  wife  of  the  Sultan.  He  then 
ordered  them  to  beat  him,  and  they  did  so,  and  bound  his  hands  behind  his  back ; 
and  the  sheikh  arose,  with  all  the  people  of  the  jewel-market,  and  they  began  to 
say.  We  have  taken  the  thief.  Some  of  them  said.  None  stole  the  goods  of  such  a 
one  but  this  villain : — and  others  said,  None  stole  all  that  was  in  the  house  of  such 


AND    ABDALLA    OF   THE    SEA. 


733 


Abdalla  of  the  Land  carrying  a  Basket  of  Fruit 


a  one  but  he:  —  and  some  of  them  said  thus,  and  others  said  thus.  All  this  while, 
he  was  silent;  he  returned  not  to  any  one  of  them  a  reply,  nor  did  he  utter  to  hiro 
a  sentence,  until  they  stationed  him  before  the  King ;  whereupon  the  sheikh  said,  0 
King  of  the  age,  when  the  necklace  of  the  Queen  was  stolen,  thou  sentest  and  ac- 
quaintedst  us,  and  requiredst  of  us  the  capture  of  the  offender ;  and  I  strove  above 
the  rest  of  the  people,  and  have  captured  for  thee  the  offender.  Lo,  here  he  is  be- 
fore thee,  and  these  jewels  we  have  rescued  from  his  hand.  —  The  King  therefore 
said  to  the  eunuch,  Take  these  minerals,  and  show  them  to  the  Queen,  and  say  to 
her.  Are  these  thy  goods  that  thou  hast  lost?  Accordingly  the  eunuch  took  them, 
and  went  in  with  them  before  the  Queen  ;  and  when  she  saw  them,  she  wondered  at 
them,  and  she  sent  to  say  to  the  King,  I  have  found  my  necklace  in  my  place,  and 
these  are  not  my  property  ;  but  these  jewels  are  better  than  the  jewels  of  my  neck- 
lace ;  therefore  act  not  unjustly  to  the  man  ;  and  if  he  will  sell  them,  purchase  them 
of  him  for  thy  daughter,  Umm-alsoud,  that  we  may  put  them  for  her  upon  a  neck- 
lace. 

So  when  the  eunuch  returned,  and  acquainted  the  King  with  that  which  the  Queen 
bad  said,  he  cursed  the  sheikh  of  the  jewellers,  him  and  his  company,  with  the 
curse  of  Ad  and  Thamoud  ; '  whereupon  they  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  we  knew  that 
this  man  was  a  poor  fisherman  ;  so  we  deemed  those  things  too  much  for  him  to 
possess,  and  imagined  that  he  had  stolen  them.  But  he  replied,  0  base  wretches, 
do  ye  deem  good  things  too  much  for  a  believer?  Wherefore  did  ye  not  ask  him? 
Perhaps  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  hath  blessed  him  with  them  in  a  way  he  did 
not  reckon  upon  ;  and  wherefore  do  ye  assert  him  to  be  a  thief,  and  disgrace  him 

'  Two  ancient  Arab  tribes,  destroyed  for  their  wickedness. 


734  ABDALLA    OF   THE   LAND, 

among  the  people  '  Go  forth  !  May  God  not  bless  you  ! — They  therefore  went  forth 
in  a  state  of  fear.  The  King  then  said,  0  man,  may  God  bless  thee  in  that  which 
He  hath  bestowed  on  thee  !  And  thou  hast  promise  of  indemnity.  But  acquaint 
me  with  the  truth.  Whence  came  to  thee  these  jewels  ?  For  I  am  a  King,  and  the 
like  of  them  exist  not  in  my  possession.  —  So  he  answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  I 
have  a  basket  full  of  them  ;  and  the  case  is  thus  and  thus.  And  he  informed  him 
of  his  companionsliip  with  Abdalla  of  the  Sea,  and  said  to  him.  An  agreement  hath 
been  made  between  me  and  him,  that  I  shall  every  day  fill  for  him  the  basket  with 
fruits,  and  he  shall  fill  it  for  me  with  these  jewels.  The  King  therefore  said  to  him, 
0  man,  this  is  thy  lot;  but  wealth  requireth  an  exalted  station,  and  I  will  prevent 
men's  domineering  over  thee  in  these  days.  Perhaps,  however,  I  may  be  deposed, 
or  may  die,  and  another  may  be  appointed  in  my  stead,  and  may  slay  thee  on  ac- 
count of  his  love  of  worldly  goods,  and  covetousness.  I  therefore  desire  to  marry 
thee  to  my  daughter,  and  to  make  thee  my  Vizier,  and  bequeath  to  thee  the  kingdom 
after  me,  that  no  one  may  covet  thy  possessions  after  my  death.  —  Then  the  King 
said.  Take  ye  this  man,  and  conduct  him  into  the  bath.  So  they  took  him,  and 
washed  him,  and  they  clad  him  in  apparel  of  the  style  of  Kings,  and  led  him 
forth  into  the  presence  of  the  King,  who  thereupon  appointed  him  Vizier  unto  him. 
He  sent  also  the  couriers,  and  the  soldiers  of  the  guard,  and  all  the  wives  of  the 
great  men,  to  his  house  ;  and  they  clad  his  wife  in  the  apparel  of  the  wives  of 
Kings,  clad  her  children  likewise,  and  mounted  her  in  a  litter;  and  all  the  wives  of 
the  great  men,  and  the  troops  and  the  couriers,  and  the  soldiers  of  the  guard,  walked 
before  her,  and  conducted  her  to  the  King's  palace,  with  the  little  infant  in  her 
bosom.  They  brought  in  her  elder  children  to  the  King,  who  treated  them  with 
honour,  took  them  upon  his  lap,  and  seated  them  by  his  side.  And  they  were  nine 
male  children  ;  and  the  King  was  destitute  of  male  offspring,  not  having  been 
blessed  with  any  child  except  that  daughter,  whose  name  was  Unim-alsoud.  And 
as  to  the  Queen,  she  treated  the  wife  of  Abdalla  of  the  Land  with  honour,  and  be- 
stowed favours  upon  her,  and  made  her  Vizier  to  her.  The  King  gave  orders  to 
perform  the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  the  marriage  of  Abdalla  of  the  Land  to 
his  daughter,  and  he  assigned  as  her  dowry  all  the  jewels  and  minerals  that  he  had," 
and  they  commenced  the  festivity;  the  King  commanding  that  a  proclamation 
should  be  made  to  decorate  the  city  on  account  of  the  marriage  festivity  of  his 
daughter. 

Then,  on  the  following  day,  after  Abdalla  of  the  Land  had  introduced  himself  to 
the  King's  daughter,  the  King  looked  from  the  window,  and  saw  Abdalla  carrying 
upon  his  head  a  basket  full  of  fruits.  So  he  said  to  him.  What  is  this  that  is  with 
thee,  0  my  son-in-law,  and  whither  goest  thou?  He  answered,  To  my  companion, 
Abdalla  of  the  Sea.  The  King  said  to  him,  0  my  son-in-law,  this  is  not  the  time  to 
go  to  thy  companion.  But  he  replied,  I  fear  to  be  unfaithful  to  him  with  respect  to 
the  time  of  promise  ;  for  he  would  reckon  me  a  liar,  and  say  to  me,  Worldly  matters 
have  diverted  thee  from  coming  to  me.  And  the  King  said,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth. 
Go  to  thy  companion.  May  God  aid  thee!  —  So  he  walked  through  the  city,  on  his 
way  to  his  companion,  and,  the  people  having  become  acquainted  with  him,  he  heard 
them  say.  This  is  the  son-in-law  of  the  King,  going  to  exchange  the  fruits  for  the 
jewels.  And  he  who  was  ignorant  of  him,  and  knew  him  not,  would  say,  0  man, 
for  how  much  is  the  pound?  Come  hither:  sell  to  me.  —  Whereupon  he  would 
answer  him.  Wait  for  me  until  I  return  to  thee.  And  he  would  not  vex  any  one. 
Then  he  went  and  met  Abdalla  of  the  Sea,  and  gave  him  the  fruits;  and  Abdalla 
of  the  Sea  gave  him  for  them  jewels  in  exchange.  —  He  ceased  not  to  do  thus,  and 
every  day  he  passed  by  the  oven  of  the  baker,  and  saw  it  closed.  He  continued 
thus  for  the  space  of  ten  days  ;  and  when  he  had  not  seen  the  baker,  and  saw  his 
oven  closed,  he  said  within  himself.  Verily  this  is  a  wonderful  thing!  Whither  can 
the  baker  have  gone?  He  then  asked  his  neighbour,  saying  to  him,  0  my  brother, 
where  is  thy  neighbour  the  baker,  and  what  hath  God  done  with  him  ?     He  an- 


AND    ABDALLA    OF    THE    SEA.  735 

Bwered,  0  my  master,  he  is  sick:  he  doth  not  come  forth  from  his  house.  So  ho 
said  to  him,  Where  is  his  house?  The  man  answered  him.  In  such  a  quarter.  He 
therefore  repaired  thither,  and  inquired  for  him  ;  and  when  he  knocked  at  the  door, 
the  baker  looked  from  the  window,  and  saw  his  companion  the  fisherman  with  a  full 
basket  upon  his  head.  So  he  descended  to  him,  and  opened  to  him  the  door;  and 
Abdalla  of  the  Land  threw  himself  upon  him,  and  embraced  him,  and  said  to  him, 
How  art  thou,  0  my  companion?  For  every  day  I  pass  by  the  oven  and  see  it 
closed.  Then  I  asked  thy  neighbour,  and  he  informed  me  that  thou  wast  sick.  I 
therefore  inquired  for  thy  house,  that  I  might  see  thee.  —  The  baker  replied,  May 
God  recompense  thee  for  me  with  every  thing  good  !  I  have  no  disease;  but  it  was 
told  me  that  the  King  had  taken  thee,  because  some  of  the  people  lied  to  him,  and 
asserted  that  thou  wast  a  thief:  so  I  feared,  and  closed  the  oven,  and  hid  myself. — 
Abdalla  of  the  Land  said,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth.  And  he  informed  him  of  his 
case,  and  of  the  events  that  had  happened  to  him  with  the  King  and  the  sheikh  of 
the  jewel-market,  and  said  to  him.  The  King  hath  married  me  to  his  daughter,  and 
made  me  his  Vizier.  He  then  said  to  him.  Take  what  is  in  this  basket  as  thy  lot, 
and  fear  not. 

After  that,  he  went  forth  from  him,  having  dispelled  from  him  his  fear,  and  re- 
paired to  the  King  with  the  basket  empty.  So  the  King  said  to  him,  0  my  son-in- 
law,  it  seemeth  that  thou  hast  not  met  with  thy  companion  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  thif 
day.  He  replied,  I  went  to  him,  and  what  he  gave  me  I  have  given  to  my  com- 
panion the  baker;  for  I  owe  him  kindness.  The  King  said.  Who  is  this  baker? 
He  answered.  He  is  a  man  of  kind  disposition,  and  such  and  such  events  happened 
to  me  with  him  in  the  days  of  poverty,  and  he  neglected  me  not  any  day,  nor  broke 
my  heart.  The  King  said,  What  is  his  name?  He  answered,  His  name  is  Abdalla 
the  baker,  and  my  nam«  is  Abdalla  of  the  Land,  and  my  other  companion's  name  is 
Abdalla  of  the  Sea.  Upon  this,  the  King  said.  And  my  name  is  Abdalla,  and  the 
servants  of  God'  are  all  brethren.  Send  therefore  to  thy  companion  the  baker: 
bring  him,  that  we  may  make  him  Vizier  of  the  Left.  Accordingly  he  sent  to  him ; 
and  when  he  came  before  the  King,  the  King  invested  him  with  the  apparel  of  Vizier, 
and  appointed  him  Vizier  of  the  Left,  appointing  Abdalla  of  the  Land  Vizier  of  the 
Right.  Abdalla  of  the  Land  continued  in  this  state  a  whole  year,  every  day  taking 
the  basket  full  of  fruits,  and  returning  with  it  full  of  jewels  and  minerals ;  and 
when  the  fruits  were  exhausted  from  the  gardens,  he  used  to  take  raisins  and  almonds 
and  hazel-nuts  and  walnuts  and  figs  and  other  things  ;  and  all  that  he  took  to  him 
he  accepted  from  him,  and  he  returned  to  him  the  basket  full  of  jewels,  as  was  his 
custom. 

Now  it  happened,  one  day,  that  he  took  the  basket  full  of  dried  fruits,  according 
to  his  custom,  and  his  companion  received  them  from  him  ;  after  which,  Abdalla  of 
the  Land  sat  upon  the  shore,  and  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  sat  in  the  water,  near  the  shore, 
and  they  proceeded  to  converse  together,  talking  alternately,  until  they  were  led  to 
mention  the  tombs.  Thereupon  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said,  0  my  brother,  they  say 
that  the  prophet  (may  God  favour  and  preserve  him!)  is  buried  among  you  in  the 
land.  Dost  thou  then  know  his  tomb  ? — He  answered.  Yes.  He  asked.  In  what 
place?  He  answered.  In  a  city  called  Teybeh.*  He  said,  And  do  men,  the  people 
of  the  land,  visit  his  tomb?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said,  May 
you  derive  enjoyment,  O  people  of  the  land,  from  visiting  this  generous,  benign, 
merciful  Prophet,  whose  visitor  meriteth  his  intercession  I  And  hast  thou  visited 
him,  0  my  brother? — He  answered,  No ;  for  I  was  a  poor  man,  and  found  not  what 
I  should  expend  on  the  way,  and  I  have  not  been  independent  save  from  the  time 
when  I  first  knew  thee  and  thou  conferredst  upon  me  this  prosperity.  But  the  visitr 
ing  him,  after  I  shall  have  performed  the  pilgrimage  to  the  Sacred  House  of  God, 

'  Abdalla  signifies  "  Servant  of  God." 
'One  of  the  names  of  the  city  of  Medina. 


736  ABDALLA   OF   THE   LAND, 


Abdalla  of  the  Land,  and  Abdalla  of  the  Sea. 

hath  become  incumbent  on  me ;  and  nothing  hath  prevented  my  doing  that  but  my 
affection  for  thee;  for  I  cannot  separate  myself  from  thee  for  one  day. — Upon  this, 
he  of  the  Sea  said  to  him  of  the  Land,  And  dost  thou  prefer  thy  affection  for  me 
above  visiting  the  tomb  of  Mahomet  (may  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !),  who  will 
intercede  for  thee  on  the  day  of  appearance  bef)re  God,  and  will  save  thee  from  the 
fire,  and  by  means  of  whose  intercession  thou  wilt  enter  Paradise  ;  and  for  the  sake 
of  the  love  of  the  world  dost  thou  neglect  to  visit  the  tomb  of  the  Prophet  Mahomet, 
(may  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !).  He  answered.  No,  by  Allah,  verily  the  visita- 
tion of  him  is  preferred  by  me  above  everything  else  ;  but  I  desire  of  thee  per- 
mission that  I  may  visit  him  this  year.  He  replied,  I  give  thee  permission  to  visit 
him;  and  when  thou  gtandest  by  his  tomb  give  him  my  salutation.  I  have  also  a 
deposit:  so  enter  the  sea  with  me,  that  I  may  take  thee  to  my  city,  and  conduct  thee 
into  my  house,  and  entertain  thee,  and  give  thee  the  deposit,  in  order  that  thou 
mayest  put  it  upon  the  grave  of  the  Prophet  (may  God  favour  and  preserve  him  !); 
and  say  thou  to  him,  0  Apostle  of  God,  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  saluteth  thee,  and  hath 
given  to  thee  this  present,  and  he  beggeth  thine  intercession  to  save  him  from  the 
fire. — So  Abdalla  of  the  Land  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  thou  wast  created  in  the 
water,  and  the  water  is  thine  abode,  and  it  injureth  thee  not;  then  if  thou  come 
forth  from  it  to  the  land,  will  injury  betide  thee?  He  answered.  Yes;  my  body 
will  dry  up,  and  the  breezes  of  the  land  will  blow  upon  me,  and  I  shall  die. — And 
I  in  like  manner,  replied  Abdalla  of  the  Land,  was  created  on  the  land,  and  the 
land  is  my  abode ;  and  if  I  enter  the  sea,  the  water  will  enter  into  my  body,  and 
suffocate  me,  and  I  shall  die.  But  the  other  said  to  him.  Fear  not  that ;  for  I  will 
bring  thee  an  ointment,  with  which  thou  shalt  anoint  thy  body,  and  the  water  will 
not  injure  thee,  even  if  thou  pass  the  remainder  of  thy  life  going  about  in  the  sea  ; 
and  thou  shalt  sleep  and  arise  in  the  sea,  and  nought  will  injure  thee.  So  he  re- 
plied, If  the  case  be  so,  no  harm.     Bring  me  the  ointment,  that  I  may  try  it. 

Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said,  Be  it  so.  And  he  took  the  basket,  and  descended  into 
the  sea,  and  was  absent  a  little  while.  He  then  returned,  having  with  him  some 
fat  like  the  fat  of  beef,  the  colour  of  which  was  yellow,  like  gold,  and  its  scent  was 
sweet;  and  Abdalla  of  the  Land  said  to  him.  What  is  this,  O  my  brother?  He 
answered  him,  This  is  the  fat  of  the  liver  of  a  kind  of  fish,  called  the  dendan.  It 
is  the  greatest  of  all  kinds  of  fish,  and  the  most  violent  of  our  enemies,  and  its 
form  is  larger  than  that  of  any  beast  of  the  land  existing  among  you :  if  it  saw  the 
camel  or  the  elephant,  it  would  swallow  it. — Abdalla  of  the  Land  said  to  him,  0  my 
brother,  and  what  doth  this  unlucky  creature  eat?  He  answered  him,  It  eateth  of 
the  beasts  of  the  sea.  Hast  thou  not  heard  that  it  is  said  in  the  proverb.  Like  the 
fish  of  the  sea:  the  strong  eateth  the  weak? — He  replied.  Thou  hast  spoken  truth. 
But  have  you  (he  added)  many  of  these  dendans  among  you  in  the  sea?  Abdalla 
of  the  Sea  answered.  Among  us  are  such  as  none  can  number  except  God,  (whose 
name  be  exalted  !).     Then  said  Abdalla  of  the  Land,  Verily  I  fear  that,  if  I  descend 


AND   ABDALLA    OP   THE    SEA.  737 

with  thee,  this  kind  of  creature  may  meet  me  and  devour  me.  But  Abdalla  of  the 
Sea  replied,  Fear  not;  for  when  it  seeth  thee,  it  will  know  that  thou  art  a  son  of 
Adam,  and  it  will  fear  thee,  and  flee.  It  feareth  not  aught  in  the  sea  as  it  feareth 
a  son  of  Adam ;  for  when  it  hath  eaten  a  son  of  Adam,  it  dieth  instantly, 
because  the  fat  of  a  son  of  Adam  is  a  deadly  poison  to  this  kind  of  creature. 
And  we  collect  not  the  fat  of  its  liver  in  consequence  of  a  son  of  Adam's 
falling  into  the  sea  and  being  drowned :  for  his  form  becometh  altered,  and 
often  his  flesh  is  torn,  and  the  dendan  eateth  it,  imagining  it  to  be  of  some  of 
the  animals  of  the  sea,  and  dieth  :  then  we  happen  to  light  on  it  dead,  and  take 
the  fat  of  its  liver,  with  which  we  anoint  our  bodies,  and  we  go  about  in  the  sea. 
In  whatever  place  is  a  son  of  Adam,  if  there  be  in  that  place  a  hundred  or 
two  hundred  or  a  thousand  or  more  of  that  kind  of  creature,  and  they  hear  the  cry 
of  the  son  of  Adam,  all  of  them  die  immediately  at  hia  crying  once,  and  not  one  of 
them  can  move  from  its  place. 

Upon  this,  Abdalla  of  the  Land  said,  I  place  my  reliance  upon  God.  He  then 
pulled  ofi"  the  clothes  that  were  upon  him,  and,  having  dug  a  hole  on  the  shore  he 
buried  his  clothes;  after  which,  he  anointed  his  person  from  the  parting  of  his  hair 
to  his  feet  with  this  ointment.  Then  he  descended  into  the  water,  and  dived  ;  and 
he  opened  his  eyes,  and  the  water  injured  him  not.  He  walked  to  the  right  and  left ; 
and  if  he  would,  he  ascended  ;  and  if  he  would  he  descended  to  the  bottom.  He  saw 
the  water  of  the  sea  forming  as  it  were  a  tent  over  him,  and  it  injured  him  not.  And 
Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said  to  him.  What  seest  thou,  0  my  brother?  He  answered  him, 
I  see  what  is  good,  0  my  brother,  and  thou  hast  spoken  truth  in  that  which  thou 
hast  said ;  for  the  water  doth  not  injure  me.  Then  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said  to  him. 
Follow  me.  So  he  followed  him  ;  and  they  ceased  not  to  walk  from  place  to  place, 
while  he  saw  before  him,  on  his  right  and  on  his  left,  mountains  of  water,  and  he 
diverted  himself  with  the  view  of  them  and  with  the  view  of  the  different  kinds  of 
fish  that  were  sporting  in  the  sea,  some  great  and  some  small.  Among  them  were 
some  resembling  buffaloes,  and  some  resembling  oxen,  and  some  resembling  dogs,  and 
some  resembling  human  beings  ;  and  every  kind  to  which  they  drew  near  fled  at 
seeing  Abdalla  of  the  Land.  He  therefore  said  to  him  of  the  Sea,  0  my  brother, 
wherefore  do  I  see  every  kind  to  which  we  draw  near  flee  from  us?  And  he  answered 
him,  Through  fear  of  thee  ;  for  every  thing  that  God  hath  created  feareth  the  son  of 
Adam.  He  ceased  not  to  divert  himself  with  the  sight  of  the  wonders  of  the  sea  UB4;il 
they  came  to  a  high  mountain,  and  Abdalla  of  the  Land  walked  by  the  side  of  that 
mountain,  and  suddenly  he  heard  a  great  cry :  so  he  looked  aside,  and  he  saw  some- 
thing black  descending  upon  hira  from  that  mountain,  and  it  was  as  large  as  a 
camel,  or  larger,  and  cried  out.  He  therefore  said  to  his  companion,  What  is  this, 
0  my  brother?  He  answered  him.  This  is  the  dendan  :  it  is  descending  in  pursuit 
of  me,  desiring  to  devour  me:  so  cry  out  at  it,  0  my  brother,  before  it  reacheth  us: 
for  otherwise  it  will  seize  me,  and  devour  me.  Accordingly  Abdalla  of  the  Land 
cried  out  at  it,  and  lo,  it  fell  down  dead  ;  and  when  he  saw  it  dead,  he  said,  Extolled 
be  the  perfection  of  God  and  his  praise !  I  struck  it  not  with  a  sword,  nor  with  a 
knife  !  How  is  it  that,  with  the  enormity  of  this  creature,  it  could  not  bear  my  cry, 
but  died?  — But  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said  to  him.  Wonder  not:  for  by  Allah,  0  niy 
brother,  were  there  a  thousand  or  two  thousand  of  this  kind,  they  would  not  be  able 
to  endure  the  cry  of  a  son  of  Adam. 

They  then  walked  to  a  city,  and  they  saw  its  inhabitants  to  be  all  damsels,  no 
males  being  among  them.  So  Abdalla  of  the  Land  said,  0  my  brother,  what  is  this 
city,  and  what  are  these  damsels?  And  his  companion  answered  him.  This  is  the 
city  of  the  damsels  ;  for  its  inhabitants  are  of  the  damsels  of  the  Sea.  The  King  of 
the  Sea  banisheth  them  to  this  city.  Every  one  against  whom  he  is  incensed,  of  the 
damsels  of  the  Sea,  he  sendeth  hither,  and  she  cannot  come  forth  from  it ;  for  if  she 
came  forth  from  it,  any  of  the  beasts  of  the  Sea  that  saw  her  would  devour  her. 
But  in  other  cities  than  this  there  are  men  and  women.  Then  Abdalla  of  the 
47 


738  ABDALLA    OF   THE   LAND, 

Land  proceeded  to  divert  himself  with  the  view  of  these  damsels,  and  saw  that 
they  had  faces  like  moons,  and  hair  like  the  hair  of  women  ;  but  they  had  arms 
and  legs  in  the  fore  part  of  the  body,  and  tails  like  the  tails  of  fishes.  His  com- 
panion, having  diverted  him  with  the  view  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  city,  went 
forth  with  him,  and  walked  before  him  to  another  city,  which  he  saw  to  be  filled 
with  people,  females  and  males,  whose  forms  were  like  the  forms  of  the  damsels 
before  mentioned  ;  and  they  had  tails ;  but  they  had  no  selling  nor  buying  like  the 
people  of  the  land.  And  he  said,  0  my  brother,  how  do  they  manage  their  mar- 
riages? His  companion  answered  him.  They  do  not  all  marry  ;  for  we  are  not  all 
of  one  religion  :  among  us  are  Mahometans,  unitarians  ;  and  among  us  are  Christians 
and  Jews  and  other  sects :  and  those  of  us  who  marry  are  chiefly  the  Mahometans. 
Whoso  desireth  to  marry,  they  impose  upon  him,  as  a  dowry,  the  gift  of  a  certain 
number  of  different  kinds  of  fish,  which  he  catcheth  ;  as  many  as  a  thousand  or  two 
thousand,  or  more  or  less,  according  to  the  agreement  made  between  him  and  the 
father  of  the  wife.  And  when  he  bringeth  what  is  demanded,  the  family  of  the 
bridegroom  and  the  family  of  the  bride  assemble  and  eat  the  banquet.  Then  they 
introduce  him  to  his  wife.  And  after  that,  he  catcheth  fish,  and  feedeth  her  ;  or,  if 
he  be  unable,  she  catcheth  fish,  and  feedeth  him.  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  then  took  him 
to  another  city,  and  after  that  to  another,  and  so  on,  until  he  had  diverted  him  with 
the  sight  of  eighty  cities  ;  and  he  saw  the  inhabitants  of  each  city  to  be  unlike  the 
inhabitants  of  another  city:  and  he  said,  0  my  brother,  are  there  any  more  cities  in 
the  Sea?  His  companion  said,  And  what  hast  thou  seen  of  the  cities  of  the  Sea  and 
its  wonders?  By  the  generous,  benign,  merciful  Prophet,  were  I  to  divert  thee  for 
a  thousand  years,  every  day  with  the  sight  of  a  thousand  cities,  and  show  thee  in 
every  city  a  thousand  wonders,  I  should  not  show  thee  a  twenty-fourth  part  of  the 
cities  of  the  sea,  and  its  wonders.  I  have  only  diverted  thee  with  the  view  of  our 
own  region  and  our  land,  and  nothing  more.  —  So  Abdalla  of  the  Land  said  to  him, 

0  my  brother,  since  the  case  is  so,  enough  for  me  is  that  with  the  sight  of  which  I 
have  diverted  myself;  for  I  have  become  weary  of  eating  fish,  and  have  spent  eighty 
days  in  thy  company,  during  which  thou  hast  not  fed  me,  morning  and  evening, 
with  aught  but  raw  fish,  neither  broiled  nor  cooked  in  any  way.  But  thou  hast  not 
diverted  me  with  a  sight  of  thy  city.  —  He  replied.  As  to  my  city,  we  have  gone  a 
considerable  distance  beyond  it,  and  it  is  near  the  shore  from  which  we  came. 

Then  he  returned  with  him  to  his  city,  and  when  he  came  to  it,  he  said  to  him. 
This  is  my  city.  And  he  saw  it  to  be  a  small  city  in  comparison  with  those  with 
the  sight  of  which  he  had  diverted  himself.  He  entered  the  city,  accompanied  by 
Abdalla  of  the  Sea,  who  proceeded  until  he  came  to  a  cavern,  when  he  said  to  him. 
This  is  my  house  ;  and  all  the  houses  of  this  city  are  likewise  caverns,  great  and 
small,  in  the  mountains,  as  are  also  all  those  of  all  the  cities  of  the  Sea.  For  every 
one  who  desireth  to  make  for  himself  a  house  goeth  to  the  King,  and  saith  to  him, 

1  desire  to  make  me  a  house  in  such  a  place.  Thereupon  the  King  sendeth  with 
him  a  tribe  offish  called  the  peckers,  assigning  as  their  wages  a  certain  quantity  of 
fish  ;  and  they  have  beaks  which  crumble  rock.  They  come  to  the  mountain  that 
the  intended  owner  of  the  house  hath  chosen,  and  excavate  in  it  the  house  with 
their  beaks  ;  and  the  owner  of  the  house  catcheth  fish  for  them,  and  putteth  them 
into  their  mouths,  until  the  cavern  is  completed,  when  they  depart,  and  the  owner 
of  the  house  taketh  up  his  abode  in  it.  All  the  people  of  the  Sea  are  in  this  state: 
they  transact  not  affairs  of  commerce,  one  with  another,  nor  do  they  serve  one  an- 
other, save  by  means  of  fish  ;  and  their  food  is  fish.  —  Then  he  said  to  him,  Enter. 
So  he  entered.  And  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  said,  0  my  daughter  !  And  lo,  his  daughter 
advanced  to  him.  She  had  a  fiice  round  like  the  moon,  and  long  hair  and  heavy 
hips,  and  black-edged  eyes  and  a  slender  waist;  but  she  had  a  tail.  And  when  she 
saw  Abdalla  of  the  Land  with  her  father,  she  said  to  him,  0  my  father,  what  is  this 
tail-less  creature  whom  thou  hast  brought  with  thee?  He  answered  her,  0  my 
daughter,    tliis  is  my  companion  of  the  land,  from  whom  I  used  to  bring  thee  the 


AND   ABDALLA   OF   THE   SEA.  739 

fruits  of  the  land.  Come  hither;  salute  him. — She  therefore  advanced  and  saluted 
him,  with  an  eloquent  tongue  and  fluent  speech  ;  and  her  father  said  to  her,  Bring 
some  food  for  our  guest,  by  whose  arrival  a  blessing  hath  betided  us.  And  she 
brought  him  two  large  fishes,  each  of  them  like  a  lamb;  and  he  said  to  him,  Eat. 
So  he  ate  in  spite  of  himself,  by  reason  of  his  hunger ;  for  he  was  weary  of  eating 
fish,  and  they  had  nothing  else.  And  but  a  short  time  had  elapsed  when  the  wife 
of  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  approached.  She  was  of  beautiful  form,  and  with  her  were 
two  children,  each  child  having  in  his  hand  a  young  fish,  of  which  he  was  craunch- 
ing  bits  as  a  man  crauncheth  bits  of  a  cucumber.  And  when  she  saw  Abdalla  of 
the  Land  with  her  husband,  she  said,  What  is  this  tail-less  creature?  The  two  chil- 
dren also  advanced  with  their  sister  and  their  mother,  and  they  looked  at  Abdalla 
of  the  Land,  and  said.  Yea,  by  Allah  :  verily  he  is  tail-less!  And  they  laughed  at 
him.  So  Abd'alla  of  the  Land  said  to  his  companion,  0  my  brother,  hast  thou 
brought  me  to  make  me  a  laughing-stock  to  thy  children  and  thy  wife?  Abdalla 
of  the  Sea  answered  him.  Pardon,  0  my  brother:  for  he  who  hath  no  tail  existeth 
not  among  us ;  and  when  one  without  a  tail  is  found,  the  Sultan  taketh  him  to  laugh 
at  him.  But,  0  my  brother,  be  not  displeased  with  these  young  children  and  the 
woman,  since  their  intellects  are  defective.  —  Then  he  cried  out  at  his  family,  and 
said  to  them.  Be  ye  silent!  So  they  feared,  and  were  silent;  and  he  proceeded  to 
appease  his  mind. 

And  while  he  was  conversing  with  him,  lo,  ten  persons,  great,  strong,  and  stout, 
advanced  to  him,  and  said,  0  Abdalla,  it  hath  been  told  to  the  King  that  thou  hast 
with  thee  a  tail-less  creature,  of  the  tail-less  creatures  of  the  land.  So  he  replied, 
Yes ;  and  he  is  this  man  ;  for  he  is  my  companion  :  he  hath  come  to  mo.  as  a  guest, 
and  I  desire  to  take  him  back  to  the  land.  But  they  said  to  him.  We  cannot  go 
save  with  him  ;  and  if  thou  desire  to  say  aught,  arise  and  take  him,  and  come  with 
him  before  the  King,  and  what  thou  sayest  to  us,  say  to  the  King.  Therefore  Ab- 
dalla of  the  Sea  said  to  him,  0  my  brother,  the  excuse  is  manifest,  and  it  is  impos- 
sible for  us  to  disobey  the  King;  but  go  with  me  to  the  King,  and  I  will  endeavour 
to  liberate  thee  from  him,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God.  Fear  not;  for  when  he  seeth 
thee,  he  will  know  that  thou  art  of  the  children  of  the  land  ;  and  when  he  knoweth 
that  thou  art  of  the  land,  he  will  without  doubt  treat  thee  with  honour,  and  restore 
thee  to  the  land.  So  Abdalla  of  the  Land  replied.  It  is  thine  to  determine  ;  and  I 
will  place  my  dependence  upon  God,  and  go  with  thee.  He  then  took  him  and  pro- 
ceeded with  him  until  he  came  to  the  King;  and  when  the  King  saw  him,  he  laughed, 
and  said.  Welcome  to  the  tail-less!  And  every  one  who  was  around  the  King  began 
to  laugh  at  him,  and  to  say,  Yea,  by  Allah :  verily  he  is  tail-less !  Then  Abdalla 
of  the  Sea  advanced  to  the  King,  and  acquainted  him  with  his  circumstances,  and 
said  to  him.  This  is  of  the  children  of  the  land,  and  he  is  my  companion,  and  he 
cannot  live  among  us  ;  for  he  loveth  not  the  eating  offish  unless  it  be  fried  or  other- 
wise cooked  ;  and  I  desire  that  thou  give  me  permission  to  restore  him  to  the  land. 
The  King  therefore  replied,  Since  the  case  is  so,  and  he  cannot  live  among  us,  I 
give  thee  permission  to  restore  him  to  his  place  after  entertainment.  Then  the 
King  said.  Bring  to  him  the  banquet.  And  they  brought  him  fish  of  various  shapes 
and  colours,  and  he  ate  in  obedience  to  the  command  of  the  King;  after  which  the 
King  said  to  him,  Demand  of  me  what  thou  wilt.  And  Abdalla  of  the  Land  re- 
plied, I  demand  of  thee  that  thou  give  me  jewels.  So  he  said.  Take  ye  him  to  the 
jewel-house,  and  let  him  select  what  he  requireth.  Accordingly  his  companion 
took  him  to  the  jewel-house,  and  he  selected  as  many  as  he  desired.  He  then  re- 
turned with  him  to  his  city,  and,  producing  to  him  a  purse,  he  said  to  him,  Take 
this  as  a  deposit,  and  convey  it  to  the  tomb  of  the  Prophet,  may  God  favour  and 
preserve  him  !     And  he  took  it,  not  knowing  what  was  in  it. 

Then  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  went  forth  with  him,  to  conduct  him  to  the  land  ;  and 
he  saw,  in  his  way,  people  engaged  in  singing  and  festivity,  and  a  table  of  fish 
spread  ;  and  the  people  were  eating  and  singing,  and  in  a  state  of  great  rejoicing. 


740  ABDALLA    OF   THE   LAND. 

80  he  said  to  Abdalla  of  the  Sea,  Wherefore  are  these  people  in  a  state  of  great  re- 
joicing ?  Is  a  wedding  being  celebrated  among  them  ? — And  he  of  the  sea  answered, 
There  is  no  wedding  being  celebrated  among  them ;  but  a  person  among  them  is 
dead.  Abdalla  of  the  Land  therefore  said  to  him,  Do  ye,  when  a  person  dieth 
among  you,  rejoice  for  him,  and  sing  and  eat?  His  companion  answered.  Yes. 
And  ye,  0  people  of  the  land,  he  added,  what  do  ye  ?  Abdalla  of  the  Land  an- 
swered. When  a  person  among  us  dieth,  we  mourn  for  him,  and  weep,  and  the 
women  slap  their  faces,  and  rend  the  bosoms  of  their  garments,  in  grief  for  him 
who  is  dead.  And  upon  this,  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  stared  at  Abdalla  of  the  Land, 
and  said.  Give  me  the  deposit.  So  he  gave  it  to  him.  Then  Abdalla  of  the  Sea 
took  him  forth  to  the  land,  and  said  to  him,  I  have  broken  oif  my  companionship 
with  thee,  and  my  friendship  for  thee,  and  after  this  day  thou  shalt  not  see  me,  nor 
will  I  see  thee. — Wherefore,  said  Abdalla  of  the  Land,  are  these  words  ?  Abdalla 
of  the  Sea  said,  Are  ye  not,  O  people  of  the  land,  a  deposit  of  God? — Yes,  answered 
he  of  the  land.  And  the  other  rejoined,  Then  how  is  it  that  it  is  not  agreeable  to 
you  that  God  should  take  his  deposit,  but  on  the  contrary  ye  weep  for  it?  And 
how  should  I  give  thee  the  deposit  for  the  Prophet  (may  God  favour  and  preserve 
him  !),  seeing  that  ye,  when  the  new-born  child  eometh  to  you,  rejoice  in  it,  though 
God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  putteth  into  it  the  soul  as  a  deposit?  Then,  when 
He  taketh  that  soul,  how  is  it  that  it  grieveth  you,  and  ye  weep  and  mourn  ?  Such 
being  the  case,  we  have  no  need  of  your  companionship.  —  He  then  left  him,  and 
went  back  to  the  sea. 

So  upon  this,  Abdalla  of  the  Land  put  on  his  clothes,  and  took  his  jewels,  and 
repaired  to  the  King,  who  met  him  with  a  longing  desire  to  see  him,  and  rejoiced  at 
his  return,  and  said  to  him.  How  art  thou,  0  my  son-in-law,  and  what  hath  been  the 
cause  of  thine  absence  from  me  during  this  period  ?  He  therefore  told  him  his  story, 
and  what  he  had  seen  of  the  wonders  in  the  sea  ;  whereat  the  King  wondered.  He 
acquainted  him  also  with  that  which  Abdalla  of  the  Sea  had  said ;  and  he  replied, 
Thou  art  the  person  who  erred,  in  thy  giving  this  information.  Abdalla  of  the 
Land  persevered  for  a  length  of  time  in  going  to  the  shore  of  the  sea,  and  calling 
out  to  Abdalla  of  the  Sea;  but  he  answered  him  not,  nor  came  to  him.  So  Abdalla 
of  the  Land  relinquished  the  hope  of  seeing  him  again,  and  he  and  the  King  his 
father-in-law  and  their  family  resided  in  the  most  happy  state  and  in  the  practice  of 
good  deeds  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of 
companions,  and  they  all  died. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Living  who  dieth 
not,  and  to  whom  belongeth  the  dominion  that  is  apparent  and  the  dominion  that  is 
hidden,  and  who  is  able  to  accomplish  everything,  and  is  gracious  and  knowing  with 
respect  to  his  servants ! 


THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA.  741 


CHAPTER   XXIX. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Nine  Hundred  and  Fifty-second  Night,  and  ending  with  part  of 
the  Nine  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth. 


THE  STORY  OF  IBRAHIM  AND  GEMILA. 

Casib,  the  lord  of  Egypt,  had  a  son,  named  Ibrahim,  than  whom  there  was  none 
more  beautiful ;  and  by  reason  of  his  fear  for  him,  he  would  not  allow  him  to  go 
out,  save  to  the  Friday  prayers.  Now  he  passed,  going  forth  from  the  Friday  prayers, 
by  an  old  man,  with  whom  were  many  books,  and  he  alighted  from  his  horse,  and 
seated  himself  by  him,  and,  turning  over  the  books  and  examining  them,  he  saw  in 
one  of  them  a  picture  of  a  woman,  which  almost  spoke:  none  more  beautiful  than 
she  had  been  seen  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.  Thereupon  his  reason  was  captivated, 
and  his  mind  was  stupified,  and  he  said  to  the  man,  O  sheikh,  sell  me  this  picture. 
And  he  kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  replied,  0  my  lord,  without  price.  So  he 
gave  him  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold,  and  took  the  book  in  which  was  this  picture;  and 
he  occupied  himself  with  looking  at  it,  and  weeping,  night  and  day.  He  abstained 
from  food  and  drink  and  sleep,  and  he  said  within  himself,  Had  I  asked  the  book- 
seller respecting  the  painter  of  this  picture,  who  he  was,  probably  he  had  informed  me ; 
and  if  the  original  of  it  be  living,  I  might  gain  access  to  her  ;  and  if  it  be  a  picture  not 
representing  any  particular  person,  I  would  cease  to  be  enamoured  of  it,  and  not 
torment  myself  on  account  of  a  thing  that  hath  no  real  existence.  So  when  the.  next 
Friday  arrived,  he  passed  by  the  bookseller,  who  rose  up  to  him,  and  he  said  to  hini., 
0  uncle,  inform  me  who  painted  this  picture.  He  replied,  0  my  lord,  a  man  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Bagdad,  named  Aboulcasim  Sandalini,  who  resideth  in  a  quarter 
called  the  quarter  of  Elkark,  painted  it,  and  I  know  not  whose  portrait  it  is.  The 
youth  therefore  arose  and  left  him,  and  he  acquainted  not  any  one  of  the  people  of 
the  empire  with  his  state. 

He  performed  the  Friday  prayers,  and  returned  to  the  palace,  and  taking  a  leathern 
bag,  filled  it  with  jewels  and  gold,  and  the  value  of  the  jewels  was  thirty  thousand 
pieces  of  gold.  He  then  waited  until  the  morning,  and  went  forth,  not  having 
informed  any  one;  and  he  overtook  a  caravan,  and  saw  a  Bedouin,  and  said  to  him, 
0  uncle,  what  distance  is  between  me  and  Bagdad?  He  replied,  0  my  son,  where 
art  thou,  and  where  is  Bagdad?  Verily  between  thee  and  it  is  a  space  of  two 
months'  journey. — And  the  youth  said  to  him,  0  uncle,  if  thou  wilt  conduct  me  to 
Bagdad,  I  will  give  thee  a  hundred  pieces  of  gold  and  this  mare  that  is  beneath  me. 
the  value  of  M'hich  is  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  Upon  this,  the  Bedouin  replied, 
God  is  witness  of  what  we  say.  But  thou  shalt  not  lodge  this  night  save  with  me. 
And  the  young  man  assented  to  that  which  he  said,  ana  passed  the  night  with  him  ; 
and  when  daybreak  appeared,  the  Bedouin  took  him,  and  proceeded  with  him  quickly 
by  a  near  way,  in  eagerness  for  that  mare  which  he  had  promised  to  give  him.  They 
ceased  not  to  journey  on  until  they  arrived  at  the  walls  of  Bagdad,  when  the  Bedouin 
said  to  him,  Praise  be  to  God  for  safety!  0  my  master,  this  is  Bagdad.  —  So  the 
young  man  rejoiced  exceedingly,  and  he  alighted  from  the  mare,  and  gave  her  to  the 
Bedouin,  her  and  the  hundred  pieces  of  gold. 


742  THB    STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA. 

lie  then  took  tlie  leathern  bag,  and  walked  on,  inquiring  for  the  quarter  of  Elkark, 
and  for  the  place  of  abode  of  the  merchants,  and  destiny  drove  him  to  a  by-street  in 
which  were  ten  chambers,  five  facing  five,  and  at  the  upper  end  of  the  street  was  an 
entrance  with  two  folding  doors,  and  with  a  ring  of  silver.  At  this  entrance  were 
two  benches  of  marble,  spread  with  the  best  of  furniture,  and  upon  one  of  them  was 
sitting  a  man  of  reverend  appearance,  of  handsome  form,  and  clad  in  sumptuous 
apparel,  before  whom  were  five  mamlouks,  like  moons.  When  the  young  man  saw 
this,  he  knew  the  indication  which  the  bookseller  had  mentioned  to  him  ;  and  he 
saluted  the  man,  who  returned  his  salutation,  and  welcomed  him,  and  seated  him. 
and  asked  him  respecting  his  state.  So  the  young  man  said  to  him,  I  am  a  stranger, 
and  I  desire  of  thy  beneficence  that  thou  wouldst  seek  for  me,  in  this  street,  a  house 
in  which  I  may  reside.  And  the  man  cried  out,  saying,  0  Gazala! — whereupon  a 
slave-girl  came  forth  to  him,  and  said.  At  thy  service,  0  my  master !  And  he  said, 
Take  with  thee  some  servants,  and  go  ye  to  a  chamber,  and  clean  it,  and  spread 
furniture  in  it,  and  put  in  it  all  that  is  requisite,  of  vessels  and  other  things,  for  the 
sake  of  this  young  man,  the  beautiful  in  form.  Accordingly  the  slave-girl  went 
forth,  and  did  as  he  had  ordered  her  ;  after  which  the  sheikh  took  him  and  showed 
him  the  dwelling;  and  the  young  man  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  how  much  is  the 
rent  of  this  dwelling?  He  answered  him,  0  comely-ficed,  I  will  not  receive  from 
thee  rent  as  long  as  thou  remainest  in  it.  The  young  man  therefore  thanked  him 
for  that.  Then  the  sheikh  called  another  slave-girl;  and  there  came  forth  a  slave- 
girl  like  the  sun,  and  he  said  to  her.  Bring  the  apparatus  for  chess.  So  she  brought 
it,  and  a  mamlouk  spread  the  chess-table,  and  the  sheikh  said  to  the  young  man. 
Wilt  thou  play  with  me?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  he  played  with  him  several 
times,  and  the  young  man  beat  him.  He  therefore  said.  Thou  hast  done  well,  0 
young  man,  and  thy  qualities  are  perfect.  By  Allah,  there  is  not  in  Bagdad  the 
person  who  can  beat  me,  and  thou  hast  beaten  me. 

And  after  they  had  prepared  the  dwelling  with  the  furniture  and  everything  else 
that  was  requisite,  the  sheikh  delivered  to  him  the  keys,  and  said  to  him,  O  my 
master,  wilt  thou  not  enter  into  my  abode  and  eat  of  my  bread,  that  we  may  be 
honoured  by  thee  ?  And  the  young  man  assented  to  this,  and  went  with  him  ;  and 
when  they  came  to  the  house,  he  beheld  a  handsome,  beautiful  house,  decoratted  with 
gold,  and  in  it  were  all  kinds  of  pictures,  and  varieties  of  furniture  and  other  things, 
such  as  the  tongue  cannot  describe.  The  sheikh  then  complimented  him,  and  gave 
orders  to  bring  the  food  ;  whereupon  they  brought  a  table  of  the  manufacture  of 
Sana  of  Arabia  Felix,  and  it  was  put,  and  they  brought  extraordinary  dishes  of  food, 
than  which  there  existed  none  more  excellent,  nor  any  more  delicious.  So  the  young 
man  ate  until  he  was  satisfied,  and  washed  his  hands;  and  he  proceeded  to  look  at 
the  house  and  the  furniture.  And  after  that,  he  looked  for  the  leathern  bag  that 
was  with  him  ;  and  saw  it  not.  So  he  said.  There  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in 
God,  the  High,  the  Great!  I  have  eaten  a  morsel  worth  a  piece  of  silver  or  two 
pieces  of  silver,  and  there  hath  gone  from  me  a  leathern  bag  containing  thirty  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold.  But  I  seek  the  aid  of  God. — Then  he  was  silent,  and  was  un- 
able to  speak;  and  the  sheikh  again  caused  the  apparatus  for  chess  to  be  brought 
forward,  and  said  to  the  young  man.  Wilt  thou  play  with  me?  He  answered.  Yes: 
— and  played,  and  the  sheikh  beat  him  ;  whereupon  the  young  man  said.  Thou  hast 
done  well : — and  he  gave  over  playing,  and  arose.  So  the  sheikh  said  to  him,  What 
aileth  thee,  0  young  man  ?  He  answered,  I  desire  the  leathern  bag.  And  upon  this 
the  sheikh  arose  and  brought  it  out  to  him,  and  said,  Lo,  here  it  is,  0  my  master. 
Wilt  thou  resume  the  playing  with  me? — He  answered.  Yes.  And  he  played  with 
him,  and  the  young  man  beat  him.  The  man  tiierefore  said,  When  thy  mind  was 
occupied  with  thinking  of  the  leathern  bag,  I  beat  thee ;  and  when  I  had  brought  it 
to  thee,  thou  beatest  me.  Then  he  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  inform  me  from  what 
country  thou  art.  So  he  answered,  From  Egypt.  And  the  sheikh  said  to  him.  And 
•what  is  the  reason  of  thy  coming  to  Bagdad  ?     He  therefore  produced   to  him  the 


THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA.  743 

picture,  and  said,  Know,  0  uncle,  that  I  am  the  son  of  Casib,  the  lord  of  Egypt ;  and 
I  saw  this  picture  in  the  possession  of  a  bookseller,  and  my  reason  was  captivated  • 
so  I  asked  respecting  the  painter  of  it,  and  it  was  told  me  that  the  painter  of  it  was 
a  man  in  the  quarter  of  Elkark,  named  Aboulcasim  Sandalani,  in  a  street  called 
Darb  el-Zafaran.  I  therefore  took  with  me  some  wealth,  and  came  alone,  no  one 
knowing  of  my  case ;  and  I  desire  of  thy  perfect  beneficence  that  thou  wouldst 
direct  me  to  him,  in  order  that  I  may  ask  him  the  cause  of  his  painting  this  picture, 
and  whose  portrait  it  is;  and  whatsoever  he  shall  desire  of  me,  I  will  give  him  it. 

Upon  this,  the  sheikh  said.  By  Allah,  0  my  son,  I  am  Aboulcasim  Sandalani,  and 
this  is  a  wonderful  thing.  How  is  it  that  destiny  hath  driven  thee  to  me? — And 
when  the  young  man  heard  his  words,  he  rose  to  liim  and  embraced  him,  and  kissed 
his  head  and  his  hands,  and  said  to  him.  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  tell  me 
whose  portrait  it  is.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  arose  and  opened 
a  closet,  and  took  forth  from  it  a  njjmber  of  books  in  which  he  had  painted  this 
picture,  and  said.  Know,  0  my  son,  fhat  the  original  of  this  portrait  is  the  daughter 
of  my  paternal  uncle.  She  is  in  Balsora,  and  her  father  io  governor  of  Balsora.  He  is 
named  Abouleis,  and  she  is  named  Gemila  ;  and  there  is  not  on  the  face  of  the  earth  a 
person  more  beautiful  than  she  ;  but  she  is  averse  from  men,  and  cannot  bear  the  men- 
tion of  a  man  in  her  company.  I  went  to  my  uncle,  desiring  that  he  should  marry  me 
to  her,  and  I  was  lavish  of  wealth  to  him  ;  but  he  consented  not  to  my  proposal ;  and 
when  his  daughter  knew  thereof,  she  was  enraged,  and  sent  to  me  a  message,  saying 
in  it.  If  thou  have  sense,  remain  not  in  this  city  ;  for  if  thou  do,  thou  wilt  perish,  and 
thy  sin  will  be  on  thine  own  neck.  And  she  is  a  virago  among  viragos.  I  therefore 
went  forth  from  Balsora  with  broken  heart,  and  I  painted  this  portrait  in  the  books, 
and  dispersed  them  in  the  countries,  thinking  that  they  might  fall  into  the  hand  of  a 
young  man  of  beautiful  form,  like  thee,  and  he  might  contrive  means  of  gaining  access 
to  her  ;  for  perhaps  she  would  become  enamoured  of  him  ;  and  I  would  previously  ex- 
act of  him  a  promise  that,  when  he  should  have  gained  possession  of  her,  he  should 
show  her  to  me,  if  he  only  granted  me  a  look  from  a  distance.  So  when  Ibrahim  the 
son  of  Casib  heard  his  words,  he  hung  down  his  head  awhile,  meditating.  And  San- 
dalini  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  I  have  not  seen  in  Bagdad  any  one  more  beautiful  than 
thou  ;  and  I  imagine  that  she,  if  she  see  thee,  will  love  thee.  Canst  thou  then,  if  thou 
obtain  an  interview  with  her,  and  get  possession  of  her,  show  her  to  me,  and  grant 
me  even  a  look  from  a  distance? — He  answered.  Yes.  And  the  sheikh  said.  Since 
the  case  is  so,  reside  with  me  until  thou  shalt  set  forth.  But  the  young  man  replied, 
I  cannot  remain  ;  for  an  exceeding  fire  is  in  my  heart  on  account  of  my  passion  for 
her.  So  the  sheikh  said  to  him.  Wait  until  I  prepare  for  thee  a  vessel  in  the  course 
of  three  days,  that  thou  mayest  go  in  it  to  Balsora.  He  therefore  waited  until  he 
had  prepared  for  him  a  vessel,  and  put  in  it  all  that  he  required  of  food  and  drink 
and  other  things :  and  after  the  three  days  the  sheikh  said  to  the  young  man,  Pre- 
pare for  the  voyage ;  for  I  have  fitted  out  for  thee  a  vessel,  in  which  are  all  things 
that  thou  requires!,  and  the  vessel  is  my  property,  and  the  boatmen  are  of  my  ser- 
vants, and  in  the  vessel  is  what  will  sufiice  thee  until  thou  shalt  return  ;  and  I  have 
charged  the  boatmen  to  serve  thee  till  thou  shalt  return  in  safety. 

So  the  young  man  arose,  and  embarked  in  the  vessel,  bade  farewell  to  the  sheikh, 
and  proceeded  until  he  arrived  at  Balsora,  when  he  took  forth  a  hundred  pieces  of 
gold  for  the  boatmen  ;  but  they  said  to  him.  We  have  received  the  pay  from  our 
master.  He  however  replied.  Receive  it  as  a  present,  and  I  will  not  inform  him  of 
it.  They  therefore  received  it  from  him,  and  prayed  for  him.  The  young  man  then 
entered  Balsora,  and  asked  where  was  the  place  of  abode  of  the  merchants ;  where- 
upon they  answered  him,  In  a  khan  called  the  Khan  of  Ilamdan.  So  he  walked  on 
until  he  came  to  the  market  in  which  was  the  khan  ;  and  the  eyes  of  the  people  were 
cast  upon  him,  gazing  at  him,  on  account  of  his  excessive  beauty  and  loveliness. 
Then  he  entered  the  khan  with  a  boatman,  and  inquired  for  the  door-keeper.  They 
therefore  directed  him  to  him ;  and  he  saw  him  to  be  an  old,  reverend  sheikh.     He 


744  THE    STORY    OF    IBRAHIM    AND    GEMILA. 

saluted  him,  and  the  door-keeper  returned  his  salutation  ;  and  he  Baid,  O  uncle,  hast 
thou  an  elegant  chamber?  He  answered.  Yes;  —  and,  taking  him,  together  with 
the  boatman,  he  opened  for  them  an  elegant  chamber,  decorated  with  gold,  and  said, 
0  young  man,  this  chamber  is  suitable  to  thee.  And  thereupon  the  young  man  took 
forth  two  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  him.  Receive  these  two  as  the  gratuity  for  the 
key.  So  he  took  them,  and  prayed  for  him.  And  the  young  man  ordered  the  boat- 
man to  return  to  the  vessel.  He  then  entered  the  chamber,  and  the  door-keeper  of 
the  khan  remained  with  him,  and  served  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  happi- 
ness hath  betided  us  by  thy  coming.  And  the  young  man  gave  him  a  piece  of  gold, 
saying  to  him,  Buy  for  us  with  it  some  bread  and  meat  and  sweetmeat  and  wine. 
Accordingly  he  took  it,  and  repaired  to  the  market,  and  returned  to  him,  having 
bought  those  things  for  ten  pieces  of  silver,  and  gave  him  the  remainder.  But  the 
young  man  said  to  him,  Expend  it  upon  thyself.  And  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan 
rejoiced  thereat  exceedingly.  Then  the  young  man  ate,  of  the  things  that  he  had 
demanded,  one  cake  of  bread  with  a  little  savory  food,  and  said  to  the  door-keeper 
of  the  khan,  Take  this  to  the  people  of  thy  dwelling.  He  therefore  took  it,  and  went 
with  it  to  the  people  of  his  dwelling,  and  said  to  them,  I  imagine  not  that  any  one 
on  the  face  of  the  earth  is  more  generous  than  the  young  man  who  hath  taken  up  his 
abode  with  us  this  day,  or  more  sweet  than  he ;  and  if  he  remain  with  us,  richness 
will  betide  us. 

Then  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  went  in  to  Ibrahim,  and  saw  him  weeping:  so 
he  sat,  and  began  to  rub  and  press  gently  his  feet ;  after  which  he  kissed  them,  and 
said,  0  my  master,  wherefore  dost  thou  weep?  May  God  not  cause  thee  to  weep  !-— 
And  the  young  man  said,  0  uncle,  I  desire  to  drink  with  thee  this  night.  The  door- 
keeper therefore  replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  the  young  man  took  forth  and  gave 
him  five  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to  him.  Buy  for  us,  with  them,  fruits  and  wine.  He 
then  gave  him  five  other  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  him.  Buy  for  us,  with  these, 
dried  fruits  and  perfumes  and  five  fat  fowls,  and  bring  me  a  lute.  So  he  went  forth 
and  bought  for  him  what  he  had  ordered  him  to  get,  and  said  to  his  wife.  Prepare 
this  food,  and  strain  for  us  this  wine,  and  let  that  which  thou  shalt  prepare  be  ex- 
cellent ;  for  this  young  man  hath  extended  to  all  of  us  his  beneficence.  His  wife 
therefore  did  as  he  had  commanded  her  to  the  utmost  of  his  desire,  and  he  took  the 
provisions  and  went  in  with  them  to  Ibrahim  the  son  of  the  Sultan.  So  they  ate  and 
drank  and  were  merry;  and  afterwards  the  you-ng  man  wept  and  recited  two 
verses:  —  Then  he  uttered  a  great  groan  and  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  whereat  the  door- 
keeper of  the  khan  sighed;  and  when  he  recovered,  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master, 
what  causeth  thee  to  weep,  and  who  is  she  to  whom  thou  alludest  in  these  verses ; 
for  she  cannot  be  aught  but  as  dust  to  thy  feet?  And  the  young  man  arose,  and, 
taking  forth  a  wrapper  containing  some  of  the  most  beautiful  of  women's  apparel, 
said  to  him,  Take  this  to  thy  harem.  So  he  received  it  from  him,  and  gave  it  to  his 
wife,  who  thereupon  came  with  him,  and  went  in  to  the  young  man  ;  and  lo,  he  was 
weeping.  She  therefore  said  to  him.  Thou  bast  crumbled  our  livers.  Tell  us  then 
what  beautiful  woman  thou  desirest,  and  she  shall  not  be  aught  but  a  slave  in  thine 
abode. — And  he  said  (addressing  the  door-keeper),  0  uncle,  know  that  I  am  the  son 
of  Casib,  the  lord  of  Egypt,  and  that  I  am  enamoured  of  Gemila,  the  daughter  of 
Abouleis,  the  chief.  So  the  wife  of  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  said,  Allah  !  Allah  ! 
0  my  brother,  abstain  from  uttering  these  words,  lest  any  one  hear  us,  and  we  perish ; 
for  there  is  not  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  any  one  more  violent  than  she,  and  no  one 
can  mention  to  her  the  name  of  a  man,  since  she  is  averse  from  men.  Then,  O  my 
son,  turn  from  her  to  another.  —  And  when  he  heard  her  words,  he  wept  violently. 
The  dooi--kceper  of  the  khan  therefore  said  to  him,  I  have  nought  but  my  life  to  give, 
and  I  will  expose  it  to  peril  for  love  of  thee,  and  contrive  for  thee  a  plan  by  which 
thy  desire  may  be  attained.  Then  they  both  went  forth  from  him.  And  when  the 
morning  came,  the  young  man  entered  the  bath,  and  put  on  a  suit  of  the  apparel  of 
Kings.;  and   lo,  the   door-keeper  of  the  khan,  with   his  wife,  advanced  to  him,  and 


THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA.  745 

said  to  him,  0  my  master,  know  that  here  is  a  tailor,  who  is  humpbacked,  and  he 
is  the  tailor  of  the  lady  Gemila.  So  repair  to  him,  and  acquaint  him  with  thy  state, 
and  perhaps  he  will  direct  thee  to  a  means  of  thine  attaining  thy  desires. 

The  youth  therefore  arose  and  went  to  the  shop  of  the  humpbacked  tailor:  and  he 
went  in  to  him,  and  found  with  him  ten  mamlouks,  like  moons.  He  saluted  them, 
and  they  returned  his  salutation,  and  were  delighted  with  him,  and  they  seated  him, 
and  were  confounded  at  the  sight  of  his  charms  and  his  loveliness.  And  when  the 
humpback  saw  him,  his  mind  was  amazed  at  the  beauty  of  his  form.  The  young 
man  then  said  to  him,  I  desire  of  thee  that  thou  sew  for  me  my  pocket.  So  the 
tailor  advanced,  and  took  a  needleful  of  silk,  and  sewed  it.  And  the  young  man  had 
torn  his  pocket  purposely.  And  when  the  tailor  had  sewed  it,  he  took  forth  for  him 
five  pieces  of  gold,  and  gave  them  to  him  ;  after  which,  he  departed  to  his  chamber. 
The  tailor  therefore  said.  What  have  I  done  for  this  young  man,  that  he  hath  given 
me  the  five  pieces  of  gold?  Then  he  passed  the  night  thinking  upon  his  beauty  and 
his  generosity,  And  when  the  morning  came,  the  young  man  repaired  again  to  the 
shop  of  the  humpbacked  tailor.  He  entered  and  saluted  him,  and  he  returned  his 
salutation,  treated  him  with  honour,  and  welcomed  him  ;  and  when  the  young  man 
sat,  he  said  to  the  humpback,  0  uncle,  sew  for  me  my  pocket ;  for  it  hath  been  torn 
a  second  time.  So  he  replied,  0  my  son,  on  the  head  and  the  eye.  And  he  advanced, 
and  sewed  it;  and  the  young  man  gave  him  ten  pieces  of  gold.  The  tailor  therefore 
took  them,  and  became  amazed  at  his  beauty  and  generosity,  and  said.  By  Allah,  O 
young  man,  there  must  be  some  reason  for  this  conduct  of  thine,  and  this  is  not  for 
the  sewing  of  a  pocket.  But  inform  me  of  the  truth  of  thy  case. — And  he  replied,  0 
uncle,  this  is  not  the  place  for  talking :  for  my  story  is  wonderful,  and  my  case  is 
extraordinary.  Upon  this,  the  tailor  said.  Since  the  case  is  so,  arise  and  come  with 
us  into  a  private  place.  Then  the  tailor  arose,  and,  taking  his  hand,  entered  with 
him  a  chamber  within  the  shop,  and  said  to  him,  0  young  man,  tell  me.  So  he 
related  to  him  his  case  from  first  to  last;  and  he  was  amazed  at  his  words,  and  said, 

0  young  man,  fear  God  with  respect  to  thy  case  :  for  she  whom  thou  hast  mentioned 
is  a  virago,  averse  from  men.  Therefore  guard,  0  my  brother,  thy  tongue ;  other- 
wise thou  wilt  destroy  thyself. — And  when  the  young  man  heard  his  words,  he  wept 
violently,  and,  keeping  hold  of  the  skirt  of  the  tailor,  he  said.  Protect  me,  0  uncle  ; 
for  I  am  perishing;  and  I  have  left  my  kingdom  and  the  kingdom  of  my  father  and 
my  grandfather,  and  become  in  the  land  a  stranger,  solitary  :  and  I  have  not  patience 
to  remain  absent  from  her. 

So  when  the  tailor  saw  what  had  betided  him,  he  pitied  him,  and  said,  0  my  son, 

1  have  nought  but  my  life  to  give,  and  I  will  expose  it  to  peril  for  love  of  thee ;  for- 
thou  hast  wounded  my  heart.  But  to-morrow  I  will  contrive  for  thee  a  plan  by 
which  thy  heart  shall  be  comforted.  He  therefore  prayed  for  him,  and -departed  to 
the  khan  ;  and  he  told  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  what  the  tailor  had  said,  where- 
upon he  replied.  He  hath  acted  with  thee  kindly.  And  when  the  next  morning 
came,  the  young  man  attired  himself  in  the  most  sumptuous  of  his  apparel,  and, 
taking  with  him  a  purse  containing  some  pieces  of  gold,  came  to  the  humpback,  and 
saluted  him,  and  sat  down.  Then  he  said  to  him,  0  uncle,  fulfil  thy  promise  to  me. 
And  he  replied.  Arise  immediately,  and  take  three  fat  fowls,  and  three  ounces  of 
sugar-candy,  and  two  small  jugs,  which  fill  thou  with  wine,  and  take  a  cup.  Put 
these  things  into  a  small  bag,  and  embark,  after  the  morning-prayers,  in  a  small 
boat,  with  a  boatman,  and  say  to  him,  I  desire  that  thou  go  with  me  to  the  country 
oelow  Balsora.  And  if  he  reply,  I  cannot  go  further  than  a  league, — say  thou  to 
him.  Thou  shalt  do  as  thou  pleasest.  But  when  he  goeth,  excite  him  with  money, 
until  he  conveyeth  thee  further  ;  and  when  thou  hast  arrived,  the  first  garden  that 
thou  wilt  see  is  the  garden  of  the  lady  Gemila.  When  thou  seest  it,  go  to  its  gate. 
Thou  wilt  see  two  high  steps,  on  vvhich  is  furniture  of  brocade,  and  a  humpbacked 
man,  like  myself,  sitting.  Complain  to  him  of  thy  state,  and  solicit  his  favour,  and 
perhaps  he  will  feel  pity  for  thy  state,  and  enable  thee  to  see  her,  at  least  to  obtain 


746  THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA. 

a  sight  from  a  distance.  I  have  no  expedient  within  mj  power  but  this;  and  if  he 
be  not  moved  with  pity  for  thy  state,  I  perit^h,  and  so  dost  thou.  This  is  what  I 
think  advisable,  and  the  affair  must  be  committed  to  God,  whose  name  be  exalted! — 
So  the  young  man  said,  I  seek  aid  of  God.  AVhat  God  willeth  must  come  to  pass  ; 
and  there  is  no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God. — lie  then  arose  and  departed  from 
the  humpbacked  tailor,  and  repaired  to  his  chamber,  took  the  things  that  he  had 
directed  him  to  procure,  and  put  ihem  into  a  neat,  small  bag.  And  when  he  arose 
in  the  following  morning,  he  came  to  the  bank  of  the  Tigris,  and  lo,  he  saw  a  boat- 
man lying  asleep.  So  he  woke  him,  and  gave  him  ten  pieces  of  gold,  saying  to  him. 
Convey  me  to  the  country  below  Balsora.  The  man  replied,  0  my  master,  on  the 
condition  that  I  go  not  further  than  a  league ;  for  if  I  go  a  span  beyond  that  dis- 
tance, we  both  perish.  And  he  said  to  him,  As  thou  pleasest.  He  therefore  took 
him,  and  proceeded  with  him  down  the  river  ;  and  when  he  came  near  to  the  garden, 
he  said,  0  my  son,  beyond  this  point  I  cannot  go  :  for  if  I  pass  this  limit,  we  both 
perish.  So  he  took  forth  and  gave  him  ten  other  pieces  of  gold,  and  said  to  him, 
Receive  this  money,  that  thou  mayest  have  recourse  to  it  to  amend  thy  state.  And 
the  man  was  abashed  at  him,  and  said,  I  commit  the  affair  to  God,  whose  name  be 
exalted !  And  he  proceeded  down  the  river  with  him  ;  and  when  he  arrived  at  the 
garden,  the  young  man  arose  in  his  joy,  leaped  from  the  boat  as  far  as  a  spear's 
throw,  and  threw  himself  down  ;  and  the  boatman  returned,  fleeing. 

The  young  man  then  advanced,  and  he  saw  all  that  the  humpback  had  described 
to  him  with  respect  to  the  garden.  He  saw  its  gate  open,  and  in  the  vestibule  was 
a  couch  of  ivory,  on  which  was  sitting  a  humpbacked  man  of  comely  countenance, 
clad  in  apparel  ornamented  with  gold,  and  having  in  his  hand  a  mace  of  gilt  silver. 
So  the  young  man  went  quickly  and  threw  himself  on  his  hand  and  kissed  it ;  where- 
upon he  said  to  him.  Who  art  thou,  and  whence  hast  thou  come,  and  who  brought 
thee  hither,  0  my  son  ?  And  that  man,  when  he  saw  Ibrahim  the  son  of  Casib,  was  . 
amazed  at  his  loveliness.  Then  Ibrahim  said  to  him,  0  uncle,  I  am  an  ignorant, 
strange  youth.  And  he  wept;  and  the  man  was  moved  with  pity  for  him,  and  took 
him  up  on  the  couch,  wiped  away  his  tears,  and  said  to  him,  No  harm  shall  befall 
thee.  If  thou  be  in  debt,  may  God  discharge  thy  debt;  and  if  thou  be  in  fear,  may 
God  appease  thy  fear  !  —  So  he  replied,  0  uncle,  I  have  no  fear,  nor  am  I  in  debt; 
but  have  with  me  abundant  wealth,  by  the  good  pleasure  of  God,  and  his  aid.  The 
man  therefore  said  to  him,  0  my  son,  what  is  thine  affair,  that  thou  hast  exposed  thy 
life  and  thy  beauty  to  peril  by  coming  to  a  place  of  destruction  ?  And  the  young 
man  related  to  him  his  story,  and  explained  to  him  his  case:  and  when  the  hump- 
back heard  his  words,  he  hung  down  his  head  a  while  towards  the  ground,  and  said, 
Is  the  humpbacked  tailor  the  person  who  directed  thee  to  me  ?  He  answered  him, 
Yes.  And  he  rejoined.  This  is  my  brother,  and  he  is  a  blessed  man.  Then  he  said, 
0  my  son,  if  affection  for  thee  had  not  entered  into  my  heart,  and  if  I  had  not  pitied 
thee,  thou  hadst  perished,  thou  and  my  brother  and  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  and  his 
wife.  And  he  said,  Know  that  there  is  not  on  the  face  of  the  earth  the  like  of  this 
garden,  and  it  is  called  the  garden  of  the  Pearl.  No  one  hath  entered  it  during  the 
period  of  my  life,  except  the  Sultan  and  myself  and  its  owner  Gemila  [and  her 
attendants]  ;  and  I  have  resided  in  it  twenty  years,  and  have  not  seen  any  man 
[except  the  Sultan]  come  to  this  place.  In  the  course  of  every  forty  days,  the  lady 
Gemila  cometh  hither  in  the  vessel,  and  ascendeth  amid  her  female  slaves,  in  a 
canopy  of  satin,  the  borders  of  which  ten  female  slaves  hold  up  with  hooks  of  gold, 
till  she  entereth  :  so  I  have  not  seen  of  her  aught.  But  I  have  nothing  save  my  life 
to  give,  and  I  will  expose  it  to  peril  for  thy  sake.  And  thereupon  the  young  man 
kissed  his  hand;  and  the  humpback  said  to  him.  Sit  with  me  until  I  contrive  for 
thee  a  mode  of  proceeding. 

After  that  he  took  the  hand  of  the  young  man  and  conducted  him  into  the  garden ; 
and  when  Ibrahim  saw  that  garden,  he  imagined  that  it  was  Paradise.  He  beheld 
the  trees  to  be  entangled,  and  the  palm-trees  tall,  and  the  waters  pouring,  and  the 


THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA.  747 

birds  warbling  with  various  notes.  Then  the  humpback  went  with  him  to  a  dome- 
crowned  pavilion,  and  said  to  him,  This  is  the  place  in  which  the  lady  Gemila 
sitteth.  And  he  examined  that  pavilion,  and  found  it  to  be  one  of  the  most  wonder- 
ful of  pleasure-houses.  In  it  were  all  kinds  of  pictures  in  gold  and  ultramarine,  and 
it  had  four  doors,  to  which  one  ascended  by  five  steps  ;  and  in  the  midst  of  it  was  a 
pool,  to  which  one  descended  by  steps  of  gold,  those  steps  being  set  with  minerals. 
In  the  midst  of  the  pool  was  a  fountain  of  gold,  with  images,  large  and  small,  from 
the  mouths  of  which  the  water  issued  ;  and  when  the  images  produced  various 
sounds  at  the  issuing  of  the  water,  it  seemed  to  the  hearer  that  he  was  in  Paradise. 
By  the  dome-crowned  pavilion  was  a  water-wheel,  the  pots  of  which  were  of  silver, 
and  it  was  covered  with  brocade.  And  on  the  left  of  the  water-wheel  was  a  lattice- 
window  of  silver,  looking  upon  a  green  meadow,  in  which  were  all  kinds  of  wild 
beasts,  and  gazelles,  and  hares  ;  and  on  its  right  was  a  lattice-window  looking  upon 
a  field  in  which  were  all  kinds  of  birds,  all  of  them  warbling  with  various  notes, 
amazing  the  hearer.  When  the  young  man  beheld  this,  he  was  moved  with  delight. 
He  seated  himself  at  the  gate  of  the  garden,  and  the  gardener  sat  by  his  side,  and 
said,  How  dost  thou  regard  my  garden?  The  young  man  answered  him,  It  is  the 
Paradise  of  the  World.  And  the  gardener  laughed.  Then  he  arose,  and  was  absent 
from  him  a  while,  after  which  he  returned,  having  with  him  a  tray  containing  fowls 
and  quails,  and  nice  food,  and  sweetmeat  of  sugar;  and  he  put  it  before  the  young 
man,  and  said  to  him,  Eat  until  thou  shalt  be  satiated.  So  I  ate,  says  Ibrahim,  until 
I  was  satisfied  ;  and  when  he  saw  that  I  ate,  he  rejoiced,  and  said.  By  Allah,  this  is 
the  manner  of  Kings,  the  sons  of  Kings!  And  he  said,  0  Ibrahim,  what  is  with 
thee  in  this  small  bag  ?  I  therefore  opened  it  before  him  ;  and  he  said,  Carry  it  with 
thee  ;  for  it  will  be  of  use  to  thee  when  the  lady  Gemila  cometh,  since,  when  she 
oometh,  I  shall  not  be  able  to  come  in  to  thee  with  aught  for  thee  to  eat. — Then  he 
arose  and  took  my  hand  and  brought  me  to  a  place  opposite  the  dome-crowned  pavi- 
lion of  Gemila  ;  and  he  made  an  arbour  amid  the  trees,  and  said,  Ascend  into  this  ; 
and  when  she  cometh,  thou  wilt  see  her,  and  she  will  not  see  thee.  This  is  the 
utmost  stratagem  that  I  can  employ,  and  upon  God  be  our  dependence.  When  she 
singeth,  drink  to  her  singing,  and  when  she  departeth,  return  to  the  place  whence 
thou  camest,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  with  safety. — So  the  young  man  thanked  him, 
and  desired  to  kiss  his  hand  ;  but  he  prevented  him.  Then  the  young  man  put  the 
small  bag  into  the  arbour  which  the  humpback  had  made  for  him  ;  after  which  the 
gardener  said  to  him,  0  Ibrahim,  divert  thyself  in  the  garden,  and  eat  of  its  fruits  ; 
for  the  appointed  time  of  the  coming  of  thy  beloved  is  to-morrow.  Ibrahim  there- 
fore proceeded  to  amuse  himself  in  the  garden,  and  to  eat  of  its  fruits. 

He  passed  the  night  with  the  gardener,  and  when  the  morning  came  and  difi'used 
its  light  and  shone,  Ibrahim  recited  the  morning-prayers,  and  lo,  the  gardener  came 
to  him,  with  sallow  complexion,  and  said  to  him,  Arise,  0  my  son,  and  ascend  to  the 
arbour ;  for  the  female  slaves  have  come  to  spread  the  furniture  in  the  place,  and 
she  will  come  after  them  ;  and  beware  thou  of  spitting,  or  blowing  thy  nose,  or 
sneezing;  for  if  tliou  do  we  shall  both  perish.  The  young  man  therefore  arose  and 
ascended  to  the  arbour,  and  the  gardener  departed,  saying,  God  grant  thee  safety,  0 
my  son !  And  while  the  young  man  was  sitting,  lo,  there  approached  five  slave-girls, 
the  like  of  whom  no  one  had  beheld.  They  entered  the  dome-crowned  pavilion, 
pulled  off  their  outer  garments,  and  washed  tlie  place,  sprinkled  it  with  rose-water, 
gave  vent  to  the  fumes  of  aloes-wood  and  ambergris,  and  spread  the  brocade.  And 
there  approached  after  them  fifty  female  slaves  with  musical  instruments,  and 
Gemila  was  amid  them,  within  a  red  canopy  of  brocade,  and  the  female  slaves  held 
up  the  skirts  of  the  canopy  with  hooks  of  gold  until  she  entered  the  pavilion.  So 
the  young  man  saw  not  of  her,  nor  of  her  apparel,  aught;  and  he  said  witliin  him- 
self. By  Allah,  all  my  labour  is  lost;  but  I  must  wait  until  I  see  how  the  case  will 
be.  The  female  slaves  brought  forward  the  food  and  drink ;  and  they  ate,  and 
washed  their  hands,  and  set  for  Gemila  a  throne,  on  which  she  seated  herself.    Then 


748 


THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA. 


they  all  played  on  the  musical  instruments,  and  sang  with  mirth-excitino;  voices,  of 
which  there  was  not  the  like ;  after  which  an  old  woman,  who  was  a  confidential 
servant,  came  forth,  and  clapped  her  hands,  and  danced  ;  and  the  female  slaves 
pulled  her  along.  And  lo,  the  curtain  was  raised,  and  Gemila  came  forth,  laugh- 
ing ;  and  Ibrahim  saw  her.  Upon  her  were  ornaments  and  apparel,  and  on  her 
head  was  a  crown  set  with  fine  pearls  and  with  jewels,  and  on  her  neck  a  necklace 
of  pearls,  and  around  her  waist  a  girdle  of  oblong  chrysolites,  the  strings  of  which 
were  of  jacinths  and  pearls.  And  thereupon  the  female  slaves  arose,  and  kissed  the 
ground  before  her,  while  she  laughed. 

When  I  beheld  her,  says  Ibrahim  the  son  of  Casib,  I  became  unconscious  of  mv 
existence,  and  my  reason  was  confounded,  and  my  mind  was  perplexed,  in  conse- 
quence of  my  amazement  at  loveliness  the  like  of  which  was  not  seen  upon  the  face 
of  the  earth.    I  fell  down  in  a  fit,  and  recovered  with  weeping  eyes. — The  old  woman 

then  said  to  the  female  slaves.  Let 
ten  of  you  arise  and  dance  and 
sing.  And  when  Ibrahim  saw 
them,  he  said  within  himself,  I 
wish  that  the  lady  Gemila  would 
dance.  And  after  the  dancing  of 
the  ten  slave-girls  was  ended,  they 
went  around  her,  and  said,  0  our 
mistress,  we  wish  that  thou 
wouldst  dance  amid  this  assembly, 
that  our  happiness  might  be  ren- 
dered complete  thereby;  for  we 
have  not  seen  a  more  delightful 
day  than  this  one.  So  Ibrahim 
said  within  himself.  No  doubt  the 
gates  of  heaven  have  been  opened, 
and  God  hath  answered  my  prayer. 
Then  the  female  slaves  kissed  her 
feet,  and  said  to  her.  By  Allah, 
we  have  not  seen  thy  bosom  dilated 
as  it  is  this  day.  And  they  ceased 
not  to  excite  her  until  she  pulled 
off  her  outer  clothing,  and  became 
only  clad  in  a  shirt  woven  with 
gold,  embroidered  with  varieties 
of  jewels,  showing  the  forms  of  a 
bosom  like  two  pomegranates,  and  displaying  a  face  like  the  moon  on  the  night  of 
its  fulness.  Ibrahim  beheld  motions  the  like  of  which  he  had  not  seen  before  in  his 
life.  And  when  she  exhibited,  in  her  dancing,  an  extraordinary  mode,  and  wonder- 
ful invention,  her  performance  was  such  (says  Ibrahim),  that  she  made  us  forget  the 
dancing  of  the  bubbles  in  the  cups,  and  occasioned  our  thinking  of  the  inclining  of 
the  turbans  from  the  heads. 

Now,  while  I  was  looking  at  her,  says  Ibrahim,  lo,  a  glance  of  her  eye  was  directed 
towards  me,  and  she  saw  me ;  and  when  she  beheld  me,  her  countenance  changed, 
and  she  said  to  her  female  slaves,  Sing  ye  until  I  return  to  you.  Then  she  took  a 
knife  half  a  cubit  in  length,  and  came  towards  me,  saying.  There  is  no  strength  nor 
power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great!  And  when  she  drew  near  to  me  I  became 
unconscious  of  my  existence ;  but  when  she  saw  me,  and  her  face  met  mine,  the 
knife  fell  from  her  hand,  and  she  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Changer  of 
hearts  !  She  then  aaid  to  me,  0  young  man,  be  of  good  heart :  thou  art  secure  from 
that  which  thou  fearest.  And  J  began  to  weep,  and  she  wiped  away  my  tears  with 
her  hand,  and  said,  0  young  man,  inform  me  who  thou  art,  and  what  brought  thee 


(jciuila  danciiig. 


THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA.  749 

to  this  place.  So  I  kissed  the  ground  before  her,  and  kept  hold  of  her  skirt,  and 
she  said.  No  harm  shall  befall  thee ;  for,  by  Allah,  mine  eye  hath  not  been  delighted 
with  any  male  but  thyself.  Then  tell  me  who  thou  art. — I  therefore  related  to  her 
my  story  from  beginning  to  end  ;  and  she  wondered  thereat,  and  said  to  me,  0  my 
master,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  tell  me,  art  thou  Ibrahim  the  son  of  Casib?  I 
answered.  Yes.  And  she  threw  herself  upon  me,  and  said,  0  my  master,  thou  art 
the  person  who  made  me  averse  from  men  ;  for  when  I  heard  that  there  existed  in 
Egypt  a  yoiing  man  than  whom  there  was  not  upon  the  face  of  the  earth  any  one 
more  beautiful,  I  loved  thee  from  the  description,  and  my  heart  became  fondly  at- 
tached to  thee,  by  reason  of  that  which  was  told  me  of  thee,  concerning  thy  sur- 
passing loveliness.  Therefore  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  shown  me  thy  face  1  By 
Allah,  had  it  been  any  but  thee,  I  had  crucified  the  gardener,  and  the  door-keeper 
of  the  khan,  and  the  tailor,  and  him  who  had  recourse  to  them  ! — Then  she  said  to 
me,  How  shall  I  contrive  means  of  procuring  something  for  thee  to  eat  without  the 
knowledge  of  my  female  slaves  ?  So  I  answered  her,  I  have  with  me  what  we  may 
eat  and  what  we  may  drink.  And  I  opened  the  small  bag  before  her,  and  took  a 
fowl,  and  she  proceeded  to  feed  me  with  morsels,  I  feeding  her  in  like  manner.  And 
when  I  saw  this  conduct  of  hers,  I  imagined  that  the  event  was  a  dream.  Then  I 
brought  forward  the  wine,  and  we  drank.  All  that  time,  while  she  was  with  me, 
the  female  slaves  were  singing;  and  we  ceased  not  to  remain  in  this  state  from  morn 
to  noon,  when  she  arose,  and  said.  Arise  now;  prepare  for  thee  a  vessel,  and  wait 
for  me  in  such  a  place  until  I  come  to  thee  ;  for  there  remaineth  to  me  no  patience 
to  endure  thy  separation.  So  I  replied,  0  my  mistress,  I  have  with  me  a  vessel, 
which  is  my  property,  and  the  boatmen  are  hired  by  me,  and  they  are  expecting  me. 
And  she  said.  This  is  what  we  desire. 

She  then  went  to  the  female  slaves,  and  said  to  them.  Arise  with  us,  that  we  may 
go  to  our  palace.  They  therefore  said  to  her,  Why  should  we  arise  now,  when  it  is 
our  custom  to  remain  three  days?  And  she  replied.  Verily  I  experience  in  myself  a 
great  heaviness.  It  seemeth  that  I  am  sick,  and  I  fear  that  this  illness  may  become 
more  heavy  upon  me. — So  they  said  to  her.  We  hear  and  obey.  Accordingly  they 
put  on  their  apparel,  went  to  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  embarked  in  the  boat.  And 
lo,  the  gardener  approached  Ibrahim,  having  no  knowledge  of  that  which  had  hap- 
pened to  him,  and  said,  0  Ibrahim,  thou  hast  not  had  the  good  fortune  to  delight 
thyself  with  beholding  her;  for  it  is  her  custom  to  remain  here  three  days,  and  I 
fear  that  she  hath  seen  thee.  But  Ibrahim  replied,  She  saw  me  not,  nor  did  I  see 
her,  nor  did  she  come  forth  from  the  pavilion.  And  he  said,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth, 
0  my  son  ;  for  had  she  seen  thee,  we  bad  perished :  but  remain  with  me  until  she 
come  next  vreek,  and  thou  shalt  see  her  and  satiate  thyself  with  gazing  at  her.  Ibra- 
him, however,  replied,  0  my  master,  I  have  with  me  wealth,  and  I  fear  for  it.  I 
have  also  left  behind  me  men,  and  I  fear  that  they  will  think  me  too  long  absent. 
And  the  gardener  said,  0  my  son,  verily  thy  separation  will  be  grievous  to  me.  Then 
he  embraced  him,  and  bade  him  farewell;  and  Ibrahim  repaired  to  the  khan  in 
which  he  was  lodging,  met  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan,  and  took  his  wealth.  And 
the  door-keeper  said  to  him,  Good  news,  if  it  be  the  will  of  God.  But  Ibrahim  re- 
plied, I  found  no  way  of  accomplishing  my  affair,  and  I  desire  to  return  to  my 
family.  So  the  door-keeper  of  the  khan  wept,  and  bade  him  farewell,  carried  his 
goods,  and  conducted  him  to  the  vessel. 

After  that,  Ibrahim  repaired  to  the  place  of  which  Gemila  had  told  him,  and  there 
waited  for  her;  and  when  the  night  became  dark,  lo,  she  approached  him,  in  the 
garb  of  a  valiant  man,  with  a  round  beard,  and  her  waist  bound  with  a  girdle,  and 
in  one  of  her  hands  were  a  bow  and  arrows,  and  in  the  other  was  a  drawn  sword ; 
and  she  said  to  him,  Art  thou  the  son  of  Casib  the  lord  of  Egypt?  So  Ibrahim 
answered  her,  I  am  he.  And  she  said  to  him.  And  what  young  wretch  art  thou, 
that  thou  hast  come  to  corrupt  the  daughters  of  the  Kings  ?  'Arise  ;  answer  the 
summons  of  the  Sultan. — Upon  this,  says  Ibrahim,  I  fell  down  in  a  fit;  and  as  to 


750:  THE   STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND   GEMILA. 

the  boatmen,  they  almost  died  in  their  skins  from  fear.  Therefore  when  she  saw 
•what  had  happened  to  me,  she  pulled  off  that  beard,  threw  down  the  sword,  and 
loosed  the  girdle  ;  and  I  saw  that  she  was  the  lady  Gemila,  and  said  to  her,  By 
Allah,  thou  hast  mangled  my  heart!  Then  I  said  to  the  boatmen,  Hasten  the  course 
of  the  vessel.  Accordingly  they  loosed  the  sail,  and  hastened  in  their  course,  and 
only  a  few  days  had  elapsed  before  we  arrived  at  Bagdad.  And  lo,  there  was  a 
vessel  lying  stationary  by  the  bank  of  the  river;  and  when  the  boatmen  who  were 
in  it  saw  us,  they  called  out  to  the  boatmen  who  were  with  us,  and  proceeded  to 
say,  0  such-a-one  !  and  0  such-a-one  !  we  congratulate  you  on  your  safety  !  They 
then  drove  their  vessel  against  ours ;  and  we  looked,  and  behold,  in  it  was 
Aboulcasim  Sandalani,  who,  when  he  saw  us,  said.  Verily  this  is  the  object  of  my 
search.  Go  ye,  in  the  keeping  of  God.  I  desire  to  repair  to  accomplish  an  affair. 
— And  there  was  before  him  a  candle.  Then  he  said  to  me.  Praise  be  to  God  for 
thy  safety!  Hast  thou  accomplished  thine  affair? — I  answered.  Yes.  And  there- 
upon he  put  the  candle  near  to  us;  and  when  Gemila  saw  him,  her  state  became 
changed,  and  her  complexion  became  sallow;  and  when  Sandalani  saw  her,  he  said. 
Depart  ye  in  the  safe  keeping  of  God.  I  am  going  to  Balsora,  on  business  for  the 
Sultan  :  but  the  gift  is  for  him  who  is  present. — He  then  produced  a  small  box  of 
sweetmeats,  and  threw  it  into  our  vessel,  and  there  was  in  them  bhang.  So  Ibra- 
him said,  0  delight  of  my  eye,  eat  of  this.  But  she  wept,  and  said,  0  Ibrahim, 
knowest  tliou  who  this  is? — I  answered  (says  Ibrahim),  Yes :  this  is  such-a-one. 
And  she  rejoined.  He  is  the  son  of  my  paternal  uncle,  and  formerly  he  demanded 
me  in  marriage  of  my  father,  and  I  did  not  accept  him  ;  and  he  is  repairing  to  Bal- 
sora ;  so  probaVdy  he  will  inform  my  father  of  us.  But  I  said,  0  my  mistress,  he 
will  not  arrive  at  Balsora  until  we  arrive  at  Mosul, — And  they  knew  not  what  was 
concealed  from  them  in  the  secret  purpose  of  God. 

Then  I  ate  (says  Ibrahim)  somewhat  of  the  sweetmeat,  and  it  had  not  descended 
into  my  stomach  before  I  struck  the  floor  with  my  head.  And  when  it  was  near 
daybreak  I  sneezed  ;  whereupon  the  bhang  issued  from  my  nostril,  and  I  opened  my 
eye,  and  beheld  myself  stripped  of  my  outer  clothing,  and  thrown  amid  ruins.  I 
therefore  slapped  my  face,  and  said  within  myself.  Verily  this  is  a  stratagem  prac- 
tised upon  me  by  Sandalani.  I  knew  not  whither  to  repair,  and  had  nothing  upon 
me  but  a  pair  of  trousers  ;  and  I  arose  and  walked  about  a  little  ;  and  lo,  the  Judge 
approached  me,  accompanied  by  a  party  of  men  with  swords  and  leathern  shields. 
So  I  feared,  and,  seeing  a  ruined  bath,  I  hid  myself  in  it.  But  my  foot  stumbled 
upon  something :  wherefore  I  put  my  hand  upon  it,  and  it  became  befouled  with 
blood.  I  therefore  wiped  it  upon  my  trousers,  not  knowing  what  it  was,  and 
Stretched  forth  my  hand  to  the  thing  a  second  time  ;  whereupon  it  fell  on  a  slain 
person,  and  the  head  came  up  in  my  hand.  So  I  threw  it  down,  and  said.  There  is 
no  strength  nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  tlie  Great!  I  then  entered  one  of  the 
retired  corners  of  the  bath  ;  and  behold,  the  Judge  stopped  at  the  door  of  the  bath, 
and  said,  Enter  ye  this  place,  and  search.  And  ten  of  them  entered  with  cressets; 
and  by  reason  of  my  fear,  I  retired  behind  a  wall,  and,  taking  a  view  of  that  slain 
person,  I  saw  it  to  be  a  damsel,  \v^hose  face  was  like  the  full  moon  ;  her  head  lying 
on  one  side,  and  her  body  on  another:  and  upon  her  was  costly  apparel.  Therefore 
when  I  beheld  her.  a  violent  trembling  affected  my  heart.  And  the  Judge  entered, 
and  said.  Search  throughout  the  bath.  And  they  entered  the  place  in  which  I  was, 
and  a  man  of  them  saw  me,  and  came  to  me,  having  in  his  hand  a  knife  half  a  cubit 
Ion"-;  and  when  he  drew  near  to  me,  he  said.  Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  God,  the 
Creator  of  this  beautiful  face  !  0  young  man,  whence  art  thou  ?— Then  he  took  my 
hand,  and  said,  0  young  man,  wherefore  didst  thou  slay  this  murdered  female  ?  So 
I  answered.  By  Allah,  I  did  not  slay  her,  nor  do  I  know  who  slew  her,  and  I  entered 
not  this  place  save  through  fear  of  you.  And  I  acquainted  him  with  my  case,  and 
said  to  him,  By  Allah,  I  conjure  thee  that  thou  wrong  me  not,  for  I  am  anxious  for 
myself.     And  he  took  me  and  led  me  forward  to  the  Judge  ;  and  when  he  saw  upon 


THE  STORY  OF  IBRAHIM  AND  GEMILA.  751 

my  hands  the  marks  of  blood,  he  said,  This  requireth  not  proof:  therefore  strike  off 
his  head.  So  when  I  heard  these  words,  I  wept  violently.  Then  I  uttered  a  groan, 
and  fell  down  in  a  fit ;  whereupon  the  heart  of  the  executioner  was  moved  with  pity 
for  me,  and  he  said.  By  Allah,  this  is  not  the  face  of  him  who  hath  committed  a 
murder!  But  the  Judge  said.  Strike  off  his  head  !  They  therefore  seated  me  upon 
the  skin  of  blood,  and  bound  over  my  eyes  a  covering,  find  the  swordsman  took  his 
sword,  asked  permission  of  the  Judge,  and  was  about  to  strike  off  my  head.  So  I 
cried  out,  Alas  for  my  distance  from  my  home! 

But  lo,  a  company  of  horsemen  approached,  and  a  speaker  said.  Leave  ye  him  ! 
Restrain  thy  hand,  0  swordsman  !  —  And  this  was  occasioned  by  a  wonderful  cause 
and  an  extraordinary  circumstance,  which  was  this.  Casib  the  lord  of  Egypt  had 
sent  his  Chamberlain  to  the  Caliph  Ilaroun  Alrashid,  and  with  him  presents  and 
rarities,  and  also  a  letter,  in  which  he  wrote  to  him.  My  son  hath  been  lost  a  year 
since,  and  I  have  heard  that  he  is  in  Bagdad  ;  and  my  desire  of  the  beneficence  of 
the  Caliph  of  God  is,  that  he  would  search  for  tidings  of  him,  and  strive  in  seeking 
him,  and  send  him  to  me  with  the  Chamberlain.  So  when  the  Caliph  read  the 
letter,  he  ordered  the  Judge  to  investigate  the  truth  of  his  story  ;  and  the  Judge  and 
the  Caliph  ceased  not  to  inquire  for  him,  until  it  was  told  the  Judge  that  he  was  at 
Balsora.  He  therefore  informed  the  Caliph  of  that,  and  the  Caliph  wrote  a  letter, 
and  gave  it  to  the  Egyptian  Chamberlain,  ordering  him  to  journey  to  Balsora,  and 
to  take  with  him  a  party  of  the  dependants  of  the  Vizier.  And  by  reason  of  the 
eagerness  of  the  Chamberlain  to  find  the  son  of  his  lord,  he  went  forth  immediately, 
and  he  found  the  young  man  upon  the  skin  of  blood,  with  the  Judge.  And  when 
the  Judge  saw  the  Chamberlain,  and  knew  him,  he  dismounted  to  him  ;  and  the 
Chamberlain  said  to  him,  Who  is  this  young  man,  and  what  is  his  case?  So  he 
acquainted  him  with  the  matter;  and  the  Chamberlain  said,  not  knowing  that  he 
was  the  son  of  the  Sultan,  Verily  the  face  of  this  young  man  is  the  face  of  one  that 
doth  not  murder.  And  he  ordered  the  Judge  to  loose  his  bonds  ;  wherefore  he 
loosed  them  ;  and  he  said,  Bring  him  forward  to  me.  Accordingly  he  led  him  for- 
ward to  him.  And  his  loveliness  had  departed  in  consequence  of  the  severity  of 
the  horrors  that  he  had  endured.  The  Chamberlain  therefore  said  to  him.  Acquaint 
me  with  thy  history,  0  young  man,  and  tell  me  wherefore  this  slain  female  is  with 
thee.  And  when  Ibrahim  looked  at  the  Chamberlain,  he  knew  him  :  so  he  said  to 
him,  Wo  to  thee!  Dost  thou  not  know  me?  Am  I  not  Ibrahim,  the  son  of  thy 
lord  ?  Probably  thou  hast  come  to  seek  for  me. — Upon  this,  the  Chamberlain  fixed 
his  eyes  intently  upon  him,  and  knew  him  perfectly:  therefore,  when  he  knew  him, 
he  threw  himself  upon  his  feet.  And  when  the  Judge  saw  what  the  Chamberlain 
did,  his  complexion  became  sallow.  The  Chamberlain  then  said  to  him,  Wo  to  thee, 
0  oppressor!  Was  it  thy  desire  to  slay  the  son  of  my  master  Casib  the  lord  of 
Egypt?  So  the  Judge  kissed  the  skirt  of  the  Chamberlain,  and  said  to  him,  0  my 
lord,  how  could  I  know  him?  Verily  we  saw  him  in  this  plight,  and  we  saw  the 
damsel  slain  by  his  side. — But  he  replied.  Wo  to  thee!  Verily  thou  art  not  fit  for 
the  office  of  Judge.  This  is  a  young  man,  fifteen  years  of  age,  and  he  hath  not 
killed  a  sparrow.  How  then  should  he  murder  a  human  being?  Didst  thou  not 
grant  him  any  delay,  and  ask  him  respecting  his  state?  —  Then  the  Chamberlain 
and  the  Judge  said.  Search  ye  for  the  murderer  of  the  damsel.  They  therefore 
entered  the  bath  a  second  time,  and  they  saw  her  murderer:  so  they  took  him,  and 
brought  him  to  the  Judge,  who  took  him  and  repaired  with  him  to  the  palace  of  the 
Caliph,  and  acquainted  the  Caliph  with  the  events  that  had  happened. 

Upon  this,  Alrashid  gave  orders  to  slay  the  murderer  of  the  damsel;  after  which 
he  commanded  to  bring  the  son  of  Casib.  And  when  he  presented  himself  before 
him,  Alrashid  smiled  in  his  face,  and  said  to  him.  Acquaint  me  with  thy  history, 
and  the  events  that  have  happened  to  thee.  So  he  related  to  him  his  story  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end  :  and  it  excited  his  wonder.  He  then  called  Mesrour  the  exe- 
cutioner, and  said,  Go  this  instant  and  assail  the  house  of  Aboulcasim  Sandalani, 


752 


THE    STORY   OF   IBRAHIM   AND    GEMILA. 


and  bring  hitn  and  the  damsel  to  me.  Accordingly  he  went  immediately,  and  as- 
sailed his  house,  and  he  saw  the  damsel  bound  with  her  hair,  and  at  .he  point  of 
destruction.  Mesrour  therefore  loosed  her,  and  brought  her  with  Sandalani ;  and 
when  Alrashid  beheld  her,  he  wondered  at  her  loveliness.  Then  he  looked  towards 
Sandalani,  and  said.  Take  ye  him,  and  cut  off  his  hands  with  which  he  smote  this 
damsel,  and  crucify  him,  and  deliver  his  riches  and  his  possessions  to  Ibrahim. 
And  they  did  so.  And  while  they  were  thus  employed,  lo,  Abouleis,  the  Governor 
of  Balsora,  the  father  of  the  lady  Gemila,  approached  them,  to  demand  aid  of  the 
Caliph  against  Ibrahim  the  son  of  Casib  the  lord  of  Egypt,  and  to  complain  to  him 
that  he  had  taken  his  daughter.  But  Alrashid  said  to  him,  He  was  the  cause  of 
her  deliverance  from  torture  and  slaughter.  And  he  gave  orders  to  bring  the  son 
of  Casib ;  and  when  he  came,  he  said  to  Abouleis,  Wilt  thou  not  consent  that  this 
young  man,  the  son  of  the  Sultan  of  Egypt,  shall  be  a  husband  to  thy  daughter? 
And  he  answered,  I  hear  and  obey  God  and  thee,  0  Prince  of  the  Faithful !  So  the 
Caliph  summoned  the  Cadi  and  the  witnesses,  and  married  the  damsel  to  Ibrahim 
the  son  of  Casib.  He  also  presented  to  him  all  the  riches  of  Sandalani,  and  fitted 
him  out  for  his  return  to  his  country.  And  he  lived  with  her  in  the  most  perfect 
happiness  and  the  most  complete  joy  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of 
delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Living 
who  dieth  not  I 


THE    STORY   OF   MAROUF.  753 


CHAPTER   XXX. 

Commencing  with  part  of  the  Nine  Hundred  and   Eighty-ninth  Night,  and  ending  with  the 
Thousand  and  First. 


THE  STORY  OF  MAROUF. 

There  was,  in  the  guarded  city  of  Cairo,  a  cobbler  who  mended  old  shoes.  His 
name  was  Marouf,  and  he  had  a  wife  whose  name  was  Fatima,  and  whose  nickname 
was  Orra ;  and  they  gave  her  not  that  nickname  save  because  she  was  a  wicked,  evil 
woman,  of  little  modesty,  a  great  mischief-maker.  She  ruled  her  husband,  and 
every  day  used  to  revile  him  and  curse  him  a  thousand  times ;  and  he  dreaded  her 
malice,  and  feared  her  oppression  ;  for  he  was  a  sensible  man,  who  felt  shame  for 
his  reputation  ;  but  he  was  poor  in  circumstances.  When  he  worked  for  much,  he 
expended  his  gains  upon  her  ;  and  when  he  worked  for  little,  she  revenged,  herself 
upon  his  body  during  the  ensuing  night,  and  deprived  him  of  health,  making  his 
night  like  the  record  of  her  own  actions. 

Now,  among  the  events  that  happened  to  this  man,  proceeding  from  his  wife,  it 
chanced  that  she  said  to  him,  0  Marouf,  I  desire  of  thee  to-night  that  thou  bring  me 
some  kunafeh  '  with  bees'  honey  upon  it.  And  he  replied,  May  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !)  make  easy  to  me  the  means  of  obtaining  its  price,  and  I  will  bring  it  to 
thee  to-night.  By  Allah,  I  have  had  no  money  this  day ;  but  our  Lord  may  render 
the  affair  easy. — She,  however,  said  to  him,  I  know  not  these  words.  Whether  He 
render  it  easy  or  do  not  render  it  easy,  come  not  to  me  save  with  the  kunafeh  with 
bees'  honey;  and  if  thou  come  without  kunafeh,  I  will  make  thy  night  like  thy 
fortune  when  thou  marriedst  me  and  fellest  into  my  hand. — So  he  replied,  God  is 
bountiful.  Then  that  man  went  forth,  with  grief  displaying  itself  in  his  person  ;  and 
after  he  had  performed  the  morning-prayers,  he  opened  the  shop,  and  said,  I  pray 
thee,  0  Lord,  to  supply  me  with  the  price  of  this  kunafeh,  and  to  save  me  from  the 
mischief  of  this  wicked  woman  to-night!  And  he  sat  in  the  shop  until  mid-day,  but 
no  work  betided  him  ;  wherefore  his  fear  of  his  wife  became  violent,  and  he  arose 
and  closed  the  shop,  and  became  perplexed  respecting  his  case,  on  account  of  the 
kunafeh,  not  having  even  any  portion  of  the  price  of  the  bread.  He  then  passed  by 
the  shop  of  the  seller  of  kunafeh,  and  stopped  in  a  state  of  stupefaction,  and  his 
eyes  filled  with  tears.  And  the  seller  of  kunafeh,  casting  at  him  a  sidelong  glance, 
said,  0  master  Marouf,  wherefore  dost  thou  weep  ?  Tell  me  what  hath  befallen 
thee. — He  therefore  told  him  his  tale,  and  said  to  him.  My  wife  is  a  virago,  and  she 
hath  demanded  of  me  kunafeh,  and  I  have  sat  in  the  shop  until  half  the  day  hath 
passed,  but  not  even  the  price  of  bread  hath  betided  me,  and  I  am  in  fear  of  her. 
And  upon  this,  the  seller  of  kunafeh  laughed,  and  said.  No  harm  shall  befall  thee. 
How  many  pounds  dost  thou  desire  ? — He  answered,  Five  pounds.  And  he  wei^-hed 
for  him  five  pounds,  and  said  to  him,  I  have  the  clarified  butter;  but  I  have  not 
bees'  honey ;  I  have,  however,  drip-honey,^  better  than  bees'  honey  ;  and  what  will 
be  the  harm  if  it  be  with  drip-honey  ?     And  Marouf  was  abashed  at  him,  because  he 


A  sort  of  pastry  resembling  vermicelli.  '  Treacle. 

48 


754  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

was  to  wait  for  his  paying  the  price.  ,  He  therefore  said  to  him,  Give  it  me  with  drip- 
honey.  And  he  fried  for  him  the  kunafeh  with  the  clarified  butter,  and  saturated  it 
with  drip-honey,  and  it  became  fit  to  be  presented  to  Kings.  Then  he  said  to  him, 
Dost  thou  want  bread  and  cheese?  He  answered.  Yes.  So  he  took  for  him  four 
farthings'  worth  of  bread,  and  a  farthing's  worth  of  cheese,  and  the  kunafeh  was  for 
ten  farthings  ;  and  he  said  to  him,  Know,  0  Marouf,  that  thy  debt  hath  become 
fifteen  farthings.  Go  to  thy  wife  and  make  merry,  and  take  this  farthing  to  serve 
as  payment  for  the  bath.  Thou  shalt  have  a  delay  of  a  day,  or  two  days,  or  three, 
until  God  shall  supply  thee;  and  distress  not  thy  wife;  for  I  will  have  patieHce 
with  thee  until  thou  shalt  have  money  exceeding  what  will  be  requisite  for  thy 
expenditure. 

So  he  took  the  kunafeh  and  the  bread  and  the  cheese,  and  departed  praying  for 
him,  and  went  with  comforted  heart,  saying,  Extolled  be  thy  perfection,  0  my  Lord ! 
How  bountiful  art  Thou  ! — Then  he  went  in  to  her,  and  she  said  to  him,  Hast  thou 
brought  the  kunafeh  ?  He  answered.  Yes.  And  he  placed  it  before  her.  So  she 
looked  at  it,  and  saw  it  to  be  with  honey  of  the  sugar-cane;  and  upon  this  she  said 
to  him,  Did  I  not  say  to  thee.  Bring  it  with  bees'  honey?  Dost  thou  act  contrary  to 
my  desire,  and  make  it  with  honey  of  the  sugar-cane? — He  therefore  apologized  to 
her,  and  said  to  her,  I  bought  it  not  save  upon  credit.  But  she  replied.  These  are 
vain  words.  I  will  not  eat  kunafeh  save  with  bees'  honey. — And  she  was  angry  with 
it,  and  threw  it  in  his  face,  saying  to  him.  Arise,  you  rascal:  bring  me  some  other 
kunafeh!  She  then  struck  him  with  her  fist  upon  the  side  of  his  face,  knocking  out 
one  of  his  teeth,  and  the  blood  flowed  down  upon  his  bosom  ;  and  by  reason  of  the 
violence  of  his  rage,  he  struck  her  one  slight  blow  upon  her  head  ;  whereat  she 
seized  his  beard,  and  began  to  cry  out  and  to  say,  0  ye  Faithful !  The  neighbours 
therefore  entered,  and  extricated  his  beard  from  her  hand;  and  they  beset  her  with 
reproofs,  and  reproached  her,  and  said.  We  all  like  to  eat  kunafeh  that  is  with  honey 
of  the  sugar-cane.  What  is  this  oppressive  conduct  towards  this  poor  man  ?  Verily 
this  is  disgraceful  to  thee  ! — And  they  ceased  not  to  soothe  her  until  they  efi'ected  a 
reconciliation  between  her  and  him.  But  after  the  departure  of  the  people,  she 
swore  that  she  would  not  eat  aught  of  the  kunafeh  ;  and  hunger  tormented  Marouf: 
so  he  said  within  himself.  She  hath  sworn  that  she  will  not  eat :  therefore  I  will  eat. 
Then  he  ate  ;  and  when  she  saw  him  do  so,  she  began  to  say  to  him,  If  it  be  the  will 
of  God,  may  it  be  a  poison  that  shall  destroy  thy  body  !  But  he  replied,  It  is  not  as 
thou  sayest.  And  he  proceeded  to  cat,  and  to  laugh,  and  say.  Thou  hast  sworn  that 
thou  wilt  not  eat  of  this.  But  God  is  bountiful;  and  if  it  be  the  will  of  God,  to- 
morrow night  I  will  bring  thee  kunafeh  that  shall  be  with  bees'  honey,  and  thou 
shalt  eat  it  by  thyself. — And  he  proceeded  to  appease  her,  while  she  cursed  him. 
She  ceased  not  to  revile  him  and  abuse  him  until  the  morning;  and  when  the  morn- 
ing came,  she  tucked  up  the  sleeve  from  her  arm  to  beat  him:  so  he  said  to  her, 
Grant  me  a  delay,  and  I  will  bring  thee  some  other  kunafeh. 

He  then  went  forth  to  the  mosque,  and  said  his  prayers,  and  went  to  the  shop,  and 
opened  it  and  sat.  But  he  had  not  sat  long  when  two  officers  from  the  Cadi  came 
to  him,  and  said  to  him,  Arise  ;  answer  the  summons  of  the  Cadi ;  for  thy  wife  hath 
complained  of  thee  to  him,  and  her  appearance  is  so  and  so.  And  he  knew  her  [by 
the  description],  and  said,  May  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  send  trouble  upon 
her!  Then  he  arose  and  walked  with  them  until  he  went  in  to  the  Cadi,  when  he 
saw  his  wife  with  her  arm  bound,  and  her  face-veil  b'.fouled  with  blood,  and  she  was 
standing  weeping,  and  wiping  away  her  tears.  So  the  Cadi  said  to  him,  0  man, 
dost  thou  not  fear  God,  whose  name  be  exalted?  How  is  it  that  thou  beatest  this 
wife,  and  breakest  her  arm,  and  knockest  out  her  tooth,  and  dost  these  deeds  unto 
lier? — And  he  replied,  if  I  have  beaten  her,  or  knocked  out  her  tooth,  sentence  me 
to  what  punishment  thou  choosest.  Verily  the  case  was  so  and  so,  and  the  neigh- 
bours made  peace  between  me  and  her. — And  he  acquainted  him  with  the  case  from 
beginning  to  end.     And  that  Cadi  was  of  the  people  of  beneficence  ;  so  he  took  forth 


Marouf  Flees  from  his  Home.    (Page  7B7.) 


765 


THE    STORY    OF    MAROUF.  757 

for  him  a  quarter  of  a  piece  of  gold,  and  said  to  him,  0  mau,  take  this,  and  prepare 
for  her  with  it  some  kunafeh  with  bees'  honey,  and  be  thou  reconciled  to  her.  And 
he  replied.  Give  it  to  her.  She  therefore  took  it;  and  the  Cadi  made  peace  between 
them,  and  said,  0  wife,  obey  thy  husband  ;  and  thou,  0  man,  act  kindly  to  her. 
And  they  went  forth  reconciled  by  means  of  the  Cadi.  The  woman  went  one  way, 
and  her  husband  went  another  way,  to  his  shop,  and  sat  down.  And  lo,  the  ser- 
geants came  to  him  and  said,  Give  us  our  fee.  So  he  said  to  them,  The  Cadi  took 
not  from  me  aught:  on  the  contrary,  he  gave  me  a  quarter  of  a  piece  of  gold.  But 
they  replied,  We  have  no  concern  with  the  Cadi's  giving  to  thee  or  taking  from  thee  ; 
and  if  thou  give  us  not  our  fee,  we  will  take  it  by  force  from  thee.  And  they  pro- 
ceeded to  drag  him  along  through  the  market,  lie  therefore  sold  his  implements, 
and  gave  them  half  a  piece  of  gold,  and  they  went  away  from  him.  lie  then  put  his 
hand  upon  his  cheek,  and  sat  sorrowful,  because  he  had  not  implements  with  which 
to  work.  And  while  he  was  sitting,  lo,  two  men  of  hideous  aspect  advanced  to  him 
and  said  to  him.  Arise,  0  man  ;  answer  the  summons  of  the  Cadi ;  for  thy  wife  hath 
complained  of  thee  to  him.  He  therefore  replied.  He  hath  made  peace  between  me 
and  her.  But  they  said  to  him,  We  are  from  another  Cadi ;  for  thy  wife  hath  com- 
plained of  thee  to  our  Cadi.  So  he  arose  and  went  with  them,  praying  for  aid 
against  her  by  ejaculating,  God  is  our  suflBciency,  and  excellent  is  the  Protector! 
And  when  he  saw  her,  he  said  to  her.  Have  we  not  made  peace  with  each  other,  0 
ingenuous  woman  ?  But  she  replied.  There  remaineth  no  longer  peace  between  me 
and  thee.  And  be  advanced  and  related  to  the  Cadi  his  story,  saying  to  him.  The 
Cadi  such-a-one  made  peace  between  us  just  now.  So  the  Cadi  said  to  her,  0  impu- 
dent woman,  since  ye  have  made  peace  with  each  other,  wherefore  hast  thou  come 
complaining  to  me?  She  answered.  He  beat  me  after  that.  And  the  Cadi  said  to 
them.  Make  peace  with  each  other, — and,  addressing  the  man,  he  added, — And  beat 
her  not  again,  and  she  will  not  again  oppose  thee.  They  therefore  made  peace  with 
each  other ;  and  the  Cadi  said  to  him.  Give  the  sergeants  their  fee.  Accordingly  he 
gave  them  their  fee,  and  he  went  to  the  shop  and  opened  it,  and  sat  in  it,  like  one 
intoxicated,  by  reason  of  the  anxiety  that  had  befallen  him. 

And  while  he  was  sitting,  lo,  a  man  advanced  to  him  and  said  to  him,  0  Marouf, 
arise ;  hide  thyself;  for  thy  wife  hath  complained  of  thee  to  the  Sublime  Court,  and 
Abou  Tabak  is  coming  down  upon  thee.  So  he  arose  and  closed  the  shop,  and  he 
fled  in  the  direction  of  the  Bab  el-Nasr.  And  there  had  remained  in  his  possession 
five  farthings,  of  the  price  of  the  lasts  and  the  other  implements.  He  therefore 
bought  for  four  farthings  bread,  and  for  one  farthing  cheese,  as  he  fled  from  her. 
And  this  happened  in  the  winter-quarter,  at  the  time  of  afternoon-prayers  ;  and 
when  he  went  forth  among  the  mounds,  the  rain  descended  upon  him  like  streams 
pouring  from  the  mouths  of  water-skins,  and  his  clothes  were  wetted.  So  he  entered 
the  Adilia  mosque,  and,  seeing  a  ruined  place,  in  which  was  a  deserted  cell,  without 
a  door,  he  entered  to  shelter  himself  in  it  from  the  rain  ;  his  clothes  being  wetted. 
Then  tears  descended  from  his  eyelids,  and  he  became  oppressed  in  mind  by  his 
affliction,  and  said.  Whither  shall  I  flee  from  this  vile  woman  ?  I  pray  thee,  0  Lord, 
to  send  to  me  some  person  who  shall  convey  me  to  a  distant  country,  whither  she 
shall  not  know  the  way  by  which  to  reach  me. — And  while  he  was  sitting  weeping, 
lo,  the  wall  clove  asunder,  and  there  came  forth  to  him  from  it  a  person  of  tall 
stature,  at  the  sight  of  whom  the  flesh  quaked,  and  he  said  to  him,  0  man,  what 
aileth  thee  that  thou  hast  thus  disquieted  me  this  night?  I  have  ))een  residing 
in  this  place  for  two  hundred  years,  and  have  not  seen  any  one  enter  it  and  do  as 
thou  hast  done.  Acquaint  me  then  with  thy  desire,  and  I  will  accomplish  thine 
aflair,  for  compassion  for  thee  hath  affected  my  heart. — Upon  this  he  said  to  him, 
Who  art  thou,  and  what  mayest  thou  be?  And  he  answered  him,  I  am  the  haunter 
of  this  place.  So  he  acquainted  him  with  all  that  had  happened  to  him  with  his 
wife  ;  whereupon  the  Genie  said  to  him.  Dost  thou  desire  that  I  should  convey  thee 
to  a  country  whither  thy  wife  shall  know  no  way  by  which  to  reach  thee?     He  an- 


758 


THE   STORY    OF   MAROU> 


'I'he  Genie  carrying  off  Marouf. 

swered.  Yes.  And  the  Genie  said  to  him,  Mount  upon  my  back.  Accordingly  he 
mounted  ;  and  the  Genie  bore  him  and  flew  with  him  from  after  nightfall  until  the 
rising  of  the  dawn,  when  he  set  him  down  upon  the  summit  of  a' high  mountain,  and 
said,  0  human  being,  descend  from  the  top  of  this  mountain:  thou  wilt  see  the 
threshold  of  a  city,  and  do  thou  enter  it;  for  thy  wife  will  not  know  any  way  by 
which  to  reach  thee,  nor  will  it  be  possible  for  her  to  gain  access  to  thee.  Then  he 
left  him,  and  departed. 

Marouf  was  in  a  state  of  confusion,  perplexed  in  his  mind,  until  the  sun  rose: 
whereupon  he  said  within  himself,  I  will  arise,  and  descend  from  this  mountain  to 
the  city;  for  in  my  sitting  here  is  no  advantage.  So  he  descended  to  the  foot  of  the 
mountain,  and  he  saw  a  city  with  high  walls,  and  lofty  pavilions,  and  decorated 
buildings,  and  it  was  a  delight  to  the  beholders.  He  entered  the  gate  of  the  city, 
and  saw  that  it  dilated  the  sorrowful  heart;  and  when  he  walked  through  the 
market,  the  people  of  the  city  looked  at  him,  diverting  themselves  with  the  sight  of 
him,  and  they  assembled  around  him  and  wondered  at  his  apparel ;  for  his  apparel 
resembled  not  theirs.  And  a  man  of  the  people  of  the  city  said  to  him,  0  man, 
art  thou  a  stranger?  He  answered.  Yes.  He  said  to  him,  From  what  country?  He 
answered.  From  the  fortunate  city  of  Cairo.  He  said  to  him,  Hast  thou  long  quitted 
it?  He  answered  him,  Yesterday  in  the  afternoon.  And  thereupon  he  laughed  at 
him,  and  said,  0  people,  come  hither;  see  this  man,  and  hear  what  he  saith  !  So 
they  said,  What  saith  he?  He  answered.  He  asserteth  that  he  is  from  Cairo,  and 
that  he  came  forth  from  it  yesterday  in  the  afternoon.  And  they  all  laughed,  and 
the  people  assembled  around  him,  and  said,  0  man,  art  thou  mad,  that  thou  sayest 
these  words?  How  is  it  thou  assertest  that  thou  quittedst  Cairo  yesterday  in  the 
afternoon,  and  foundest  thyself  in  the  morning  here,  when  between  our  city  and 
Cairo  is  a  space  of  a  whole  year's  journey  ? — But  he  replied,  None  are  mad  but  you: 
and  as  to  me,  I  am  veracious  in  my  saying,  and  this  is  bread  of  Cairo:  it  hath  not 
ceased  to  remain  with  me  moist.    And  he  showed  them  the  bread,  and  they  diverted 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF.  759 

themselves  with  looking  at  it,  and  wondered  at  it ;  for  it  resembled  not  the  bread  of 
their  country.  The  crowd  became  numerous  around  him,  and  they  said  one  to 
another,  This  is  bread  of  Cairo.     Divert  yourselves  with  the  sight  of  it. 

He  became  notorious  in  that  city;  and  among  the  people,  some  believed  him,  and 
some  belied  and  derided  him  ;  and  while  they  were  in  this  state,  lo,  a  merchant  ad- 
vanced to  them,  riding  upon  a  mule,  and  behind  him  were  two  black  slaves.  There- 
upon the  people  became  dispersed,  and  he  said,  0  people,  are  ye  not  ashamed  of 
collecting  around  this  stranger  and  ridiculing  him  and  laughing  at  him?  What 
concern  have  ye  with  him  ? — And  he  ceased  not  to  revile  them  until  he  drove  them 
away  from  him,  no  one  being  able  to  return  him  a  reply.  He  then  said  to  Marouf, 
Come  hither,  0  my  brother.  No  harm  shall  befall  thee  from  these.  Verily  they 
have  no  shame. — He  took  him  and  proceeded  with  him  until  he  conducted  him  into 
a  spacious,  decorated  mansion,  and  he  seated  him  in  a  royal  chamber,  and  gave 
orders  to  the  slaves,  who  thereupon  opened  for  him  a  chest,  and  took  forth  for  him 
a  dress  fit  for  a  merchant  possessing  a  thousand  purses,  and  he  clad  him  with  it ; 
and  Marouf  was  a  comely  person:  so  he  became  as  though  he  were  Shah  Bandar 
of  the  merchants.  Then  that  merchant  demanded  the  table;  and  they  put  before 
them  a  table  containing  every  description  of  exquisite  viands,  of  all  kinds  :  and  they 
ate  and  drank;  after  which  the  merchant  said  to  Marouf,  0  my  brother,  what  is  thy 
name?  He  answered,  My  name  is  Marouf;  and  my  trade  is  that  of  a  cobbler:  I 
mend  old  shoes.  He  said  to  him,  From  what  country  art  thou  ?  He  answered,  From 
Cairo.  He  said.  From  what  quarter?  Marouf  said  to  him.  Dost  thou  know  Cairo? 
The  merchant  answered  him,  I  am  of  its  sons.  So  Marouf  replied,  I  am  from  the 
street  el-Ahmar.  The  merchant  said  to  him.  Whom  dost  thou  know  of  the  street  el- 
Ahmar?  He  answered  him,  Such-a-one  and  such-a-one.  And  he  enumerated  to 
him  many  persons.  The  merchant  said  to  him.  Dost  thou  know  the  sheikh  Ahmad 
the  druggist?  He  answered  him,  He  was  my  neighbour,  wall  adjoining  wall.  He 
said  to  him,  Is  he  well?  He  answered,  Yes.  He  said  to  him.  How  many  children 
hath  he?  He  answered.  Three:  Mustapha  and  Mohamed  and  Ali.  He  said  to  him. 
What  hath  God  done  with  his  children?  He  answered.  As  to  Mustapha,  he  is  well, 
and  he  is  a  learned  man,  a  professor:  and  as  to  Mohamed,  he  is  a  druggist:  he  hath 
opened  for  himself  a  shop  by  the  side  of  the  shop  of  his  father,  after  having  married, 
and  his  wife  hath  borne  him  a  son  whose  name  is  Hassan.  And  the  merchant  said, 
May  God  rejoice  thee  with  good  tidings!  Marouf  then  said.  And  as  to  Ali,  he  was 
my  companion  when  we  were  little  children,  and  I  used  always  to  play  with  him, 
and  we  used  to  go,  in  the  garb  of  the  sons  of  the  Christians,  and  enter  the  church, 
and  steal  the  books  of  the  Christians,  and  sell  them,  and  buy,  with  their  price,  food. 
But  it  happened  once  that  the  Christians  saw  us,  and  laid  hold  of  us  with  a  book : 
80  they  complained  of  us  to  our  families,  and  said  to  his  fatlier.  If  thou  prevent  not 
thy  son  from  troubling  us,  we  will  complain  of  thee  to  the  King.  And  he 
appeased  them,  and  gave  him  a  beating;  and  for  this  reason  he  fled  immediately, 
and  no  way  of  finding  him  was  known.  He  hath  been  absent  twenty  years,  and  no 
one  hath  given  any  tidings  of  him. 

Upon  this,  the  merchant  said  to  him.  He  is  myself,  Ali  the  son  of  the  sheikh 
Ahmad  the  druggist,  and  thou  art  my  companion,  0  Marouf.  They  saluted  each 
other,  and,  after  the  salutation,  the  merchant  said  to  him,  0  Marouf,  acquaint  me 
with  the  reason  of  thy  coming  from  Cairo  to  this  city.  So  he  acquainted  him  with 
the  history  of  his  wife  Fatima  el-Orra,  and  what  she  had  done  with  him,  and  said  to 
him,  Wlien  her  injurious  conduct  to  me  became  excessive,  I  fled  from  her,  in  the 
direction  of  the  Bab  el-Nasr ;  and  the  rain  descended  upon  me;  wherefore  I  entered 
a  ruined  cell  in  the  Adilia,  and  sat  weeping,  and  there  came  forth  to  me  the  haunter 
of  the  place,  who  is  an  Afrite  of  the  Genii,  and  he  questioned  me.  I  therefore 
acquainted  him  with  my  state,  and  he  mounted  me  upon  his  back,  and  flew  with  me 
all  the  night  between  heaven  and  earth :  then  he  put  me  down  upon  the  mountain, 
and  informed  me  of  the  city :  so  I  descended  from  the  mountain  and  entered  the  city, 


760  THE    STORY   OF   MAROUP. 

and  the  people  collected  around  me,  questioning  tne ;  and  I  said  to  them,  I  came 
forth  yesterday  from  Cairo.  But  they  believed  me  not.  And  thou  camest,  and 
repelledst  the  people  from  me,  and  broughtest  me  to  this  house.  This  was  the  cause 
of  my  coming  forth  from  Cairo.  And  what  was  the  cause  of  thy  coming  hither? — 
He  answered  him,  Folly  overcame  me  when  my  age  was  seven  years,  and  from  that 
time  I  have  been  going  about  from  country  to  country  and  from  city  to  city  until  I 
entered  this  city,  the  name  of  which  is  Khitan  of  Tartary  ;  whereupon  I  saw  its  in- 
habitants to  be  generous  people,  endued  with  compassion,  and  I  saw  that  they  con- 
fided in  the  poor  man,  and  sold  to  him  on  credit,  and  whatever  he  said  they  believed 
him  respecting  it.  I  therefore  said  to  them,  I  am  a  merchant,  and  I  have  come  on 
before  my  merchandise,  and  I  desire  a  place  in  which  to  deposit  it.  And  they 
believed  me,  and  appropriated  a  place  to  my  exclusive  use.  Then  I  said  to  them.  Is 
there  among  you  one  who  will  lend  me  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  until  my  merchan- 
dise shall  arrive,  when  I  will  return  to  him  what  I  receive  from  him  ?  For  I  am  in 
need  of  some  commodities  before  my  merchandise  will  enter  the  city. — And  they 
gave  me  what  I  desired.  I  then  repaired  to  the  market  of  the  merchants,  and,  seeing 
some  goods,  I  bought  them  ;  and  on  the  following  day  I  sold  them,  and  gained  by 
them  fifty  pieces  of  gold,  and  bought  other  goods.  I  proceeded  to  associate  with  the 
people,  and  to  treat  them  with  generosity  ;  and  they  loved  me  ;  and  I  betook  myself 
to  selling  and  buying,  and  my  wealth  became  great.  And  know,  0  my  brother,  that 
the  author  of  the  proverb  saith.  The  world  is  full  of  idle  boasting,  and  artifice.  And 
in  the  country  in  which  no  one  knoweth  thee  do  whatsoever  thou  wilt.  But  if  thou 
say  to  every  one  who  asketh  thee,  I  am  by  trade  a  cobbler,  and  a  poor  man,  and  I 
fled  from  my  wife,  and  yesterday  I  came  forth  from  Cairo,  —  they  will  not  believe 
thee,  and  thou  wilt  become  among  them  a  laughing-stock  as  long  as  thou  shalt 
remain  in  this  city.  And  if  thou  say,  An  Afrite  conveyed  me, — they  will  run  away 
from  thee  in  fear,  and  no  one  will  come  near  thee  ;  and  they  will  say,  This  is  a  man 
possessed  by  an  Afrite,  and  whosoever  goeth  near  him,  injury  will  happen  to  him. 
And  this  notoriety  will  be  disgraceful  to  me  and  to  thee  ;  for  they  know  that  I  am 
from  Cairo. 

Marouf  then  said.  And  how  shall  I  act?  He  answered,  I  will  teach  thee  how  thou 
shalt  act.  If  it  be  the  will  of  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  I  will  give  thee  to- 
morrow a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  a  mule  which  thou  shalt  ride,  and  a  black 
slave  who  shall  walk  before  thee  until  he  shall  conduct  thee  to  the  gate  of  the  market 
of  the  merchants.  Then  go  in  to  them;  and  I  will  be  sitting  among  the  merchants  ; 
and  when  I  see  thee,  I  will  rise  to  thee  and  salute  thee,  and  I  will  kiss  thy  hand  and 
honour  thy  station  ;  and  whenever  I  ask  thee  respecting  any  kind  of  stufl",  saying  to 
thee,  Hast  thou  brought  with  thee  any  of  such  a  kind  ? — answer,  Abundance  : — and 
if  they  ask  me  respecting  thee,  I  will  praise  thee  and  magnify  thee  in  their  eyes.  I 
will  then  say  to  them.  Provide  ye  for  him  a  magazine  and  a  shop.  And  I  will 
describe  thee  as  a  person  of  abundant  wealth  and  generosity  ;  and  if  a  beggar  come 
to  thee,  give  him  what  thou  canst  easily  afford  :  thereupon  they  will  confide  in  my 
words,  and  believe  in  thy  greatness  and  thy  generosity  and  they  will  love  thee. 
After  that  I  will  invite  thee,  and  I  will  invite  all  the  merchants  on  thine  account, 
and  bring  you  and  them  together,  that  all  of  them  may  know  thee,  and  that  thou 
mayest  know  them,  in  order  that  thou  mayest  sell  and  buy  and  take  and  give  with 
them  ;  and  no  long  period  will  pass  over  thee  before  thou  wilt  become  a  person  of 
wealth.  —  Accordingly  when  the  morning  came,  he  gave  him  a  thousand  pieces  of 
"■old,  clad  him  in  a  suit  of  apparel,  mounted  him  upon  a  mule,  and  gave  him  a  black 
slave,  saying,  God  acquit  thee  of  responsibility  with  respect  to  the  whole ;  for  thou 
art  my  companion  ;  so  to  treat  thee  with  generosity  is  incumbent  on  me.  Suffer  not 
anxiety  ;  but  dismiss  from  thy  mind  the  subject  of  thy  wife,  and  mention  her  nut  to 
any  one. 

Marouf  therefore  said  to  him.  May  God  recompense  thee  well !  He  then  mounted 
the  mule,  and  the  slave  walked  before  him  until  he  had  conducted  him  to  the  gate 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF.  761 

of  the  market  of  the  merchants,  who  were  all  sitting  there,  and  the  merchant  Ali 
waa  sitting  among  them:  so  when  he  saw  him,  he  arose  and  threw  himself  upon 
him,  saying  to  him,  A  blessed  day,  0  merchant  Marouf,  0  man  of  good  works  and 
of  kindness  ?  Then  he  kissed  his  hand  before  the  merchants,  and  said,  0  our 
brothers,  the  merchant  Marouf  hath  delighted  you  by  his  arrival.  They  therefore 
saluted  him,  and  the  merchant  Ali  made  signs  to  them  that  they  should  show  him 
honour :  so  he  was  magnified  in  their  eyes.  His  companion  set  him  down  from  the 
back  of  the  mule,  and  they  saluted  him  again  ;  and  the  merchant  Ali  proceeded  to 
50  apart  with  one  of  them  after  another,  and  to  praise  Marouf  to  him  ;  and  they  said 
to  him.  Is  this  a  merchant?  He  answered  them.  Yes:  indeed  he  is  the  greatest  of 
merchants,  and  there  existeth  not  any  one  more  wealthy  than  he  ;  for  his  wealth  and 
the  wealth  of  his  father  and  his  forefathers  are  notorious  among  the  merchants  of 
Cairo  ;  and  he  hath  partners  in  Hind  and  Sinde'  and  in  Arabia;  and  for  generosity, 
his  fame  resteth  on  an  excellent  foundation.  Therefore  know  his  dignity,  and  extol 
his  rank,  and  serve  him  ;  and  know  that  his  coming  to  this  city  is  not  for  the  sake 
of  traffic;  for  his  desire  is  for  nothing  but  to  divert  himself  with  the  sight  of  the 
countries  of  the  world ;  because  he  is  not  in  need  of  travelling  to  foreign  parts  for 
the  sake  of  gain  and  profits,  having  wealth  which  fires  cannot  consume,  and  I  am  of 
the  number  of  his  servants. — He  ceased  not  to  praise  him  until  they  raised  him  above 
their  heads,  and  they  proceeded  to  acquaint  one  another  with  his  qualities.  They 
then  came  together  to  him,  and  presented  him  with  food  for  breakfast,  and  sherbet. 
Even  the  Shah  Bandar  of  the  merchants  came  to  him,  and  saluted  him  ;  and  the 
merchant  Ali  said  to  him,  in  the  presence  of  the  other  merchants,  0  my  master, 
probably  ihou  hast  brought  with  thee  some  of  such  a  kind  of  stuff.  So  he  answered 
him.  Abundance.  And  on  that  day  the  merchant  Ali  had  shown  him  the  various 
kinds  of  costly  stuffs,  and  taught  him  the  names  of  the  stuffs,  the  dear  and  the  cheap. 
Then  one  of  the  merchants  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  hast  thou  brought  with  thee 
yellow  cloth?  He  answered.  Abundance.  He  said.  And  red,  of  gazelle's  blood!* 
He  answered.  Abundance.  And  every  time  that  he  asked  him  respecting  anything, 
he  answered  him,  Abundance.  So  thereupon  he  said,  0  merchant  Ali,  verily  thy 
countryman,  if  he  desired  to  transport  a  thousand  loads  of  costly  stuffs,  could 
transport  them.  And  he  replied,  He  would  do  so  from  one  of  his  magazines,  and 
nought  of  its  contents  would  be  missing. 

And  while  they  were  sitting,  lo,  a  beggar  came  round  to  the  merchants,  and  some 
of  them  gave  hiixi  a  farthing  and  some  of  them  gave  him  a  penny,  and  most  of  them 
gave  him  not  aught,  until  he  came  to  Marouf,  who  took  for  him  a  handful  of  gold, 
and  gave  him  it.  So  he  prayed  for  him,  and  departed  ;  and  the  merchants  wondered 
thereat,  and  said.  Verily  this  is  the  gift  of  kings ;  for  he  gave  the  beggar  gold  with- 
out counting  it;  and  were  he  not  of  the  persons  of  great  riches,  and  possessing 
abundance,  he  had  not  given  the  beggar  a  handful  of  gold.  And  after  a  while 
there  came  to  him  a  poor  woman  ;  whereupon  he  took  another  handful,  and  gave  it 
to  her,  and  she  departed,  praying  for  him,  and  told  the  other  poor  persons.  So  they 
advanced  to  him,  one  after  another,  and  for  every  one  who  came  to  him  he  proceeded 
to  take  a  handful  and  to  give  it  him  until  he  had  disbursed  the  thousand  pieces  of 
gold  ;  after  which  he  struck  hand  upon  hand,  and  said,  God  is  our  sufficiency,  and 
excellent  is  the  Protector?  So  the  Shah  Bandar  of  the  merchants  said  to  him,  What 
aileth  thee,  0  merchant  Marouf?  He  answered.  It  seemeth  that  most  of  the  people 
of  this  city  are  poor  and  needy  ;  and  if  I  had  known  that  they  were  so,  I  had  brought 
with  me  in  the  saddle-bags  a  large  sum  of  money  and  given  it  in  alms  to  the  poor. 
1  fear  that  my  absence  from  my  country  may  be  long,  and  it  is  a  habit  of  my  nature 
not  to  reject  the  beggar;  but  I  have  with  me  no  gold  remaining:  therefore  when  a 
poor  man  cometh  to  me,  what  shall  I  say  to  him  ?  He  answered  him.  Say  to  him, 
God  sustain  thee  ! — But  he  replied.  It  is  not  my  custom,  and  anxiety  hath  come  upon 

'  By  Hind  and  Sinde  the  Arabs  understand  India  generally. 
^Name  of  deep  red  dye. 


762  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUP. 

me  on  ac»;ount  of  this.  Would  that  I  had  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold  more,  that  1 
might  give  them  in  alms  until  my  merchandise  come  ! — So  he  said,  No  harm.  And 
he  sent  one  of  his  dependants,  who  brought  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  he 
gave  them  to  him.  Marouf  then  proceeded  to  give  to  every  one  of  the  poor  who 
passed  by  him  until  the  call  to  noon-prayers  was  chanted  ;  whereupon  they  entered 
the  mosque,  and  performed  the  noon-prayers,  and  what  remained  with  him  of  the 
thousand  pieces  of  gold  he  scattered  over  the  heads  of  the  worshippers.  The  atten- 
tion of  the  people  was  therefore  drawn  to  him,  and  they  prayed  for  him,  and  the 
merchants  wondered  at  the  abundance  of  his  generosity  and  his  munificence.  He 
then  inclined  to  another  merchant,  and  obtained  from  him  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold, 
and  distributed  them  ;  and  the  merchant  AH  was  observing  his  actions,  but  could 
not  speak.  He  ceased  not  to  do  thus  until  the  call  to  afternoon-prayers  was  chanttd, 
when  he  entered  the  mosque  and  prayed,  and  distributed  the  remainder.  And  they 
closed  not  the  gate  of  the  market  until  he  had  received  five  thousand  pieces  of  gold 
and  distributed  them  ;  and  to  every  one  of  whom  he  had  received  aught,  he  said, 
Wait  until  the  merchandise  shall  arrive,  when,  if  thou  desire  gold,  I  will  give  it 
thee,  and  if  thou  desire  stuifs,  I  will  give  them  thee ;  for  I  have  abundance.  And 
in  the  evening  the  merchant  Ali  invited  him,  and  he  invited  with  him  all  the  mer- 
chants. He  seated  him  at  the  upper  end  of  the  apartment,  and  he  talked  not  of 
aught  but  of  stufi"8  and  jewels  ;  and  whenever  they  mentioned  to  him  anything,  he 
said,  I  have  abundance  of  it.  And  on  the  following  day  he  repaired  again  to  the 
market,  and  proceeded  to  incline  to  the  merchants,  obtain  from  them  mcney,  and 
distribute  it  to  the  poor. 

He  ceased  not  to  do  thus  for  the  space  of  twenty  days,  until  he  had  received  from 
the  people  sixty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  there  came  not  to  him  merchandise 
nor  a  burning  plague.  So  the  people  were  clamorous  for  their  money,  and  said. 
The  merchandise  of  the  merchant  Marouf  hath  not  arrived,  and  how  long  shall  he 
take  people's  money  and  give  it  to  the  poor?  And  one  of  them  said.  My  opinion 
is,  that  we  should  speak  with  his  countryman,  the  merchant  Ali.  Accordingly 
they  came  to  him  and  said  to  him,  0  merchant  Ali,  the  merchandise  of  the  merchant 
Marouf  hath  not  arrived.  And  he  replied,  Be  ye  patient;  for  it  must  arrive  soon. 
Then  he  had  a  private  interview  with  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  Marouf,  what  are 
these  deeds?  Did  I  say  unto  thee,  Toast  the  bread  —  or  Burn  it?  Verily  the  mer- 
chants have  become  clamorous  for  their  money,  and  have  informed  me  that  they 
have  become  creditors  to  thee  for  sixty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  which  thou  hast  re- 
ceived, and  hast  distributed  to  the  poor.  And  how  wilt  thou  pay  thy  debt  to  the 
people,  when  thou  neither  sellest  nor  buyest?  —  But  he  replied,  What  will  be  the 
consequence,  and  what  are  the  sixty  thousand  pieces  of  gold?  When  the  merchan- 
dise arriveth,  I  will  give  them,  if  they  will,  stuffs,  and  if  they  will,  gold  and  silver. 
— Upon  this,  the  merchant  Ali  said  to  him,  God  is  most  great!  And  hast  thou 
merchandise?  —  He  answered.  Abundance.  And  he  said  to  him,  Allah  and  the 
Saints  requite  thee  and  thy  turpitude!  Did  I  teach  thee  this  saying  in  order  that 
thou  shouldst  utter  it  to  me?  Now  will  I  inform  the  people  of  thee. — Marouf  re- 
plied, Go.  without  loquacity.  Am  I  a  poor  man?  Verily  my  merchandise  com- 
priseth  an  abundance  of  things ;  and  when  it  arriveth  they  shall  receive  double  the 
value  of  their  property.  I  am  in  no  need  of  them.  —  So  thereupon  the  merchant 
Ali  was  enraged,  and  said  to  him,  0  thou  of  little  good-breeding,  I  will  without  fail 
show  thee.  How  is  it  that  thou  liest  to  me  and  art  not  ashamed  ?  —  But  he  replied. 
What  thou  hast  in  thy  power,  do ;  and  they  shall  wait  until  my  merchandise  arrive, 
and  shall  receive  their  property  with  addition.  He  therefore  left  him,  and  departed, 
and  he  said  within  himself,  I  praised  him  before,  and  if  I  censure  him  now,  I  be- 
come a  liar,  and  include  myself  among  those  to  whom  applieth  the  saying  of  him 
who  said.  He  who  praiseth  and  censureth,  lieth  twice.  And  he  became  perplexed 
respecting  his  case.  Then  the  merchants  came  to  him  again,  and  said,  0  merchant 
Ali,  hast  thou  spoken  to  him  ?     He  answered  them,  0  people,  I  am  abashed  at  him, 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF.  763 

and  he  oweth  me  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  but  I  have  not  been  able  to  speak  to 
him  respecting  them.  When  ye  gave  him,  ye  consulted  me  not,  and  ye  have  nought 
to  say  to  me.  So  demand  of  him  by  an  application  from  yourselves  to  him  ;  and  if 
he  give  you  not,  complain  of  him  to  the  King  of  the  city,  and  say  to  him.  He  is  an 
impostor,  who  hath  imposed  upon  us.  For  the  King  will  save  you  from  being  injured 
by  him. 

Accordingly  they  went  to  the  King  and  acquainted  him  with  what  had  happened, 
and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  we  are  perplexed  respecting  our  case  with  this  merchant 
whose  generosity  is  excessive  ;  for  he  doth  so  and  so,  and  everything  that  he  receiveth 
he  distributeth  to  the  poor  by  the  handful.  Now  if  he  possessed  little,  his  soul 
would  not  consent  to  his  taking  gold  by  the  handful  and  giving  it  to  the  poor ;  yet 
were  he  of  the  people  of  affluence,  his  veracity  had  appeared  to  us  by  the  arrival  of 
his  merchandise,  and  we  see  no  merchandise  belonging  to  him,  though  he  asserteth 
that  he  hath  merchandise,  and  that  he  hath  come  on  before  it;  and  whenever  we 
mentioned  to  him  any  kind  of  stuff,  he  would  say,  I  have  abundance  of  it.  A  coh- 
siderable  period  hath  elapsed  ;  but  no  tidings  of  his  merchandise  have  come ;  and 
he  hath  become  indebted  to  us  to  the  amount  of  sixty  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  aii 
of  which  he  hath  distributed  to  the  poor. — And  they  proceeded  to  eulogise  him  and 
to  praise  his  generosity.  And  that  King  was  covetous ;  more  covetous  than  Ashab : 
80  when  he  heard  of  his  generosity  and  munificence,  covetousness  overcame  him, 
and  he- said  to  his  Vizier,  If  this  merchant  did  not  possess  abundant  riches,  all  this 
generous  conduct  would  not  proceed  from  him  ;  his  merchandise  will  without  fail 
arrive,  and  these  merchants  will  come  together  to  him,  and  he  will  disperse  among 
them  abundant  riches.  But  I  am  more  worthy  of  this  wealth  than  they:  therefore 
I  desire  to  contract  friendship  with  him,  and  to  show  an  affection  for  him,  before 
his  merchandise  arriveth  ;  and  what  these  merchants  will  receive  from  him,  I  shall 
receive,  and  I  will  marry  to  him  ray  daughter,  and  join  his  wealth  with  mine. — But 
the  Vizier  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  imagine  him  not  to  be  aught  but  an  im- 
postor ;  and  the  impostor  hath  ruined  the  house  of  the  covetous.  The  King,  how- 
ever, said  to  him,  O  Vizier,  I  will  try  him,  and  know  whether  he  be  an  impostor  or 
veracious,  and  whether  he  have  been  reared  in  affluence  or  not.  The  Vizier  said, 
With  what  wilt  thou  try  him?  The  King  answered,  I  have  a  jewel,  and  I  will  send 
for  him  and  cause  him  to  be  brought  to  me  ;  and  when  he  hath  seated  himself,  I 
will  treat  him  with  honour,  and  give  him  the  jewel  ;  and  if  he  know  it,  and  know 
its  price,  he  will  be  proved  to  be  a  person  of  riches  and  affluence ;  but  if  he  know 
it  not,  he  will  be  proved  to  be  an  impostor,  an  upstart,  and  I  will  slay  him  in  the 
most  abominable  manner. 

Then  the  King  sent  to  him,  and  caused  him  to  be  brought ;  and  when  he  came  in 
to  him,  he  saluted  him,  and  the  King  returned  his  salutation,  and  seated  him  by 
his  side,  and  said  to  him,  Art  thou  the  merchant  Marouf?  He  answered,  Yes. 
And  the  King  said  to  him.  The  merchants  assert  that  thou  owest  them  sixty  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold.  Now  is  that  which  they  say  true? —  He  answered,  Yes.  The 
King  said  to  him.  Wherefore  hast  thou  not  given  to  them  their  money  ?  He  an- 
swered, Let  them  wait  until  my  merchandise  arriveth,  and  I  will  give  them  double 
of  what  I  have  received;  and  if  they  desire  gold,  I  will  give  it  them,  and  if  they 
desire  silver,  I  will  give  it  them,  and  if  they  desire  merchandise,  I  will  give  it  them  ; 
and  to  him  whom  I  owe  a  thousand  I  will  give  two  thousand  in  return  for  that 
wherewith  he  hath  veiled  my  face  before  the  poor;  for  I  have  abundance.  The 
King  then  said  to  him,  O  merchant,  take  this,  and  see  what  is  its  kind,  and  what  is 
its  value.  And  he  gave  him  a  jewel  of  the  size  of  a  hazel-nut,  which  the  King  had 
purchased  for  a  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  he  had  not  another,  and  held  it  dear. 
So  Marouf  took  it  in  his  hand,  and  he  pressed  upon  it  with  his  thumb  and  fore- 
finger, and  broke  it ;  for  the  jewel  was  frail,  and  would  not  bear  the  pressure.  The 
King  therefore  said  to  him,  Wherefore  hast  thou  broken  the  jewel  ?  And  he  laughed, 
and  answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  this  is  not  a  jewel.     This  is  a  piece  of  mineral 


764  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

worth  !\  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  How  is  it  that  thou  sayestof  it  that  it  is  a  jewel? 
Verily  the  jewel  is  of  the  price  of  seventy  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and  this  is  only 
called  a  piece  of  mineral ;  and  the  jewel  that  is  not  of  the  size  of  a  hazel-nut  hath 
no  value  in  my  estimation,  nor  do  I  care  for  it.  How  is  it  that  thou  art  a  King, 
and  callest  this  a  jewel,  when  it  is  a  piece  of  mineral,  the  value  of  which  is  a  thou- 
sand pieces  of  gold  ?  But  ye  are  excusable,  because  ye  are  poor,  and  have  not  in 
your  possession  treasures  that  are  of  value. — So  the  King  said  to  him,  0  merchant, 
hast  thou  jewels  of  the  kind  that  thou  mentionest?  He  answered,  Abundance. 
And  thereupon,  covetousness  overcame  the  King,  and  he  said  to  him.  Wilt  thou 
give  me  perfect  jewels?  He  answered  him.  When  the  merchandise  cometh,  I  will 
give  thee  abundance :  whatsoever  thou  desirest,  I  have  abundance  thereof,  and  I 
will  give  thee  without  price.  So  the  King  rejoiced,  and  said  to  the  merchants.  Go 
your  way,  and  be  patient  with  him  until  the  merchandise  arriveth :  then  come,  re- 
ceive your  money  from  me.  And  they  departed.  —  Such  was  the  case  of  Marouf 
and  the  merchants. 

But  as  to  the  King,  he  addressed  the  Vizier,  and  said  to  him.  Treat  the  merchant 
Marouf  with  courtesy,  and  take  and  give  with  him  in  talk,  and  mention  to  him  my 
daughter,  in  order  that  he  may  marry  her,  and  we  may  gain  these  riches  that  are 
in  his  possession.  But  the  Vizier  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  verily  the  state  of 
this  man  hath  not  pleased  me,  and  I  imagine  that  he  is  an  impostor  and  a  liar. 
Therefore  desist  from  these  words,  lest  thou  lose  thy  daughter  for  nought. — And  the 
Vizier  had  before  solicited  the  King  to  marry  to  him  the  damsel,  and  he  desired  to 
marry  her  to  him;  but  when  this  was  told  her.  she  consented  not.  —  So  thereupon 
the  King  said  to  him,  0  deceiver,  thou  dost  not  desire  for  me  good  fortune,  because 
thou  demandedst  my  daughter  in  marriage  before,  but  she  consented  not  to  marry 
thee.  So  now  thou  interceptest  the  way  of  her  marriage,  and  desirest  that  my 
daughter  should  remain  as  a  waste  land,  in  order  that  thou  mayest  take  her.  But 
hear  from  me  this  saying;  Thou  hast  no  concern  with  these  words.  How  can  he  be 
an  impostor,  a  liar,  when  he  knew  the  price  of  the  jewel,  the  price  at  which  I  pur- 
chased it.  and  broke  it  because  it  did  not  please  him?  He  hath  many  jewels;  and 
when  he  introduceth  himself  to  my  daughter,  he  will  see  her  to  be  beautiful,  and 
she  will  captivate  his  reason,  and  he  will  love  her,  and  will  give  her  jewels  and 
treasures.  But  thou  desirest  to  prevent  my  daughter  and  to  prevent  me  from  ob- 
taining these  riches.  —  So  the  Vizier  was  silent,  and  feared  the  King's  rage  against 
him,  and  he  said  to  himself.  Set  the  dogs  upon  the  cattle.  Then  he  inclined  to  the 
merchant  Marouf,  and  said  to  him.  His  majesty  the  King  loveth  thee,  and  he  hath  a 
daughter  endowed  with  beauty  and  loveliness,  whom  he  desireth  to  marry  to  thee. 
What  then  sayest  thou? — And  he  answered  him.  No  harm.  But  let  him  wait  until 
my  merchandise  arriveth  ;  for  the  dowry  of  the  daughters  of  the  Kings  is  large, 
and  their  rank  requireth  that  they  should  not  be  endowed  save  with  a  dowry  be- 
fitting their  condition;  and  at  this  present  time  I  have  not  with  me  wealth.  There- 
fore let  him  have  patience  with  me  until  the  merchandise  arriveth  ;  for  I  have 
abundant  riches,  and  I  must  give  as  her  dowry  five  thousand  purses.  I  shall  also 
require  a  thousand  purses  to  distribute  to  the  poor  and  needy  on  the  night  of  my 
introduction  to  the  bride,  and  a  thousand  purses  to  give  to  those  who  shall  walk  in 
the  marriage-procession,  and  a  thousand  purses  wherewith  to  prepare  the  viands  foi 
the  soldiers  and  others  ;  and  I  shall  require  a  hundred  jewels  to  give  to  the  Queen 
on  the  morning  of  the  wedding,  and  a  hundred  jewels  to  distribute  among  the  female 
slaves  and  the  eunuchs,  giving  each  a  jewel  in  honour  of  the  rank  of  the  bride.  1 
shall  require  moreover  to  clothe  a  thousand  naked  persons  among  the  poor,  and 
alms  will  be  indispensable;  and  this  is  a  thing  that  will  be  impossible  until  the 
merchandise  arriveth.  But  I  have  abundance  ;  and  when  the  merchandise  cometh, 
I  care  not  for  all  these  expenses. 

The  Vizier  therefore  went  and  acquainted  the  King  with  that  which  he  had  said  ; 
and  the  King  said,  When  this  is  his  desire,  how  is  it  that  thou  assertost  of  him  that 


THE    STORY    OF    MAROUF.  '765 

he  is  an  impostor,  a  liar?  The  Vizier  replied,  And  I  cease  not  to  say  so.  But  the 
King  chid  him  angrily,  and  threatened  him,  and  said  to  him,  By  my  head,  if  thou 
desist  not  from  these  words,  I  will  slay  thee!  Return  then  to  him,  and  bring  him 
to  me,  and  I  will  arrange  with  him.  —  So  the  Vizier  went  to  him,  and  said  to  him. 
Come  hither:  answer  the  summons  of  the  King.  And  he  replied,  I  hear  and  obey. 
Then  he  came  to  him,  and  the  King  said  to  him,  Apologise  not  with  these  excuses  ; 
for  my  treasury  is  full :  therefore  take  the  keys  into  thy  possession,  and  expend  all 
that  thou  requirest,  and  give  what  thou  wilt,  and  clothe  the  poor,  and  do  what  thou 
desirest,  and  mind  not  for  the  damsel  and  the  female  slaves.  But  when  thy  mer- 
chandise arriveth,  show  what  generosity  thou  wilt  to  thy  wife,  and  we  will  have 
patience  with  thee  for  her  dowry  until  the  merchandise  arriveth,  and  there  shall 
never  be  any  diflFerence  between  me  and  thee. — He  then  ordered  the  sheikh  el-Islam 
to  perform  the  ceremony  of  the  marriage-contract.  So  he  performed  the  ceremony 
of  the  contract  of  the  marriage  of  the  King's  daughter  to  the  merchant  Marouf.  The 
King  commenced  the  celebration  of  the  festivity,  and  gave  orders  to  decorate  the 
city,  and  the  drums  were  beaten,  and  the  tables  of  viands  were  spread  with  all  kinds 
of  dishes,  and  the  performers  of  sports  came.  The  merchant  Marouf  sat  upon  a 
throne  in  a  saloon,  and  the  performers  of  sports,  and  the  exhibiters  of  cunning 
tricks,  and  the  dancers,  and  the  performers  of  extraordinary  arts  and  won- 
derful games,  were  disposed  in  order  before  him,  and  he  proceeded  to  order  the 
Treasurer,  and  to  say  to  him,  Bring  the  gold  and  silver.  Accordingly  he  brought 
him  the  gold  and  the  silver,  and  Marouf  went  round  among  the  people  who  were 
diverting  themselves,  and  gave  to  every  one  who  played  by  the  handful,  and  bestowed 
alms  on  the  poor  and  needy,  and  clad  the  naked,  and  it  was  a  noisy  festivity.  The 
Treasurer  had  not  time  to  bring  the  money  from  the  treasury,  and  the  heart  of  the 
Vizier  almost  burst  with  rage ;  but  he  could  not  speak.  The  merchant  Ali  also 
wondered  at  the  squandering  of  this  wealth,  and  said  to  the  merchant  Marouf,  May 
Allah  and  the  Saints  retaliate  upon  thy  temple  !  Hath  it  not  sufficed  thee  that  thou 
hast  wasted  the  money  of  the  merchants,  but  thou  wilt  also  waste  the  money  of  the 
King? — But  the  merchant  Marouf  answered  him.  Thou  hast  no  concern  with  it;  and 
when  the  merchandise  arriveth,  I  will  compensate  the  King  for  this  with  double  its 
value.  —  And  he  proceeded  to  scatter  the  money,  and  to  say  within  himself,  A  burn- 
ing plague!  What  will  happen  will  happen;  and  from  that  which  is  predestined 
there  is  no  escape. 

The  festivity  ceased  not  for  the  space  of  forty  days;  and  on  the  one-and-fortieth 
day  they  made  the  procession  for  the  bride.  All  the  Emirs  and  soldiers  walked 
before  her  ;  and  when  they  entered  with  her,  Marouf  scattered  gold  over  the  heads 
of  the  people.  They  made  for  her  a  magnificent  procession,  and  Marouf  expended  a 
vast  quantity  of  wealth.  They  introduced  him  to  the  Queen,  and  he  sat  upon  the 
high  mattress,  and  they  let  down  the  curtains,  and  closed  the  doors,  and  went  forth, 
leaving  him  with  the  bride.  And  thereupon  he  smote  hand  upon  hand,  and  sat 
sorrowful  for  some  time,  striking  palm  upon  palm,  and  saying.  There  is  no  strength 
nor  power  but  in  God,  the  High,  the  Great !  So  the  Queen  said  to  him,  0  my  lord, 
Allah  preserve  thee!  What  aileth  thee,  that  thou  art  sorrowful?  —  And  he  replied, 
How  can  I  be  otherwise  than  sorrowful  when  thy  father  hath  disquieted  me,  and 
done  to  me  a  deed  like  the  burning  of  the  green  corn  ?  She  said,  And  what  hath  my 
father  done  to  thee  ?  Tell  me. — He  answered,  He  hath  introduced  me  to  thee  before 
my  merchandise  hath  arrived,  and  I  desired  at  least  a  hundred  jewels  to  distribute 
among  thy  female  slaves,  to  each  one  a  jewel,  that  she  might  rejoice  in  it,  and  say, 
My  lord  gave  me  a  jewel  on  the  night  of  his  introduction  to  my  lady;  and  this  good 
deed  would  have  been  an  act  of  honour  to  thy  rank,  and  have  increased  thy  glory ; 
for  I  am  not  deficient  in  lavishing  jewels,  having  of  them  an  abundance.  —  But  she 
eaid  to  him,  Be  not  anxious  for  that,  nor  grieve  thyself  for  this  reason.  As  to  my- 
self, thou  hast  no  blame  to  fear  from  me ;  for  I  will  have  patience  with  thee  until 
the  merchandise  arriveth  ;  and  as  to  the  female  slaves,  thou  hast  nought  to  care  for 


766 


THE    STORY   OF   MAROUF. 


on  their  accbunt.  —  So  he  was  appeased.  And  on  the  following  morning  he  entered 
the  bath,  and  put  on  a  suit  of  the  apparel  of  Kings,  and,  having  gone  forth  from  the 
bath,  entered  the  King's  council-ehamber :  whereupon  those  who  were  in  it  rose  to 
him  upon  their  feet,  and  received  him  with  respect  and  honour,  and  congratulated 
him,  and  blessed  him.  He  sat  by  the  side  of  the  King,  and  said,  Where  is  the 
Treasurer  ?  They  answered,  Lo,  he  is  here  before  thee.  And  he  said,  Bring  the 
robes  of  honour,  and  invest  all  the  Viziers  and  the  Emirs  and  the  men  of  office. 
Accordingly  he  brought  him  all  that  he  demanded,  and  he  sat  giving  to  every  one 
who  came  to  him,  and  presenting  to  every  man  according  to  his  rank. 

He  continued  in  this  state  for  the  space  of  twenty  days,  and  there  appeared  not 
any  merchandise  belonging  to  him,  nor  aught  else.  Then  the  Treasurer  became 
straitened  by  him  to  the  utmost  degree,  and  he  went  in  to  the  King  in  the  absence 
of  Marouf,  when  the  King  was  sitting  with  the  Vizier,  and  no  one  beside ;  and  he 
kissed  the  ground  before  him,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  will  acquaint  thee  with 
a  thing;  for  perhaps  thou  wouldst  blame  me  for  not  acquainting  thee  therewith. 
Know  that  the  treasury  hath  become  almost  empty;  there  remaineth  not  in  it  any 
money,  except  a  small  quantity,  and  after  ten  days  we  shall  close  it  empty. — So  the 
King  said,  0  Vizier,  verily  the  merchandise  of  my  son-in-law  hath  been  backward 
in  coming,  and  no  tidings  of  it  have  appeared.  And  the  Vizier  laughed,  and  said 
to  him.  May  God  be  gracious  to  thee,  0  King  of  the  age!  Thou  art  none  other 
than  a  careless  person  with  respect  to  the  conduct  of  this  impostor  and  liar.  By 
thy  head,  there  is  no  merchandise  belonging  to  him,  nor  a  plague  to  relieve  us  of 
him  ;  but  he  hath  only  incessantly  imposed  upon  thee  until  he  hath  consumed  thy 
wealth,  and  married  thy  daughter  for  nothing.  And  how  long  wilt  thou  be  heed- 
less of  this  liar? — The  King  thereupon  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  how  shall  we  act,  that 
we  may  know  the  truth  of  his  state?  And  he  answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  no  one 
will  become  acquainted  with  the  man's  secret  except  his  wife.  Therefore  send  to 
thy  daughter,  desiring  that  she  may  come  behind  the  curtain,  in  order  that  I  may 
ask  her  respecting  the  truth  of  his  state,  so  that  she  may  examine  him  and  acquaint 
us  with  his  state. — And  he  replied.  There  will  be  no  harm  in  that.  By  my  head,  if 
it  be  proved  that  he  is  an  impostor,  a  liar,  I  will  surely  slay  him  in  the  most  unfortu- 


The  Pniicess  caressin?  Marouf. 


THE    STORY    OF    MAROUF.  767 

nate  manner! — He  then  took  the  Vizier,  and  entered  with  him  into  the  sitting- 
chamber,  and  sent  to  his  daughter.  So  she  came  behind  the  curtain  ;  and  this  was 
during  the  absence  of  her  husband ;  and  when  she  came,  she  said,  0  my  father,  what 
dost  thou  desire  ?  He  answered.  Speak  to  the  Vizier.  Accordingly  she  said,  U 
Vizier,  what  wouldst  thou  ?  He  answered,  0  my  mistress,  know  that  thy  husband 
hath  consumed  the  wealth  of  thj  father,  and  he  hath  married  thee  without  giving  n 
dowry,  and  hath  not  ceased  to  promise  us  and  to  break  his  promise:  no  tidings  of 
his  merchandise  have  appeared  ;  and,  in  short,  we  desire  that  thou  wouldst  inform 
us  respecting  him.  She  replied.  Verily,  his  words  are  many,  and  he  is  constantly 
coming  and  promising  me  jewels  and  treasures  and  costly  stuffs  ;  but  I  have  seen 
nothing.  And  he  said,  0  my  mistress,  canst  thou  this  night  take  and  give  with  him 
in  talk,  and  say  to  him.  Acquaint  me  with  the  truth,  and  fear  nothing;  for  thou  hast 
become  my  husband,  and  I  will  not  be  neglectful  of  thee:  so  acquaint  me  with  the 
truth  of  the  case,  and  I  will  contrive  for  thee  a  plan  by  which  thou  shalt  be  made 
happy?  After  that,  use  nearness  and  remoteness  of  speech  to  him,  and  make  a  show 
of  affection  to  him,  a'nd  induce  him  to  confess ;  and  then  acquaint  us  with  the  truth 
of  his  case. — And  she  said,  0  my  father,  I  know  how  to  examine  him. 

She  then  departed  ;  and  after  nightfall,  her  husband  Marouf  came  in  to  her 
according  to  his  custom.  So  she  rose  to  him,  and  took  him  with  her  hand  beneath 
his  armpit,  and  beguiled  him  with  excessive  guile.  (And  sufficient  is  the  guile  of 
women  when  they  have  to  request  of  men  anything  of  which  they  desire  the  accom- 
plishment.) She  ceased  not  to  beguile  him  and  to  coax  him  with  speech  sweeter 
than  honey  until  she  stole  his  reason  ;  and  when  she  saw  that  he  had  inclined  to  her 
entirely,  she  said  to  him,  O  my  beloved,  0  delight  of  my  eye,  O  joy  of  my  heart,  may 
God  not  make  me  desolate  by  thine  absence,  nor  time  make  a  separation  between  me 
and  thee  !  for  affection  for  thee  hath  taken  up  its  abode  in  my  heart,  and  the  fire  of 
desire  for  thee  hath  burned  my  liver,  and  there  can  be  no  neglect  of  thee  ever.  But 
I  desire  that  thou  wouldst  acquaint  me  with  the  truth ;  for  the  stratagems  of  false- 
hood are  not  profitable,  nor  do  they  gain  credit  on  all  occasions.  How  long  wilt  thou 
impose  and  lie  to  my  father?  I  fear  that  thy  case  will  be  exposed  to  my  father 
before  we  contrive  a  stratagem  to  avoid  it,  and  that  he  will  lay  violent  hands  upon 
thee.  Acquaint  me  then  with  the  truth,  and  thou  shalt  experience  nought  but  what 
will  rejoice  thee.  When  thou  shalt  have  acquainted  me  with  the  truth  of  the  case,  thou 
shalt  fear  nothing  that  would  injure  thee.  How  often  wilt  thou  assert  that  thou  art 
a  merchant,  and  a  person  of  riches,  and  that  thou  hast  merchandise?  A  long  period 
hath  passed  during  which  thou  hast  been  saying.  My  merchandise:  my  merchandise: 
— but  no  tidings  of  thy  merchandise  have  appeared  ;  and  anxiety  is  manifest  in  thy 
countenance  on  this  account.  Now,  if  thy  words  have  no  truth,  inform  me,  and  I 
will  contrive  for  thee  a  plan  by  means  of  which  thou  shalt  be  safe,  if  it  be  the  will 
of  God. — And  he  replied,  0  ray  mistress,  I  will  acquaint  thee  with  the  truth,  and 
whatever  thou  wilt,  do.  So  she  rejoined.  Say,  and  take  care  to  be  veracious ;  for 
veracity  is  the  ship  of  safety  :  and  beware  of  falsehood  ;  for  it  disgraceth  its  speaker. 
— And  he  said,  0  my  mistress,  know  that  I  am  not  a  merchant,  and  I  have  neither 
merchandise  nor  a  burning  plague.  But  in  my  country  I  was  only  a  cobbler,  and  I 
have  a  wife  whose  name  is  Fatima  el-Orra,  and  such  and  such  things  happened  to 
to  me  with  her. — And  he  acquainted  her  with  the  story  from  its  commencement  to 
its  end. 

Upon  this  she  laughed,  and  said.  Verily  thou  art  skilful  in  the  art  of  lying  and 
imposition  !  He  replied,  0  my  mistress,  may  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  preserve 
thee  to  veil  faults  and  dissolve  griefs !  And  she  said.  Know  that  thou  hast  imposed 
upon  my  father,  and  deceived  him  by  the  abundance  of  thine  idle  boasting,  so  that 
he  hath  married  me  to  thee  by  reason  of  his  covetousness.  Then  thou  consumedst 
his  wealth  •  and  the  Vizier  suspecteth  thee  for  this  conduct;  and  how  often  doth  he 
speak  of  thee  before  my  father,  saying  to  him.  Verily  he  is  an  impostor,  a  liar!  But 
my  father  hath  not  complied  with  that  which  he  hath  said,  because  he  had  demanded 


768  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

me  iu  marriage,  and  I  consented  not  that  he  should  be  to  me  a  husband,  and  that  I 
should  be  to  him  a  wife.  Then  the  time  became  tedious,  and  my  father  had  become 
straitened,  and  he  said  to  me,  Make  him  confess.  And  I  have  made  thee  confess,  and 
what  was  covered  hath  become  exposed.  Now  my  father  is  purposing  mischief  to 
thee  on  this  account ;  but  thou  hast  become  my  husband,  and  I  will  not  neglect  thee. 
For  if  I  informed  my  father  of  this  news,  it  would  be  proved  to  him  that  thou  art 
an  impostor,  a  liar,  and  that  thou  hast  imposed  upon  the  daughters  of  Kings,  and 
squandered  away  their  riches  ;  and  thine  offence  would  not  be  forgiven  by  him,  but 
he  would  slay  thee  without  doubt,  and  it  would  become  published  among  the  people 
that  I  had  married  a  man  who  was  an  impostor,  a  liar,  and  thou  wouldst  be  a  cause 
of  disgrace  to  me.  Moreover,  if  my  father  slew  thee,  probably  he  would  desire  to 
marry  me  to  another,  and  this  is  a  thing  to  which  I  would  not  consent,  even  if  I 
were  to  die  for  refusing.  But  arise  now,  and  put  on  a  dress  of  a  mamlouk,  and  take 
with  thee  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  gold  of  my  wealth  ;  then  mount  upon  a  courser, 
and  journey  to  a  country  to  which  the  rule  of  my  father  doth  not  reach.  There 
trade  as  a  merchant,  and  write  to  me  a  letter,  and  send  it  by  a  courier  who  will 
bring  it  to  me  privately,  that  I  may  know  in  what  country  thou  art,  in  order  that  I 
may  send  to  thee  all  my  hand  can  procure.  Thus  thy  wealth  will  become  abundant; 
and  if  my  father  die  I  will  send  to  thee,  and  thou  shalt  come  with  respect  and 
honour  ;  and  if  thou  die,  or  I  die,  departing  to  receive  the  mercy  of  God  (whose 
name  be  exalted  !)  the  day  of  resurrection  will  unite  us.  This  is  the  right  plan  ;  and 
as  long  as  thou  continuest  well  and  I  continue  well,  I  will  not  cease  to  send  thee 
letters  and  riches.  Arise  before  the  daylight  cometh  upon  thee,  and  thou  art  per- 
plexed, and  destruction  environeth  thee. — So  he  said  to  her,  0  my  mistress,  I  throw 
myself  upon  thy  generosity,  begging  thee  to  bid  me  farewell  with  an  embrace.  And 
she  replied.  No  harm.  He  then  embraced  her,  and  put  on  the  dress  of  a  mamlouk, 
and  ordered  the  grooms  to  saddle  for  him  a  swift  courser.  They  therefore  saddled 
for  him  a  courser,  and  he  bade  farewell  to  his  wife,  and  went  forth  from  the  city  at 
the  close  of  the  night,  and  departed,  every  one  who  saw  him  imagining  that  he  was 
one  of  the  mamlouks  of  the  Sultan  going  on  a  journey  for  the  accomplishment  of 
some  affair. 

And  when  the  morning  arrived,  her  father  came  with  the  Vizier  to  the  sitting- 
chamber,  and  her  fiither  sent  to  her.  So  she  came  behind  the  curtain,  and  her 
father  said  to  her,  0  my  daughter,  what  sayest  thou?  She  answered,  I  say.  May 
God  blacken  the  face  of  thy  Vizier!  For  he  desired  to  blacken  my  face  in  the  eyes 
of  my  husband. — And  how  so?  said  the  King.  She  answered,  He  came  in  to  me 
yesterday,  before  I  mentioned  to  him  these  words,  and  lo,  Faraj  the  eunuch  came  in 
to  me  with  a  letter  in  his  hand,  and  he  said.  Ten  mamlouks  are  standing  beneath 
the  window  of  the  palace,  and  they  gave  me  this  letter,  and  said  to  me,  Kiss  for  us 
the  hands  of  our  master  Marouf  the  merchant,  and  give  him  this  letter ;  for  we  are 
of  his  mamlouks  who  are  with  the  merchandise,  and  it  hath  been  told  us  that  he 
hath  married  the  daughter  of  the  King;  so  we  have  come  to  him  to  acquaint  him 
with  the  events  that  have  happened  to  us  on  the  way. — And  I  took  the  letter  and 
read  it,  and  saw  in  it, — From  the  five  hundred  mamlouks,  to  the  possessor  of  dignity, 
our  master,  the  merchant  Marouf. — To  proceed.  The  news  wherewith  we  acquaint 
thee  is  this.  After  thou  leftest  us,  the  Arabs  came  forth  against  us,  and  fought 
with  us,  and  they  were  two  hundred  horsemen,  while  we  were  five  hundred  mam- 
louks ;  and  a  severe  contest  ensued  between  us  and  the  Arabs.  They  prevented  our 
pursuing  the  way,  and  thirty  days  elapsed  while  we  were  contending  with  them,  and 
this  was  the  cause  of  our  being  behind  the  time  in  coming  to  tliee.  They  have  taken 
from  us  two  hundred  loads  of  stuffs,  forming  part  of  the  merchandise,  and  killed  of 
us  fifty  mamlouks. — And  when  the  news  came  to  him,  he  said.  May  Allah  disappoint 
them  !  Wherefore  should  they  contend  with  the  Arabs  for  the  sake  of  two  hundred 
loads  of  merchandise?  And  what  are  two  hundred  loads?  It  was  not  expedient 
for  tliem  to  delay  on  that  accour"*-  for  the  value  of  the  two  hundred  loads  is  but 


THE   STORY  OP   MAROUF. 


769 


seven  thousand  pieces  of  gold.  But  it  is  requisite  that  I  go  to  them  and  hasten 
them  ;  and  as  to  what  the  Arabs  have  taken,  the  merchandise  will  not  be  the  less 
for  it,  nor  will  it  make  any  impression  upon  me,  and  I  will  reckon  as  though  T 
had  bestowed  it  in  alms  upon  them.  —  Then  he  descended  from  me,  laughing, 
and  grieved  not  for  what  was  lost  of  his  wealth,  nor  for  the  slaughter  of  his 
mamlouks ;  and  when  he  descended,  I  looked  from  the  window  of  the  palace 
and  saw  that  the  ten  mamlouks,  who  brought  him  the  letter,  were  like  moons,  each 
one  of  them  wearing  a  suit  of  apparel  worth  two  thousand  pieces  of  gold,  and 
that  there  was  not  in  the  possession  of  my  father  a  mamlouk  resembling  one 
of  them.  He  then  repaired  with  the  mamlouks  who  brought  him  the  letter,  in 
order  that  he  might  bring  his  merchandise.  And  praise  be  to  God  who  prevented 
me  from  mentioning  to  him  aught  of  the  words  which  thou  orderest  me  to  say !  For 
he  would  have  derided  me  and  thee,  and  probably  he  would  have  looked  upon  me 
with  the  eye  of  disparagement,  and  would  have  hated  me.  But  the  fault  is  wholly 
in  thy  Vizier,  who  speaketh  against  my  husband  words  not  suitable  to  him. — So  the 
King  said,  0  my  daughter,  verily  the  wealth  of  thy  husband  is  abundant,  and  he 
thinketh  not  of  it ;  and  from  the  day  that  he  entered  our  country  he  hath  been  con- 
stantly bestowing  alms  on  the  poor.  If  it  be  the  will  of  God,  he  will  soon  come 
with  the  merchandise,  and  abundant  good  fortune  will  betide  us  from  him. — He  pro- 
ceeded to  appease  her  mind,  and  to  threaten  the  Vizier,  and  the  stratagem  deceived 
him. 

But  as  to  the  merchant  Marouf,  he  mounted  the  courser,  and  proceeded  over  the 
desert-  tract,  perplexed,  not  knowing  to  what  country  to  go  ;  and  by  reason  of  the 
pain  of  separation,  he  moaned,  and  he  suffered  ecstasy  and  afflictions,  and  recited 
some  verses;  after  which  he  wept  violently.  The  ways  were  obstructed  in  his  face, 
and  he  preferred  death  above  life.  Then  he  went  like  one  intoxicated,  through  the 
violence  of  his  perplexity,  and  ceased  not  to  proceed  until  the  hour  of  noon,  when 
he  approached  a  village,  and  saw  a  ploughman  near  it,  ploughing  with  a  yoke  of 
bulls ;  and  hunger  had  violently  affected  him ;  so  he  went  to  the  ploughman  and 


Man  at  the  Plongh. 


said  to  him,  Peace  be  on  thee !  And  he  returned  his  salutation,  and  said.  Welcome 
to  thee,  0  my  master!  Art  thou  of  the  mamlouks  of  the  Sultan? — He  answered. 
Yes.  And  he  said,  Alight  here  with  me  for  entertainment.  He  therefore  knew 
that  he  was  of  the  liberal,  but  he  said  to  him,  O  my  brother,  I  see  not  with  thee 
anything  wherewith  thou  canst  feed  me.  How  is  it  then  that  thou  invitest  me? — 
The  ploughman  answered,  0  my  master,  good  things  are  at  hand.  Alight  thou  ; 
and  behold,  the  village  is  near;  so  I  will  go  and  bring  thee  dinner,  and  fodder  for 
thy  horse. — Marouf  replied,  Since  the  village  is  near,  I  shall  arrive  at  it  in  the  same 
time  in  which  thou  wouldst  arrive  there,  and  I  will  buy  what  I  desire  from  the 
49 


770  THE    STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

market,  and  eat.  But  he  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  verily  the  village  Is  a  hamlet, 
and  there  is  not  in  it  a  market,  nor  selling  nor  buying.  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah 
that  thou  alight  here  with  me,  and  comfort  my  heart ;  and  I  will  go  thither,  and 
will  return  to  thee  quickly. — So  he  alighted  ;  and  the  peasant  left  him,  and  went 
to  the  village  to  bring  him  the  dinner.  Marouf  therefore  sat  waiting  for  him.  Then 
he  said  within  himself,  Verily  we  have  diverted  this  poor  man  from  his  work;  but 
I  will  arise  and  plough  in  his  stead,  until  he  come,  to  compensate  for  my  having 
hindered  him  from  his  work. 

Accordingly  he  took  the  plough,  and  drove  on  the  bulls,  and  ploughed  a  little ; 
and  the  plough  struck  against  something,  whereupon  the  beasts  stopped.  So  he 
urged  them  ;  but  they  could  not  proceed  ;  and  he  looked  at  the  plough,  and  saw  that 
it  was  caught  in  a  ring  of  gold.  He  therefore  removed  from  it  the  earth,  and  he 
found  that  ring  to  be  in  the  middle  of  a  stone  of  alabaster,  of  the  size  of  the  lower 
stone  of  a  mill ;  and  he  laboured  at  it  until  he  pulled  it  up  from  its  place,  when 
there  appeared  beneath  it  a  subterranean  place  with  stairs;  and  he  descended  those 
stairs,  and  saw  a  place  like  a  bath,  with  four  floors.  The  first  floor  was  full  of  gold, 
from  the  floor  to  the  roof;  and  the  second  floor  was  full  of  emeralds  and  pearls  and 
coral,  from  the  floor  to  the  roof;  and  the  third  floor  was  full  of  jacinths  and  balass- 
rubies  and  turquoises ;  and  the  fourth  floor  was  full  of  diamonds  and  precious 
minerals  of  all  kinds  of  jewels.  Also,  at  the  upper  end  of  that  place  was  a  chest 
of  clear  crystal,  full  of  incomparable  jewels,  each  jewel  of  them  being  of  the  size 
of  a  hazel-nut;  and  upon  that  chest  was  a  little  box,  of  the  size  of  a  lemon,  and  it 
was  of  gold.  So  when  he  beheld  this  he  wondered,  and  rejoiced  exceedingly;  and 
he  said.  What  can  be  in  this  little  box  ?  Then  he  opened  it,  and  he  saw  in  it  a  seal- 
ring  of  gold,  on  which  were  engraved  names  and  talismans  like  the  marks  made  by 
the  creeping  of  ants.  And  he  rubbed  the  seal-ring ;  and  lo,  a  speaker  said.  At  thy 
service!  At  thy  service !  0  my  master!  Demand  then,  and  thou  shalt  receive. 
Dost  thou  desire  to  build  a  town,  or  to  ruin  a  city,  or  to  slay  a  King,  or  to  dig  a 
river,  or  anything  of  that  kind?  For  whatsoever  thou  demandest,  it  will  happen, 
by  permission  of  the  Almighty  King,  the  Creator  of  the  night  and  the  day. — So  he 
said  to  him,  0  creature  of  ray  Lord,  who  art  thou,  and  what  mayest  thou  be  ?  He 
answered,  I  am  the  servant  of  this  seal-ring,  acting  in  the  service  of  its  possessor; 
and  whatever  object  of  desire  he  demandeth,  I  accomplish  it  for  him  ;  and  there  is 
no  excuse  for  my  neglecting  what  he  commandeth  me  to  do ;  for  I  am  Sultan  over 
tribes  of  the  Genii,  and  the  number  of  my  troops  is  two-and-seventy  tribes.  The 
number  of  each  tribe  is  two-and-seventy  thousand,  and  every  one  of  the  thousand 
ruleth  over  a  thousand  Marids,  and  each  Marid  ruleth  over  a  thousand  Genii,  and 
every  Genie  ruleth  over  a  thousand  Devils,  and  every  Devil  ruleth  over  a  thousand 
Genii,  and  all  of  them  are  under  my  authority,  and  they  are  unable  to  disobey  me. 
But  I  am  bound  by  enchantment  to  this  seal-ring,  and  I  cannot  disobey  him  who 
possesseth  it.  Lo,  thou  hast  possessed  it,  and  I  have  become  thy  servant.  Demand 
then  what  thou  wilt ;  for  I  will  hear  thy  saying  and  obey  thy  command  ;  and  when 
thou  requirest  me  at  any  time,  on  land  or  on  the  sea,  rub  the  seal-ring  and  thou  wilt 
find  me  with  thee.  But  beware  of  rubbing  it  twice  successively;  for  thou  wouldst 
burn  me  with  the  fire  of  the  names  [engraved  thereon],  and  lose  me,  and  repent 
for  me  after  that.  Now  I  have  acquainted  thee  with  my  state ;  and  peace  be  on 
thee  ! 

Upon  this,  Marouf  said  to  him.  What  is  thy  name?  He  answered,  My  name  is 
Aboulsadat.  And  he  said  to  him,  0  Aboulsadat,  what  is  this  place,  and  who  en- 
chanted thee  in  this  little  box?  He  answered,  0  my  master,  this  place  is  a  treasure, 
called  the  treasure  of  Sheddad  the  son  of  Ad,  who  constructed  Irem,  the  like  of 
which  hath  not  been  made  in  the  countries  of  the  earth.  I  was  his  servant  during 
his  life,  and  this  was  his  seal-ring,  and  he  deposited  it  in  his  treasure;  but  it  is  thy 
lot. — Marouf  then  said  to  him.  Canst  thou  take  forth  what  is  in  this  treasure  and 
place  it  on  the  face  of  the  earth  ?     He  answered,  Yes ;  it  will  be  the  easiest  of 


THE   STORY  OF   MAROUF. 


771 


Aboulsadat  appearing 


actions.  And  Marouf  said,  Take  forth  all  that  is  in  it,  leave  not  of  it  aught.  And 
he  made  a  sign  with  his  hand  towards  the  ground,  whereupon  it  clove  asunder. 
Then  he  descended,  and  was  absent  a  little  while  ;  and  lo,  young,  elegant  boys, 
with  beautiful  faces,  came  forth  carrying  baskets  of  gold,  and  those  baskets  were 
full  of  gold,  and  they  emptied  them  ;  after  which  they  went  and  brought  more ;  and 
they  ceased  not  to  transport  the  gold  and  jewels,  and  not  more  than  a  short  time  had 
elapsed  when  they  said.  There  remaineth  not  in  the  treasure  aught.  Upon  this, 
Aboulsadat  came  up  to  him,  and  said  to  him,  0  my  master,  thou  hast  seen  that  we 
have  transported  all  that  was  in  the  treasure.  And  he  said  to  him,  What  are  these 
beautiful  boys?  He  answered,  These  are  my  children  ;  for  this  work  deserveth  not 
that  I  should  collect  for  it  the  Genii,  and  my  children  have  accomplished  thine  affair, 
and  have  been  honoured  by  serving  thee.  Now  demand  what  thou  desirest  beside 
this. — So  he  said  to  him.  Canst  thou  bring  me  mules  and  chests,  and  put  these 
riches  into  the  chests,  and  place  the  chests  upon  the  mules?  He  answered,  This 
will  be  the  easiest  affair  that  can  be.  Then  he  uttered  a  great  cry,  whereupon  his 
children  presented  themselves  before  him  ;  and  they  were  eight  hundred. ,  And  he 
said  to  them.  Let  some  of  you  become  transformed  into  the  semblance  of  mules,  and 
some  of  you  into  the  semblance  of  beautiful  mamlouks,  such  that  the  like  of  the 
least  of  them  existeth  not  in  the  possession  of  any  of  the  Kings,  and  some  of  you 
into  the  semblance  of  those  who  let  out  beasts  of  burden,  and  some  of  you  into  the 
semblance  of  servants.  And  they  did  as  he  had  commanded  them  ;  after  which  he 
called  out  to  the  Genii,  who  presented  themselves  before  him,  and  he  ordered  them 
that  some  of  them  should  become  transformed  into  the  semblance  of  horses  saddled 
with  saddles  of  gold  set  with  jewels.  And  when  Marouf  beheld  this,  he  said.  Where 
are  the  chests  ?     They  therefore  brought  them  before  him.     And  he  said.  Pack  the 


772 


THE   STORY   OF  MAROUF. 


gold  and  the  minerals,  each  kind  by  itself.  So  they  packed  them,  and  put  them 
upon  three  hundred  mules.  And  Marouf  said,  0  Aboulsadat,  canst  thou  bring  me 
loads  of  precious  stuifs  ?  He  asked,  Dost  thou  desire  Egyptian  stuifs,  or  Syrian,  or 
Persian,  or  Indian,  or  Greek?  He  answered.  Bring  of  the  stuffs  of  each  country  a 
hundred  loads  upon  a  hundred  mules.  He  replied,  0  my  master,  grant  me  a  delay, 
until  I  arrange  my  servants  for  that  purpose,  and  order  each  company  to  go  to  a 
country  in  order  to  bring  a  hundred  loads  of  its  stuffs,  and  they  shall  become  trans- 
formed into  the  semblance  of  mules,  and  come  carrying  the  goods.  Marouf  said. 
What  shall  be  the  period  of  delay?  He  answered.  The  period  of  the  blackness  of 
the  night;  for  the  daylight  shall  not  arise  without  thy  having  with  thee  all  that  thou 
desirest.     And  he  said,  I  grant  thee  this  period  of  delay. 

He  then  commanded  them  to  pitch  for  him  a  tent.  So  they  pitched  it,  and  he 
seated  himself,  and  they  brought  him  a  table  of  viands  ;  and  Aboulsadat  said  to  him, 
0  my  master,  sit  in  the  tent,  and  these  my  children  are  before  thee  to  guard  thee  ; 
therefore  fear  not  aught;  and  I  am  going  to  collect  my  slaves,  and  send  them  to 
accomplish  thine  affair.  Then  Aboulsadat  went  his  way,  and  Marouf  sat  in  the  tent, 
with  the  table  before  him,  and  the  children  of  Aboulsadat  before  him,  in  the  sem- 
blance of  mamlouks  and  servants  and  other  dependants.  And  while  he  was  sitting 
in  this  state,  lo,  the  peasant  approached,  carrying  a  large  wooden  bowl  of  lentils,  and 

a  fodder- bag  full  of  barley.  So 
he  saw  the  tent  pitched  and  the 
mamlouks  standing  with  their  hands 
upon  their  bosoms ;  and  he  ima- 
gined that  Marouf  was  the  Sultan, 
who  had  come  and  alighted  in  that 
place.  He  therefore  stood  in  a  state 
of  confusion,  and  said  witliin  him- 
self. Would  that  I  had  killed  two 
chickens,  and  fried  them  red  with 
clarified  cows'  butter  for  the  sake 
of  the  Sultan.  And  he  desired  to 
return,  to  kill  two  chickens  where- 
with to  entertain  the  Sultan.  But 
Marouf  saw  him,  and  cried  out  to 
him,  and  said  to  the  mamlouks, 
Bring  him.  They  therefore  carried 
him  with  the  wooden  bowl  of  lentils, 
and  brought  both  before  Marouf, 
who  said  to  him,  What  is  this?  He 
answered.  This  is  thy  dinner,  and 
—  the  fodder  for  thy  horse ;  but  blame 
me  not;  for  I  did  not  imagine  that 
the  Sultan  would  come  to  this  place; 
and  had  I  known  that,  I  would 
have  killed  for  him  two  chickens, 
and  entertained  him  in  a  goodly 
manner.  So  Marouf  replied,  Tho 
Sultan  hath  not  come  ;  but  I  am  his 
son  in-law,  and  I  was  displeased  with  him,  he  hath  sent  to  me  his  mamlouks,  who 
have  reconciled  me,  and  I  now  desire  to  return  to  the  city.  However,  thou  hast 
prepared  for  me  this  entertainment  without  being  acquainted  with  me,  and  thine 
entertainment  is  accepted,  though  it  is  of  lentils,  and  I  will  not  eat  save  Df  thy  cheer. 
— He  then  ordered  him  to  put  the  wooden  bowl  in  the  middle  of  the  table,  and  ate 
from  it  until  he  was  satisfied;  but  as  to  the  peasant,  he  filled  his  stomach  with  food 
from  those  dishes  of  various  exquisite  viands.    After  that,  Marouf  washed  his  hands, 


ugliiiian  bringing  the  Bnwl  uf  Lentils. 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUP.  773 

and  gave  permission  to  the  maniloiiks  to  eat.  So  they  fell  upon  the  remains  of  the 
repast,  and  ate ;  and  when  the  wooden  bowl  was  emptied,  Marouf  filled  it  for  the 
peasant  with  gold,  and  said  to  him,  Convey  it  to  thy  dwelling,  and  come  to  me  in 
the  city,  and  I  will  treat  thee  with  generosity.  He  therefore  took  the  wooden  bowl 
full  of  gold,  and  drove  the  bulls  and  went  to  his  village,  imagining  that  he  [himself] 
was  a  relation  of  the  King. 

Marouf  passed  that  night  in  delight  and  joy,  and  they  brought  him  damsels,  of 
the  brides  of  the  treasures,  who  played  upon  the  instruments  of  music  and  danced 
before  him.  Thus  he  passed  his  night,  and  it  was  not  to  be  reckoned  among  lives. 
And  when  the  morning  came,  he  was  not  aware  when  the  dust  rose  and  flew,  and 
dispersed,  exposing  to  view  mules  bearing  loads.  They  were  seven  hundred  mules, 
carrying  stuffs,  and  around  them  were  young  men  like  those  who  let  out  beasts  of  bur- 
den, and  muleteers,  and  light-bearers  ;  and  Aboulsadat  was  riding  upon  a  mule,  being 
in  the  semblance  of  leader  of  the  caravan,  and  before  him  was  a  litter  upon  which 
•were  four  ornaments  of  brilliant  red  gold,  set  with  jewels.  When  he  arrived  at  the 
tent  he  alighted  from  the  back  of  the  mule,  and  kissed  the  ground,  and  said,  0  my 
master,  verily  the  affair  is  accomplished  completely  and  perfectly,  and  in  this  litter 
is  a  suit  of  apparel  from  the  treasures,  of  which  there  is  not  the  like  among  the  ap- 
parel of  Kings:  therefore  put  it  on,  and  ride  in  the  litter,  and  command  us  to  do 
what  thou  desirest.  And  he  replied,  0  Aboulsadat,  I  desire  to  write  for  thee  a  letter, 
with  which  thou  shalt  repair  to  the  city  of  Khitan  of  Tartary,  and  go  in  to  my  uncle 
the  King;  and  go  not  in  to  him  save  in  the  semblance  of  a  human  courier.  So  he 
said  to  him,  I  hear  and  obey.  He  then  wrote  a  letter  and  sealed  it,  and  Aboulsadat 
took  it,  and  proceeded  with  it  until  he  went  in  to  the  King,  when  he  heard  him  saying, 
0  Vizier,  verily  my  heart  is  anxious  for  my  son-in-law,  and  I  fear  that  the  Arabs 
may  slay  him.  Would  that  I  knew  whither  he  is  going,  that  I  might  follow  him 
with  the  troops,  and  would  that  he  had  informed  me  thereof  before  his  departure ! — 
Upon  this  the  Vizier  replied.  May  God  be  gracious  to  thee  with  respect  to  this  state 
of  heedlessness  in  which  thou  art!  By  thy  head,  the  man  hath  known  that  we  had 
become  excited  to  suspect  him,  and  he  feared  disgrace,  and  fled  ;  and  he  is  none  other 
than  an  impostor,  a  liar.  —  And  lo,  the  courier  entered,  and  he  kissed  the  ground 
before  the  King,  and  offered  up  a  prayer  in  his  favour  for  the  continuance  of  his 
glory  and  blessings,  and  for  length  of  life.  So  the  King  said  to  him,  Who  art  thou, 
and  what  is  thine  affair?  And  he  answered  him,  I  am  a  courier.  Thy  son-in-law 
hath  sent  me  to  thee,  and  he  is  approaching  with  the  merchandise,  and  he  hath  sent 
thee  by  me  a  letter.  Lo,  here  it  is. — He  therefore  took  it  and  read  it,  and  saw  in  it, 
— After  exceeding  salutation  to  our  uncle,  the  glorious  King,  I  inform  thee  that  I 
have  come  with  the  merchandise  ;  so  come  forth  and  meet  me  with  the  troops. — 
And  thereupon  the  King  said.  May  Allah  blacken  thy  face,  0  Vizier !  How  often 
wilt  thou  speak  against  the  reputation  of  my  son-in-law,  and  assert  him  to  be  a  liar 
and  an  impostor?  He  hath  come  with  the  merchandise,  and  thou  art  none  other 
than  a  traitor.  So  the  Vizier  hung  down  his  head  towards  the  ground,  in  shame 
and  confusion,  and  replied,  0  King  of  the  age,  I  said  not  these  words  save  on  account 
of  the  long  delay  of  the  merchandise,  and  I  was  fearing  the  loss  of  the  wealth  that 
ne  hath  expended.  But  the  King  said,  0  traitor,  what  are  my  riches  I  Since  this 
merchandise  hath  come,  he  will  give  me  instead  of  them  an  abundance  of  things. 

Then  the  King  gave  orders  to  decorate  the  city,  and  went  in  to  his  daughter,  and 
said  to  her.  Good  news  for  thee !  Verily  thy  husband  will  soon  come  with  his  mer- 
chandise ;  and  he  hath  sent  to  me  a  letter  informing  me  of  that  event ;  and  lo,  I  am 
going  forth  to  meet  him.  The  damsel  therefore  wondered  at  this  circumstance,  and 
said  within  herself,  Verily  this  is  a  wonderful  thing!  Was  he  deriding  me,  and 
making  game  of  me,  or  was  he  proving  me,  when  he  informed  me  that  he  was  a 
poor  man?  But  praise  be  to  God  that  nothing  injurious  to  him  proceeded  from  me  ! 
— And  as  to  the  merchant  Ali  of  Cairo,  when  he  saw  the  decoration  of  the  city,  he 
inquired  respecting  the  cause  of  it,  and  they  said  to  him,  The  merchandise  of  the 


774  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

merchant  Marouf,  the  son-in-law  of  the  King,  hath  arrived.  So  he  said,  God  is 
most  great!  What  is  this  calamity!  Verily  he  came  to  me  fleeing  from  his  wife, 
and  he  was  a  poor  man.  Whence  then  came  to  him  merchandise?  But  probably 
the  daughter  of  the  King  hath  contrived  for  him  a  stratagem,  in  fear  of  disgrace, 
and  Kings  are  not  unable  to  accomplish  anything.  However,  may  God  (whose  name 
be  exalted  !)  protect  him,  and  not  disgrace  him  ! — And  all  the  other  merchants  re- 
joiced and  were  glad  because  they  would  receive  their  money.  The  King  then  as- 
sembled the  troops  and  went  forth  ;  and  Aboulsadat  had  returned  to  Marouf,  and 
informed  him  that  he  had  delivered  the  letter;  whereupon  Marouf  said,  Put  ye  on 
the  loads.  Accordingly  they  put  them  on  ;  and  he  clad  himself  in  the  suit  of  the 
apparel  of  the  treasures,  and  got  up  into  the  litter,  and  became  a  thousand 
times  greater  and  more  majestic  than  the  King.  He  proceeded  as  far  as  half  the 
way,  and  lo,  the  King  met  him  with  the  troops ;  and  when  he  came  to  him,  he  saw 
him  wearing  that  dress,  and  riding  in  the  litter,  and  he  threw  himself  upon  him, 
saluted  him,  and  congratulated  him  on  his  safety.  All  the  great  men  of  the  empire 
also  saluted  him,  and  it  appeared  that  Marouf  was  veracious,  and  that  there  was  no 
falsehood  in  him. 

He  entered  the  city  in  a  stately  procession  that  would  have  made  the  gall-bladder 
of  the  lion  to  burst,  and  the  merchants  came  to  him  and  kissed  the  ground  before 
him.  Then  the  merchant  Ali  said  to  him,  Thou  hast  done  this  deed,  and  it  hath 
been  successfully  accomplished  by  thee,  0  sheikh  of  the  impostors  !  But  thou  art 
deserving ;  therefore  may  God  (whose  name  be  exalted!)  increase  to  thee  his  bounty! 
— And  Marouf  laughed.  And  when  he  entered  the  palace,  he  seated  himself  upon 
the  throne,  and  said,  Put  ye  the  loads  of  gold  into  the  treasury  of  my  uncle  the 
King,  and  bring  ye  the  loads  of  stuffs.  So  they  brought  them  forward  to  him,  and 
proceeded  to  open  them,  load  after  load,  and  to  take  forth  their  contents,  until  they 
had  opened  the  seven  hundred  loads  ;  whereupon  he  selected  the  best  of  them,  and 
said,  Take  them  in  to  the  Queen,  that  she  may  distribute  them  among  her  female  slaves  ; 
and  take  ye  this  chest  of  jewels  and  carry  it  in  to  her,  that  she  may  distribute  the 
jewels  among  the  female  slaves  and  the  eunuchs.  Next  he  proceeded  to  give,  to  the 
merchants  to  whom  he  was  indebted,  stuffs  in  payment  of  the  debts ;  and  to  whom 
he  owed  a  thousand,  he  gave  stuffs  worth  two  thousand,  or  more  ;  after  which,  he 
distributed  to  the  poor  and  needy,  while  the  King  looked  on,  and  was  unable  to  pre- 
vent him.  He  ceased  not  to  give  and  bestow  until  he  had  distributed  the  seven  hun- 
dred loads;  when  he  looked  towards  the  soldiers,  and  betook  himself  to  distributing 
among  them  minerals  and  emeralds  and  jacinths  and  pearls  and  coral  and  other 
things,  not  giving  the  jewels  save  by  handfuls,  without  numbering.  So  the  King 
said  to  him,  0  my  son,  these  gifts  are  sufficient ;  for  there  remaineth  not  of  the  mer- 
chandise more  than  a  small  quantity.  But  he  replied,  I  have  abundance.  And  his 
veracity  had  become  publicly  manifest,  and  no  one  could  any  longer  belie  him.  He  be- 
came careless  as  to  giving;  for  the  servant  of  the  seal-ring  brought  him  whatever  he 
demanded.  Then  the  Treasurer  came  to  the  King,  and  said,  0  King  of  the  age,  verily 
the  treasury  is  filled,  and  will  not  hold  the  rest  of  the  loads,  and  where  shall  we  put 
what  remaineth  of  the  gold  and  minerals  ?  So  he  pointed  out  to  him  another  place. 
And  when  his  wife  beheld  this  thing,  her  joy  was  excessive,  and  she  wondered,  and 
said  within  herself.  Whence  can  all  this  wealth  have  come  to  him?  In  like  manner 
also  the  merchants  rejoiced  at  the  things  that  he  had  given  them,  and  they  prayed 
for  him.  And  as  to  the  merchant  Ali,  he  wondered  too,  and  said  within  himself. 
How  is  it  that  he  hath  imposed  and  lied  so  that  he  hath  gained  possession  of  all 
these  treasures?  For  if  they  were  from  the  daughter  of  the  King,  he  would  not 
have  distributed  them  to  the  poor. — But  as  to  the  King,  he  wondered  extremely  at 
what  he  beheld  of  the  actions  of  Marouf,  and  his  generosity  and  munificence  in 
lavishing  the  wealth. 

After  that,  Marouf  went  in  to  his  wife,  who  met  him  smiling,  laughing,  and  joy- 
ful, and  kissed  his  hand,  and  said.  Wast  thou  making  game  of  me,  or  didst  thou  try 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF.  775 

me  by  thy  saying,  I  am  a  poor  man,  and  fleeing  from  my  wife?  Praise  be  to  God 
that  nothing  injurious  to  thee  proceeded  from  me !  Thou  art  my  beloved,  and  there 
is  none  more  dear  in  my  estimation,  whether  thou  be  rich  or  poor ;  and  I  wish  that 
thou  wouldst  inform  me  what  thou  desiredst  by  these  words. — He  replied,  I  desired  to 
try  thee,  that  I  might  see  whether  thine  affection  were  sincere,  or  on  account  of 
wealth,  and  covetousness  of  worldly  goods ;  and  it  hath  become  manifest  to  me  that 
thine  affection  is  sincere ;  and  since  thou  art  true  in  affection,  welcome  to  thee  !  I 
have  known  thy  value. — Then  he  went  into  a  place  by  himself,  and  rubbed  the  seal- 
ring.  So  Aboulsadat  presented  himself  to  him,  and  said  to  him,  At  thy  service! 
Demand  then  what  thou  wilt. — lie  replied,  I  desire  of  thee  a  suit  of  the  apparel  of 
the  treasures  for  my  wife,  and  ornaments  of  the  treasures,  comprising  a  necklace  of 
forty  incomparable  jewels.  And  he  said,  I  hear  and  obey.  Then  he  brought  to  him 
what  he  had  commanded  him  to  procure,  and  Marouf  carried  the  suit  of  apparel 
and  the  ornaments,  after  he  had  dismissed  the  servant,  and,  going  in  to  his  wife,  he 
put  them  before  her,  and  said  to  her.  Take  and  put  them  on,  and  welcome  to  thee ! 
And  when  she  looked  at  those  things,  her  reason  fled  in  consequence  of  her  joy; 
and  she  saw,  among  the  ornaments,  two  anklets  of  gold  set  with  jewels,  the  work  of 
the  magicians,  and  bracelets  and  earrings,  and  a  nose-ring  which  no  riches  would 
suffice  to  purchase.  She  put  on  the  suit  of  apparel  and  the  ornaments,  and  said,  0 
my  master,  I  desire  to  treasure  them  up  for  festivals  and  holidays.  But  he  replied. 
Wear  them  always  ;  for  I  have  abundance  beside  them.  And  when  she  put  them 
on,  and  the  female  slaves  beheld  her,  they  rejoiced,  and  kissed  her  hands.  He  then 
left  them,  and  went  apart  by  himself,  and  again  rubbed  the  seal-ring.  The  servant 
therefore  presented  himself  to  him,  and  he  said  to  him,  Bring  me  a  hundred  suits 
of  apparel,  with  the  ornaments  of  gold  appropriate  to  them.  And  he  replied,  I  hear 
and  obey, — and  brought  him  the  suits  of  apparel,  each  suit  having  its  ornaments  of 
gold  within  it ;  and  Marouf  took  them,  and  called  out  to  the  female  slaves.  So  they 
came  to  him,  and  he  gave  to  each  of  them  a  suit;  and  they  put  on  the  suits,  and 
became  like  the  houris,  the  Queen  being  among  them  like  the  moon  among  the  stars. 
And  one  of  the  female  slaves  informed  the  King  thereof;  wherefore  the  King  came 
in  to  his  daughter,  and  saw  that  she  and  her  female  slaves  amazed  the  beholder; 
and  he  wondered  at  this  extremely. 

He  then  went  forth  and  summoned  his  Vizier,  and  said  to  him,  0  Vizier,  such  and 
such  things  have  happened,  and  what  sayest  thou  of  this  case?  He  answered,  0 
King  of  the  age,  verily  this  conduct  proceedeth  not  from  merchants  ;  for  pieces  of 
linen  remain  in  the  possession  of  the  merchant  for  years,  and  he  selleth  them  not 
save  for  gain.  How  should  merchants  have  generosity  like  this  generosity,  and  how 
can  they  accumulate  the  like  of  these  riches  and  jewels  such  as  exist  not  in  the  pos- 
session of  Kings,  save  in  small  quantities?  How  then  can  loads  of  them  exist  in 
the  possession  of  merchants?  There  must  be  a  cause  for  this.  But,  if  thou  wilt 
comply  with  my  advice,  I  will  make  manifest  to  thee  the  truth  of  the  case. — And  he 
replied,  I  will  comply  with  thy  advice,  0  Vizier.  So  the  Vizier  said  to  him.  Have 
an  interview  with  him,  and  show  affection  for  him,  and  converse  with  him,  and  sav 
to  him,  0  my  son-in-law,  I  have  it  in  my  heart  to  go  with  thee  and  the  Vizier,  and 
none  else,  to  a  garden,  for  the  sake  of  diversion.  And  when  we  have  gone  forth  to 
the  garden,  we  will  put  the  wine-table,  and  I  will  constrain  him,  and  give  him  to 
drink  ;  and  when  he  hath  drunk  the  wine,  his  reason  will  be  lost,  and  his  right  judg- 
ment will  quit  him,  and  we  will  ask  him  respecting  the  truth  of  his  case;  for  he  will 
acquaint  us  with  his  secrets.  Then,  when  he  hath  informed  us  of  the  truth  of  the 
lase,  we  shall  know  his  state,  and  may  do  with  him  as  we  like  and  choose  ;  for  I  fear 
for  thee  the  results  of  this  state  in  which  he  is.  Probably  his  soul  may  be  ambitious 
of  obtaining  the  kingdom,  and  the  troops  may  be  collected  by  means  of  generosity 
and  the  lavishing  of  wealth,  and  he  may  depose  thee,  and  take  the  kingdom  from 
thee. — And  the  King  replied,  Thou  hast  spoken  truth. 

They  passed  the  night  agreeing  as  to  this  plan  ;  and  when  the  morning  came,  the 


776  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

King  wont  forth  to  the  hall,  and  seated  himself;  and  lo,  the  servants  and  grooms 
came  in  to  him  in  affliction.  So  he  said  to  them,  What  hath  befallen  you?  And 
they  answered,  0  King  of  the  age,  the  grooms  curried  the  horses,  and  gave  fodder  to 
them  and  to  the  mules  that  brought  the  merchandise  ;  and  when  we  arose  in  the 
morning,  we  found  that  the  mamlouks  had  stolen  the  horses  and  mules,  and  we 
searched  the  stables,  but  saw  not  horses  nor  mules ;  and  we  entered  the  place  of  the 
mamlouks,  but  saw  not  in  it  any  one  ;  and  we  know  not  how  they  fled.  The  King 
therefore  wondered  at  that ;  for  he  imagined  that  the  Genii  were  horses  and  mules 
and  mamlouks,  and  knew  not  that  they  were  the  Genii  of  the  servant  of  the  talisman. 
And  he  said  to  them,  0  ye  accursed !  How  is  it  that  a  thousand  beasts,  and  five 
hundred  mamlouks,  and  servants  besides,  fled,  and  ye  perceived  them  not?  They 
replied.  We  know  not  how  it  happened  to  us  that  they  fled.  And  he  said.  Depart, 
and  wait  until  your  master  cometh  forth  from  the  harem,  and  acquaint  him  with  the 
news.  So  they  departed  from  before  the  King,  and  sat  perplexed  respecting  this 
matter:  and  while  they  were  sitting  in  this  state,  lo,  Marouf  came  forth  from  the 
harem,  and  saw  them  sorrowful,  and  he  said  to  them.  What  is  the  news  ?  They 
therefore  acquainted  him  with  that  which  had  happened.  But  he  said.  And  what  is 
their  value,  that  ye  are  sorrowful  on  account  of  them?  Go  your  way.  And  he  sat 
laughing,  and  was  neither  angry  nor  sorrowful  on  account  of  this  event.  And  the 
King  looked  in  the  face  of  the  Vizier,  and  said,  What  is  this  man  in  whose  estima- 
tion wealth  is  of  no  value?  There  must  be  a  cause  for  this.  Then  they  conversed 
with  him  a  while,  and  the  King  said,  0  my  son-in-law,  I  desire  to  go  with  thee  and 
the  Vizier  to  a  garden,  for  the  sake  of  diversion.  What  then  sayest  thou  ?  And  he 
replied.  No  harm. 

So  thereupon  they  departed,  and  repaired  to  a  garden  containing  two  kinds  of 
every  fruit,  and  its  rivers  were  flowing,  and  its  trees  were  tall,  and  its  birds  were 
warbling.  They  entered,  within  it,  a  pavilion  that  would  dispel  grief  from  hearts, 
and  sat  conversing,  the  Vizier  relating  extraordinary  tales,  and  introducing  ludicrous 
witticisms,  and  mirth-exciting  sayings,  and  Marouf  listening  to  the  conversation, 
until  the  dinner  came  up.  They  placed  the  table  of  viands, .and  the  jar  of  wine; 
and  after  they  had  eaten,  and  washed  their  hands,  the  Vizier  filled  the  cup,  and  gave 
it  to  the  King,  who  drank  it ;  and  he  filled  the  second,  and  said  to  Marouf,  Take  the 
cup  of  the  beverage  in  reverence  of  which  the  understanding  bows  the  neck.  So 
Marouf  said.  What  is  this,  O  Vizier?  The  Vizier  answered.  This  is  the  old  maid, 
and  the  virgin  long  kept  in  her  home,  and  the  imparter  of  joy  to  hearts.  He  ceased 
not  to  excite  his  desire  for  the  wine,  mentioning  to  him  such  of  its  good  qualities  as 
he  relished,  and  reciting  to  him  what  occured  to  his  mind  of  verses  on  the  subject 
of  it,  and  pleasant  stories,  until  he  inclined  to  put  his  lips  to  the  mouth  of  the  cup, 
and  had  no  longer  a  desire  for  anything  else.  And  the  Vizier  continued  to  fill  for 
him,  and  he  drank  and  delighted  and  was  merry,  till  he  lost  his  reason,  and  distin- 
guished not  his  wrong  conduct  from  his  right.  So  when  he  knew  that  his  intoxica- 
tion had  become  extreme,  and  exceeded  the  utmost  point  that  was  required,  he  said 
to  him,  0  merchant  Marouf,  by  Allah,  I  wonder  whence  came  to  thee  these  jewels 
of  which  the  like  exist  not  in  the  possession  of  the  royal  Caesars ;  and  in  our  lives 
we  have  never  seen  a  merchant  who  hath  accumulated  riches  like  thee,  nor  any  one 
more  generous  than  thou  ;  for  thine  actions  are  the  actions  of  kings,  and  they  are 
not  the  actions  of  merchants.  I  conjure  thee  then  by  Allah  that  thou  inform  me  in 
order  that  I  may  know  thy  rank  and  thy  station. — And  he  proceeded  to  ply  him  and 
beguile  him  while  he  was  bereft  of  reason.  Marouf  therefore  said  to  him,  I 
am  not  a  merchant,  nor  one  of  the  Kings.  And  he  acquainted  him  with  his  story 
from  beginning  to  end.  So  the  Vizier  said  to  him,  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah,  O  my 
master  Marouf,  to  divert  us  with  a  sight  of  this  seal-ring,  that  we  may  see  of  what 
kind  is  its  make.  And  he  pulled  ofi'the  ring,  in  his  intoxication,  and  said.  Take  it, 
and  divert  yourselves  with  the  sight  of  it.   And  the  Vizier  took  it,  and  turned  it  over. 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF.  777 

and  said,  If  I  rub  it,  will  the  servant  present  himself?  Marouf  answered,  Yes:  rub 
it:  he  will  present  himself  to  thee;  and  divert  thou  thyself  by  beholding  him. 

The  Vizier  therefore  rubbed  it ;  and  lo,  a  speaker  said.  At  thy  service,  0  my 
master!  Demand:  thou  shalt  receive  I  Wilt  thou  ruin  a  city,  or  build  a  city,  or 
slay  a  King?  For  whatever  thou  desirest,  I  will  do  it  for  thee,  without  disobedience. 
— And  the  Vizier  made  a  sign  to  Marouf,  and  said  to  the  servant,  Take  up  this 
erring  man :  then  cast  him  down  in  the  most  desolate  of  deserted  lands,  so  that  he 
may  not  find  in  it  what  he  may  eat  nor  what  he  m&y  drink,  and  may  perish  of 
hunger,  and  die  in  sorrow,  no  one  knowing  of  him.  So  the  servant  seized  him,  and 
flew  with  him,  between  heaven  and  earth.  And  when  Marouf  beheld  this,  he  felt 
sure  of  destruction  and  grievous  embarrassment ;  and  he  wept,  and  said,  0  Aboul- 
sadat,  whither  art  thou  going  with  me?  He  answered  him,  I  am  going  to  cast  thee 
down  in  the  deserted  quarter  of  the  earth,  0  thou  of  little  good-breeding  I  Who 
possesseth  a  talisman  like  this  and  giveth  it  to  people  that  ^ey  may  divert  them- 
selves with  the  sight  of  it?  But  thou  deservest  what  hath  befallen  thee  ;  and,  but 
that  I  fear  God,  I  would  cast  thee  down  from  the  distance  of  a  thousand  fathoms, 
and  thou  wouldst  not  reach  the  earth  until  the  winds  should  have  torn  thee  in  pieces. 

—  So  he  was  silent,  and  spoke  not  to  him  until  he  arrived  with  him  at  the  deserted 
quarter;  whereupon  he  threw  him  down  there;  and  he  returned,  and  left  him  in 
the  desolate  land. —  Meanwhile,  the  Vizier,  having  possessed  the  se3,l-ring,  said  to 
the  King,  How  thinkest  thou  now?  Did  I  not  say  to  thee  that  this  man  was  a  liar, 
an  impostor?  But  thou  didst  not  believe  me.  —  And  he  replied.  Thou  art  right,  O 
my  Vizier  !  God  give  thee  health  !  Give  me  this  seal-ring,  that  I  may  divert  my- 
self with  the  sight  of  it. — But  the  Vizier  looked  at  him  angrily,  and  spat  in  his  face, 
and  said  to  him,  0  thou  of  little  sense,  how  should  I  give  it  to  thee,  and  become  thy 
servant,  after  I  have  become  thy  master?     But  I  will  no  longer  suffer  thee  to  exist. 

—  Then  he  rubbed  the  seal-ring,  and  the  servant  presented  himself,  and  he  said  to 
him.  Take  up  this  person  of  little  good-breeding,  and  throw  him  down  in  the  place 
where  thou  hast  cast  his  stfin-in-law,  the  impostor.  So  he  took  him  up,  and  flew 
away  with  him,  and  the  King  said  to  him,  0  creature  of  my  Lord,  what  is  my 
ofi'ence?  The  servant  answered  him,  I  know  not;  but  my  master  hath  commanded 
me  to  do  this,  and  I  cannot  disobey  him  who  possesseth  the  seal-ring  containing 
this  talisman.  He  ceased  not  to  fly  on  with  him  until  he  threw  him  down  in  the 
place  in  which  was  Marouf.  He  then  returned,  and  left  him  there.  And  the  King 
heard  Marouf  weeping,  wherefore  he  came  to  him  and  informed  him  of  his  case, 
and  they  sat  weeping  for  that  which  had  befollen  them,  and  found  neither  food  nor 
drink. 

But  as  to  the  Vizier,  after  he  had  separated  Marouf  and  the  King  from  their 
home,  he  arose  and  went  forth  from  the  garden,  and,  having  sent  to  all  the  soldiers, 
held  a  court,  and  acquainted  them  with  what  he  had  done  with  Marouf  and  the 
King.  He  told  them  also  the  story  of  the  seal-ring,  and  said  to  them,  If  ye  make 
me  not  Sultan  over  you,  I  will  command  the  servant  of  the  seal-ring  to  carry  you  all 
off  and  cast  you  down  in  the  deserted  quarter,  and  ye  will  die  of  hunger  and  thirst. 
So  they  replied.  Do  us  no  injury  ;  for  we  consent  to  thy  being  Sultan  over  us,  and 
we  will  not  disobey  thy  command.  They  agreed  to  his  being  Sultan  over  them 
against  their  wish,  and  he  conferred  upon  them  robes  of  honour,  and  proceeded  to 
demand  all  that  he  desired  of  Aboulsadat,  who  presented  it  before  him  immediately. 
He  seated  himself  upon  the  throne,  and  the  troops  obeyed  him  ;  and  he  sent  to  the 
daughter  of  the  King,  saying  to  her.  Prepare  thyself;  for  I  am  coming  to  take  thee 
as  my  wife  this  night,  being  full  of  desire  to  be  with  thee.  Upon  this,  she  wept; 
and  the  case  of  her  father  and  her  husband  grieved  her ;  and  she  sent  to  say  to 
him.  Let  me  remain  until  the  period  of  widowhood  shall  have  been  completed;  then 
perform  the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  my  marriage,  and  take  me  as  thy  wife 
legally.  But  he  sent  to  say  to  her,  I  know  no  period  of  widowhood  nor  length  of 
time,  nor  do  I  require  a  contract  of  marriage,  nor  do  I  know  lawful  from  unlawful. 


778  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

I  must  without  fail  take  thee  as  my  wife  this  night. — And  she  sent  to  say  to  him, 
Welcome  to  thee  !  And  there  will  be  no  harm  in  that.  —  But  this  proceeding  was  a 
stratagem  of  hers.  And  when  the  reply  was  brought  to  him,  he  rejoiced,  and  his 
bosom  became  dilated ;  for  he  was  passionately  enamoured  of  her.  He  then  gave 
orders  to  place  the  viands  among  all  the  people,  and  said.  Eat  ye  this  food,  as  it  is 
the  banquet  of  the  wedding  festivity ;  for  I  purpose  to  take  the  Queen  as  my  wife 
this  night.  The  Sheikh  el-Islam  therefore  said.  It  is  not  lawful  for  thee  to  take  her 
as  thy  wife  until  her  period  of  widowhood  shall  have  been  completed,  and  thou  shalt 
have  performed  the  ceremony  of  the  contract  of  thy  marriage  to  her.  But  he  re- 
plied, I  know  not  a  period  of  widowhood  nor  any  other  period :  therefore  multiply 
not  thy  words  to  me.  So  the  Sheikh  el-Islam  was  silent,  and  feared  his  malice,  and 
said  to  the  soldiers.  Verily  this  is  an  infidel,  and  he  hath  no  religion  nor  religious 
opinion. 

Then,  when  the  evening  came,  he  went  in  to  her,  and  saw  her  wearing  the  most 
magnificent  of  the  apparel  that  she  possessed,  and  adorned  with  the  most  beautiful 
of  ornaments ;  and  when  she  beheld  him,  she  received  him  laughing,  and  said  to 
him,  A  blessed  night!  But  hadst  thou  slain  my  father  and  my  husband,  it  had  been 
better  in  my  opinion  !  So  he  replied,  I  must  without  fail  slay  them.  And  she 
seated  him,  and  proceeded  to  jest  with  him,  and  to  make  a  show  of  afi"ection  for 
him ;  and  when  she  caressed  him,  and  smiled  in  his  face,  his  reason  fled.  But  she 
only  beguiled  him  by  caresses,  in  order  that  she  might  get  possession  of  the  seal- 
ring  and  convert  his  joy  into  calamity  upon  his  head.  Then  suddenly  she  retired  to 
a  distance  from  him,  and  wept,  and  said,  0  my  lord,  dost  thou  not  see  the  man  that 
is  looking  at  us?  I  conjure  thee  by  Allah  to  veil  me  from  his  eye ! — And  thereupon 
he  was  enraged,  and  said.  Where  is  the  man  ?  She  answered,  Lo,  he  is  in  the  stone 
of  the  seal-ring,  putting  forth  his  head,  and  looking  at  us.  He  therefore  imagined 
that  the  servant  of  the  seal-ring  was  looking  at  them  ;  and  he  laughed,  and  said. 
Fear  not.  This  is  the  servant  of  the  seal-ring,  and  he  is  under  my  authority. — She 
replied,  I  am  afraid  of  Afrites :  so  pull  it  off,  and  throw  it  to  a  distance  from  me. 
Accordingly  he  pulled  it  off,  and  put  it  on  the  cushion,  and  drew  near  to  her.  But 
she  kicked  him  with  her  foot  upon  his  stomach,  so  that  he  fell  upon  his  back  sense- 
less;  and  she  called  out  to  her  dependants,  who  came  to  her  quickly,  and  she  said 
to  them.  Lay  hold  upon  him.  So  forty  female  slaves  seized  him,  and  she  hastily 
took  the  seal-ring  from  the  pillow,  and  rubbed  it ;  and  lo,  Aboulsadat  approached, 
saying,  At  thy  service,  0  my  mistress !  And  she  said,  Take  up  this  infidel,  and  put 
him  into  the  prison,  and  make  his  shackles  heavy. 

He  therefore  took  him,  and  confined  him  in  the  prison  of  anger,  and  returned  and 
said  to  her,  I  have  imprisoned  him.  She  then  said  to  him.  Whither  conveyedst  thou 
my  father  and  my  husband?  He  answered,  I  threw  them  down  in  the  deserted 
quarter.  And  she  said,  I  command  thee  to  bring  them  to  me  this  instant.  So  he 
replied,  I  hear  and  obey.  And  he  flew  from  before  her,  and  ceased  not  to  fly  on 
until  he  arrived  at  the  deserted  quarter  and  descended  upon  them,  when  he  beheld 
them  sitting  weeping,  and  complaining  one  to  the  other ;  and  he  said  to  them.  Fear 
ye  not.  Relief  hath  come  to  you. — He  acquainted  them  with  that  which  the  Queen 
had  done,  and  said  to  them,  I  have  imprisoned  him  with  mine  own  hand  in  obedience 
to  her ;  and  she  commanded  me  to  bring  you  back.  They  therefore  rejoiced  at  the 
news  that  he  told  them.  Then  he  took  them  up,  and  fled  away  with  them,  and  not 
more  than  a  little  while  had  elapsed  before  he  went  in  with  them  to  the  King's 
daughter,  who  arose  and  saluted  her  father  and  her  husband,  and  seated  them,  and 
presented  to  them  the  viands  and  the  sweetmeat.  They  passed  the  remainder  of  the 
night,  and  on  the  following  day  she  clad  her  father  in  a  magnificent  suit  of  apparel, 
and  clad  her  husband  in  like  manner,  and  said,  0  my  father,  sit  thou  upon  thy  throne, 
a  King  as  thou  wast  at  first,  and  make  my  husband  thy  Vizier  of  the  right  hand  ;  then 
acquaint  thy  troops  with  the  events  that  have  happened,  and  bring  the  Vizier  from 
the  prison,  and  slay  him,  and  after  that,  burn  him  ;  for  he  is  an  infidel,  and  he  desired 


THE    STORY   OF   MAROUF.  779 

to  take  me  as  his  wife  unlawfully,  without  the  rite  of  marriage.  He  hath  avowed  of 
himself  that  he  is  an  infidel,  and  that  he  hath  no  religion  which  he  holdeth.  And  do 
thou  act  well  to  thy  son-in-law,  whom  thou  hast  appointed  thy  Vizier  of  the  right  hand. 
— He  replied,  I  hear  and  obey,  0  my  daughter:  but  give  me  the  seal-ring,  or  give  it 
to  thy  husband.  But  she  said,  Verily  it  befitteth  not  thee  nor  him.  The  seal-ring 
shall  remain  only  in  my  possession,  and  probably  I  shall  take  more  care  of  it  than  ye 
would.  Whatever  ye  desire,  demand  it  of  me,  and  I  will  demand  for  you  of  the 
servant  of  the  seal-ring.  Fear  ye  not  any  harm  as  long  as  I  live  ;  and  after  my  death, 
do  as  ye  will  with  the  seal-ring.  —  And  her  father  replied,  This  is  the  right  plan,  0 
my  daughter.     Then  he  took  his  son-in-law,  and  went  up  to  the  council-chamber. 

Now  the  troops  had  passed  the  night  in  excessive  affliction,  on  account  of  the 
King's  daughter,  and  what  the  Vizier  had  [as  they  imagined]  done  with  her,  taking 
her  as  his  wife  unlawfully,  without  the  rite  of  marriage,  and  his  ill-treatment  of  the 
King  and  his  son-in-law  ;  and  they  feared  that  the  law  of  Mahomet  would  be  dis- 
honoured ;  for  it  had  become  manifest  to  them  that  he  was  an  infidel.  Then  they 
assembled  in  the  council-chamber,  and  began  to  reproach  the  Sheikh  el-Islam,  say- 
ing to  him,  Wherefore  didst  thou  not  prevent  him  from  taking  the  Queen  as  his  Avife 
unlawfully?  So  he  answered  them,  0  people,  verily  the  man  is  an  infidel,  and  he 
hath  become  possessor  of  the  seal-ring,  and  I  and  ye  are  unable  to  do  aught  against 
him.  But  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !)  will  recompense  him  for  his  conduct;  and 
be  ye  silent,  lest  he  slay  you. — And  while  the  soldiers  were  assembled  in  the  council- 
chamber,  conversing  on  this  subject,  lo,  the  King  came  in  to  them  in  the  council- 
chamber,  and  with  him  his  son-in-law  Marouf.  So  when  the  soldiers  beheld  him, 
they  rejoiced  at  his  coming,  and  rose  to  him  upon  their  feet,  and  kissed  the  ground 
before  him.  He  then  seated  himself  upon  the  throne,  and  acquainted  them  with  the 
story.  Therefore  their  grief  quitted  them.  And  he  gave  orders  to  decorate  the  city, 
and  caused  the  Vizier  to  be  brought  from  the  prison  ;  and  as  he  passed  by  the 
soldiers,  they  cursed  him  and  reviled  him  and  threatened  him  until  he  came  to  the 
King ;  and  when  he  stood  before  him,  he  gave  orders  to  slay  him  in  the  most  abomi- 
nable manner.  So  they  slew  him:  then  they  burned  him  ;  and  he  went  to  Hell  in 
the  most  evil  of  conditions.  Then  the  King  appointed  Marouf  his  Vizier  of  the  right 
hand,  and  the  times  were  pleasant  to  them   and  their  joys  were  unsullied. 

They  remained  thus  five  years  ;  and  in  the  sixth  year  the  King  died ;  and  there- 
upon the  King's  daughter  made  Marouf  Sultan  in  the  place  of  her  father;  but  she 
gave  him  not  the  seal-ring.  And  during  this  period  she  had  borne  him  a  boy,  of 
surprising  loveliness,  of  surpassing  beauty  and  perfection  ;  and  he  ceased  not  to 
remain  in  the  laps  of  the  nurses  until  he  had  attained  the  age  of  five  years.  Then 
his  mother  fell  into  a  fatal  sickness:  so  she  summoned  Marouf,  and  said  to  him,  I 
am  sick.  He  replied,  God  preserve  thee,  0  beloved  of  my  heart !  But  she  rejoined. 
Probably  I  shall  die.  and  thou  requirest  not  that  I  should  charge  thee  respecting  thy 
son.  I  only  charge  thee  to  take  care  of  the  seal-ring,  from  fear  for  thee  and  for  this 
boy. — He  said,  No  harm  will  befall  him  whom  God  preserveth.  And  she  pulled  ofi" 
the  ring,  and  gave  it  to  him  ;  and  on  the  following  day,  she  was  admitted  to  the 
mercy  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted ! 

Marouf  still  remained  King,  and  applied  himself  to  the  affairs  of  government. 
And  it  happened  one  day  that  he  shook  the  handkerchief,  and  the  soldiers  dispersed 
themselves  from  before  him  to  their  abodes,  and  he  entered  the  sitting-chamber,  and 
eat  there  until  the  day  had  passed,  and  the  night  came  with  its  thick  darkness.  Then 
the  great  men  who  were  his  boon-companions  came  in  to  him,  according  to  their 
custom,  and  sat  up  with  him  for  the  sake  of  enjoyment  and  amusement  until  mid- 
night, when  they  asked  permission  to  depart ;  and  he  gave  them  permission,  and 
they  went  forth  from  him  to  their  houses.  After  that,  there  came  in  to  him  a  slave- 
girl,  who  was  employed  to  attend  to  his  bed,  and  she  spread  for  him  the  mattrass, 
pulled  off  his  clothes,  and  clad  him  in  the  apparel  of  sleep,  and  he  laid  himself  down. 
The  damsel  then  proceeded  to  rub  and  press  gently  the  soles  of  his  feet  until  sleep 


780  THE    STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

overcame  him,  whereupon  she  went  forth  from  him  to  her  sleeping-place,  and  slept. 
And  the  King  Marouf  was  sleeping,  and  suddenly  he  found  something  by  his  side  in 
the  bed.  So  he  awoke  terrified,  and  said,  I  seek  refuge  with  God  from  Satan  the 
accursed  !  Then  he  opened  his  eyes,  and  saw  by  his  side  a  woman  of  hideous  aspect; 
and  he  said  to  her,  Who  art  thou  ?  She  answered,  Fear  not.  I  am  thy  wife,  Fatima 
el-Orra. 

Upon  this,  he  looked  in  her  face,  and  knew  her  by  the  hideousness  of  her  shape, 
and  the  length  of  her  dog-teeth  ;  and  he  said,  How  camest  thou  in  to  me,  and  who 
brought  thee  to  this  country  ?    She  said  to  him.  In  what  country  art  thou  at  present? 
He   answered,  In  the  city  of  Khitan  of  Tartary.     And  thou  (he  added),  when  didst 
thou  quit  Cairo?     She  answered,  Just  now.     He  said  to  her,  And  how  so?     She 
answered.  Know  that  when  I  wrangled  with  thee,  and  the  Devil  had  incited  me  to 
do  thee  mischief,  and  I  complained  of  thee  to  the  magistrates,  they  searched  for 
thee,  and  found  thee  not;  and  the  Cadies  inquired  respecting  thee;  but  they  saw 
thee  not.     Then,  after  two  days  had  passed,  repentance  seized  me,  and  I  knew  that 
the  fault  was  mine  ;  but  repentance  did  not  profit  me.     I  remained  for  a  period  of 
days  weeping  for  thy  separation,  and  my  means  became  diminished,  so  that  it  was 
necessary  for  me  to  beg  for  the  sake  of  food.     I  proceeded  to  beg  of  every  emulated 
man  of  wealth  and  every  detested  pauper;  and  from  the  time  when  thou  quittedst 
me,  I  have  been  eating  the  food  obtained  by  ignominious  begging.     I  became  in  the 
most  evil  of  conditions,  and  every  night  I  sat  weeping  for  thy  separation,  and  for 
what  I  had  endured  since  thy  departure,  of  ignominy  and  contempt  and  disappoint- 
ment and  injury.  —  She  continued  to  relate  to  him  what  had  happened  to  her,  while 
he  was  in  amazement  at  her,  until  she  said,  And  yesterday  I  went  about  all  the  day 
begging;  but  no  one  gave  me   aught.     Every  time  that  I  accosted  any  one,  and 
begged  him  for  a  bit  of  bread,  he  reviled  me,  and  gave  me  not  aught.     So  when  the 
night  came,  I  passed  it  without  supper,  and  hunger  tormented  me;  what  I  endured  . 
was  grievous  to  me,  and  I  sat  weeping.     And  lo,  a  person  appeared  before  me,  and 
said  to  me,  0  woman,  wherefore  dost  thou  weep?     I  therefore  answered,  I  had  a 
husband  who  expended  upon  me  and  accomplished  my  desires,  and  he  hath  been  lost 
to  me,  and  I  know  not  whither  he  hath  gone,  and  I  have  endured   embarrassment 
since  his  departure.     Thereupon  he  sa  d.  What  is  the  name  of  thy  husband  ?     I 
answered,  His  name  is  Marouf.     And  he  said,  I  am  acquainted  with  him.     Know 
that  thy  husband  is  now  Sultan  in  a  city  ;  and  if  thou  desire  that  I  should  convey 
thee  to  him,  I  will  do  so. — I  therefore  said  to  him,  I  throw  myself  upon  thy  gene- 
rosity, begging  thee  to  convey  me  to  him !     And  he  took  me  up,  and  flew  with  me 
between  heaven  and  earth  until  he  conveyed  me  to  this  palace,  when  he  said.  Enter 
this  chamber.     Thou  wilt  see  thy  husband  sleeping  upon  the  couch. — So  I  entered, 
and  saw  thee  in  this  state  of  sovereignty.    Now  it  was  not  my  wish  that  thou  shouldst 
forsake  me.     I  am  thy  companion  ;  and  praise  be  to  God  who  hath  united  me  with 
thee ! — Upon  this  he  said  to  her.  Did  I  forsake  thee,  or  didst  thou  forsake  me?    Thou 
complainedst  of  me  to  Cadi  after  Cadi,  and  finishedst  by  complaining  of  me  to  the 
Sublime  Court,  so  that  thou  causedst  Abou  Tabak  to  come  down  upon  me  from  the 
Citadel.    Therefore  I  fled  in  spite  of  myself. — And  he  proceeded  to  relate  to  her  what 
had  happened  to  him  until  he  became  Sultan  and  married  the  King's  daughter.    He 
told  her  also  that  she  had  died,  and  that  he  had  by  her  a  son,  whose  age  was  seven 
years.     And  she  said  to  him,  What  hath  happened  was  predestined  by  God  (whose 
name  be   exalted!),  and  I  have  repented.     I  throw  myself  upon  thy  generosity, 
entreating  thee  not  to  forsake  me ;  but  let  me  eat  bread  in  thine  abode  as  alms. 

She  ceased  not  to  humble  herself  to  him  until  his  heart  was  moved  with  com- 
passion for  her,  and  he  said  to  her,  llepent  of  evil  conduct,  and  reside  with  me,  and 
thou  shalt  experience  nothing  but  what  will  rejoice  thee.  But  if  thou  do  any  evil 
act,  I  will  slay  thee,  and  will  not  fear  any  one  ;  so  let  it  not  occur  to  thy  mind  that 
thou  mayest  complain  of  me  to  the  Sublime  Court,  and  that  Abou  Tabak  will  come 
down  to  me  from  the  Citadel ;  for  I  have  become  a  Sultan,  and  the  people  fear  me ; 


THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF.  781 


Fatima  el-Orra  humbling  herself  before  Marouf. 

but  I  fear  not  any  one  except  God  (whose  name  be  exalted  !),  since  I  have  a  seal-ring 
that  hath  a  servant  in  subjection  to  it.  When  I  rub  it,  the  servant  of  the  ring  ap- 
peareth  to  me :  his  name  is  Aboulsadat ;  and  whatever  I  demand  of  him,  he  bringeth 
it  to  me.  Now  if  thou  desire  to  return  to  thy  country,  I  will  give  thee  what  will 
suflSce  thee  all  thy  life,  and  send  thee  to  thy  country  speedily.  And  if  thou  desire 
to  reside  with  me,  I  will  appropriate  to  thee  exclusively  a  pavilion,  and  furnish  it  for 
thee  with  the  best  of  silks,  appoint  for  thee  twenty  female  slaves  to  serve  thee,  and 
assign  for  thee  good  food  and  magnificent  apparel,  so  that  thou  shalt  become  a  Queen, 
and  live  in  exceeding  affluence  until  thou  shalt  die,  or  I  die.  What  then  sayest  thou 
respecting  this  proposal?  —  She  answered,  I  desire  to  remain  with  thee.  Then  she 
kissed  his  hand,  and  vowed  repentance  of  evil  conduct.  .  He  therefore  appropriated 
to  her  a  pavilion  for  herself  alone,  and  bestowed  upon  her  female  slaves  and  eunuchs, 
and  she  became  a  Queen.  And  the  boy  used  to  repair  to  her  and  to  his  father ;  but 
she  hated  the  boy  because  he  was  not  her  son  ;  and  when  the  boy  saw  that  she 
looked  upon  him  with  the  eye  of  anger  and  hatred,  he  shunned  her  and  hated  her. 
Marouf  then  became  occupied  with  love  of  the  beautiful  slave-girls,  and  thought  not 
of  his  wife  Fatima  el-Orra,  because  she  had  become  a  half-grey  old  woman,  with 
hideous  form,  and  a  person  whose  hair  was  falling  off,  more  ugly  than  the  speckled 
black  and  white  serpent ;  but  especially  because  she  had  ill-treated  him  in  a  manner 
that  could  not  be  exceeded;  and  the  author  of  the  proverb  saith.  Ill-treatment 
eradicateth  desire,  and  soweth  fierce  hatred  in  the  soil  of  hearts. 

Marouf  did  not  receive  her  to  reside  in  his  abode  on  account  of  any  praiseworthy 
quality  that  she  possessed;  but  he  treated  her  in  this  generous  manner  only  from  a 
desire  of  obtaining  the  approval  of  God,  whose  name  be  exalted !  And  when  she 
saw  that  he  withheld  himself  from  her,  and  became  occupied  with  others,  she  hated 
him,  and  jealousy  overcame  her,  and  Eblis  suggested  to  her  that  she  should  take  the 
seal-ring  from  him,  and  slay  him,  and  make  herself  Queen  in  his  place.  Then  she 
went  forth  one  night,  and  walked  from  her  pavilion  to  the  pavilion  in  which  was  her 
husband,  the  King  Marouf.  Now  it  was  his  custom,  when  he  slept,  to  take  off  the 
seal-ring  and  conceal  it ;  and  she  knew  this :  so  she  went  forth  by  night  to  go  in  to 
him  in  the  pavilion  when  he  was  drowned  in  sleep,  and  to  steal  this  ring  in  such  a 
manner  that  he  should  not  see  her.  But  the  King's  son,  at  that  time,  was  awake, 
in  a  private  chamber,  with  the  door  open  ;  and  when  she  came  forth  from  her  pavilion, 
he  saw  her  carefully  walking  towards  the  pavilion  of  his  father,  and  he  said  within 
himself,  Wherefore  hath  this  sorceress  come  forth  from  her  pavilion  in  the  hour  of 
darkness,  and  wherefore  do  I  see  her  repairing  to  the  pavilion  of  my  father?  There 
must  be  a  cause  for  this  event.  —  He  then  went  forth  behind  her,  and  followed  her 
Bt«p8  without  her  seeing  him.  And  he  had  a  short,  jewelled  sword:  and  he  used 
not  to  go  forth  to  the  council-chamber  of  his  father  without  having  this  sword  hung 
by  his  side,  because  he  prized  it  highly;  and  when  his  father  saw  him,  he  used  to 
laugh  at  him,  and  say,  God's  will  !  Verily  thy  sword  is  excellent,  0  my  son  !  But 
thou  hast  not  gone  down  with  it  to  battle,  nor  cut  off  with  it  a  head.  — And  there- 
upon he  used  to  reply,  I  shall  not  fail  to  cut  with  it  a  neck  that  shall  be  deserving 


782  THE   STORY   OF   MAROUF. 

of  the  cutting.  And  his  father  would  laugh  at  his  words.  —  Now  when  he  walked 
behind  his  father's  wife,  he  drew  the  sword  from  its  scabbard,  and  followed  her 
until  she  entered  the  pavilion  of  his  father,  when  he  stood  watching  her  at  the  door 
of  the  pavilion ;  and  as  he  continued  looking  at  her,  he  saw  her  searching,  and 
saying.  Where  hath  he  put  the  seal-ring?  He  therefore  understood  that  she  was 
looking  about  for  the  ring;  and  he  ceased  not  to  wait,  observing  her,  until  she 
found  it,  when  she  said,  Lo,  here  it  is.  And  she  picked  it  up,  and  was  about  to 
come  forth.  So  he  hid  himself  behind  the  door ;  and  when  she  came  forth  from 
the  door,  she  looked  at  the  ring,  and  turned  it  over  in  her  hand,  and  was  about  to 
rub  it.  But  he  raised  his  hand  with  the  sword,  and  struck  her  upon  her  neck,  and 
she  uttered  one  cry :  then  fell  down  slain. 

Upon  this,  Marouf  awoke,  and  beheld  his  wife  laid  prostrate,  and  her  blood  flow- 
ing, and  his  son  with  the  sword  drawn  in  his  hand.  So  he  said  to  him,  What  is  this, 
0  my  son  ?  He  replied,  0  my  father,  how  often  hast  thou  said  to  me.  Verily  thy 
sword  is  excellent ;  but  thou  hast  not  gone  down  with  it  to  battle,  nor  cut  off  with 
it  a  head?  And  I  answered  thee,  I  shall  not  fail  to  cut  with  it  a  neck  deserving  of 
the  cutting.  Lo,  now  I  have  cut  for  thee  with  it  a  neck  deserving  of  the  cutting. — 
And  he  acquainted  him  with  her  case.  Then  he  searched  for  the  seal-ring,  but  saw 
it  not.  Ajod  he  ceased  not  to  search  her  person  until  he  saw  her  hand  closed  upon  it. 
Marouf  therefore  took  it  from  her  hand,  and  said  to  the  boy.  Thou  art  my  son  with- 
out doubt  or  uncertainty.  May  God  relieve  thee  from  trouble  in  this  world- and  in 
the  next,  as  thou  hast  relieved  me  from  this  base  woman  !  Her  course  only  led  her 
to  her  own  destruction.  Then  the  King  Marouf  called  out  to  some  of  his  depend- 
ants, who  came  to  him  quickly,  and  he  acquainted  them  with  that  which  his  wife 
Fatima  el-Orra  had  done,  and  commanded  them  to  take  her  and  put  her  in  a  place 
until  the  morning.  So  they  did  as  he  commanded  them  ;  after  which  he  appointed 
a  number  of  the  eunuchs  to  take  charge  of  her;  and  they  washed  her  and  shrouded 
her,  made  for  her  a  funeral  procession,  and  buried  her.  Thus  her  coming  from  Cairo 
was  only  a  journey  to  her  grave. 

The  King  Marouf  then  sent  to  summon  the  ploughman  who  had  entertained  him 
when  he  was  a  fugitive ;  and  when  he  came,  he  appointed  him  his  Vizier  of  the 
right  hand,  and  his  counsellor,  and  he  learned  that  he  had  a  daughter  of  surprising 
beauty  and  loveliness,  of  generous  qualities,  of  noble  race,  of  high  dignity:  so  he 
married  to  her.  And  after  a  period  of  time,  he  married  his  son.  And  they  re- 
mained a  long  time  enjoying  the  most  comfortable  life:  their  times  were  unsullied, 
and  their  joys  were  sweet,  until  they  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights,  and 
the  separator  of  companions,  and  the  miner  of  flourishing  houses,  and  him  who 
maketh  sons  and  daughters  orphans. — Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  the  Living  who 
dieth  not,  and  in  whose  hands  are  the  keys  of  the  dominion  that  is  apparent  and 
the  dominion  that  is  hidden  I 


coNCLusioisr. 


Sheherazade,  during  this  period,  had  borne  the  King  three  male  children ;  and 
when  she  had  ended  these  tales,  she  rose  upon  her  feet,  and  kissed  the  ground  before 
the  King,  and  said  to  him,  0  King  of  the  time,  and  incomparable  one  of  the  age 
and  period,  verily  I  am  thy  slave,  and  during  a  thousand  and  one  nights  I  have  re- 
lated to  thee  the  history  of  the  preceding  generations,  and  the  admonitions  of  the 
people  of  former  times ;  then  have  I  any  claim  upon  thy  majesty,  so  that  I  may  re- 
quest of  thee  to  grant  to  me  a  wish?  And  the  King  answered  her,  Request:  thou 
shalt  receive,  0  Sheherazade.  So  thereupon  she  called  out  to  the  nurses  and  the 
eunuchs,  and  said  to  them,  Bring  ye  my  children.  Accordingly  they  brought  them 
to  her  quickly;  aad  they  were  three  male  children:  one  of  them  walked,  and  one 
crawled,  and  one  was  at  the  bi»east.  And  when  they  brought  them,  she  took  them 
and  placed  them  before  the  King,  and,  having  kissed  the  ground,  said,  0  King  of 
the  age,  these  are  thy  children,  and  I  request  of  thee  that  thou  exempt  me  from 
slaughter,  as  a  favour  to  these  infants  ;  for  if  thou  slay  me,  these  infants  will  be- 
come without  a  mother,  and  will  not  find  among  women  one  who  will  rear  them 
well.  And  thereupon  the  King  wept,  and  pressed  his  children  to  his  bosom,  and 
eaid,  0  Sheherazade,  by  Allah,  I  pardoned  tliee  before  the  coming  of  these  children, 
because  I  saw  thee  to  be  chaste,  pure,  ingenuous,  pious.  May  God  bless  thee,  and 
thy  father  and  thy  mother,  and  thy  root  and  thy  branch !  I  call  God  to  witness 
against  me  that  I  have  exempted  thee  from  everything  that  might  injure  thee.  —  So 
she  kissed  his  hands  and  his  feet,  and  rejoiced  with  exceeding  joy ;  and  she  said  to 
him.  May  God  prolong  thy  life,  and  increase  thy  dignity  and  majesty ! 

Joy  spread  through  the  palace  of  the  King  until  it  became  diffused  throughout 
the  city,  and  it  was  a  night  not  to  be  reckoned  among  lives:  its  colour  was  whiter 
than  the  face  of  day.  The  King  arose  in  the  morning  happy,  and  with  prosperity 
inundated ;  and  he  sent  to  all  the  soldiers,  who  came  ;  and  he  conferred  upon  his 
Vizier,  the  father  of  Sheherazade,  a  sumptuous  and  magnificent  robe  of  honour, 
saying  to  him,  May  God  protect  thee  since  thou  hast  married  to  me  thy  generous 
daughter,  who  hath  been  the  cause  of  my  repenting  of  slaying  the  daughters  of  the 
people,  and  I  have  seen  her  to  be  ingenuous,  pure,  chaste,  virtuous.  Moreover,  God 
hath  blessed  me  by  her  with  three  male  children  ;  and  praise  be  to  God  for  this 
abundant  favour !  —  Then  he  conferred  robes  of  honour  upon  all  the  Viziers  and 
Emirs  and  lords  of  the  empire,  and  gave  orders  to  decorate  the  city  thirty  days ;  and 
he  caused  not  any  one  of  the  people  of  the  city  to  expend  aught  of  his  wealth  ;  for 
all  the  expense  and  disbursements  were  from  the  King's  treasury.  So  they  deco- 
rated the  city  in  a  magnificent  manner,  the  like  of  which  had  not  been  seen  before, 
and  the  drums  were  beaten  and  the  pipes  were  sounded,  and  all  the  performers  of 
Bports  exhibited  their  arts,  and  the  King  rewarded  them  munificently  with  gifts  and 
presents.  He  bestowed  alms  also  upon  the  poor  and  needy,  and  extended  his  gene- 
rosity to  all  his  subjects,  and  all  the  people  of  his  dominions.  And  he  and  the 
people  of  his  empire  continued  in  prosperity  and  joy  and  delight  and  happiness 
until  thej  were  visited  by  the  terminator  of  delights  and  the  separator  of  companions. 

783 


784 


CONCLUSION. 


Extolled  be  the  perfection  of  Him  whom  the  vicissitudes  of  times  do  not  destroy, 
and  to  whom  no  change  happeneth,  whom  no  circumstance  diverteth  from  another 
circumstance,  and  who  is  alone  distinguished  by  the  attributes  of  perfection  !  And 
blessing  and  peace  be  on  the  Imam  of  his  Majesty,  and  the  elect  from  among  his 
creatures,  our  lord  Mahomet,  the  lord  among  mankind,  through  whom  we  supplicate 
God  for  a  happy  end! 


and  the  Children  before  the 


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14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

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